No Matter What

"God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging."

Psalm 46:1-3

Think of your worst, your greatest fear.  Got a picture of it?  Okay, now, how will you face it?  If it came to pass, what would you do?

The answer is, "God."  He is how you and I face our greatest fear realized.

Refuge.  Wherever I am, He is there.  There is nowhere I can go where His Spirit is not there also (Psalm 139:7-11).  If I sink into the darkest depths of despair, He is there.  If I rise to the heights of success, He is there.  If I run far away in an effort to prove my worth by finding my own way, He is there.

My Father is always there.  It's not just that He is omnipresent, which He is.  Rather, it's the fact that His heart is always there with me.  He is a romantic, constantly seeking me out, as afraid I am of intimacy.  No matter how much I fear revealing the dark things found in the deepest parts of me, He is there.  And He is safe.  

I can trust Him with my greatest fears!  He will not turn away in disgust, withdrawing His love out of disappointment.  No!  I am secure in His steadfast love.  So secure that I can open up myself to Him and share it all with Him.  He is my refuge.  When no one else understands, He does.  When I feel abandoned by all, He is there.  When fear grips my heart, giving me an ugly countenance, He sees me as beautiful in the midst of the distress.

When facing my greatest fears, God is my safe place where I will always be accepted as a well-loved child.

Strength.  My greatest fear saps me of energy.  It leaves me helpless and vulnerable.  In the face of it, I lose all ability to think rationally, to push through the wall that rises up, to carry on.  Even though I loathe quitting, I want nothing more than to give up, letting the failure come because I think it's so much better than what I dread.

If I keep my eyes on my Father, however, as He stands steadfast in love before me, I will have the strength I need to persevere.  What seemed so impossible suddenly becomes possible in the presence of my Savior.  He rescues me from hopelessness and delivers me into a new realm where I can put one foot in front of the other, moving toward what scares me.  Instead of backing off, as is my natural self-preserving inclination, I have been given the supernatural ability to endure, to withstand the storm, to persist (Isaiah 40:28-31).

When facing my greatest fears, God is my source of strength to face my fears as I grow in His love for me.

Ever-present.  Soldiers spend a lot of time caring for their weapon.  When in combat, their firearm is their best friend, their hope for survival, their greatest ally.  Therefore, they want to make sure it works properly, that it can be counted on.  It is tested often, cleaned regularly, and maintained consistently.  When it is needed, it must work; their life depends on it!

When I'm facing what weakens my knees with fright, I want to know without a doubt that God is trustworthy and constant.  If I'm going to put my faith in Him, it will be with the understanding that He can be counted on.  I must realize that He will never let me down.

When I comprehend these aspects of God; His faithfulness, His proven dependability, His willingness to help me when I call on Him, I will be able to put my life in His hands.  He is exactly who He says He is in His Word.  He is close to the brokenhearted, hears me when I cry out to Him, and is my source of hope (Psalm 34:18, Psalm 18:6, Psalm 62:5).

When facing my greatest fears, God can be counted on as a well-proven presence in my life as I place my trust wholly in Him.

It's hard to think about facing that which sends my heart into panic.  If my greatest fear is realized, it will not be the end.  God will be my answer as I discover how safe He is, that His strength can be mine, and He is a constant presence that can be counted on.  In these ways, even though I'm in the middle of my worst nightmare, I'm finding that He is the answer, no matter what.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep close to the God who is always close to me.

When do I pull away from God, uncomfortable with His advances?

What do I fear the most and spend a lot of energy avoiding?     

     

More With Us

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or discouraged

because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him,

for there is a greater power with us than with him."

2 Chronicles 32:7

They were experienced in conquering nations.  Having never tasted defeat, they were pretty confident in their ability to take down the tiny nation of Judah.  So, they set to work, laying siege to all the fortified cities.  In the face of such a threat as this, Hezekiah didn't waver in his faith in God.  Even though the armies of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, surrounded him, he realized they were no match for his mighty God!  Therefore, he encouraged his people to stand firm and put their trust in the Lord (2 Chronicles 32).

