Unmet Expectations

Now there was a famine in the land,

and Abram went down to Egypt to live there

for a while because the famine was severe.

Genesis 12:10

What am I to think when I answer God's call only to step into heartache and pain?  Or I take a leap of faith only to land in a wasteland?  Or I do what God is asking of me only to be rewarded with struggle?  I thought if I obeyed I'd be blessed!  I think to myself.  It was my understanding that God would make my paths straight and the going easy if I trusted Him completely.  I expected things to go smoothly if I only did what He said to do.

The problem here is not with God but with my expectations.  His ways are higher than my ways so it follows that God's plan would be way beyond anything I could comprehend.  Therefore, why would I think things would turn out the way I expect?  He has something much better in mind.

As a result, when I answer God's call but instead of triumph I experience what seems like defeat, I can take heart knowing that God's love for me is not diminished one iota and His good plan is still in effect.  I must look through eyes of faith and trust in the One who has my best interest at heart and who promised to never leave me and to always take care of my needs.  (Romans 8:28,Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 6:31-33)

Or when I take a risk and jump into the great unknown only to land on what seems like shaky ground, I can remember that God's plan transcends my understanding.  While I focus more on the here and now, His focus is eternal.  He takes me places I'd never go on my own steam so that I can learn things about Him, His kingdom and my faith that I'd never otherwise comprehend.  The life of a follower of Christ involves on-the-job training!

Or when I do what God asks me to do only to find my circumstances taking a turn for the worse, I can remember that God's blessings are mostly spiritual, not physical.    Through the struggle I will be rewarded with the blessings of experiencing the comfort that only comes from the Father of Compassion, or His tender love that gives me hope for what is to come, or His grace that makes each breath possible.  Sometimes, simply the awareness of how much I have been given is a much greater blessing than receiving all the riches in the world yet being ignorant of God's intimate touch.

Today, it is my intention to look at my current situation through eyes of faith, dropping my fleshly expectations of what I think should happen and simply let God be God, not limiting Him in any way by what I think He has planned for my life.  Instead, I want to see God's plan for what it is: perfect, good, and completely beyond my ability to comprehend.

Faithfulness of God

"For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ

with a resounding 'Yes!'  

And through Christ,

our 'Amen' (which means 'Yes')

ascends to God for his glory.

It is God who enables us,

along with you,

to stand firm for Christ.

He has commissioned us,

and he was identified us as his own

by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts

as the first installment that guarantees

everything he has promised us."

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NLT

Track Record.  I usually know whether or not I can depend on someone based upon their past behavior.  Some are dependable, others are flaky and forgetful.  Behavior betrays one's faithfulness.

I can always count on God as recorded in His Word.  "I will proclaim the name of the LORD.  Oh, praise the greatness of our God!  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."  (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)

When all around me seems unstable and unsure, I can stand on the Solid Rock.  Even when I don't know the answers, God holds the blueprint for my life in the palm of his hand.  In the times when I feel I can't trust myself, let alone those around me, I can trust God.  

Why can I put all my eggs in God's basket?  It is because He possesses a flawless track record.

Abraham

The years past by and hope turned to dust; dry and lifeless like the rocky land in which he lived. I want to believe God, but how long must a wait for a child?  I'm an old man. . . maybe I was hallucinating.  Maybe God wants me to do something to make His promise happen.  Maybe I imagined the whole thing.  

Abraham and Sarah had to wait over 25 years before the promise God made in Genesis 12 was fulfilled; the promise that, ". . all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. . " and, "To your offspring I will give this land." (v3, 7)

Finally, when Abraham reached 100 years of age, Isaac was born; the promise had been fulfilled.  God has His own timetable and it has nothing to do with me.  If I'm going to trust Him I must not bind Him with the parameters of time.  

I often grow weary of waiting; for things to get better, for relationships to be healed, for hardened hearts to soften.  As one who follows a faithful God, I know that I can trust Him to do as He has said He will do.  He will finish what He has started, bind the brokenhearted and work a miracle in a heart.  He is able. . . if I am willing to wait on Him.

God is faithful to keep His promises. . . on His timetable.

Joseph

It all started with a dream.  He foolishly and arrogantly shared the dream with his brothers of all their sheaves of wheat bowing down to his.  Soon, he found himself the victim of his brother's cruel jealousy, sold into slavery and on his way to Egypt to become the slave of Pharaoh's captain of the guard.  

As if this wasn't bad enough, despite the position of trust he had risen to in the house of Potiphar, he soon found himself imprisoned due to a false charge by his master's wife.  Years later, God enabled him to interpret the Pharaoh's dream, landing him a position as second in command in all of Egypt.  After 13 years of unfair circumstances and undeserved treatment, Joseph had risen to an unimaginable level.  As he later said to his brothers when they were reunited, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  (Genesis 50:20)

You see, Joseph's life seemed like one big tragedy, but because of the foresight revealed by Pharaoh's dream, the prophecy from a boy's long ago dream came true.  And through Joseph's position of power, God was able to use him to prepare a country for a famine that no one else knew was coming.  Soon, all would come to Egypt looking for grain.  Even his brothers would bow before him out of desperation.

