The Plague of Doubt

". . .the angel said to him: 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; 

your prayer has been heard.

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,

and you are to give him the name John. . .'

Zechariah asked the angel, 'How can I be sure of this?

I am an old man and my wife is well along in years?'

The angel answered, 'I am Gabriel.

I stand in the presence of God, 

and I have been sent to speak to you

and to tell you this good news.

And now you will be silent and not able to speak

until the day this happens,

because you did not believe my words, 

which will come true at their proper time.'"

Luke 1:13, 18-20

I remember when my oldest daughter was 4-years old.  She was always a chatterbox, but when she came into the age of inquisition, she became an interrogator worthy of the CIA or FBI.

"Come on, honey, it's time for me to give you and your sisters a bath."

"Why?"

"Because you're dirty and it's almost time for bed.  It's nice to go to bed clean."

"Why?"

"So you won't get the sheets dirty."

"Why?"

"Because then I'll need to wash the linens and I'd rather not make so much work for myself."

"Why?"

"Because I already have enough to do, now come on and gather up your sister's pajamas and let's head into the bathroom."

"Why, Mommy?"

"Because I said so!"

Preschoolers are naturally curious, constantly seeking to learn about the world around them.  I, too, tend to want to know why things are a certain way or what makes someone do what they do. There's nothing wrong with a healthy interest in what makes things tick.  Take Mary, for instance.  When the same angel that visited Zechariah showed up in her presence, Gabriel gave her some astounding news: you are going to have a baby named Jesus who will grow up to be some kind of ruler over a never-ending kingdom and will even be called the Son of the Most High. (Luke 1:26-38)

Mary accepted this shocking news but showed a simple curiosity in how it would all come about since she wasn't married.  How would she become pregnant; how was God going to bring this about?  There was no question as to whether this event would happen, just an interest in how it would occur.

Zechariah, on the other hand, questioned the accuracy of this message and God's ability to bring it to pass.  To make his point, he called attention to the old age of he and his wife.  

Curiosity is not discouraged by God; only doubt.  I am reminded in Hebrews 11:6, that without faith, or the ability to believe something will happen, it is impossible to please God.  

But I am prone to doubt, just like Zechariah.  His experience reminds me that there are consequences for my doubt.  Thankfully, my doubt will not stop the will of God.  Just as God's promise still came to pass in the form of a baby named John, God's purpose will always go forth. (Isaiah 14:26-27)  The only question is: Will I be a part of it, or will I be watching from the sidelines, mute and paralyzed by fear and disbelief?

God's Sovereignty

My husband and I owned a tandem bike for a period of time.  It was difficult for me to ride in back while he controlled the handlebars and brakes.  Donald decided in which direction to go and when it was time to stop.  If we rode down a hill, only he could slow it down.  In a nutshell, my husband had all the control and I had none.

This is kind of how it is with me and God.  He decides the direction my life will take, how fast I need to go, when it's time for a bumpy ride and when I need to stop for a rest.  This is His world and He's in control.

The problem is, I possess this desire to know my own future.  I want to know the details of what's coming up ahead.  When I give into this desire, I attempt to figure out what is happening and what I think will be the expected outcome.  I analyze all the possible angles, coming up with solutions for each scenario.  I spend a lot of time thinking about the issues at hand.  Much to my dismay, the reality is that this is the definition of "worry."

When I doubt God's ability to lead me well and hesitate to give Him control, I fall into an anxious heap.  Jesus said not to go after our needs or to try to orchestrate the details of my life because God knows what I need.  Instead, He said to, "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (all my needs) will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow  will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (Matthew 6:32-34)

Worry and anxiety is a sign that I'm not trusting God's sovereignty and His ability to lead me well.  

If I want to avoid the plague of doubt when it comes to God's control over my life, I must learn to trust Him enough to place everything in His capable hands.  (Philippians 4:4-7)

God's Calling

God asked the impossible from a man who doubted.  He wondered how God could possibly use a reject like him to deliver such an important message to His people.  What if they didn't listen?  What if they didn't believe him?  What if he couldn't get the words out?  Who am I to do something so big?

The question is not, as Rafiki of the Lion King asked Simba, "who are you?"  Rather, the inquiry I should constantly make is, "who is God?"  You see, God's calling on my life has nothing to do with me.  It isn't dependent upon my abilities, gifts or desires.  Instead, it is about God and His ability.

