Mental Toughness

"They spread a net for my feet--

I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path--

but they have fallen into it themselves.

My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music."

Psalm 57:6-7

She's trying to live for God, walking with Him in all her ways, yet it seems there is resistance at every step.  "No good deed goes unpunished," she mutters to herself as she walks down the hallway at her workplace.  "Why does everyone mock me and my faith?  I'm the only Jesus many of them have ever seen, yet they treat me like dirt. That's the thanks I get for showing them love."  Then she remembers the words of her Lord and Savior.  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. . ." (John 15:18-19a)  Her heart lifts as she remembers Who she follows.

The world is tough, cruel and harsh.  When it seems to work against me, I can take heart, remembering it is really working against Jesus in me.  It's easy to lash out, grow bitter, and cultivate a cynical heart in the face of such treatment.  Or, I could develop the mental toughness David possessed and choose to remember the nature of my God.

Hope.  The world is a cold place filled with heartache.  To live here means to suffer loss, pain and misery; there's no getting around it.  The world is not as God created it to be, broken and twisted by sin as it is.  In the face of such distress, it seems like there is no reason to carry on, no reason to have confidence in what is to come.  Won't it just be more of the same?

No.  For those in Christ Jesus, there is hope.  Because of what Jesus has done, I have something to look forward to.  Since I belong to Him by faith, I have the promise of His strength to get me through the hard times I face now and will inevitably come up against in the days to come (Isaiah 43:1-3).

As I live in this dark world I can choose hope in God my strength (Psalm 46:1).

Steadfast.  His heart is at peace, his countenance resolute, his determination to continue on steady and strong.  How can he walk forward with such unwavering faith in the face of losing his beloved wife?

He can because his eyes are fixed on Jesus, the originator and finisher of his faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).  I, too, can maintain a steadfast heart while chaos swirls around me.  Knowing God is still on the throne despite the state of the world, acknowledging that He has a plan even though it seems I'm at the mercy of a continuous stream of cruelty, trusting in His redemptive nature while my enemy is out for my destruction takes a committed belief in the One I follow.

As I live in this dark world, my heart can be steadfast no matter what comes.

Believe.  He has overcome the world (John 16:33).  God is with me, no matter what I face (Deuteronomy 31:6).  Time means nothing to God; He is already there in the unknown of my future and every act of my life is written in His book (Psalm 139:16).  He has a plan for my life that will use even the evil and darkness for my good (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28).

I can choose to doubt God's goodness in the face of opposition.  It's easy to wonder if He really is the Victor who is constantly present, has gone before me and written a good plan for my life.  Really?  This is a part of that plan, God?  I can quickly turn angry and bitter.  If I choose to believe, however, trusting God despite what my senses tell me, my faith will grow and peace will prevail in my heart.

As I live in this dark world, I can choose to believe God will do what He says He will do.

Walking the narrow path in the darkness of this fallen world is difficult, to say the least.  I face many challenges to my faith and I am often tempted to waver.  I have been given a spirit of God's power, however, that can propel me to choose hope, a steadiness of heart, and faith.  In these ways I'll develop a mental toughness that will help me keep moving forward on the path that leads to righteousness no matter what the enemy throws my way.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God's plan for my life, even when it seems everything is falling apart.

How do I doubt there is any good in my current situation?

When am I failing to trust God the most?       

Unleash the Power

"The Israelites were subdued on that occasion,

and the people of Judah were victorious

because they relied on the LORD,

the God of their ancestors."

2 Chronicles 13:18

Things looked bad.  In fact, it could have been the end for Abijah, king of Judah.  Instead of giving up as he surveyed the enemy troops gathered in front and behind, hopelessly surrounding him and his army, he cried out to the Lord and the Lord saved him.

When things look bad for me, I, too, can cry out to God, unleashing His mighty power in my life.

Believe.  There is much about my life that discourages me.  Sickness strikes, stuff breaks, relationships are strained.  It's easy to feel hopeless, as if I can never get a break.  Where's this abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10)?

