Reason to Rejoice

"Sing for joy, O heavens!

Rejoice, O earth!

Burst into song, O mountains!

For the LORD has comforted his people

and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

Yet Jerusalem says,

'The LORD has deserted us;

the Lord has forgotten us.'"

Isaiah 49:13-14 NLT

I have every reason to rejoice yet I often feel depressed, as if God has deserted me, leaving me to face this harsh world alone.  My feelings easily deceive me into thinking all is lost and my life is a waste, in shambles, beyond repair.  Does the suffering I currently endure mean I am forgotten by the One who created me in His image?  Or is my focus off, am I looking in the wrong place? 

Let's take a look at God's promises to His wayward people, and learn how to negotiate this rocky path of life with a song in our heart!

Restoration.  Whether I know it or not, restoration in mine through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  God responded to the brokenness of the world He created, the bondage His people endured, the darkness in which His sheep groped by sending the long-awaited Messiah (Isaiah 49:8-12).  He sent His Son to make all things right, to free the captives and to shed His Light in a dark world (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 61:1-3 John 1:5).  And this indescribable response of God still impacts us today.  Even now Jesus is being offered to mankind as a way to restore that which has been ruined by sin.

When I turn away from my sin, ceasing to think of it as my friend and instead embrace this Jesus by faith, donning Him like a garment, I will find the forgiveness I need in order to forge a bond with the One who loves me perfectly.  I then can relate to Him as a daughter to a Father, not an earthly father who sometimes fails and lets me down, but as a heavenly Papa who knows exactly how to provide, lead, and love in a way that quenches every thirst and fulfills every desire.  Through the blood of Jesus, my standing as God's child is reestablished and I am firmly implanted in His family forever (1 John 3:1).

God's promise to restore His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14).  Of this great treasure may my heart always sing!

Comfort.  I try to avoid it like I do the IRS, doing whatever I can to keep from being tainted by its agony.  I would do anything to prevent it's access to my life.  Still, suffering comes, inflicting devastation and heartache.  Why can't I catch a break?  I wonder.  Must my life always be tainted by this poison that contaminates the plan I have for my life?  My desire for a pain-free existence?  The expectation that I can enjoy at least a moment free from sorrow?

While it may seem more than I can bear (and perhaps I'm a bit dramatic and narrow in my assessment of the situation I face), there is a great benefit to encountering misery.  If my life was always free from all anguish, I would never experience the comfort of my Father (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).  He consoles my hurting heart in a way that only He can.  I find relief from the pain when I sink into His loving arms, experiencing Him in a more intimate way as I rest in His lovingkindness.  My understanding of His nature grows as I see this caring and gentle side of Him.  Even more astounding is the fact that through Jesus Christ I have access to my Father at all times, able to approach Him in order to receive all that I need in order to negotiate the rocky paths I encounter (Hebrews 4:16).  

God's promise to comfort His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ who ushers believers into the presence of the great Comforter.  Of this great treasure may I always rejoice!

Compassion.  The gods of this world are cold and calculating, each with an agenda of their own that brings about some form of suffering upon their people.  While they are impotent to actually become who their legends proclaim them to be, millions subscribe to their beliefs, appeasing them with the hope that they can give some sort of favor.  Followers are willing to risk the consequences that may come from trusting in such a risky proposition with the chance that they might benefit from such a relationship.  There is always the risk, however, of ticking off the gods and enduring their retaliation.

Thankfully, God is not prone to flying off the handle and lashing out in a rage.  In fact, if He were to truly give mankind what we deserved, we wouldn't live another moment (Psalm 103:10, 130:3).  In His mercy He allows each of His image-bearers ample time to come around to our senses so that we can accept the free gift of salvation He offers through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).  As is written, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." (Lamentations 3:22).  Nowhere is this love more evident than in the sending of God's precious Son to save a wicked people (Romans 5:8).  

God's promise to have compassion on His people is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.  May this great treasure always cause me to burst into song!

Living in this dark world can leave me in despair.  I tend to look around me at all that is wrong and look within and find nothing good.  When I turn my eyes upon Jesus, however, and see Him for who He is, I discover there is much to set my heart to singing!  I've been restored, am given the benefit of a wonderful Comforter and daily discover how much he cares.  In Jesus Christ I have every reason to rejoice!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to see Him as He truly exists.

When do I focus on the mess around me instead of on God's goodness?

How am I now receiving the comfort of God?        

Fatherly Compassion

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Psalm 103:10-14

A good father is sensitive to the relationship he shares with his child.  It is his desire to train and discipline, but always with the intention of preserving the bond.  Too hard and the connection will be broken under the strain.  Too soft and the respect weakens.  God shows such fatherly compassion to me as His child.