When Moses asked God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"  God's reply was, "I will be with you."  (Exodus 3:11-12)

In the same way, when God places a burden on my heart for the hurting and downtrodden in my own neighborhood, but I'm afraid I won't be able to do the job, I can remember that God is with me.

Or when God convicts me to teach a Bible study despite my lack of degree in Bible teaching, I can take heart that God is with me.

Or when God inclines my heart toward the people of a third-world country even though I've always hated to travel, I will gain courage from the fact that God is with me.  It's not up to me.

The anecdote to doubt in the face of God's calling is to remember that God is with me and He will accomplish what He set out to do.

God's Plan

Clouds are looming on the horizon.  My way seems dark with no way out.  Voices laugh tauntingly as I continue down the path that seems destined for doom.  Should I continue on the way my Master pointed?  I wonder as my foot falls in a pothole.  Is this the way He meant for me?  It seems wrong; filled with pain and suffering.  How can this be right?

Which way is God leading that seems risky or perhaps not something I would choose for myself?  When I read that the Lord said, "For I know the plans I have for you. . .plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," it's easy for me to form a picture in my mind of what those plans may look like.  I see comfort, pleasure and fulfillment.  

Then reality sets in as the test from the doctor comes back positive, the daughter goes missing or the loved one moves on to someone else.  How can anything good come out of this?  

Just as God allowed hard things to enter Job's life in order to test his faith, sometimes God allows trials and difficulties in the same way.  Other times, God's plan includes working with people I don't like, doing I job I don't particularly enjoy, or sticking with a marriage that brings unhappiness.  

Living a life of faith devoid of doubt means I'll have to do as Solomon instructed in Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT.  "Trust in the LORD with all you heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."  

In order to stop doubting, I must trust God's plan as good, even when it seems bad.

Asking questions of God is not forbidden, but doubting whether He is really in control of all things, is calling me to do something big or even small, or has a plan for my life comes at a price.  To fight the plague of doubt, I'll have to place my life in His hands, remember that He equips the called, and that His plan is good no matter how it looks to me.  Then I will avoid the consequences that come with disbelief and be able to say as Mary did, "I am the Lord's servant.  . .May it be to me as you have said."  (Luke 1:38)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with my whole heart and let go of the fear that holds me back.

When do I let my own insecurities hold me back from answering God's calling?

How do I judge a hard thing as not from God?

  

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?

Life Sucks!



“ 'I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world.' ”

John 16:33

I, like all humans, have a lot of problems.  My body is wearing out as I grow older, money is tight, family relationships are strained at times, people can be mean and hurtful, friends move away, loved ones die. . . and this is not  to even mention that my belief in Jesus places me in conflict with the principles of this world.  Put this all together, and the conclusion is that life is hard!  

But we can't say we weren't warned.  Jesus prepared us for the opposition we would receive from those who don't know Him.  But we can take comfort in knowing that He has gone before us, and in conquering the power of death and sin when He died on the cross, He also conquered our problems.   All the difficulties that I face in this world have already been defeated by Jesus!  There is nothing I can face that Jesus has not already succeeded in conquering. 

Jesus warned us about the harsh realities of following Him in a world that hates Him.  He did this so that we would ultimately understand the power that is within us.

The World Hates Us

It was important for Jesus to help us understand that we won't be accepted by those who don't know Him.  In America, persecution is limited to financial retribution or shunning, banishment or exclusion from certain segments of society.  But in other parts of the world, persecution means forced labor, poor living conditions, arrests, beatings and even death.  There is no mistaking that the world hates us as much as it hated Jesus when He walked the earth.

Why would anyone want to follow One who puts me in that position of being hated?  "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Jesus is my only hope for a relationship with my Father in heaven, and deliverance from the penalty of death my sin earns.  Without Jesus, I have an eternity devoid of all good and filled with unthinkable suffering. 

Hatred from the world is a small price to pay for this unspeakable gift!  But how can I withstand the difficulties without buckling under the pressure or spend my life huddled in the corner like a quivering mass of gelatin?

We are Conquerors

Living in a world that opposes everything I believe in does not mean I have to live my life in fear or as a second-class citizen.  In my heart, I can go through the difficulties of life with the quiet confidence that Jesus displayed.  He did not panic, lash out in anger, or run away from His accusers.  This is because He knew the plan, and He knew that in the end, His love wins!