While the difficulties, struggles and trials often overwhelm, I have a choice as to where I place my attention.  When I focus mostly on what is going wrong, the problems become bigger and as a result, God becomes smaller.  If, however, I were to pay more attention to God, reminding myself of who He is, what He has promised, and how He has faithfully cared for me, He will grow bigger and my circumstances will fade into the background.

When things look bad for me and it seems I have no hope, it's time to believe that God is who He says He is.

Act.  Once I believe God can do the impossible, it's time to act.  Now it's easy for me to think there is something I must do to save myself and I'm often tempted to come up with a plan of action to do just that.  The kind of action I speak of here, however, is different.  Instead of trying to figure out what I must do to "help God along," the action that is necessary is placing my trust in God.

What does this look like?  It is what the men of Judah did when they raised the battle cry, readying themselves to fight even though it seemed the odds were against them (2 Chronicles 13:15).  They believed the God of their fathers was going before them and they acted as if the battle was already theirs.  Sure enough, as soon as they sounded off, the people of Israel, their enemies, fled and these formidable foes suddenly became easy pickings.

When things look bad for me and it seems I have no hope, it's time to act as if I believe God is who He says He is.

Watch.  Now that I've taken that step of faith, going forward into the unknown with the belief that God is already at work on my behalf, I must watch for Him.  What is He doing?  How is He saving me, protecting me, delivering me?  From where will His deliverance come?  As soon as I see the work of His mighty hand, I can fall in behind Him, joining in with what He has already started.

The fighting men of Judah understood this.  As they stepped forward in faith, sounding the battle cry, the soldiers of Israel began to retreat.  Immediately they knew what was happening: God was routing their enemies.  They didn't waste a moment's time but immediately set to work slaying their enemy.  Without God, this would have been impossible.  But God had set them up for success, making their job easy.

Likewise, I can watch for what God is doing and fall in behind as soon as I see His method of deliverance.  It could be that the medical tests will all come back clear, or several people will all suggest the same solution, or the phone will ring with an offer of help.  Whatever the mode of delivery, it's up to me to recognize God's hand at work.

When things look bad for me and it seems I have no hope, it's time to watch for God acting as He says He is able to act.

In this world with all it's troubles, it's easy to feel hopeless.  Instead of focusing on what is wrong, however, I can choose to believe that God is as big as He claims to be.  As my faith is bolstered, I can then take a step forward, believing God is there to catch me.  As I do, I can then pay attention to what God is doing to save me, watching for His mode of delivery.  God's power is always there, available for use, but it's not until I believe, act and watch that I will unleash His might on my behalf.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to step forward into the dark unknown.

When do I hesitate, doubting God could do the impossible?

How am I holding back, failing even to believe the most basic truths about God and His abilities?

Rest

"By the seventh day

God had finished the work he had been doing;

so on the seventh day

he rested from all his work."

Genesis 2:2

A few years back we were considering placing a fence around the perimeter of our backyard.  In order to find out where our lot ended and our neighbor's began, we had to hire a surveyor to mark out the boundaries of our property.  

Curious as I was, I watched the man work.  I soon discovered his job solely consisted of finding the markers already buried at the corners and along several points along the rear of our pie-shaped lot.  He used a metal detector to help him locate these underground stakes, then simply placed a flag at these positions.  The border had already been determined, all the surveyor needed to do was follow their pre-placed path.

This reminds me of my relationship with God.  He has already done the work of preparing a plan for my life, taking that burden off of my shoulders.  (Jeremiah 29:11)  There is nothing I can do to add or take away; my only choice is to whether or not I will accept.  Therefore, I can enter into His rest, following what He has already laid out for me.  (Hebrews 4:9-11)

Trust

I held the plans in my hands as my husband and I stood before the jumble of lumber and hardware strewn about the room.  Somewhere in this mess lay a book stand.  Before we could present this shelf to our daughter for her birthday, however, we had to assemble the pieces together in the way they were meant to be put together.  We tried to figure out how they all fit, but there would always be a few pieces left after we tried it our way.  Soon we realized that success dictated the necessity of the directions I held in my hands.