I often feel like life has not been fair to me or those around me.  I work hard and try to do the best I can, but I can't seem to catch a break.  I lose my job.  I am falsely accused.  I am taken to court.  The car breaks down, the roof springs a leak and my knee goes out all in the same week.  When will things get better?

Even though life is harsh and circumstances seem unfair, God has a way of taking something bad and using it for the good.  He has a knack for utilizing weak and broken people for powerful and restorative acts.  The Lord can turn the tables in a heartbeat, leaving observers with a serious case of whiplash.

The Apostle Paul reassured us with the thought that, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Joseph's purpose was ultimately to provide a way for the Israelites to enter into slavery in Egypt, thus opening a need for delivery in a way that would showcase God's great power and proclaim His name throughout all the earth. 

Who knows what plan God has for my life. . . or for your life?  Future generations could be affected by circumstances that I am going through right now.  My ancestors might benefit from the fruit that is produced from my heartache.  A seed that is planted right now in the midst of my trouble could sprout and grow for many to see in years yet to come.

Putting my trust in a faithful God means leaving the outcome up to Him, no matter how unfair circumstances now may seem.

Messiah

"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."  (Isaiah 53:5)

"You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay."  (Psalm 16:10)

"The LORD ways to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' (Psalm 110:1)

Generations of Jews studied these, along with many other prophecies, as they awaited the coming of their Messiah; their promised deliverer.  When would He come?  How will He vanquish our enemies?  How long must we wait?  They must have quivered with excitement of the prospect of their liberation.  

God did fulfill these prophecies in the Person of Jesus Christ.  He died on the cross, taking the punishment for my sins and giving me a peace with God through faith in Him.  He rose again on the third day, illustrating His victory over death.  He is now seated at the right hand of God as the conqueror of the power and consequences of sin in my life.  All mankind is liberated from the death sentence our sin deserves.  

From the moment when Adam first sinned and the state of mankind fell from it's original design, we have been estranged from God.  In that one instant on the cross, the relationship was restored and the impossible once again became possible.  The imperfect is reunited with the Perfect One.  The unholy can abide with the Holy One.  The estranged is brought back together with the Beloved.

If God can accomplish the impossible task of redeeming my hopeless, sinful soul, then I can certainly trust God with everything in my life.

It is not easy to trust those who let us down, but because of God's faithfulness to keep His promises, I can stand firm on His strong foundation.  The constricts of time, harsh circumstances or impossible tasks do not get in His way.  His will prevails. . . of this I can be certain.   

This is the God on Whom I will stake my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember all that God has done to help me believe in all that He will do.

How do I get bogged down in the difficulties and forget that His plan can use those troubles?

When would it benefit me to remember the impossible task of redemption that Jesus accomplished on the cross?

It's All About Him

"It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land;

but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you,

to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, 

to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Understand, then,

that it is not because of your righteousness

that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess,

for you are a stiff-necked people."

Deuteronomy 9:5-6

It was hard endure. . . the screeching, off-pitch voice attempting to sing, "Unchained Melody" or "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" during the audition phase of American Idol.  Inevitably, as the performer stands beaming before the judges waiting for his praise and ticket to Hollywood, his face becomes crestfallen as he realizes the panel didn't like his performance.  His shock turns to anger as he hears the opinions of the industry professionals telling him the opposite of what everyone else has been telling him; "You can't carry a tune."  

It was painful to see his bursting bubble. . . a bubble that had been formed through the well-meaning attempts of others to boost his self-esteem.  Unfortunately, the poor fellow was completely unprepared for the reality of the world.

We are living in a time when developing high self-esteem is promoted as essential to living a happy well-adjusted life.  Fortunately, studies are now showing that the opposite is actually quite true.  

As parenting expert John Rosemond says, "Today's typical parent seems to think his/her child is the only fish in the pond worth noticing, which is really too bad for his/her child.  It's bad for all of us, actually, because the research also finds that the higher a person's self-regard, the lower his regard for others. (It is also noteworthy that high self-esteem puts the individual at high risk for bouts of severe depression." 

This proclivity toward self-importance is not peculiar to today's world.  It is human nature for me to think first of myself and to assume the world revolves around me.  Something or Someone has to bring me back around to a more humble point of view.  

In the same way, God had to remind His people over and over again that they existed because of Him, not the other way around.  And we are still getting that mixed up today!

His Justice

One of the most common phrases I hear the kids whine in our afterschool program  is, "That's not fair!"  I usually respond with, "Well, life's not fair."  A human's sense of justice is so different from God's.  

