God Doesn't Always Prevent, But Sometimes He Permits

I was intrigued reading through the other morning. The account of Lazarus’s death. And it’s interesting to me that when Jesus was told of his failing condition, He didn’t alter His plans to rush to his bedside. Jn 11:6 says, rather, “He stayed where He was for the next two days.”

Jesus delays. Some versions say He tarried. He was unrushed. Unhurried. Seemingly unbothered by His good friend’s condition.

And scholars tell us He was only about 25 miles from Lazarus’s home.

And I wonder today if it’s how many of us in seasons of waiting feel. Because so often the Lord’s ways are in reverse of our own. Many times it’s just at the moment our endurance seems to be expiring that we ask, “Is hope still possible?” And the Lord says, “I’ll remain here another two days.” And we allow doubt to creep in. Because His chosen style of acting is not our preferred method of learning.

And yet so it was in scripture... “... and He will change His mind about His servants when He sees their strength is gone.” (Deut 32:36). Oh that we’d recognize Him as the great Rescuer!

And I see it now, the faithful Father uses suffering, making it the necessary evidence of love and cleverest instrument of profit!

God directs us not to judge Him based on outward appearances or make a hasty assumption of His goodness based on the darkness in unfavorable conditions, but to base all belief on the sure word of His promise!

God’s general answer to all people is: “For the glory of God.” And His delay is by design.
Jesus was allowing them to cry out from the depths of their beings, so that afterwards they might be able to say it out loud to those around them: “O hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows!” (Ps 130:7)

Jesus made no sign of movement. But no sign of movement is never evidence that He isn’t moving!
Ahh that we could be like David and say, “From the ends of the earth I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.” (Ps 61:2)

God’s purpose in delay is often a result of lovingkindness and essential to the development of our soul. It’s forming great preparation in us to receive the blessing!

Sympathy vs Compassion

Isaiah 35:3 says, “... strengthen those who have tired hands and encourage those who have weak knees.”

Oh for the believer, our assignment is to encourage and comfort people. To fill them with the hope of salvation, and to be so brimming with hope that it infects everyone around us! It is the absolute call of every Christ follower to offer up a solution to those ready to faint under the weight of difficulty and adversity.

He says “hands” and “knees” because strength resides mainly in the arms and the lower limbs. If these become feeble, our entire being becomes powerless and ineffective. 
 
Oh fellow bearer of the cross... we carry the good news to be broadcast to every nation!

And it’s simply not enough to be “sorry” for those who suffer around us. But to be active in the participation of compassion. Scriptures tell us that Jesus was MOVED by compassion. Not sympathy. Because sympathy is different.

By definition sympathy means: harmony of or agreement in feeling; the power of sharing feeling with another, especially in sorrow or trouble; approval.

Compassion, on the other hand, means: a feeling of sorrow for another, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Such a beautiful difference!

There are several reasons for weakened hands and knees, some of which include chronic infancy (unwillingness to move into Christian maturity), starvation (living without the influence of feasting on His Word), fear, or laziness. And my sympathy for you only approves your condition. But when I offer compassion... ahh... now I’m offering a way out of the wilderness for those who can’t otherwise find light in their darkness.

My commentary says that we have a great privilege of putting the, “... brightness of hope into the sky and helping chase the dark clouds away!”

Pity must be practical. It must be move us to put our hand to the plough and work to redeem what was once lost.

Am I Bringing God My Very Best?

And so I asked the question in a poll recently through Instagram and Facebook both, “Do you believe God deserves our very best?”

Interesting that only one, in 72 (at last count) answered with a “no”.  And even more interesting that a few considered it a trick question.

And it wasn’t.  A trick question.

But rather one I have been wrestling with for a few weeks.

Because I have been considering, lately, and deeply, what it means to “bring God my very best.”  And it has caused me to evaluate my life based on this one simple question that 99% of us answered a resounding “yes” to.

I ask myself: Am I bringing God my very best?

And I know the debate well and understand the opposing side… “I try to bring Him my best but I fail” and “I don’t have the ability to give my best, but I do what I can.”

And hear me loud and clear that when I ask this question it’s ABSOLUTELY NOT intended to bring shame and condemnation.  Not one bit.

But it is something I feel we must wrestle with.

Because there’s a shift happening in the atmosphere.  I can feel it.
And I believe God is looking for men and women who are absolutely hungry to look more like Him; those willing to do whatever it takes to display Him in the best light possible.  And I think God has intense interest in developing souls that carry His presence so bravely and so boldly that others are drawn into an encounter with Him simply by being in relationship with you.  Us.

And if we SAY that He deserves our best… then shouldn’t that be our number one priority?  Because I wrote it in my journal the other day… “We are often made useless and ineffective when we maintain carelessness in our own personal walks with Jesus.  Our demonstration of inconsistency jeopardizes our testimony.”

Because I can post a bible verse that makes me look spiritual, and turn to curse my neighbor because he’s weird and mean and frustrating.
I can sing a song and even raise my hands in worship on Sunday morning, and then complain on Monday morning that my job is awful and my coworkers are impossible to work alongside of.
I can sit with my small group once a week and approach the Lord in prayer for the sick and the hurting and the broken, and then call my girlfriend to gossip about situations I have no business discussing, all under the guise of “care and concern”.

And yet we still say that God deserves our very best.

And I say it too.

Because I’m preaching to self here most.

God gives us a great assignment… the privilege of representing Him well.

And so I continue to wrestle with this thought… the one whispered to my very soul one night last week… words I believe came directly from the Lord Himself.  And I ask you who would bravely answer the one question, “Do you believe God deserves my very best”, to consider it too:

When we gossip, when we hate on another person, when we condemn ourselves and others, when we lie, when we complain… aren’t we basically and blatantly refusing to give God our very best?  And as a result, aren’t we refusing to count Him as ultimately worthy?

Words Create Reality

I love how God will so often bring me to 2 separate places of study in 1 week with what I tend to see possessing parallel messages.

Matt 18:18 says, “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven and whatever you permit and earth will be permitted in heaven.” And Mark 3:29, “But anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.”
Two totally different verses with one very distinct connection: the warning of words.