It may look like things are pretty hopeless in my life, as well.  Perhaps I face an insurmountable opponent such as the federal government, or a powerful corporation, or a team of lawyers.  No matter how much they posture, threaten and attempt to intimidate me, they are no match for God.  Even if they've never lost a case or failed in their efforts, God cannot be defeated.  If God is for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31, Psalm 118:6)

I have nothing to fear because no matter how things look, there's more with me than with my enemy.

Arm of Flesh.  The plan is solid and they've all had a good night's sleep.  The team is filled with hard-working people, the best in their field.  It seems everything is working in their favor.  As they set to work, though, they face many obstacles.  As time goes by, their fervor wanes and their strength fades.  Before they know it, they are burned out.

It doesn't matter how well-prepared man is; he will run out of steam at some point.  The abilities and power of man are limited.  If I place my trust in any man-made entity, I will be disappointed.  If, however, I place my faith in God, I will never be let down.  He never grows weary or runs out of answers and I can't go wrong by waiting on Him (Isaiah 40:27-31).

When I place my faith in God, there is more with me no matter how strong or intelligent man may seem.

Warrior.  It seems counter-intuitive in the face of a battle.  Isn't an army supposed to fight?  Usually, yes, but God has a history of fighting battles for His people.  So, Joshua trusted in God's plan and led his people in marching around Jericho, never lifting a weapon against the mighty, fortified city they were there to conquer.  To their great astonishment, the impenetrable walls fell on the seventh day of marching, purely as a result of God's supernatural work, and the Israelites took the city (Joshua 6).

God is not just my protector, provider and sustainer.  He is also my warrior.  As such, it is His desire that I let Him fight my battles for me (Deuteronomy 20:4).  Therefore, I can rest easy and watch for the Lord's deliverance.  Even though it seems like I should be fighting to protect my rights, or further my agenda, or liberate myself, it is God's desire that I leave the battle to Him.  In the end, when I stand in wonder at all He has done to rescue me, He will get all the glory for a battle well-fought.

When I place my faith in God, letting Him fight my battles, there is more with me than with my enemy.

Help.  It feels good to help others, knowing I have made their lives a bit easier and have blessed them in some small way.  Asking for help, on the other hand, is not something I am naturally willing to do.  I'd rather muddle through on my own, trying my best to make things work.  

I was never designed to walk alone on the path God has laid before me.  It is His intention that I walk with Him, allowing Him to bear my burdens, hold onto my fears, and carry my worries.  When I insist on trying to make a go of it in my own strength, I will fall every time.  When I instead cast my cares on Him, trusting in His mighty power, I will be able to walk calmly and assuredly through any calamity that comes my way, knowing He is my ever-present source of help (Psalm 46:1-3).

When I place my faith in God, allowing Him to help me in my time of need, there is more with me than with the unknown I face.

In the same way that Hezekiah faced a great opponent yet stood firm in his faith, I can trust God even when the going gets tough.  When I do, I will realize the futility of trusting in man and will allow God to fight my battles for me and give me the help I so desperately need.  Then I will truly be able to say, there is more with me than with whatever it is I face.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God instead of giving into fear.

When am I afraid to let God fight for me?

How am I unwilling to let God carry my burdens for me?    

God's Mighty Hand

"This is the word of the LORD 

to Zerubbabel:

'Not by might

nor by power,

but by my Spirit,'

says the LORD Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6

He was in charge of rebuilding the Temple of God.  He relished the challenge at first, following the strict plan given by God generations ago.  It was the culmination of many promises made by the One True God: He would gather His people from all the places where He had banished them and bring them back to this place from which God first had carried His defiant people into exile.  (Jeremiah 29:14)  The humble carpenter was honored to be playing an important role in this historic moment.