I think of Uzziah, the poor fellow who was simply trying to steady the ark of the covenant as the oxen stumbled while pulling the cart carrying the holy load when God struck him down on the spot, killing him instantly.  No fair!  I think, he was only trying to help!  

But David had completely disregarded the instructions from God on how to transport the special box that held the ten commandments, a sample of manna and Aaron's staff.  Instead, it was carried in the same way people would transport a common household idol, a false god.  David failed to take God's commandments seriously and teach his people how to handle His holy articles, carrying the ark with poles on the shoulders of consecrated men from the tribe of Levi. 

A man lost his life that day in a way that seemed unfair and harsh.  But God's, "works are perfect, and all his ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."  (Deuteronomy 32:4)  

When I see things happening around me that seem unfair, I must keep this in mind:  God is perfectly just.  

We are all at the mercy of God's justice.  Thankfully, He doesn't do anything out of spite or malice, but simply out of His sense of fairness.

I can trust God with my life because everything that happens is in accordance with His justice.

His Promise

"I promise I will never leave you!"  I hear these types of impossible promises being made by people all the time.  Parents vow to always be there for their children, but an unexpected tragedy forces them to break that promise.  A man assures his wife that he'll never drink again, then a stressful day drives him back to the familiar comfort of the bottle.  Politicians are known for promising one thing in order to get elected, then finding out it's not so easy to carry out their idealistic plans and consequently go back on their word.  

Promises are hard for humans to keep.  God, however, never struggles with fulfilling all of His promises.  

One of His foundational promises was first given to Abraham as recorded in Genesis 12.  He commanded Abraham to leave his country and go to a land He would later show him.  Then he said, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."  (v 2 and 3)

This blessing ended up being fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  "By His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)  I now have the blessing of cultivating a relationship with my Father in heaven and the hope of living with Him for all of eternity through faith in Jesus Christ and belief in what He did for me on the cross.  Anyone can receive this blessing through a simple, child-like faith. 

The impact of that one promise on my life is enormous.  No longer am I bound to the futility of trying to work my way to heaven by doing good.  Instead I can rest assured that the blood of Jesus covers all of my sin, making me appear to God as if I were pure and sinless.

Since I have been extended this great gift of grace and am free from the judgment of God that my sins deserve, I can pass that grace on to others, cutting them a break instead of constantly thinking I need to hold them to my standards.  

Experiencing the depth of undeserving love that flows from God to me through his Son, I can love others in ways they don't deserve.  

My life and my hope comes as a fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham thousands of years before.    

His Choice

I live in God's creation.  He made up all the rules.  He decided how things were going to work.  He picked out all the colors.  It all belongs to Him.  As He reminded his people when they became too big for their britches, ". . .every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."  (Psalm 50:10)

Who am I to complain about where He placed me, how He put me together, or who makes up my family?  As God told us through the prophet Isaiah, "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'He did not make me'? Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing'?" (Isaiah 29:16)

God has plans that have nothing to do with me.  He decides what role each one of His creation will play in His production.  He chose Pharaoh as a vehicle for the demonstration of His power and glory at the cost of his very life.  On the other hand, he chose Jacob as his favored one from the time before he was formed in his mother's womb.   Both were used by God.  One was shown mercy, one was not.  This is God's choice.   

If you are reading this blog, God is calling you to Himself.  Those who God is showing mercy to are drawn to Him, wanting to learn more about Him and desiring to grow closer to Him.

As one of God's chosen, I can rest assured that my position in God's family is as a result of His plan, not as a result of my fitness or worthiness.  

It is easy for me to fall into the pattern of this world and to focus on my welfare, my plans and my happiness.   In reality, I am at God's mercy and His actions have nothing to do with me.  Instead, He acts according to His justice, His promises, and His plan.  

Giving God His rightful place humbles me as I learn to accept all He has for me today!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to act in a way that He sees as best.

When do I think life is unfair?

How can I trust God when things seem to be falling apart?

One Blessing After Another

"From the fullness of His grace 

we have all received 

one blessing after another."

John 1:16

"Too blessed to be stressed."

"Count your blessings"

"Blessed and highly favored"

"Bless your little heart"

These are some of the ways I have heard the word blessing used.  Many times, I twist the meaning of the word "blessing," equating it to physical gifts such as my home, job, family, car or my abundance of "stuff".  It's true that I need to acknowledge God as the giver of all good things.  But do I also recognize the spiritual blessings that come with belonging to Jesus?