I’ve heard it said before, if it doesn’t exist in heaven, it’s not supposed to exist on earth. One version of Mt 18:18 uses the word, “release”... “... Whatever you release on earth...”. And so it is with our words. The things we release into the atmosphere. The words we speak are powerful... they get released into the atmosphere and become the reality of our existence.

For the believer our assignment is simple.. to bring His world to ours until our world looks like His. And so it must be that I begin saying what He is saying. Releasing hope, healing, breakthrough, love, transformation.

I thinks it’s interesting that the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit has the same eternal consequences. So could it really be that what we say out loud... what we release externally from our mouths... is considered highly significant in our spiritual growth? Absolutely! Critically!

Our tongues were given to us to bless God and honor others. We gravely disrespect humanity and God when we allow bitterness to fall from our lips in the form of corrupt words.

In John 6:63 Jesus says, “...The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” And we have a responsibility to steward His words well. We get to be carriers of His Word, thus carriers of His Spirit. In fact, Mt 12:36 teaches that we will give an account for every “careless word” we say.

We are kingdom carriers... faith-filled carriers of grace and love. And when we purpose to say what the Father is saying, we cause a shift in the atmosphere that brings the reality of heaven to earth!
Let’s watch our words. Because... words create reality!

How Well Will I Host The Spirit Of God?

I’ve been somewhat intrigued by this verse for a while now. The departing words of the risen Savior to His disciples before His ascension to heaven. Luke 24:49 says, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

The Holy Spirit was sent that these students would be enabled to understand, commissioned to love, ready to obey, & encouraged to propel the Gospel forward. And yet here we see Jesus charging them not to go forward until they received the gifts & graces which they were to be furnished with for the perfect discharge of their ministry. 

And perhaps I’ve been in that season of waiting too. Oh that He graciously tarries for the appropriate time to release His Spirit upon the people He entrusts with the greatest tasks of ministry. Because our excitement for the appointment doesn’t naturally translate to the empowerment of the assignment.
His beckoning them to “stay in the city” would require them to sit still, be silent, not preach, attend to prayer, and wait on the Spirit. And I love some versions that say the disciples were said to have been “endued” with the Spirit that came down. Endued.. which means clothed. They were to be literally clothed with the Spirit. What a tremendous responsibility! What a terrific privilege!

The disciples, too, were being asked to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit... uniquely and surely purposefully.. the very place where the Spirit had been dishonored and blasphemed.

And don’t forget that up to this point the disciples had shown insufficient determination (Mt26:41,43), weak courage (Mt 26:56), and had little understanding of Christ’s aim (Acts1:6). Oh and how much they needed to prepare for the long, hard, but glorifying work that lied ahead!

And so could it be that the waiting for the Spirit to descend was indeed for their ultimate benefit and God’s highest glory? It is the perfecting by & by. It is about the transforming into His image. And what can be an arduous process, can absolutely produce an amazing result!

The question we must wrestle with daily is: How well will I host the Spirit of God?

Light In Darkness / Joy In Sorrow / Hope In Heaven

Psalm 112:4 says this, “Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.”

Light shines! For the good man, the darkest night of trouble and sorrow will have a dawn of hope!

God has not promised that He will intercede to save His people from disaster and pain and suffering, but that He will save them IN them! For those who fear God, the expectation from God can be that there will be an end for trouble, that His people will not be overwhelmed by the trouble, it will not be on interrupted gloom, and that the sky will not always be overcast.

Those who remain dependent on Him in the midst of success, will surely find Him in seasons of distress. Paul and Silas understood this well. Dependent upon the Lord when things were well, and also fully reliant upon Him in the inner prison of Phillipi. There in the darkness arose the light as a result of their songs of praise. Paul saw a light shining through his troubles and was able to say in 2 Cor 4:17, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.” Ahh.. yes! Light in darkness, joy in sorrow, hope in heaven!

And for the godly, light shines IN darkness. It was that way with Paul’s troubled thorn in the flesh, and it was with Christ in the garden of Gethsemane. In neither case was the darkness entirely removed, there was simply light IN the darkness that made hope possible.

My commentary says that, “Light is sown for the righteous” and that “the harvest from God’s sowing never fails!” Yes! We must maintain an honest desire to know the Truth, a readiness to make necessary sacrifices for the Gospel message of truth, and obedience to the truth that is already known. 

The purpose, the DESIGN of affliction is to produce an everlasting comfort, and to allow focus on endless days of joy. Who, then, cannot but welcome anguish that is “fleeting”, and gloom which is only “temporary”? 

The One I Want To Be With

Exodus 3 records God’s charge to Moses to lead the captives, God’s people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. Verse 10 documents Moses’ concern, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

And I can hear the tone in the simple words written in black ink upon my bible. “Who am I? I’m nobody special. I have no experience that would warrant me able for such a grand task as this!” It’s the implication of his words that allow so many of us to relate. “You must be crazy to think I’m your guy!”

And then verse 11 archives the response of the sweet Father... “ I will be with you…”

With enormous respect, this hardly answers the question. And as is often the case, there’s great mystery surrounding this remark. Moses declaring his unfitness… All the while God qualifying him because of God’s presence.

Oh and I see it now… God’s answer to “Who am I?”, is, “The one I want to be with, that’s who!”
Him IN US defines who we truly are!

God says, “I will supply all of your defects! I will make good all of your shortcomings!” There’s no fear in who you are when I’m with you!

Moses’ mind is turned at once to his own qualifications, and the great void of what he perceived was in him. Moses went from a shepherd to an ambassador of a king, to a leader of men. And quite honestly his asking shows he may be in the right spot after all! He didn’t jump at the chance of distinction. He rightly had a humility about himself and a genuine identity battle so many of us do.
The “I” of Moses is replaced by the “I” of a good Father!

My commentary suggests that, “We must rise from a mere seeking after God to the knowledge that we are known of God.”

Ahh.. and so our identity is found not in our qualifying character. It’s not found in the distinctions of our human effort. Our identity is found by the mere evidence of God in us. With us. For us. His presence gives way to our potential!