Things, however, had not gone as smoothly as he had first hoped.  Opposition arose against the building of the temple; so much so that they had to stop construction for a period of ten years!  Zerubbabel almost gave up, until that momentous day when God himself sent a message to the foreman.  It was just the encouragement he needed to finish the job.

I'm not so different from Zerubbabel.  I may not have the skills and experience needed to head up an important job like rebuilding God's temple, but I do get discouraged by the tasks God has placed in front of me.  The slightest snafu can set me off course, plunging me into the depths of despair.  If things don't go according to plan, my plan, then I act like a piece of twine and come unraveled.  The most minor of irritations can get under my skin, distracting me from the job at hand.

Life is not orderly and organized.  Instead, it is filled with people who have different ideas than I do, others who follow a diverse callings and many who are working against me.  Things don't just fall into place.  Instead, I could more accurately say that if life were a jigsaw puzzle, I would still be trying to find all the edge pieces.  I am not equipped to negotiate life on my own.  When I try, I fail.  

As a follower of Christ, I am called to love the unlovable all around me.  The message God gave to Zerubbabel is the same kind of encouragement I need to get through each day.

Soaring

First there was the unexpected hospitalization.   Then came the car accident, and the ticket that went with it.  Then the phone call every parent dreads, "Mom, I've been in an accident but I'm okay."  It so happens that this final crash was potentially fatal as the teenage boy and his friend rolled the car, totaling it but miraculously walking away unharmed.  Each progressive crisis was another opportunity to trust God for my friend; another occasion to worry.

My friend would agree with me that life is hard and cannot be negotiated in my own strength.  I can try to stay strong for the kids, put up a brave front and do what needs to be done, but inside I am worn out.  The answer lies in where I find my strength.  

If I look to myself, my resources and my support system, I will soon run out of steam.  I am just not designed to carry the kind of load that life heaps upon me.  If, however, I do as the prophet Isaiah directs, I'll get through each day.  He said, "those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  (Isaiah 40:31)

Sometimes, carrying on in the face of day-to-day life is the most difficult task to accomplish.  The drudgery, the monotony, the lack of excitement can cause me to think my life is without meaning.  But if I keep my eyes focused on Jesus, believing that He created me for a special mission and, as unimportant as it may seem to me, I can know without question that God has planned some good works for me to do.

It could be that the good works are hidden in the cup of tea I share with a hurting neighbor or the seemingly insignificant act of helping an older woman carry her groceries to the car, or the kind word of encouragement I give to a coworker.  In the hands of Jesus, a small act of faith has an earth-shattering impact.

Finding my strength in God means I'll never forget who I am: a sinner saved by His grace.

Letting Go

Forgiveness.  I can think of nothing more powerful than the act of letting go of the hurt caused by another's sin.  Jesus' sacrifice on the cross gives me the ability to take this life-changing action.    Instead of holding onto the hurt, anger and pain, I can choose to place it in Jesus' hands where it will be covered by His blood.  Even if the one who hurt me never accepts this free gift of mercy that Jesus offers, I am free from the bondage in which sin holds me.  

It is not within my own power to forgive others.  I can try to let it go, push the act out of my mind and move forward, but the wound festers, lying just under the surface and ready to explode at the slightest provocation.  Likewise, it is impossible for me to forgive myself in my own power.  I can try to let it go, push the guilt out of my mind and move forward, but the shame and remorse will always hang over me like a heavy cloud, bearing down as I slink through each day.

It reminds me of the story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet with perfume.  She had hurt many people in the town.  Most likely she was the source of jealous anger within a marriage, broken trust and shame that spread like the plague.  There was also much heartache within her.  Her guilt bore down heavily upon her, disgrace and humility her constant companions.  If anyone needed forgiveness, it was her.

Jesus offered that forgiveness and she grabbed it hungrily.  Out of gratefulness and honor to her Savior, she loved Him the best way she knew how and Jesus recognized her gift of gratitude.  