In the same way, God has a master plan for my life.  I may think I know the best way to negotiate the circumstances of my days, but only God sees the big picture, and only He knows how I was created to live.  Therefore, I can trust in His sovereign plan.

When shocking news rocks my world, then, I can either lean on my own understanding in searching for a way to cope, or I can let my Shepherd lead me through the dark time. (Psalm 23:4)  When I come up short and am unable to pay my bills, I can seek out solutions from my friends and financial experts or I can first go to my Father who has promised to take care of me. (Philippians 4:19) When everything seems out of control and I don't see a way out, I can drown my sorrows in pleasurable pursuits, numb my feelings with drink, or distract my mind with work, or I can place my faith in my Father's eternal perspective.

Trusting in God's sovereign plan for my life will result in peace that only comes from Him.

Believe

Vacation Bible School is one of the most fun events a church can host during the year.  One reason these children's outreach programs are so effective is that most of the hard work of planning has already been done by the curriculum builders.  

At a recent training for our church's VBS, I was reminded of this when the director advised us to follow the lesson plans closely.  "This curriculum has been field tested, scrutinized and reviewed, so what you hold in your hands has been found to work best."

Just as I can accept the material in the leader's booklet as the most effective plan for my VBS class, so I can believe that God has already worked out the details of my life.  All that is left for me to do is walk through it.

This knowledge helps me when my future seems uncertain.  Believing that tomorrow is a memory to God gives me hope.  Not only does God have a plan, but He's already plowed the way for me to walk.

Believing that God has already completed the work of my life gives me hope to carry on.

Go Forth

The screams of my three-year-old daughter echoed down the halls of the busy dental clinic.  My daughter had recently fallen on the stairs, hitting the front of her mouth.  After a few days, her two front teeth turned gray, indicating the damage that had been suffered.  The poor dentist was trying to remove those teeth but his toddler-patient was not cooperating.  Adrianna had never been to a dentist before so she didn't know what to expect.  The fear of the unknown drove her to near-hysteria.

As horrible as that first visit to the dentist was, it is easy for me to take on the same attitude as my naive daughter when it comes to my life.  A new situation pops up and I panic, not knowing what to expect.  With Jesus as Lord of my life, however, I can go forth with confidence, knowing that He is already waiting for me at the end of the path.  Even though I don't know what will happen, He is very familiar with every aspect of my life. (Psalm 139:1-6)

Fear, then, is the result of not understanding the sovereignty of God and the scope of His control.  Nothing in my life has not first gone through His hands for approval.  I can trust, then, that every circumstance, difficulty and trouble will bring out good in my life according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Going forth with confidence is only possible when I trust in God's plan and believe that He's already marked out the way for me.

After God finished the work of creation, He rested.  Everything had already been accomplished; there was nothing left to do.  If I trust in God's sovereign plan, believing that the work of my life has already been done,going forth with confidence, then I can also enter into that rest as well.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let go of all my control and enter into the rest of trusting in what God has already done.

When do I try to manipulate circumstances to fit my plan?

How am I fighting what God has already done?   

Willingness of a Savior

"While Jesus was in one of the towns,

a man came along who was covered with leprosy.

When he saw Jesus,

he fell with his face to the ground and begged him,

'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

'I am willing,' he said.

'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then Jesus ordered him,

'Don't tell anyone, but go,

show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,

as a testimony to them.'

Yet the news about him spread all the more,

so that crowds of people came to hear him

and to be healed of their sicknesses.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Luke 5:12-16

He tripped and fell, skinning his tender knee on the unforgiving pavement.

"Waaaaa!  I want my Mommy!" the toddler screamed before running off to find his savior.  When the mother caught sight of her distraught child, blood dripping down his shin, she responded immediately.  "Come her, Baby.  It's okay, I'll get you fixed up and you'll feel better in no time."