I am discovered by His divine inhabitance and companionship. I shall lack nothing as long as He goes with me!

Beware Of The Untrimming Of Our Wicks

The parable of the ten bridesmaids is a powerful story. Matthew 25:3-4 says this, “The five who were foolish didn’t take enough oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.”

The bridesmaids were being called out to meet their bridegroom. It was a call to be prepared. And you and I are called to prepare ourselves for when our heavenly bridegroom comes calling.

Scripture tells us in 2 Peter 3:14, “In the waiting... be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.” My commentary says beautifully, “It will be a day of search and inquiry; and it concerns us to think how we shall then be found.”

Bearing the light of Christ is the responsibility of all true believers. We are bearers if His light and we must be prepared to represent that light well. The call of preparation is the call to staying reignited and keeping our lamps burning for Him! And keeping our wicks properly trimmed is the key to the longevity of our flame.

Some key points of keeping prepared include: making provision for His possible delay. The five unwise women were unprepared because they had neglected a “what if” scenario. Wisdom understands that the time of His coming is uncertain, and so proper arrangements are made. Readiness is maintaining intimacy with Jesus, longing for His coming, adhering to His commands, frequently exercising our faith, perfecting continual repentance, being all about goodness, mercy, and grace.

Oil in their vessels here represents grace in their hearts. My commentary says, “When gracious souls have notice of their Lord’s coming, they endeavor to put themselves in the best posture to receive Him.” We, “... eagerly look forward to His appearing.” (2 Tim 4:8)

The overall lesson here is to be watchful over the nourishing of our inner lives. To be diligent in the cultivation of a godly life with a soul that longs for more of Him!

We don’t die from a burned out candle, we burn out by and by from the untrimmimg of our wicks.

Point And Inconvenience

It’s something I’ve wrestled with for a while now. And seasons of forced rest and continued suffering have allowed me to examine more closely my genuine response to others in their trials.

Because isn’t the truth that we all really need each other? I need you and you need me. We are... quite definitely... better together.

And I have a deep appreciation for those who insist on lovingly supporting in any form or fashion. And I deeply regard those who point me towards the light. Those who remind me of Jesus and those who’s words of encouragement redirect my steps toward Him.

But if I’m being honest... if we’re all being honest... what we benefit greatly from are the ones who deliberately choose to not only acknowledge the situation of suffering, but who willingly choose to sit beside you in the waiting room of your life until the day breaks and the darkness fades.

Because kind words inspire me to want to see the light, but the sacrifice of time influences me to shift my eyes toward the sun.

So I’m challenged to alter my affection toward the hurting to accommodate their need for more than words of flattery and affirmation of what they may already know to be true. Oh how the heart often takes time to catch up to the head!

In addition I will lovingly choose to sit long... love well... be patient... and keep prayerful that the power of Christ will be seen, felt, and experienced.

Point me to the light, but willingly inconvenience yourself to wait with me to see it.

Not Punishment, But Protection

Jesus’ words in John 16:12 pierce the heart at first glance, “There is so much I want to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”

So much more. Can you even imagine hearing those words form the Savior who would soon be departing from the presence?

On His side is all readiness. To impart to His friends all the things He heard from the Father. But revelation can only be transferred to the mind which can receive it.

One commentator says it this way, “Jesus was saying, ‘You cannot bear the discovery, for which reason I judge it more prudent to be silent for the present.’”

Jesus had given His students an outline but no details. Because they couldn’t yet bear the news. They were still full of Jewish prejudices, among other things.

Remember that the disciples still had slightly a “divided mind”. Luke 8:14 explains about the seed that fell among thorns. It expresses a class of people, such as these followers of Jesus, who heard the Word, but entertained other ideas and who allowed the distraction of other voices to rattle them off course. They were sadly still occupied by the “cares” of the world, so it hindered them from developing full maturity. In fact, the Greek word for “cares” is Merimnao which means divide; fracture.

Every time Jesus speaks, the weightiness of His presence is released, it’s referred to as, “the weight of His glory”! And what happens when you place that weight (God’s revelation in His spoken word) on the part of the person already divided and fractured? The fracture gets worse! And these fractures... the cares of this world... actually deaden our ability to hear from God.

The Father is looking for people to be hosts of His presence, and people who have weight-bearing capacity for what He wants to say.

We must choose to be single focused when it comes to Jesus. We must be committed to hearing His voice only. We must be determined to refuse outside influences.

Jesus had already told them more than they understood. They were being taught to master the present lessons before they were fit for more. The water is always greater than my cup is to contain! The meal more bountiful than my plate. The rain more abundant than my garden!

A New Day Is Dawning!

God has proven to be so faithful in this season of my life.

So incredibly faithful.

And yet it is true that so much is revealed in reverse.

Because it’s often the most difficult to see the promise while you’re still in the valley.

But I feel as though there is someone today who can benefit from these words. Someone who is currently in a difficult circumstance they can’t seem to get out of. Someone who is stuck in a pattern of pain they can’t seem to overcome. Someone who is in a holding pattern and is on the verge of losing all hope.

And I get it more than you know.

Just 3 months ago our family would unknowingly embark on an uncertain journey marked with pain and suffering and loss. We would only just begin a season of hardship we’ve never quite experienced in our 25 years as a family.

And yet I can sit here today with confidence and strength and share with you that what the Lord has been doing in my life in the midst of darkness, has been worth every ounce of discouragement.

And sometimes the Lord doesn’t speak, because He’s already spoken. And often times a review of His goodness, an audit of His faithfulness is necessary in order to move into the good things He has prepared.

And so here I am, at the inauguration of close inspection… the reflection of the words He’s already spoken over my life… and it is nothing short of miraculous. Oh His ways are always higher and His Word never returns void!

In early June, just before the battle broke out, I would study in my quiet time on Isaiah 43:19 which says this in the Message translation, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

Ahh… “... don’t you see it?”

Because the truth really is that we only know it by experience of it. We can only know by experience… by an encounter… a daily pursuit.