The apostle Paul addressed the root of this attitude of triumph.  In Romans 8, his words remind us that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.  Not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. (v 35)  That pretty much covers anything we can face during a lifetime.  Knowing that the overwhelming love of God is constantly with me can give me courage.  And that is how I can face my problems as a conqueror.

When I think of a conqueror, I imagine a Roman soldier living in Jesus' time.  Even though he is from a foreign land, he would exhibit an attitude of confidence and assurance, knowing that Caesar and the entire Roman Army would back him up.  He had a sense of security and authority given to him as a member of the conquering force in that strange place so far from home.

This is to be my attitude as a follower of Christ in this foreign land.  I have God and His sovereign power to back me up!  He has given me a sense of security and authority as a member of the conquering force.  That is why Paul could teach us that in the face of the difficulties of this life, "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)  Jesus' love conquered all so I need not fear.

Even though I am a conquering, I do have enemies.  And these enemies will stop at nothing to try to defeat me.  How can I have any hope this side of heaven?

Greater Power Within

I used to compete in bodybuilding.  One year, I was sponsored by one of the top gyms in my region.  Their name (Powerhouse) held clout in the bodybuilding community and being associated with them, I felt the power of being one of their competitors.  Sure enough, when it came time for the judging, I placed higher than I ever had, due in part to the sponsorship of Powerhouse.

Imagine having the most powerful Being, the Creator of all things, living within you!  Reading in 1 John 4:4, we learn that we can live with confidence in Satan's domain because, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

I have the authority of the very power of God to guide me through the evil of this world.  Satan and his angels can try to bring me down, but their power pales in the face of that which is in me through faith in Christ Jesus.  I must always remember that in the end, "every knee should bow, 

Living life in this world is difficult.  As one pastor of a megachurch in my home state of Washington would often say, "Life Sucks!"  But we are not without hope, even thought he world hates us, we are more than conquerors and have the power of God within us.  Then I can confidently say,  "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I would remember the power that is within me when I am overwhelmed by that which is around me.

How do I focus too much on the problems, forgetting that I have the solution within me?

When do I live as the conquered, instead of as a conqueror through faith in Jesus?

Weary of Worry

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.” 

Matthew 12:28

To-Do List

Broken modem

Family issues

Car trouble

Upcoming events

Christmas

Daily schedule

Expectations

Cycle of Worry  What keeps me from coming to Jesus?  My mind is easily distracted from Jesus, focusing instead on all the things I must do or on how I’m going to work out an unexpected problem, like a broken modem.  Instead of letting Jesus carry it for me, I work it over in my mind, exploring every possible angle until I come up with a solution.  Once a solution has been found, I analyze that solution over and over until I am sick to death of thinking about it and have added weariness on top of my burden.  Who will save me from this exhausting cycle?

Peace   Paul taught the believers at Philippi to “. . .not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)  How can I protect my mind from this endless cycle of thinking, rehashing and analysis?  By handing the thing over to God and trusting Him for the outcome.  It makes me think of a conversation that took place between Holocaust concentration camp survivor Corrie Ten Boom and her father before they were taken away by the Nazis.  She expressed her worry that she would not be able to handle whatever the future brought.  Her father asked her, “When do I give you your train ticket when we go on a trip?” 

She replied, “Right before I get on the train.” 

“And this is how it is with your Heavenly Father.  He gives you what you need at the time that you need it.” 

When I leave my problems in His hands, He will enable me to handle the situation and know the solution when the time for action comes.

Seek His Kingdom  When Jesus was teaching His disciples not to worry, he pointed to the rest of creation which trusts Him to provide for all of their needs.  Have you ever seen a worried bird?  Or flower?  But there are plenty of worried people.   The amazing human mind with it's astounding capacity for learning can also be used to worry: to think about something over and over again.   Jesus’ words as recorded in Luke 12:29-31 instruct us to act differently than those who do not have God to rely on.  “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”  It’s as if God is saying, “I got this!  You just do what I’ve instructed you to do, and I’ll take care of all that other stuff.”

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will leave my problems in God’s hands and trust Him for the solution.

How do I show my lack of trust in God by the way I handle situations?

When do I look like an unbeliever, running after the stuff I need?