Sin.  I could be a big disappointment to God.  After all, He made me for relationship with Him yet I fail to live life the way He created me to live (Romans 3:23).  I often go my own way, stubbornly refusing His advances and willfully attempt life on my own, under my terms with the goal of pleasing myself.  

Still, His love preserved the bond between He and I by designing a plan for redemption (Titus 2:14).  Out of His love for me and a desire to protect the Father/child relationship, He offered His own Son as a sacrifice to atone for my sins (Romans 5:8).  Now, through faith in Jesus Christ, my sins have been forgiven, removed from me as if I were Jesus, the One without sin (John 3:16-17, Isaiah 1:18).

Therefore, when my Father looks upon me, the wrath is gone, the disappointment doesn't exist, there is no disgust in my choices.  Instead, all that remains is love, and it is the greatest of all powers (1 Corinthians 13:13)!

God shows His fatherly compassion by loving me enough to give His own Son in order to preserve our relationship.

Comfort.  The news was difficult.  To hear he would never drive again, that his freedom had been snatched away, a piece of his identity destroyed was the worst news of his hard life.  How could he bear the thought of never getting out on his motorcycle to enjoy the scenery along the open road?  There was nothing the daughter could say to her dad to give him comfort.  Instead, she relied upon the Father of compassion to do the consoling (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

No one can comfort like our Father can.  He knows exactly what each of us needs to hear, and He has His ways of giving just what each of His children need in order to encourage, uplift, and give a hopeful outlook.  

When all seems lost, His supernatural compassion soothes my aching heart, binding up my wounds and setting the hurts to healing.  When the pain is so great, He mysteriously brings relief and shows me a glimpse of His heart for me.  When I feel I cannot carry on, He strengthens my resolve and gives me a fresh outlook on life.  

God shows His fatherly compassion by comforting me in ways only possible for Him as my Father.

Sanctification.  He loves me too much to leave me as I am.  It is God's desire as my Father to grow me in grace, to purify me for His purposes, to lead me through a life-long process that chisels away more and more of me to make way for more and more of Him.  It is His desire that I resemble His Son when the process is complete (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Colossians 3:4, 1 John 3:2).

Therefore, as a daughter of a compassionate Father such as this, I can expect to be molded through difficult experiences, shaped into Christ-likeness through the hard things I endure in faith, formed into the Jesus model by every life-moment (Romans 8:29).  Nothing is wasted in God's kingdom, for He uses it all to transform me into the woman I'm meant to be.

God shows His fatherly compassion by walking me through the life-long sanctification process that ends at the glory of His Son.

Many of us do not know what good fathering looks like, but as we grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father, we learn what it means to have a good Father.  He preserves my relationship through His plan of redemption, comforting me as only He can, and takes me through a life-long process of sanctification.  In these ways, I experience fatherly compassion at its best!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough as my Father to let Him comfort me when things are hard.

When do I attempt to live my own life instead of cooperating with the sanctification process my Father loves me enough to walk me through?

How do I live as if my sin defines me instead of living as the one who has been set free? 

In the Vacuum

"When I was in deep trouble,

I searched for the Lord.

All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,

but my soul was not comforted.

I think of God, and I moan,

overwhelmed with longing for his help."

Psalm 77:2-3 NLT

Sleep was impossible for her.  Instead, she paced the floor, peering out the window between the curtains, searching the sky for some sign of Him.  Her heart was leaden, weighed down with every mother's worst nightmare that had become her reality.  The daughter she had worked so hard to protect, guide and nurture was suddenly gone, cruelly snatched from her home by an unknown evil.  

This mother needed her daughter back.  She yearned to once again hear her sweet laughter, be interrupted by her silly antics, to watch her peacefully sleep.  Instead, her home once warmed by the girl's presence was now empty as a tomb.  She wondered why God offered no solace for her aching soul.

God had not left my friend in her greatest hour of need, just as He had faithfully been with His people of old, as He had promised.  Sometimes, though, His silence is deafening and His inaction speaks volumes to my wounded heart.  This is when it's important that I follow Asaph's lead, turning my attention away from what distresses me and toward what will give me strength to carry on.

Remember.  He is mighty and strong.  He has done great things in the lives of His people, in the history of His nation, in the heart of this follower.  There were times when my head exploded as I tried to comprehend His ability to care so intimately about me along with the throngs of others He personally attended to.  How could He direct my footsteps so carefully while keeping His eye upon each wounded heart, wayward soul, and weakening spirit?  My heart rejoiced in such a Father as this.