And so it has to be that His goodness, His purpose… is known only to those who look for it!

He reveals Himself to those looking… not sitting back and waiting for the revelation, but going out to actively pursue it! He's providing direction and provision in the wilderness. In MY wilderness… in YOUR wilderness… where there is commonly no path.

My notes reveal more thoughts… notice that His promise is to provide a way THROUGH. Not a way out. And so it is our refinement THROUGH the valley.

The word through means this… “from end to end or side to side, over the whole surface or extent, from beginning to end, to ultimate purpose, to complete, sustain.”

Oh yes! And that He would be so good to have shown me this in advance of the battle!!! And that what He chose to show in advance would, for me, only be seen in reverse, proves how important the daily seeking really is! To know Him more, to live like Him more, to trust Him more.

And so I write it on my heart on a September day three months from it’s release to my head… “I must forget the pain that has passed and look ahead to the new thing God is doing!”

Because God invites me to go through so that my dependency on Him is so deepened and so that my trust in His goodness and provision alone is strengthened.

Look for Him today!

He’s speaking.

And if He’s not it might just be because He’s already spoken.

And He’s inviting you to actively pursue Him in the quiet.


“Don’t you see it?! Don’t you see Him?”

Oh friend… He's crazy about you, and it will blow your mind to know how far He’ll go to show that love to you!

Don’t look back. Forget what’s happened. A new day is dawning!!

 

 

May I Steward My Seed Well

The parable of the seed.

Luke 8:14 says, “The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.”

The seed here represents the Word of God... what God says to me. And the thorns represent those things competing for my attention. And since we know that God always speaks by His Word made available to us always... The problem isn’t the His inclination to speech and it’s not so much our ability to hear, as it is our ultimate willingness to listen.

If the seed is what God speaks to me.. consider this: when a seed of corn is planted into the ground & produces an ear of corn, every kernel has the same DNA is the one that died. So the Lord died so we could have life. So whenever He speaks to us, He gives to us a seed that carries His entire DNA.
So when God speaks, He’s actually depositing something that has the capacity to bring complete transformation to my life!

James 1:21 says, “In humility receive the Word which is able to save your soul.”
James was talking here to those who are already saved. So he’s talking about the ongoing transformation of life in the received seed. Salvation is not to be seen as a one and done thing. It’s an ongoing transformation process.

God is often looking for good soil to steward what He has said. And the limiting factor of our maturity & transformation is always the condition of our soil. How we receive His Word and steward His whispers.

The thorns are simply a product of another seed. The thorn becomes another voice. We are to blame when we give ourselves to other things that are not of His Word. The potential is always in the seed. It has the ability to produce the likeness and the nature of God, but as soon as that seed begins to intermix with the thorns, they begin to choke the promise of the word God said.

And so the seed it is the Christlikeness that He’s trying to produce in me. It is absolutely catastrophic to invite other voices in because it competes with the eternal in my life!

May I steward my seed well!

I'm Being Trained For Something Else

Gideon has to be one of my fav characters in the Bible. I think because I relate to him well. And perhaps many of us do.

In short Gideon was an Israelite judge who was considered the least powerful in all his region. His story tells how God can take a weak person and use him for great purpose.

Ahh... yes! So much hope for me!

At the time my study landed me to this morning, the Midian armies were strong and fierce and were public enemy number 1. The Lord spoke to Gideon and told him not to fear, that he’d successfully gain victory over the Midianites.

But then came a strange request from God. Judges 7:9 says this, “That night the Lord said, ‘Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!’”

Go into the area he was most afraid of?

Gideon already felt so weak and ill-suited for the tasks assigned to him, and now he was being asked to go into the very place that ignited fear?

Oh but if not for the mighty wind of God’s Spirit upon our lives, turning the mission impossible, to a man invincible!

And Gideon had already reduced his army by almost 32,000 men! The Lord had ordered this reduction in soldiers to keep them humble, otherwise they’d be tempted to believe more in their own strength than in God’s sovereignty.

And God’s order for Gideon to approach enemy territory at night was, at best, confusing.
But there’s something you can’t get when you’re safe. Pastor Bill Johnson says, “We have set the stage for our comfort so we don’t have access to what we’ve asked for.”

His means for bringing divine rescue often comes hidden amidst dangerous requests.

We cannot grow in our places of comfort.

We see here that Gideon finds courage in the, “valley of the shadow of death”. But the darkness of the shadow is simply the result of God’s nearness!

Gideon was sent by God so he was perfectly safe. He had no reason to fear when the Lord was found not only on the other side of victory, but in the deepest part of the valley.

Gideon was being prepared for greater things. He was being trained for bigger tasks. And so I tell myself today, in the midst of my anguish and fear, “I'm being trained for something else!”

Look TO Him and FOR Him!

Mark 6. The ever familiar story of Jesus walking on the water to rescue His frightened disciples. Vs 50 says this, “They were all terrified when they saw Him. Jesus spoke to them at once. ‘Don’t be afraid’, He said. ‘Take courage! I am here!’”

I experienced the same kind of fear a few weeks ago when I came out of a major abdominal surgery. The intense pain was worse than anything I’d ever had in my entire life. And somehow I’d gotten behind on my pain medication in recovery. When they couldn’t get it under control I felt so much fear and horrible panic started to set in. I’d never make it! It’s how I felt. But then l, suddenly, as if Christ Himself entered that hospital room, I calmed myself down long enough to whisper over and over the only words I could muster, “I can do hard things! Thank you Jesus!”

Because somewhere in the pain of my situation I heard the voice of Jesus telling me to take courage. I love the MSG version that simply tells us that Jesus says, “Courage! It’s Me!” Ahh, yes, Jesus had called the courage OUT of me! And when I got a glimpse of Jesus saying, “It’s Me! I am here!” everything changed!

We often see the bad situations happening in our lives and get intensely fearful. And yet Jesus says, “It’s Me! I’m here!”

We’ve got to see past our situation to the Savior. And maybe it’s saying it out loud... “I’m not looking at you, problem, I’m looking for Jesus! I know He’s here!!”