Suddenly, the little boy's cries turn into sniffles as he put himself into the caring hands of his mother.

This mom didn't have to think about whether or not she'd help her beloved son.  Instead, she was eager to end his suffering.  It's the same with Jesus.  He is always ready to help me, if only I'd put myself into His caring hands.

My healing is dependent upon Jesus' willingness to save me, not on my worthiness or degree of need.  No matter what the pain, He is willing and able to help me.  For that reason, I can trust Him, believe in Him and base my faith on His integrity.  He's a voluntary Savior.

Trust

My daughter adopted two feral kittens a couple of years ago.  Knowing nothing but the streets they came from, these two skittish kitties needed lots of patient and gentle care.  Over time, they have gradually built a level of trust in their human family.  They've progressed from scared, timid felines hiding under the furniture, to the more friendly, playful cats we know today.  Wild cats are used to thinking of humans as predators so it takes commitment to show them otherwise.

It's not so different with me and Jesus.  Even though He has shown me to be trustworthy, I tend to shy away from letting Him get too close.  I may be afraid He's going to condemn me for my sinful ways, forsake me for my lack of faith, or expect from me more than I can give.

The truth is that He came to the world to save it, not condemn it (John 3:17), there is nothing that can separate me from from His love and He'll never leave me (Hebrews 13:5  Romans 8:35).  As long as my heart is willing, what I have to give is enough.  (Psalm 51:17)  If I let Jesus into the deepest recesses of my soul, He will become my best friend.  (Revelation 3:20)

Because Jesus is willing to help me, I can trust Him with my life.

Believe

I hear a lot about the concept of belief in this age of "if it feels good do it" and "anything goes" mentalities.  People can believe in many different ideas and philosophies, but there is only one God and one Truth. (Isaiah 44:6  John 14:6)  If there is belief, there must be a concept, idea or entity in which I place that belief.  I can't just believe.

Since Jesus is able to do more than I ask or imagine, I would rather believe He will provide for my needs.  (Ephesians 3:19-21)  Since Jesus is the Mighty Counselor, I feel secure in putting my relationships into His capable hands.  (Isaiah 9:6)  Since Jesus is the Savior of the world, I accept His sacrifice as the only thing giving me life eternal, freedom from condemnation and peace with God and others.  (Acts 4:12)

Believing is what takes place in my heart, but if it's true acceptance my life will be changed as I surrender more of myself to Jesus.  Oswald Chambers said it's as if Jesus is challenging me: "If you would be My disciple, give up your right to yourself to Me."  Then he goes on to say, "When once the surrender has taken place we never need 'suppose' anything.  We do not need to care what our circumstances are, Jesus is amply sufficient."

Where am I questioning?  Maybe it's when I'm sitting in the doctor's office again, waiting for yet another test result as the pain persists to ravage my body.

Perhaps I wonder whether Jesus really can help when I cry myself to sleep over the pieces of my broken marriage.

It could be that I'm not believing Jesus can do a thing to improve my unstable job situation or less-than adequate living conditions.  

I can believe Jesus will do as He's said He will do, without a second thought.  In my mind, I can make it as if it's already happened.

Because Jesus is willing to help me, I can believe He is able to do anything.

Basis

When I sit in my Lazy Boy recliner, I feel confident in lowering my full weight to rest on it because I know it's made with sturdy craftsmanship:  It's integrity comes from the way it was constructed.

Likewise, my faith in Jesus is based on the fact that He is, "the same yesterday and today and forever," (Hebrews 13:8) as well as, "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13)  He is also the, "author and perfecter of my faith" who is seated at the right hand of God Almighty.  (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus and His teachings do not change with the times, He is an integral part of all of creation, and He is the One who makes my faith possible.  I can base my confidence on all of these truths.

It is easy, however, to get caught up in all that Jesus has done for me.  He has freed me from guilt and shame.  He has given me a peace that I would not otherwise experience.  He has given me a sense of purpose and meaning as I follow Him.  These, however, can all be considered to be icing on the cake.  My faith is not based on these "perks" or benefits.  If it was, the moment life gets difficult, my conviction would waver.