Remembering the sins of which Jesus has forgiven me gives me the power to let go.  

Mission

I can relate to Moses.  When God called him dramatically at the site of the burning bush, he thought of all the reasons he was not the right man for the job.  First of all, he was just a lowly shepherd, not a leader or man of influence.  Then there was his speech problem.  To make matters worse, he also had a credibility problem since he'd run away from the Pharaoh's palace 40 years ago and most of the Israelites would probably not know his identity as a fellow Hebrew.  What was God thinking?

God has a mission for each of His people.  It is a specially chosen ministry that He has called every one of His children to embrace.  None of us are perfectly equipped to carry out that mission.  By design, God expects us to rely on Him for all that I need to accomplish His calling.  As the Apostle Paul said, ". . . for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Paul understood from where the source of his strength and power came.  He comprehended that fact that God was the One who accomplished everything.  Paul's job was to submit to His authority and sovereignty.  

As a fellow follower of Christ, it's no different for me.  God will accomplish what it is He's called me to. . . if I will let Him.  Most of the time, however, I get in the way as I try to do it in my own strength or find excuses to not take the step of faith.  Once I walk off the proverbial cliff into the darkness of the unknown, Jesus will be there to provide firm footing. I can trust Him to accomplish the mission to which He's called me.  Then I will be like Zerubbabel whom God said, "What are you, O mighty mountain?  Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground." (Zechariah 4:7)

Relying on Jesus to accomplish the mission to which He has called me and seeing His mighty works reminds me of who I am without Him. 

God has presented me with an impossible task: To live in a fallen world and love all those around me.  As I keep my own identity as a sinner saved by grace before me I will remember to draw on Jesus for the strength to carry on and for the power to forgive.  Then I will truly see God's mighty hand accomplish His mission in my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will rely on God and God alone to accomplish the mission to which He has called me.

When do I give excuses to God for why I can't do what He wants me to do?

How do I hold onto hurt instead of allowing the power of forgiveness to work in my life?  

Who is in Control?

"Humble yourselves, therefore,

under God's mighty hand,

that he may lift you up in due time.

Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you."

1 Peter 5:6-7

"I can't do it anymore." These words slipped from my friend's mouth amidst the streaming tears as she poured out her heartache.  She was giving her all to her family, but they were showing nothing but contempt and ingratitude.  Defeat was written all over her face.

As we spoke, poring over scripture and submitting ourselves to God, an amazing transformation took place.  Hopelessness turned to faith.  Despair became optimism.  Defeat was transformed into triumph.  The Holy Spirit was at work.

This kind of progression can be studied in the book of Psalms where David began by crying out to God in despair and ended by praising Him in a spirit of great hope and worshipfulness.  Only God's Spirit can create this dramatic transformation in a person's soul.  

Control

I can make it work, I just need to try harder.  I don't know if you've ever said this to yourself, but I have many times.  Whether it be in trying to control my temper, accomplishing tasks throughout the day, or in strengthening my marriage, the fact remains that I am not the one in control.  

Pastor and writer Dick Rasanen shares this desire to be in command as a prayer.  "Dear God, I find it so easy to try to be the one in charge.  I find it so painful to realize that I am not the one in control.  Help me know when saying "I just work here" that it is a confession and not just a way of evading responsibility."

Isaiah 40 is a good place to start in reminding myself where I stand in the scheme of things.  "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them.  Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (v 6-8)  

I am small and fragile in comparison to the mighty, everlasting God who created me!  How can I hope to control anything?

God's message through the prophet Isaiah continues with, "Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?  Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?  Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?" (v 13-14)  Not only am I feeble and frail, but I have no comprehension of the workings of things.  

As if that's not enough, God then reminds me of his power as compared to my weakness. "Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (v 28-29)  God will never say, "I can't do it anymore."

God is better equipped to remain in control than am I.  

Humble

Even though it is painfully clear that I am ill-equipped and completely unable to direct my own paths, there is a little something called "pride" that drives me to try anyway.  