And I find it interesting that He spoke “take courage” before He stopped the wind. Because He asks us to be courageous IN the battle, not AFTER it’s over. He’s asking for relationship before remedy and relief.

The disciples fear disappeared when His presence increased and they realized Jesus came to rescue them. He’s always rounding the bend to accomplish deliverance for us.

“It’s Me!”

We are to recognize Christ more vividly in our troubles. Though the storm be ever present, it’s by appearance only. No travesty is too big that His mere presence cannot eradicate!

And so in the storms of life, it will often bring about worry when His presence doesn’t seem apparent. That’s when we look TO him and FOR Him! He’s there!!!

The Privilege of Being His Friend

John 15:15 says, “I no longer call you slaves because the Master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me.”

Jesus talking to the 12.

Not the masses. But the 12 invited in to intimate relationship with Jesus.

The way for the slave is mechanical obedience without any love between his master and himself. He knows what the master does but never the reason why. And here Jesus is inviting His servants to elevate past slavery to friendship.

And the truth is that we sit in church and sing “I am a friend of God...” but not all are. Because there are conditions placed upon believers in achieving that sort of connection with Christ.

My commentary says it well, “He will not pour out His treasures into vessels that will spill them.” In other words, He knows who can be entrusted with His devotion and He’s particular about who He lets in on a deeper level. We must remember that His call to friendship was conditioned by the power of reception on the part of the hearers.

To be called a friend of God insinuates that communication is involved. To be a good friend one must listen, get to know the other, learn the voice, have frequent interaction. So we are under divine obligation to keep our ears open and our hearts prepared to receive what is communicated to us by Him. Again my commentary says, “Many a message from your Lord flits past you like idle wind thru an archway because you aren’t listing for His voice.”

Friendship requires work on both ends.

And let’s remember that in all cases of friendship with us, it’s Christ who does the wooing and pursuing. “We Love because He first loved us.” The apostle Paul said it beautifully, “I was apprehended of Christ.” His choice of us precedes our choice of Him.”

And He’s calling today. Calling us into friendship from our position of slave. He’s whispering from within today, “I want so much more for you and Me.”

How willing will I be to engage in the work required of me to be a trustworthy vessel who brings honor to God because of the position I’ve been called to be with Christ: friend?

Inward Renewal

2 Cor 4:16 says, “Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”

And this is really the polar opposite to what we normally say and how we generally believe. We say things like, “Outside we are looking good while inside where a total mess. “Or “I’m slowly dying inside.” No we’re not! If we belong to Jesus He is making new life inside of us day after day!

While the “outward” man.. the material framework of the body... is undergoing a gradual process of decay, the “inward” man.. the higher spiritual soul... is passing through stages of renewal.

Renewal is a word that is specifically characteristic of Paul. He uses it many times to describe being renovated, strengthened, invigorated.

And Paul is certain to define for us that the renewal requires effort in our part. Daily we are to devote ourselves to communion with the Father.

I love the illustration of the vine and the branches in John 15. The reminder to stay connected to the life source, Jesus. My commentary says this, “The full beauty and fruition of the branch is dependent upon it’s complete and constant identification with the tree.” It is said that when the lotus is broken, its fibers still remain. And while the frailest thread of connection remains, the flower doesn’t at once miss its bloom. Same as Christ with us. Even as we decay, Christ still ignites fresh energy and the soul by secret fibers of union.

Yet! Full beauty and fruitfulness of life are missed if we permit our communion with Jesus to become limited or irregular.

So often our anxiousness about life and it’s worries are mis-targeted. More likely our true concern lies in the depth of our inward man and it’s inconsistency in fellowship with the Savior of the world. My commentary brilliantly says, “Let the trees be right at the roots, and they will battle triumphantly with poisoned air.” Psalm 1:3 says we are to be rooted and grounded in love and knowledge... and so in being rooted and connected with the Creator, we may defy all storms this side of eternity!

We cannot neglect our garden and expect growth and reproduction. We must daily focus on inwardly being renewed by our union with the Father.

Let's Stay Weak!

2 Cor 12:9 is a hallmark verse of the Christian life. Paul, in talking about the thorn in his side and God’s apparent refusal to remove it, says this, “Each time He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I’m glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Paul’s affliction remained.

The Lord was determined to allow it to linger in his life.

But... there was a promise that the favor of Christ would be shown to him constantly. And by Paul having the support of his Savior, he would be able to bear the trial which he was asked to endure.

My commentary says this, “It is a sufficient answer to our prayers if we have the solemn promise of the redeemer that we shall be upheld and never sink under the burden of our heavy woes.” Our physical weaknesses demonstrate our true inability and quite possibly may serve God well. In our frailty, we just may learn to glorify God best!

1.) We gain humility. One of the greatest Christian character traits that we can possess is humility. My commentary says, “humility is one by the pressure of God’s hand upon us.” Humility is, after all, an act of submission.

2.) Weakness makes us dependent upon God. All throughout the Bible we learn that we are best prepared for life and fit for heaven when deep within our hearts we can say, “I cannot, but God can!” Ahh, the release of control is a radical gain of strength!

3.) Frailty cultivates character. Pain and frailty... weakness... affects our attitudes, and our behavior in profound ways. But they test our true commitment to Jesus Christ. “As the outward man parishes, the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Cor 4:16)

4.) Our weakness keeps us open to God. Suffering is a constant reminder of the need of God. “ The frail man proves the preciousness of prayer”, says one commentator. Paul, even in his own frailty, labored, “more abundantly than all of them (other apostles).”

To be weak is to have little physical strength. To be feeble. Unable to bear a great weight. Not strong. Soft. Possessing a wanting spirit. Not having force of authority. Accessible.

Let’s stay weak so His strength can shine forth!

Consistency

Colossians 2:6 says this, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him.” The Message version says it like this, “My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master, now live Him.”

Follow Him. Live Him. Walk in Him. It’s the call on the life of the Christ follower to align our spirit and conduct. To let our words and actions be in perfect consistency with our acknowledgment of our salvation. To walk in the same love, faith, and holiness which we received Him in. We are called to steadily believe His doctrines and obey His commands... rely on His promises, and imitate His example. 