Instead, my faith is based on the solid Rock of Jesus.  (1 Peter 2:6)  On Him, my confidence is sure.

Because Jesus is willing to help me, I can base my faith on His identity and integrity.

There's no question that Jesus wants to take up a bigger space in my life.  He is willing to heal, to restore and to bind up my broken heart.  Consequently, I can trust Him in all things, believe He can do all things, and base my faith on Him who is all things.  Jesus is my all in all.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can cast away all doubt and keep my eyes solely on Jesus.

When do I let fear block my belief in the One who can set me free?

How is my faith based on what I get out of my relationship with Jesus instead of on who He is?

Itty Bitty Faith

"Then the disciples came to Jesus

in private and asked,

'Why couldn't we drive it (the demon) out?'

He replied,

'Because you have so little faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,

Move from here to there

and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.'"

Matthew 17:20

Without faith, it's impossible to please God.  Why?  Because, I must believe that He exists and know that He rewards those who wholeheartedly seek Him if I'll ever have a chance of bringing pleasure to Him.  (Paraphrase of Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is knowing without a doubt that the promises of God will come to pass.  Faith is trusting in what I cannot see despite what my eyes are telling me.  Faith is giving God a chance to work when I feel desperate for answers.  Faith is getting up when I feel like staying down on the ground where I fell.  Faith is believing that the unfeasible dream, impractical desire and hopeless mission is possible.  Faith is believing that with God, all things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

Take a moment to listen to What Faith Can Do  by Kutless and meditate on the words.  What can a little bit of faith do in my life?  

Believe

"All it takes is faith and trust. . . and a little bit of pixie dust."  Peter tells Wendy, Michael and John as he gave them their flying lesson.  Soon they were flying off to Neverland.

While the only place I can fly is in my dreams, faith does give me the ability to believe in impossible things.  

When God says He loves me even though I'm His enemy because of my sin, I can swallow that truth and take it into my being, allowing His love to transform me.  (Romans 5:8 and 10)  

When God says that He made me on purpose in His own image, giving me all my traits and characteristics, even placing me in my particular family; faith allows me to accept His Word as truth, granting me a new sense of value and worth.  (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16)

When God says He will provide for all my needs and that He knows what I require to live, I can believe that He will take care of me.  (Philippians 4:19  Matthew 6:31-34 )

While Peter Pan asked his students to "just believe,"  God does not ask us to do that.  It is hard to consider something as truth without a source of power to back it up.  In what or whom do I believe?    Thankfully, we live in a world where God rules with sovereignty, and I can count on Him to do exactly as He says He will.  God is more than able to back up what He says.

As Augustine reminds me, "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."  Believing I am now a friend of God through faith in Jesus means I no longer need to fight Him on every trial, tribulation or difficulty He brings into my life as my Refiner.  Believing I have great worth means I will guard my heart against all the temptations that surround me every moment.  Believing I have a Father who is my Provider means I am free to pursue His Kingdom work without restraint.

Faith in God enables me to believe that God is who He says He is.

Trust

Soften a heart hardened by pain and disappointment

Forgive a friend who inflicted a deep wound

Love a callous, cold neighbor

Live victoriously over sin

Kick an unhealthy habit

Honor God with my thoughts, words and actions

These are all examples of hard things.  Even though I couldn't imagine that a hard heart could be softened, I can trust God to accomplish this.  My hurt may seem beyond repair, but God can give me the strength to forgive as He forgave.  The angry, cutting words from across the fence seems to strengthen the barrier, but I can trust God to love him through me.  It may seem difficult if not impossible to live a life to please God instead of my flesh, but I can trust Him to back me up with His power when I choose His way.  

Once I believe that God is who He says He is, it's time to put that faith into action.  If I say I have faith in a chair to hold my weight but refuse to actually lower my body down to rest on it's structure, my faith is empty.  What difference do my words make if I'm unwilling to back it up with action?  