My pride says I have something to do with my own destiny, whether negative or positive.  My pride pushes my own desires, hurts, and problems to the forefront and all else to the background.  My pride won't let me forget myself.

Humility, however, helps me to realize the truth that God directs my footsteps. Humility elevates others' desires, hurts and problems to the same level of importance as my own.  Humility allows me to forget myself and my desire to defend my reputation, thinking only of God and His Name.

The crazy thing about humility is that if I feel in a rut, if it seems I'm in a pit so deep that I can't climb out, if I think that I can't get any lower, the answer is to lower myself to a position that recognizes that I am nothing without my Creator.  I must admit that all I have, all I am, all I own is a gift from God.  

When I have bowed before the Lord as low as I can get, with my face in the dirt, He does something amazing.  As James wrote in Chapter 4 verse 10 of his letter to God's people scattered throughout the region, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." 

It runs counter to my understanding to lower myself in order to be lifted up, but the key lies in Who is doing the elevating.

Yield

I encounter the familiar red triangular sign quite often when driving around my town.  My first instinct when pulling up beside it is to think how I can dart out into traffic without having to wait.  In reality, this sign means, "it is (my) responsibility to slow down, look to the right and left and yield to oncoming traffic." *

As a driver, I am under the authority of the law of the land.  If the sign says "Yield", then I must let the other cars go first or I am at risk of earning a ticket from a law enforcement official.  

In the same way, I must surrender to and submit to God as the ultimate authority in my life.  Since He says to yield to Him, I must let Him go first, allowing Him to lead the way in my life. 

As David said in Psalm 25:8-9, "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.  He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way."  Submitting myself to God means yielding to his authority and power in every part of my life and letting Him have His way.  

God has all the answers if I would only yield to His power.

My friend was right, she can't do it anymore.  She never could, and neither can I.  Instead, I can recognize that God is the One who is in control of all things.  I can humble myself before Him, giving me the ability to yield to His Spirit as Lord of my life.

Now I can do it, because it is God who is working it out through me!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will recognize God's dominion over all things.

When do I fall into a pit as I focus only on the mess that is all around me instead of on the great power of God?

In what areas do I rely on my own feeble strength instead of submitting to God's undying strength?

* http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/forms/Signs.pdf

City on a Hill

"You are the light of the world.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand,

and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way,

let your light shine before men,

that they may see your good deeds

and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

I don't think of myself as a leader.  The leaders I know are confident, self-assured men and women who make a difference in my community, state, country or even in the world.  They are pastors, elected officials, business owners and politicians.  Leaders are in the spotlight giving sound bites and interviews.  Everyone looks to them for guidance and direction.

The thing is, I am a leader whether I realize it or not.  As a follower of Christ, people are watching me.  Others are looking to me for guidance and direction.  They are curious as to what I'm all about.  I may not give press conferences or interviews, but those who are watching me know what my message is by how I live my life.  

What message am I broadcasting?

Faith

Elisabeth Elliot, writer, speaker and wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliot said, "True faith goes into operation when there are no answers."  She should know a little about being sure of what she hopes for and confident of what she cannot see.  After her husband was killed in the jungles of Ecuador by three members of the fierce Auca tribe, she stayed on for 3 years with her young daughter, first boarding two Auca women, then living with the very tribe who had killed her husband and four other missionaries. 

The love of God drove this woman to show compassion to the very people who had brutally speared her husband to death.  To anyone who was paying attention, they were witnessing faith in action.  Observers were being taught how to trust God when everything seemed to be going wrong, when the mission seemed to be a complete and utter failure, and when five families had lost their husbands and fathers in one fell swoop.

Those who were watching Elisabeth were being led down a path of belief in a God who had a plan; a God whose sovereignty is supreme and whose vision is eternal.  Watchers were learning that God can be trusted in times of trouble and that He loves His creation with an everlasting love.

