He is Able

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

replied to the king,

"O Nebuchadnezzar,

we do not need to defend ourselves

before you in this matter.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,

the God we serve is able to save us from it,

and he will rescue us from your hand, O king."

Daniel 3:16-17

The weariness seeps into all parts of my life, penetrating every crevice.  I can't do it anymore.  I fight, I toil, I stand against. . . for what?  Why do I even bother?  What difference does it make?  There's so much evil all around me.  Friend betrays friend; the knife penetrates deep.  Plots are hatched, lives ruined.  Sin runs rampant.  The world is falling deeper and deeper into the darkness.  Should I go with it?

Living in this world is discouraging.  There is so much suffering, pain and wickedness.  It reminds me of my garden.  I toil away, diligently pulling weeds, fertilizing and watering but sometimes I see little fruit.  Either the bugs, worms or birds get it, or it just doesn't come to fruition.  Then there's the problem of the unrelenting weeds that seem to grow faster than the plants.  It's easy to get discouraged.  

As I stood at the edge of the garden the other day, feeling disheartened by the persistence of the weeds, I sensed God's prodding, "You can choose to look at all the weeds, or you can focus on the work I am doing.  Look at the newly sprouted beans peaking up through the earth!"  At that moment, peace flooded my heart as I decided to concentrate not on the evil, but on my God.  He is able.

To Defend

Self Defense classes are common in this day and age.  Many women recognize the importance of learning skills and techniques that will empower them to defend themselves against possible attacks.  It is not enough to try to live a safe life because sometimes danger finds me.  

Even though evil exists in this world, I cannot take on this same attitude in my spiritual life.  God is my defender.   When my name is drug through the mud, there is no need for me to do damage control.  When I am attacked for no apparent reason, I don't need to come up with a plan of defense.  When others don't agree with my lifestyle, there is no need for me to justify my decisions.  Instead, God will bring justice. 


David knew a little bit about being attacked.  In one instance, King Saul had set up a perimeter around David's house, watching for a chance to kill him.  During that time, David wrote about how these men, "growl like a dog, and go all around the city.  Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, 'Who hears?'  But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.  I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense."  (Psalm 59:6-9 NKJV)  


David was a fighting man.  He could have come up with a plan to defend himself against this unwarranted attack against his civil rights.  He had been in tough spots before and probably had some tricks up his sleeve.  But he also knew God and trusted Him enough to leave the job of his protection up to Him.  He knew that God was more adept at keeping him safe.


In the same way, God is able to protect my name from slander.  He is capable of delivering me through a difficult time unscathed.  He is more than proficient at coming to my defense; if only I will let Him.


God is able to defend me better than I can protect myself.  

To Save

I have a problem.  It is a sin problem.  This is a crisis of epic proportions that I cannot solve by myself. My sin forms a deep, uncrossable canyon between me and a holy, perfect God.  I can't have a relationship with Him, let alone spend eternity with Him, because of my transgressions.  I am unable to negotiate across this deep abyss that separates me from my Creator.  I have no hope.   I need a Savior.

Thankfully, I found a Savior in Jesus Christ.  While I was still in the midst of my rebellion against God, He took the punishment meant for me from a holy, just God.  He took the fall for me.  He made a way for me to get to God and spend eternity with Him. . . .all because of His great love for me.

If God is able to accomplish the impossible task of reconciling my severed relationship with God, than certainly I can trust Him to save my marriage.  If He can solve the problem of sin, than of course I can give Him the task of healing my broken heart.  If He can make a way for a sinful human to spend eternity with a perfect God, then there is no question that He can give me hope where it seems none exists.

God is able to save me in ways I could never imagine.  

To Rescue

When I went through lifeguard training, I had to learn how to rescue a swimmer in distress.  One of the most important tactics we learned was to keep ourselves safe.  Someone who is drowning becomes panicked and will literally climb on top of another swimmer in an effort to save themselves.  In order to prevent a tragedy, we were taught to approach from below and behind where the victim was unaware of our presence.  By the time they realized what was happening, they were already firmly in my hold and being towed back to safety. 

There are many times in my life when I am like the panicked swimmer in distress.  I fear for my life and cannot think straight.  I find myself in a tight spot and I'm afraid there is no way out.  Consequently, I attack the very ones who are trying to help me and bring me to safety.

When God called Jeremiah as His prophet to God's people, He told the newly appointed messenger that he must deliver His message but to, "not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." (Jeremiah 1:8)  It seems God was implying that Jeremiah might get into some difficult situations, but that God would safely deliver him; there was no need for him to panic.  In fact, Jeremiah did meet much resistance from the Jews during his 50-year ministry and they refused to listen to the warnings God continued to send through the prophet.  But God was faithful to rescue him each and every time.  

In the process of carrying out my calling from God, I may end up in some sticky situations.  But I can rest assured that God will come after me and deliver me.  Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest that, "We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says.  If when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed."

It is my desire to get into the routine of automatically turning to God when I'm in trouble.  After all, He has overcome the world and all it's difficulties.  

God is able to rescue me when I'm in over my head.

I am easily discouraged and often feel like giving up.  But keeping my eyes on the One who is able to defend me from attack, to save me from my sin, and to rescue me from trouble will leave me with a sense of hope and peace that no one can take away from me. 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  (Ephesians 3:20-21) 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that when I am unable, I will remember that God is able.

How do I attempt to defend myself?

When do I fail to allow God to save me?

My Ways Are Higher

 



“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

The Discussion
"No!  That movie is not good for you and I'm not giving you permission to go see it!"
"But Mom! All of my friends are going and if I tell them you won't let me go, they're going to be mad at me."
"My answer is still 'No.'  You're just going to have to trust me on this, Honey.  Believe me. . .you'll thank me for this later."
"Arrrgggghhh!"

Why?   I have always had a strong desire to understand why things happen, or to comprehend the motivations that drive someone to do something.  I can analyze a thing to death until I've studied all possible angles and viewpoints.  This can be helpful when thinking back on a hurtful conversation and understanding where I went wrong, but it runs counter to a faith relationship with my Father.

Understanding God's Character    Part of faith is following without understanding.  It's as if God is saying, "If I say jump, I want you to jump!"  It speaks to my understanding of God's sovereignty and power.  To trust Him in a thing, is to say, "I know you have a purpose here, and even though it seems wrong to me, I will trust you in Your plan."  It was like when the prophet Jeremiah assured God's people, who were in exile at the time, that God knew of their predicament and that He knew what He is was doing and, in fact, that their situation was all a part of a greater plan.  Read Jeremiah 29:10-14:


 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Full Circle  God's plan would bring His people full circle, back to their homes in Jersualem after a period of time.   It was as if God were saying, "You're just going to have to trust me on this.  Believe me. . . you'll thank me for this later."

Acceptance  If I were one of the exiles, I'd probably analyze my situation, trying to understand the purpose for my plight.  But showing my faith in God would mean that I would accept where God has placed me, and would live for Him there.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I would accept the situations in which God has placed me, and trust in His plan for my life.

Where am I trying to understand instead of simply trusting in the goodness, lovingkindness and sovereignty of God?