It's the same with my faith in God;  I can say I believe in Him but if I act like the rich man who went away sad because Jesus instructed him to go and sell all he had, then my faith means nothing.  (Mark 10:21-22)  As early 20th Century American Quaker author Elton Trueblood said, "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation."

If I trust God, I'll act on the promises He has declared, knowing that He will enable me to do hard things.

Wait

"Hurry up and wait" is the unofficial motto of the U.S. Army.  My husband spent many-an-hour on a hot tarmac waiting to fulfill a mission.  As an Airborne soldier, he learned that an early call time didn't necessarily mean the assignment would actually be carried out early.  Rather, in order to make sure everyone and everything was in order before beginning an exercise, soldiers were expected to be ready.

I would not do well with this scenario because it's hard for me to wait when I don't know what the hold-up is.  I'd rather see action;  tasks being accomplished, headway being made and progress being detected.  Hanging around and killing time until everything is ready to proceed is difficult.

Even though God does want us to wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31-32), it is not so much that I need to sit around waiting for action, as it is that I continue in what He has called me to do while I let Him do the work of preaching, teaching and changing hearts.  

Oswald Chambers described the idea of waiting on God in this way.  He said, "If when God said 'Go,' you stayed because you were so concerned about your people at home, you robbed them of the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach; as long as you would not obey, you were in the way.  To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told."

Where am I in the way of God's work because I refuse to wait on Him?  In my need to see action, results and fruit, I am blocking God's voice from being heard.  I am becoming a stumbling block because I am too concerned with my mission instead of God's.  Anything done apart from Jesus means nothing; even if I do it in His name. (John 15:5)

Faith allows me to wait on God, even if I don't see the purpose or understand the reason.

Jesus said it only takes a little bit of faith to move mountains.  That itty-bitty faith allows me to believe that God is who He says He is, to put that faith into action by trusting Him to do hard things through me, and to wait on Him to do the real work.   It's not the size of my faith that matters, but the magnitude of the One in whom I place my faith that makes all the difference!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take my little faith and place it in God's mighty hands.

How do I fail to trust God to do what I consider to be impossible?

When do I put my plan into action instead of waiting on God to initiate His?

Healing Touch

"While he was saying this,

a ruler came and knelt before him and said,

'My daughter has just died.  

But come and put your hand on her,

and she will live.'

Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding

for twelve years came up behind him 

and touched the edge of his cloak.

She said to herself,

'If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.'

Jesus turned and saw her.

'Take heart daughter,' he said,

'your faith has healed you.'

And the woman was healed from that moment.

When Jesus entered the ruler's house 

and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,

he said, 'Go away.  The girl is not dead but asleep.'

But they laughed at him.  

After the crowd had been put outside,

he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. . .

As Jesus went on from there, 

two blind men followed him,

calling out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!'

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him,

and he asked them,

'Do you believe that I am able to do this?'

'Yes, Lord, ' they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said,

'According to your faith will it be done to you';

and their sight was restored."

Matthew 9:18-25, 27-30

There was a man who lived in the French Alps during the first part of the 20th Century.  Due to careless logging practices, the mountains became barren.  Brooks and springs ran dry, killing the villages whose people depended on the life-giving water.  A once pleasant home become an infertile place where the wind blew relentlessly unhindered.  

Thankfully, Elzeard Bouffier had faith that one man could make a difference.  He devoted his time to collecting, sorting and planting acorns.  Over three years time, he planted 100,000 trees.  While only 20,000 sprouted, his efforts gradually transformed the landscape back into a fertile, healthy and prosperous land.  People came back as the streams returned, and life is full and adventurous as it once was.  Mr. Bouffier's healing touch made a difference.

In a much more powerful way, Jesus can transform a barren soul into a bountiful spirit, can heal a broken heart, and turn a dry and meaningless life into one filled with purpose and abundance.  Seeking the One who is the Great Physician can make all the difference in my life.