What message about faith am I sending to those who are around me?  What do they learn when they see that my marriage is difficult and love feels cold between husband and wife?  What am I showing them when repairs are mounting, bills are piling up and funds are nonexistent?  What are they seeing when everything seems to be going wrong and my life seems to be a complete and utter failure?  Who do I believe God to be? 

Am I living my life in a way that shows that God is up to the challenge?  That He is my Rock and my Redeemer? That all things are possible with God?  

My faith, or lack of faith, in God is one of the messages I am sending to those who are watching my life.

Hope

I remember a song from my childhood about an ant trying to move a rubber tree plant.  The chorus went, "but he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes, he's got high apple pie in the sky hopes.  So anytime you're feeling low, 'stead of letting go, just remember that ant; oops there goes another rubber tree plant!"

The truth is, we all need hope in order to carry on.  I need to believe that good things can happen and that everything is going to work out okay.

Without knowledge of my Creator, however, I think I would lose hope.  If I didn't know the One who had the plan for my life, how would I know things would turn out for the best?  How would I be able to keep from losing hope in the face of the great trials and difficulties of life?  Hope would be an exercise in futility. . . much like the hope the ant has in single-handedly moving a huge100-foot-tall plant.  

Trying to keep up the front of hopefulness in my own strength is impossible.  There is not much to hope for in this world.  Terrorism is on the rise, the economy is poor, jobs are scarce and love runs cold.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  (Isaiah 40:31)

When I hope in the Lord, those who are watching will see a Light that stands out in a dark world filled with despair.  

Love

"The thing I don't get is why you keep welcoming my kids back into your home when they've acted so disrespectfully and treated you so poorly."

"Maybe you can answer this question for me.  Don't you find it strange that all the kids flock to your house after school, even before they go home?"

"Why does everyone go to you with their problems?"

These are examples of some of the questions and comments I've received lately.  It shows a clear example of how the love of God is drawing others to Him, and that those who are observing are taking note.  The kind of love most of us are used to is conditional,  It's there when things go right, but the moment it hurts, that love is gone.  

But God's love is different.  It is kind and patient.  God's love never gives up no matter how much abuse is dished out.  God's love endures through every circumstance; sickness, rebellion and nuisance.  God's love doesn't get irritated by childish behavior.  God's love never fails.

Letting God love others through you is one of the most powerful witnesses anyone could offer.  

As Pulitzer Prize-winner Jewish American writer Saul Bellow said, "A man is only as good as what he loves."

The way I allow God's love to flow through me is sending a powerful message to those around me.

I am a leader whether I realize it or not.  How am I leading those who are watching me?  I can send them life-changing illustrations of faith, hope and love in the way I live my life in accordance with God's Spirit.  Nothing is impossible with God!

As I begin this day, it is my hope that I will be mindful of those who are watching.

What message do I send when I'm feeling overwhelmed, under attack and weighed down with the worries of life?

How is God growing my faith through the circumstances of my life today?

Strength in the Wait

"Wait on the LORD: 

be of good courage, 

and he shall strengthen thine heart: 

wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalm 27:14 KJV

It's hard for me to sit still while I'm waiting.  If I'm waiting for a ride to pick me up, I set up surveillance out the window, pacing around the house, watching the clock.  If I'm in line waiting for my turn at the checkout, I keep my eyes busy, taking in everything around me.  I try to hold a conversation, but it is hard to concentrate as I wait. It seems like the act of waiting brings about a spirit of restlessness within me.  I consider waiting to be a negative thing.

In God's book, however, waiting is a good thing. He tells us in Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) that, ". . . they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  

Waiting produces strength.

I may be waiting for healing, a heart to soften, circumstances to change or my acceptance of those circumstances to develop.  I could be waiting for deliverance, answers or understanding.  Sometimes I'm waiting for help, release from a difficult situation or to see a sliver of light piercing through the darkness.  

Whatever I'm waiting for, God will use it to strengthen me.