Promise  When Abraham was 75 years of age, God told him to leave his home in Haran, and "go to the land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1)  In other words, "start walking and I'll let you know when you get there."  But God did not leave it at that seemingly impossible request.  He also blessed Abraham with the promise that would eventually affect all of us.  God said He would make Abraham into a great nation, that he would be well known, and that, "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (v 3)  Jesus is the greatest blessing I have received. He restored my relationship with a Holy God, and He gave me the hope of heaven. . . all through His selfless decision to be born as a mere child, and grow up to become a man who would die on the cross, taking the punishment for my sins and the sins of all who trust in Him as their Savior.  This Christmas, I want to remember the blessing of Jesus.

Trials  I don't usually think of hard times as a blessing, but God considers them to be beneficial to me as a believer. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (Jame 1:12)  There are things I learn during times of difficulty that I would never learn when everything is going according to my plan.  Faith is trusting God's plan for my life, especially when I have no idea how that plan is going to play out.  Martyred missionary Jim Elliot* seemed to understand well the importance of trusting God no matter the outcome, "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him."  This Christmas, I will remember the blessing of trials.

Humility Ask anyone on the street about humility, and you will find a negative connotation associated with the word.  Either people will talk about humiliating situations that were an embarrassment to them, or they may mumble something about low self-esteem. Ask them if they desire to be humble, and most would likely say, "No."  But God looks highly upon those who have a modest or low view of their importance.  On His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  In God's kingdom, self-esteem is derived from God-esteem.  My worth comes from who I am in relation to God, not who I am in my own right.  All the good that is in me is from God.  When I acknowledge this truth, I am lowering myself to my rightful place, and honoring God with the respect He deserves.  If I want to build my view of myself, I need to first clarify my understanding of God and where I stand in relation to Him.  This Christmas, I will remember the blessing of humility.

The next time I start counting my blessings, I will begin with the spiritual ones, like the blessing of Jesus, the trials in my life and an attitude of humility.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will see all the blessings God has given me, not just the ones I can see and touch.  

How do I try to avoid hard times, thus robbing myself of that blessing?

When do I think of myself more highly than I ought?

*Jim Elliot quote from:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jim_elliot.html#ixzz1gz3aNPwX

Perfect Love

"Such love has no fear,

because perfect love expels all fear.

If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment,

and this shows that we have not fully experienced

his perfect love." 

I John 4:18 NLT

There are so many things in this world that can draw me into a state of fear.  I often fear what may happen in the future, what people might be thinking, or how someone may react.  Fear is a common human emotion, but it can cripple and render a believer helpless. So common is fear that you might be surprised at the men of faith who experienced periods of fear in their lives.

Sinking  Peter, along with the disciples of Jesus, had just experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish to feed a crowd of five thousand.  Jesus retreated to a place of solitude as the rest of the group crossed the lake in a boat.  As Jesus later walked on water toward them, they were all gripped with fear, but Jesus reassured them:  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Immediately, Peter asked Jesus to confirm his identity by asking him, a mere human, to walk on water!  When Jesus said, "Come," Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on water.  But as soon as he turned his focus from the one he loved, toward the threatening waves, he began to sink.  As Jesus reached out to pull Peter up, He asked, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (verse 31)

Run for your life  Elijah was one of the greatest men of faith, proclaiming a period of drought which would only end at his word, healing a widow's son, and boldly showing God's power against 450 prophets of Baal.  After these amazing feats of faith, Elijah fled for fear of losing his life at the hand of the evil and powerful Jezebel, wife of Ahab the king of Judah,. (I Kings 18-19) 

Deception  Abraham, the chosen father of many nations who couragously left the land of his father and obediently traveled to a land he did not know, was plagued with fear at times.  He claimed his wife Sarah to be his sister out of fear that the reigning king of the region would kill Abraham and claim her as his own.  And he did this not once, but twice! (Genesis 12, 20)

Panic  How did these men of great faith who had witnessed mighty acts of God fall into a state of panic, driving them to sink, run and deceive?  They were human just like me and you.  No one is immune to fear, but we do not have to be ruled by fear.

Faith  There is a saying of unknown origin that goes, "Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  No one was there."  Faith is an antidote to fear.  Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus and instead focused on the threat of danger all around him. He began to doubt that Jesus could enable him to walk on water and started to instead believe that the waves would overtake him.  This is how I many times feel in life when I forget that Jesus can deliver me from the cares of this world.   I can ward off fear by choosing to trust in Jesus.

Love  Sometimes I fear what others will do to me, or think of me, because I know only too well the state of the human heart.  But love is an antidote to fear.  Fear is based on a faulty understanding of God's love.  When I truly grasp, "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that (I) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,"  (Ephesians 3:18b-19) then I will not fear.  I can ward off fear by choosing to rest in the completeness of God's love instead of wallowing in the shallowness of my own feeble humanity.

Choice  Fear is inevitable, but I do not have to let it rule my life.  Instead, I can choose to keep my eyes on Jesus, and seek to comprehend the abundance of God's love.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not let fear rule my life.

Where am I afraid to follow Jesus?

In what ways do I let fear cripple me?