Following after Jesus demands us to be always looking to Him... leaning on Him... deriving grace and strength from Him.

And one word that is to define the Christ follower stands out to me among the rest and that’s “consistency.” Charles Spurgeon says it this way, “How many people think that in the morning and evening they ought to come into the company of Christ, and then they may be in the world’s all day?”
Consistency in our character is what speaks the loudest about our God. Consistency is steadfast adherence, agreement, harmony, and compatibility. It’s being dependable, persistent, and steady. And it’s telling the story of His amazing grace.

Or not.

The world is filled with inconsistent people. People who have simply forgotten the model laid out for us by Christ when we first accepted Him into our hearts. Our walk should include gratitude, humility, joy, and conscious, continual effort which sometimes involves, as one commentator says, the, “vigorous repression of the old self that progress is realized.”

Ahh yes... less of me, more of You!

Let’s focus this week on being consistent in our character as we represent Jesus well!

The Declaration And The Demonstration Of Faith

I love the verses that I seem to “stumble” upon in my quiet time! God is so good!

2 Kings 20:5 is the Lord speaking to Hezekiab through the prophet Isaiah and says this, “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David says, ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and 3 days from now you will get out of bed and go to the temple of the Lord.’”

These words come directly after the Lord’s initial plan which was to disallow Hezekiah to recover from his near-death illness.

There’s so much richness in this passage of scripture. For instance, Hezekiah doesn’t pray, ‘Lord spare me.’ Instead he prays, ‘Lord remember me.’ He’s saying here, ‘Whether I live or die, let me be yours... remember me as a close friend.”

The Lord heard the petitions of the King of Judah (recorded in Isaiah 38), and changes His mind! He brings health, length of days, and temporal deliverance. It was, indeed, a miracle!

My commentary suggests that this proves the power of God in Heaven AS WELL as on earth! He takes great notice on prayer, and has great favor on His chosen.

And yet there’s more. Hezekiah’s life was spared in answer to his prayer, yes, but yet we cannot really defend the idea of “healing by faith” here. Why? Because of the message further along in scripture. God still instructs his servants to, “make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.” (Vs 7)

I’ve struggled with this in my own life. Maybe you have too. A prayer goes unanswered for many seasons and we begin to doubt that we have enough faith. But sometimes God will still require the use of human hands to bring healing to faith-filled people!

And so could we be faithful doubters? Maybe. Remember that we serve a God who honors the intentions of our hearts. Often times it’s a matter of maintaining a Jehoshaphat spirit and sending our praisers in advance! The mouth to speak before the miracle is seen.

Perhaps we can boldly pray, “Lord help my unbelief!” It doesn’t make us weak to admit our need for the strengthening power of Jesus Christ!

Be A Peacemaker

Matthew 5:40 says this, “If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.”

Ahh the red letters of Jesus. His greatest sermon ever preached... The Sermon on the Mount.

And the Message version says it like this, “If someone drags you into court and sues the shirt off your back, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it.”

The notable theme of the sermon is going the extra mile, and the challenge for all of us is a way of living that is far greater than how we’re accustomed.

Here presents another aspect of the same type of forbearance. Because it’s not just acts of violence we have to be on the lookout for, but also in dealing with the petty litigation that disturbs our peace. Forbearance is a word I’ve been wrestling with for years and at the heart of it is the idea that it’s better to yield than to insist on rights.

The shirt and the coat. The shirt would be speaking here of the simple tunic worn regularly. However, the coat here represents the outer flowing mantle and the more costly garment of the two. So Jesus is saying... if you’re demanded your shirt, gift wrap your best garment and give that too.

1 Cor 6:7 says, “Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?” To sue a fellow believer reflects self interest rather than concern for welfare of others or the glory of God. Christians are called to follow the example of Christ self-sacrifice.

Most of all we are to be people who are against the spirit of revenge. Jesus tells us not to get involved with retaliation.

We must demand ourselves to be peacemakers.

In his book Unconditional, The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness, Brian Zahnd says this about going the extra mile and grace... “Evil is only defeated when someone absorbs the blow and forgives, thus ending the cycle of evil. Absorbing the blow without retaliation by exercising the option to forgive is not weakness or acquiescence with and justices; it is taking up your cross and follow him Jesus.”

We must do just that - absorb the blow. Take up our cross and follow Him.

Unobstructed Focus

2 Corinthians 4:18 says this, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot are will last forever.”

We must pay attention to where we are looking and to what we are looking at. Money, honor, pleasure, things of this world... these things make us carnal by nature and keep us unfit for heavenly residence. However, God, Jesus, grace, glory, looking with faith and expectation toward heavenly prospect will keep us in right alignment with the Father and render us more holy in our affections.
The word “look” is sometimes translated to “mark”. I love this. We are be careful not to mark the things which are “seen” with human eyes as if they were worth taking notice. We are, instead, to thoughtfully mark down the things of God. Did God speak to your spirit during your quiet time? MARK that down! Did you win a soul to Christ? MARK that down! Did you receive an answer to prayer? MARK that down!

I was sharing with someone recently that a great visual for the goodness of God is stones. Every time you experience success in your spiritual life, take a stone and place it somewhere you’ll see regularly. Allow these stones to serve the purpose of remembering all that God has done for you. Kinda like MARKING it down! We must develop the habit of looking beyond what is seen in the natural to that which is unseen in the spiritual.

It’s about seeing good in the gloom. Because these present painful circumstances of ours are not to be our focus. Our constant aim should be on the eternal security of our salvation, the unspeakable joy that lies ahead for those who are in Christ, and for the magnificent glory that we will experience once we are at rest in our forever paradise.

Some synonyms for the word “unseen” include unobserved, undetected, I discovered, unnoticed.

Sadly the things of heaven get obstructed by the temporary things of this world. However, as a Christ follower I must remain steadfast in my continuous search for all things unobserved by typical vision.

What's Chaning IN Us As A Result Of Our Prayers?

I loved the discovery of this.

Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings, chapter 8.