So where was my praise now, as I sat in the quiet, failing to sense His presence nor see the work of His sovereign hand?  It was time to recall the acts that showcased His power and strength in the past, reminding me of what He is capable of doing, giving me a refresher of His might to jog my memory that He is a good God for which nothing is impossible.

I don't need to feel God's presence in order to remember His mighty acts of old.

Meditate.  I often use my brain power to analyze situations, searching for the perfect solution, rehashing prior situations to look for flaws and discover how I failed.  My mind is constantly at work, always thinking, never quiet.  Why not use such a powerhouse to meditate on God's mighty works?

When I think of meditation I often picture a woman whose legs are tied up in an impossible position that reminds me of a pretzel.  Her eyes are closed and her upturned hands rest quietly on her knees.  She sits without moving for an unbearable amount of time, clearing her mind of all thought while eerie music floats on the air and the smoke of incense filters through the room.

This may be one form of meditation, but there is another which would benefit me in times of trouble when God seems so far away.  Instead of clearing my mind, I can use it's power to ponder God's mighty works, thinking deeply about His constant character and how His faithfulness effects my life.  Instead of focusing on what is wrong in my life or in the world around me, I can center my attention on all the good found in the nature of God.  

I don't need to feel God's presence in order to meditate on how God's faithful and powerful nature has shown up in my life and in the lives of His people.

Praise Him.  There are things I know about God.  I read His Word which clearly speaks of His greatness, power and holiness, telling stories of His goodness, love and faithfulness and giving examples of His redemptive, supernatural and intimate nature.  I often mistakenly believe I must feel His Spirit moving in me in order to give Him praise.  In reality, it's when I don't sense His presence that my worship is most meaningful.

William Law, 18th Century priest, evangelical thinker and theological writer, left something behind for modern-day believers to ponder.  "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."  This sounds like Romans 12:1 put in practice, does it not?  May it be my constant custom, then, to liberally give honor and glory to God for who He is, what He has done, is doing, and will do, and because He is always worthy of praise, no matter what is going on in my life.  When I humbly accept my lot in life, this submission to God's sovereignty speaks volumes to His heart.

I don't need to feel God's presence in order to accept my current situation while giving praise to Him for His many attributes.

Sometime God seems distant and silent, as if He no longer exists.  I wonder why He won't answer; is it something I've done or not done?  How have I failed?  It's easy to take it personally.  Instead, why not remember His acts of might and power, meditate on His nature, and be content with my circumstances while praising Him for who He is.  In these ways, I'll find peace in the vacuum.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my mind trained on God's faithfulness instead of depending upon my sense of His presence to sustain me.

When do I despair because I can't feel God with me?

How does my faith falter if I no longer sense His constant presence?

A Dynamic God

"In my distress I called to the LORD;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my cry came before him, into his ears.

The earth trembled and quaked,

and the foundations of the mountains shook . . .

He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy. . ."

Psalm 18:6,7a,16,17

There is no deeper longing in the human heart than to be heard.  Arguments often times are generated by each side desperately trying to make their case known while neither seeks to understand.  I often search for a listening ear, a compassionate shoulder on which to cry, someone who cares.  Meanwhile, marriages crumble, relationships collapse and the heart is estranged.  Does anyone hear?

God is not far-removed and disconnected from His image-bearers, stuck in one place and hopelessly one-dimensional.  He is intertwined and intimately involved in our lives, complex and dynamic.  He desires relationship as much as I do, yet He is perfectly equipped to maintain such a bond.  He always hears, never fails to understand my heart's cry, and responds in a way that will bring goodness and blessing into my dry and broken spirit.  He is the One I've been searching for all this time.  He is the One who can fill this deepest need.

Receives.  He is a holy God.  He is on the throne in heaven on high.    He must be far too busy and way too hallowed to listen to lowly me, or so I think.  In reality, I was made to live in relationship with Him.  I was not meant to go it alone, bear my own burdens and solve every problem I face.  He wants me to come to Him as a daughter approaches a loving Father who desires nothing more than to care for His child (Matthew 6:32-33, Hebrews 4:16).

Our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, is not an aloof God who is consumed with power and stingy with His gifts.  No.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, He is welcoming and approachable.  He listens to my desperate cries for help.  My petitions never fall on deaf ears, but always reach His consciousness where He is grieved for me.  My sufferings move the heart of God.

God always hears my prayers.

Responds.  It is good to know that I am heard and fully understood.  My heart longs for such love, and I have it through Christ.  Even more astounding than such a powerful God being attentive to my cries, however, is a mighty God who actually does something in response.