Heart

It's easy to feel discouraged, especially when hard things keep happening in my life. I feel like quitting, giving up and letting go.  But God has a plan, and keeping this in mind helps to give me hope.  As long as I'm alive, there's always hope!

It reminds me of a story I read about former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo.  When he was a child, a 40-ft Blue Spruce from his family's yard was uprooted during a storm.  As it lay in the street, his family despaired. All, that is, except Mario's father who rallied them together to lash ropes around the tree and, as a tiny band of five warriors, strained to right the tree.  With the strength of his father's determination, they came together and accomplished the amazing feat of replanting that tree where it still stands to this day!  

It would probably never occur to me that a large tree like that could be stood up and have the chance to grow again.  Maybe this is part of the reason I lose heart; I fail to see the possibilities.  My vision is too short.  My expectations are low. 

When Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel as recorded in Luke 1, she asked how she would become pregnant since she was a virgin.  The messenger explained how God's spirit would come upon her and that, "Nothing is impossible with God." (v 37)

Remembering God's sovereign power works to encourage me and give me hope.

My heart can be strengthened when I remember that with God, the sky's the limit and anything is possible.  

Faith

I can buy creams that claim to firm my skin, conditioning treatments that promise to strengthen the hair, and toothpastes that declare their ability to fortify the tooth and rebuild enamel.  All of these assertions go against science which tells me that growth only occurs from the inside out.  Very little, if anything, can be done to strengthen these tissues with topical applications.

It's the same with my faith.  It takes training to grow my faith, not an application of truths from the outside.  Simply reading about or learning of God's Word will not grow my faith.  Instead, it must be tested through trials and difficulties when I get the opportunity to trust what I've learned about God.  Will He really deliver?  Can I trust Him with my life?  Does He love me?  All of these questions will be answered as I struggle through the hard times at His side. 

 My faith is strengthened through the training found in life's trials.

Resolve

We live in a culture where it's easy to fade into the background and fail to stand for anything.  There are so many voices telling me that all religions are the same, marriage takes on many different forms, or there really is no such thing as truth.  

As a follower of the Truth, I know there is only one Way to God, that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and that Jesus is the Truth. 

Paul encourages me to, ". . .stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)  Since I know I have the hope of heaven and the resurrection, there is nothing to fear in this life.  I have everything to look forward to through faith in Christ.  I should live this life with abandon, determining to do my best to stand firm for what is important.

My resolve is strengthened when I remember to what I have to look forward.

Waiting on the Lord is difficult.  Sometimes I'd rather take matters into my own hands and speed things up a bit.  But if I do wait on Him, I will be encouraged with the power of God's sovereignty,  I will learn that God can be trusted as I struggle through the trials, and I will stand firm as I keep in mind the eternal reward that awaits me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember the value that comes with waiting patiently.

How do I show my disdain for waiting by the way I choose to wait?

In what ways can I choose to take a stand for God in a culture that disregards His Truth? 

The Secret

I have learned to be content

whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content

in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11b-13

Some secrets are meant to be told.  It seems whenever I know something special and empowering, I don't want to keep it to myself.  I want to tell others, encouraging them with the same encouragement I have received from God.  After all, following Christ in a fallen world is hard enough without gaining strength from one another on a regular basis.  We all can use all the support we can get. 

The apostle Paul is a great encourager!  In today's passage, he sandwiched a nugget of truth within a word of thanks for the faithful support of the church at Philippi.  He couldn't help but reveal the secret he had found for being content. 

Contentment does not come naturally to my sinful nature.  In fact, I find myself using the common ground of grumbling to open a conversation with complete strangers!  I know everyone can relate to the drudgery of laundry, the irritation of whining children in a crowded grocery store, or the frustration of waiting in line while the clerks seem to take their time.  I'm good at finding fault with my circumstances.

But Paul learned the secret of accepting his circumstances and being satisfied.  This is the kind of secret I can't wait to hear!