Death

The limp, ragged body of the deaf, feral cat lay on our deck.  I was awakened in the wee hours of the morning to the horrible sound of a cat screeching in terror.  Two dogs had escaped their yard and jumped our fence, surprising the stray cat who had finally built up the courage to sleep on our back deck.  She couldn't hear them coming, and now she was gone.  As my tears stained her still form, I realized this was the first time I'd ever touched her; she'd just been too afraid to let me get close. Poor little girl.

As difficult as that experience was, I can't imagine the grief that would overcome the heart of a parent who peers down upon the still form of his or her beloved daughter.  There must be no greater heartache, as a ruler in the synagogue could testify.  He came to Jesus for help, knowing that even death was not too much for Jesus to overcome.  

I, too, am surrounded by death.  Marriages are failing all around me.  The vow the man and woman took before God seems like a distant memory, weak and unable to conquer the feelings of disappointment, hurt and bitterness.  There seems to be no hope to revive the love that once held the two together with an unbreakable bond.

Dreams sometimes die a slow death.  As time marches on, the passion to change the world, reach a goal or make a difference tends to fade.  What once looked within reach, now appears to be as far away as the moon.  There seems to be no hope to renew the spark that once drove me to reach beyond the possible into the realms of the impossible, where Jesus resides.

Just as the father pursued Jesus as the only One who could revive his dead daughter, so I can place my lifeless hope in His hands for restoration.

Affliction

Doctor after doctor examined her, each with the expectation that they would be the one to offer a cure.  After 12 years, she had all but lost her faith.  There's nothing that can be done.  I might as well face reality and come to grips with the fact that I'm permanently broken.  

That was before Jesus came to town.  I've heard of this man.  One touch of His cloak and I would be healed, I just know it.  I must get to Him.  And get to Him she did.  Her healing was instantaneous and complete; no one had ever seen anything like it.  Her suffering was finally over, thanks to Jesus.

What kind of suffering is going on all around me?  Long-term misery where faith is gone and resignation is the word of the day; distress that seems to have no end.  

There are illnesses which no one can find a cure.  Other times fear grips a being, cutting off the flow of life-giving love that comes from the Father.  Sometimes discontent rules, leaving behind a restlessness and quest for meaning.  Many times I am afflicted with a lack of purpose, floundering as I turn to expert after expert for help.

When I'm suffering, the only help I need is Jesus.  He can heal sickness with a touch, drive out fear, offer peace and provide an abundant life full of significance.

Just as the bleeding woman knew a single touch could heal her affliction, so I can reach out to Jesus for relief from my long-term suffering.

Impossible

"Listen, I've lived with him for ten years.  There's no way he's going to change."

"I've always been impatient and stubborn, and I always will be."

"My sister is the kind one.  That's just not me."

"I've always wanted to write a book, but I can't do it with my schedule. . .or my temperament."

The two men who couldn't see perceived something most others never catch sight of.   They believed that Jesus could accomplish the impossible.  Most damage done to the eye is irreversible.  It is out of the question to expect that anyone who is blind could be healed, especially during Jesus' time.  But these two mean believed that Jesus is the God of the impossible.


It seems impractical to expect that a zebra could change his stripes, but it's doable with Jesus.  I may think my impatience and stubbornness could never turn to endurance and compliance, but with Jesus my ugliness is transformed into delicious fruit.  I like to think I'm a certain way and could never change, but with Jesus I am a new creation.  My lack of understanding of how great is God's power could prevent me from taking a step of faith to pursue a dream, but if I give my all to Him, Jesus will give me the desires of my heart.

Just as the blind men believed that Jesus was able to heal them, so I must believe that all things are possible through Him who gives me strength.


Jesus healed many people when He walked the earth as a man.  Even now, He is still in the business of reviving the dead, delivering from suffering and accomplishing the possible.  The only question left to ask is this: Do I believe?




As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will trust Jesus to do all that He is able to do.


How do I forget that Jesus is able to do that which is deemed impossible?


What impossible thing do I need done today?