His prayer was one to be admired and emulated. A prayer that reminded God of His promises for His people.

But today’s focus is on two simple words found in verses 22 and 54. And they are the words: stood and kneeling.

When Solomon began his prayer he was clearly standing. “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel.” And in verse 54, after the prayer is over, we read, “When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar of the Lord where he had been kneeling...”

Wait.

At the beginning he was standing, and at the end he was kneeling.

And this simple shift tells us that something in his prayer changed him. Something in his prayer altered his position of surrender. Because some things we pray for simply beckon us to fall upon our knees in a posture of submission. Acknowledgment that we are not the one in charge.

And so today I make the decision to change the way I pray. A determination to activate complete abandonment to a God who longs to hear from His children!

The Mouth and The Heart

Luke 6:44 says this, “A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thorn bushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.”

The tree is known by its fruits. What is produced by it. In the same way a Christian is known by its fruit. The words and works from its life.

It’s about a change in our nature that stems from our decision to accept and follow Jesus Christ. Without a change in nature, our practice will not be thoroughly changed.

Consider that pigs may be washed and appear clean for a while, but yet without a distinct change in NATURE, they will soon return to wallow in the mud.

It’s a heart change.

And it’s the hard work of Christianity.

But it’s the only way we look more like Christ, and it’s the only way we change the world.

The truth is I can appear to have it all together. I can tell you of God’s grace, but if I withhold forgiveness from the person who didn’t treat me fairly, my habits are misaligned with my heart and I compromise the Gospel message. I can speak of gratitude and thanksgiving and appear to be sincere, all the while grumbling and complaining about my job and confuse every onlooker who is longing to see more Jesus people rise up among the broken and demonstrate what real joy in Christ looks like.

It behooves us greatly to take inventory of our lives to see whether we’re mistaking outward form for authentic pursuit, words and professions for genuine holiness, leaves for fruit. As our hearts are, so are our deeds. Good outward actions demonstrate a good inward heart and they are the mark, the proof, the evidence of credible Christ follower.

What And How Are We Building?

Matthew 7:24-25 says this, “Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it was built on bedrock.”

These are the words of Jesus at the close of the Sermon on the Mount. He was warning His hearers that there’s a storm coming that will challenge every men’s work. Building a solid structure.. a firm foundation.. is key to surviving inclement weather. He’s encouraging His listeners to build well. To consider the structure before it’s too late.

When building a life on sand, the foundation is gradually worn away. But by building our structure on rock - when we have deep reliance on God’s promises, absolute confidence in His protection, and a hope of heaven through His blood - all of hell’s attempts to destroy us will prove unsuccessful.

And when we are building on rock we are living a life which is based upon and shaped after His pattern and His example. It’s the task of drawing nearer and nearer to Jesus. My commentary says it’s only practice that can change our innate corrupt character, and that action is the highest perfection that draws forth power, vigor, and passion. Charles Spurgeon says, “Our conduct is the outcome and revelation of character and the test of being a follower of Jesus.”

We have to live in the house that we build. And so it’s a fair question to ask ourselves - how are we building? It will ultimately be tested by the storms of life and the storm of final judgement. 1 Cor 3:13 says that, “... fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.”

My commentary continues, “A sensible builder calculates the strain to which his work will be exposed before he begins construction.” And so it’s best to build accordingly. To be prepared for anything.

Will our construction survive calamity? All that is built upon Christ Jesus will withstand. All unstable architecture will vanish.

Unity

The word unity means the same as being one; agreement; uniformity; oneness of sentiment, affection, of behavior.

And it’s a sad realization that even in the Christian community we don’t see unity demonstrated much.

But in John 17:23 Jesus says these words, “I am in them and You {God} are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me.”

The goal Jesus established here was for believers to be one unified - to maintain one heart and one mind - so God could be seen in amidst a fallen world. He was communicating to His followers that the more they disputed over insignificant things, the more they clung to attitudes of controversy, envy, and jealousy, the more they’d throw doubt upon Christianity. The closer He got to death, the more it seems Jesus was entirely fixated on the heart of His people and how much potential their evil tendencies had on misrepresenting and dishonoring He and His Father.

Believers are to live in unity despite all differences. The effect it will have on a broken world is compelling! It will convey to the world there is a good Father who loves us and pursues them. They’ll see Holy love demonstrated that produces a deeper level of joy and peace. They’ll see tangible proof that God is working all things out for our good. It will also convince them of the truth about Christ’s mission. When they’re able to see people living unselfishly, no longer governed by revenge and fueled by unrelenting passions, they’ll know it comes only by a higher power.

And to attain this Christ must occupy His proper position in the hearts of His people. His sacrificial love must be the center of our minds, the example of our hearts, and the inspiration of our actions.

The Waiting

Honestly, life is hard sometimes. And the waiting can be so difficult, especially in a season of chronic pain, prolonged heartache, or unpleasant suffering.

And yet when I search the scriptures I find it. Nestled away in Isaiah 40, verse 31. The ones who are strengthened are the ones who wait upon the Lord. Fresh strength is supplied to those who are weak and tired, when they WAIT upon the Lord.

Ahh yes.. waiting. The waiting that’s so difficult for our frail selves.

And I often wonder how much longer will I be asked to wait.

Wait, in part, means: to be available; in readiness. To be ready? Waiting means readiness... perhaps because God, in His kindness and in His faithfulness, is using the waiting room as preparation for bigger things. Readying me for the weight of His glory. Developing character within me that is intentioned to sustain me for the long haul. Equipping me to be a carrier of His love and grace to a world that has forgotten.

And He shows me in the trial by a simple inconvenience on a Tuesday evening. It had been an exhausting day. A day filled with long car rides and doctors appointments and store visits for long overdue must-have’s. And I was ready to get the script and go home. And then this. A routine stop at a train crossing. And no short stop either. A long pause to our evening. An unaffordable delay.

And I watched as the other travelers in the vehicles behind us left. One by one the wait became too much and they aborted their stay, seeking alternative routes.