Learned

Have you ever been told, "You've got a lot to learn!"  These words are usually said in the context of an argument and are meant as a put-down.  But there is much truth in the content of the message.  I do have a lot to learn.  And one of the things that I am able to learn is to be content.  Complaining comes naturally.  I don't have to work at that.  But contentment is something at which I must work. 

It is not normal for me to accept my circumstances.  I am always wanting more, or less, in all things.  Either it is too hot, or too cold.  Very rarely is it just right.  Many times I want more clothes and get tired of wearing the same thing time and time again.  But other times I think I have so much that I can't decide what to wear!  I am a person of habit so it is easy for me to get into a rut of what I eat for breakfast.  After awhile, I tire of the same old thing, desiring something different but not knowing what it is I want.  It seems I'm never happy.

This reminds me of our dog.  If he is in, he wants to go out.  If he is out, he wants to come in.  We often tell him that he's never happy!  And I guess I should know, because this illustrates my attitude, as well.  The difference is, however, that I do have hope.  God has given me the ability to learn, and contentment is one of the skills I can acquire.

Since we only remember 10% of what we read and 20% of what we hear, it seems it won't be very effective to try to learn contentment by studying about it or hearing lectures on it.  The good news is that I can remember 90% of what I say and do, so if I start practicing contentment, I will learn to be content!  Being begins by doing.

Not Circumstantial

As I begin to practice contentment, I start to see that satisfaction with my circumstances is not at all based on my circumstances!  It is simply the way I view my surroundings.  It is making the decision to accept where God has placed me as well as who He has place me with, the state of my health in this situation and all other supportive factors that go along with my present location.  In a nutshell, it is "blooming where I am planted."

At the base of it, contentment is really an attitude of thanksgiving to God and trust in God, acknowledging His Sovereignty and bowing to His choice for my life.  When I am constantly complaining, either out loud to others, or within to myself, I am essentially telling God that I don't like what He has chosen for my life, I think His plan stinks and that I could choose better if given half the chance.

The thing is, I am not in control.  God is.  And no amount of complaining is going to change that fact.  It is only going to make me and those around me miserable.  The bottom line is that accepting my circumstances, whatever they may be, brings peace to me and my family.  And like the wisdom of God that is revealed in Proverbs 14:30 reminds us, "A heart at peace gives life to the body,  but envy rots the bones."  Contentment promotes a healthy lifestyle while living in a state of always wanting more will ruin my wellbeing.  Questioning God's plan for my life can never be good for me!

Empowered by God

I remember helping my daughters to learn to ride their bikes.  In the beginning, they did not have the balance or confidence to try to pedal all on their own.  I had to run along beside them, holding them up.  This is how God is with us.  We do not have the ability to choose contentment from our storehouse of natural abilities.  As I previously stated, my discontent is innate. 

But with God, all things are possible!  He is doing a new thing in my life!  I don't have to be stuck in the pattern of my old way of thinking.  Instead, I can put my hope in the Lord and soar! 

Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31

I am not bound to my natural inclinations!  I have the choice to turn to my God and ask him to give me an attitude adjustment, showing me all that I have for which to be thankful.  Suddenly, the grumbling disappears and is replaced with a grateful heart. 

A child looks on the ground and sees a beautiful gem, while a more cynical adult sees a worthless rock.  I want to gain the outlook of that child, seeing the good and valuable in all that surrounds me.  And not so that I will live at peace, although that is a pleasant outcome.  Perhaps the most important reason for an attitude of contentment comes from 17th century scholar and author William Law.  "One who makes it a rule to be content in every part and accident of life because it comes from God praises God in a much higher manner than one who has some set time for the singing of psalms."

Learning to be content no matter the circumstances is possible with God's strength.  But it is also essential if I want to praise Him with my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can learn to accept things the way they are instead of wishing things were different.

How am I dishonoring God with my poor attitude?

Where can I better accept the circumstances in which God has place me?