Because the wait was long and hard and demanded patience. And even in our distress and irritation, we remained. Believing all the while that a resolution not only existed, but was eminent. “But those who wait upon the Lord get fresh strength...”. And it’s what I’ve been needing, fresh strength.

And so I’ll sit at the train crossing for as long as it takes. Because those who abandon their posture of preparation lose the promise of power to overcome and gain a triumphant victory in the trial.

I WILL get fresh strength if I continue to wait on the Lord. His timing. For His glory... and my good.

Hallelujah!

Jesus Calls Me Friend

Jesus... even in light of wounds inflicted by a crucifixion He didn’t deserve... says these precious words in Zechariah 13:6, “And if someone asks, ‘Then what about these wounds on your chest*?’ he will say, ‘I was wounded at my friends house.’” *some versions say “hands”.

Christ was wounded physically and bears the scars of His transgressors, but He also is wounded and grieved personally by us... the partakes of His mercy miracles!

And we wound Him when our passion turns cold, when we slack in our duty of service to Him, when we act indifferent to His radical call of obedience, when we maintain ingratitude and insist upon selfish behavior, when there’s little attention paid to the Word, when we are neglectful in our responsibility of love and benevolence, when we hold grudges, cling to bitterness, and when our engagement with the hurting world around us is lacking gentleness, tolerance, and forbearance as the Gospel requires.

And even as we give Him reason to dismiss us, to turn us away, to deny us blessings... He calls us friend.

Our true friends are revealed to us in the darkness. When we are down. When we are at our unloveliness. My commentary says, “The nightingale is lovely not because his song is sweeter, but because he sings at night.” Ahh... and so it is with our Savior! The friendship of Jesus is this way... He is at His best when we are at our weakest.

And so He bears the scars and remembers... remembers not the enmity suffered, but of the friendship secured.

I’m so grateful to be called His friend!!

Steadfast Adherence

Hebrews 10:35 says, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!”

The Christian’s present conflict may be sharp, but it will soon be over. And isn’t it often that we have to remind ourselves of this?

And what I’ve learned as of late especially, is that God is rather fond of seeing His children persevere. The trials we’ve been assigned have purpose and the purpose of perseverance is for our benefit. For our advancement, our improvement, our increase, and ultimately the the expansion of His great kingdom work!

God sees our suffering. He sees the hardships we’re having to endure and He says to us, “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” The word “therefore” implies a consequence of something. He’s saying to us, “Because you have already endured so much, don’t you dare lose the victories which you have already gained!” The writer of Hebrews is reminding us today, “Just look where you came from. Look how far you have come! Turning back would be far worse!”

A minister on his deathbed when visited by someone who suggested to him that it’s “all peace now”, replied this, “No, it’s not all peace yet. I must wear the armor a little longer, and I must carry the sword a little further. It is a hard fight, but I shall get the white robe and the crown by-and-by. It is a hard fight, but it is worth it!”

My commentary says, “Pain is a far more growing element. Sunshine is not more indispensable to harvests than rain and cloudy days.” Indeed I will confess that hard circumstances have taught me more than ease and comfort ever have.

We wonder if the promises of God will ever come to pass and how long we will be asked to withstand the discomfort of trials, but He’s beckoning us to not discard, dispelling, dismiss, or cast off our bold declaration of faith... because there’s great recompense of reward just up ahead! 

A Tolerant Spirit

We read about Jesus resolutely heading for Jerusalem in Luke 9, and of the Samaritan people rejecting He and His disciples when they arrived. This infuriated James and John, and in verse 54 we see them asking, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven and burn them up?” This behavior was then rebuked by Jesus.

Ahh James and John... the Sons of Thunder. Quick to assume that the reason for their unwelcoming spirit was because of their enmity towards God and His Word, when in actuality the conduct of the Samaritan’s was the result of national prejudices and strict belief that their way of worship was the only acceptable way.

The disciples, though fervent defenders of their Lord, were ignorant of the dangerous motives of their hearts. They failed to recognize their carnal pride and ambition. There was too much bitterness in their zeal which is contrary to Christian meekness and forbearance.

My commentary says that the Gospel dispensation was to be marked by miracles of mercy. Ahh... miracles of mercy!

Our job.. our responsibility as a Christ-follower, is to proclaim the Gospel message to all people. And successful work demands a tolerant spirit. Jesus instructed the disciples, as He instructs US that, “He that is not against us is for us.” And an “Elijah spirit” would not suit the Savior’s times. Saving men, and not destroying them, was to be their mission. And we are called to have the same kind of tolerant spirit today.

Tolerant: The ability to endure, allow or permit by not preventing, not to re-strain, forgiving, lenient, permissive, benevolent.

Quite different from the spirit in which James and John were reacting, and not much different from the way we react to rejection and oppression today.

Miracles of mercy. They’re the way for the follower of Jesus. Showing mercy and love towards hard-to-love people is a miracle, and is be exercised by Christ followers. It’s hard to love those appearing to be against us, or persecuting us, but the Jesus way is to always show mercy. It’s the only way the Gospel will advance and prosper.

And so I am asking today… Lord, teach me to have a tolerant spirit!

I'm Trusting In The God Who Goes Before

The unknowns are a bit scary. I’ll admit that freely.

My family and I are currently living in a ton of unknowns and uncertainties. There’s large questions looming over our heads. There’s big decisions that need to be made. Quickly. And it’s all, honestly, a little much.

But when you know the One who has created you... the One in whom all of blessings flow... the One who redeems all things and shows grace to all people... you find yourself in the midst of enormous, unfathomable peace.

And it’s really our job to encourage ourselves. Those of us who are following after Jesus... it’s our absolute responsibility to find ways to encourage our souls in the midst of the messiness of life.

Because this thing you’re in... this crisis you’re enduring... this hardship you’ve been handed... it’s an opportunity to strengthen your trust and increase your faith. This trial you’re facing has been assigned to you with the intention of making you better.

We need not be afraid. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Ahh.. such perfect timing - His Word never returns to us void!

And so today I’m facing the fear head-on and I’m repeating it as often as necessary... until the words pierce my heart: The unknowns are always scary, but I’m trusting in the God who goes before!