My Father doesn't just hear me, but my voice moves Him to action.  When I am wronged He burns with anger.  When my heart hurts He is grieved as a Father who wants nothing more than to take His child's pain away.  When I am in distress He leads me to a place of safety (Psalm 18:16-19).

God is always at work on my behalf.  He doesn't just leave me to my own devices, but constantly meddles in my life, giving me more than I could ever have on my own.  Sometimes this kind of attentiveness hurts as He molds me into the shape of His Son.  Other times it makes my heart sing as I see His love in action.  Still, I can trust in Him always, knowing He is on the job and will never let me down.

God responds to my prayers.

Reflects.  God hears me always, then responds in ways only He can.  But there is more.  The Lord is a God of order, of government, of symmetry.  He is not a random God, but One who cannot be mocked.  Therefore, I can expect to reap what I sow, to receive what I give (Galatians 6:8).  In other words, God reflects back to me what I think of Him and the way I live my life.

It reminds me of a parable I once heard of a wise man posted at the gates of a great city.  A traveler approached and asked the elder, "What kind of people live in this place?"  

The man replied with a question of his own, "What were the people like from where you came?"

"Oh, they were nasty and cruel, always looking to make a buck."

"Then that is what you will find here as well."  

The newcomer went on his way and entered the city.

Soon, another weary traveler approached the sage.

"Tell me, sir, what kind of people live in this place?"

He countered again by asking how the people were in the place from which he came.

"Oh, they were wonderful!  Kind and thoughtful, generous and caring."

"Then you will find the same here."

The moral is that I find what I seek and my perception is colored by my expectations as well as my own attitude.

This is similar with God.  He does not change, but it is I who determines the side of Him I will see.  If I'm faithful, trusting in Him as my only hope, I will see Him as faithful.  If I live with integrity, He is to me a God who cares about how I live.  If, however, I live to please myself, not caring if I deviate from His best for me, He will appear as my antagonist.  I will soon grow angry at Him, wondering why His hand always seems against me, while in truth, it is I who is contrary to Him (Psalm 18:25-28).

Therefore, I have a responsibility to constantly check my attitude, to ask God to show me where I'm off, to test my own motives (Psalm 139:23-24).  The minute I sense a change in the way I view God, it is necessary that I stop and take inventory of my heart.  How am I doubting Him?  Where am I becoming lax, thinking sin is not a big deal and giving myself a pass?  How am I sowing seeds of the flesh?

God reflects my own attitude back toward me.

Thankfully, God is nearby, intimate and approachable, not stagnate, dead or unresponsive.  As such, I can trust Him to always hear my cries, to respond in a way that is best for me, and to reflect what I give to Him.  Yes, let me relate to Him as the living, responsive and dynamic God He is!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to spill my heart out to Him, no matter how ugly it may seem.

How do I expect less from God than what He is able to give?

When do I think God does not hear me, turning bitter and angry in response?

Worldly Wisdom

"He immediately consulted with his wise advisers,

who knew all the Persian laws and customs,

for he always asked their advice.

The names of these men were

Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,

Marsena, and Memucan--seven nobels of Persia and Media.

They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire."

Esther 1:13-14 NLT

Who is my go-to person?  From where do I gain wisdom for living?  How do I acquire understanding in tricky situations?  King Xerxes had a whole group of men who were well-versed in the laws of the land but also the ways of their culture.  They knew how certain actions might affect the people and thus the king's ability to reign, but they also possessed good insight into the mindset of the average person.  It's no wonder that the king met with them often.

The problem with such advice, however, is that it is based on faulty human reasoning.  When I follow suit and make man my source of wisdom, I will soon discover the difference between insight from God and that of man.

Reputation-focused.  How will this make me look?  People will talk.  They'll think I'm weak. . .or foolish. . .or just plain dumb.  Wisdom from the world is based on the influence my actions may have on others and their perception of me.  Since no one can predict perfectly how people will respond to certain news, this kind of advice is based on conjecture and assumption.  I'm guessing how my decisions will influence others and responding in a way that is most favorable to my reputation.

Politicians do this all the time.  Many base their professional decisions on the latest opinion poll instead of acting on convictions and beliefs.  When I live my life in such a way, I'll find myself like a wave, tossed around this way and that, pushed wherever the judgments of others dictate. 

Instead, I can ask God for wisdom, believing He is the true Source of good advice (James 1:5-8).  When I do so, I will find an Adviser who guides me in the way that is most excellent for me.  He has my best interests at heart so I can trust Him to lead me right.

God's wisdom is concerned with what is best for me while man's considers only how it looks to others.

Fear-based.  King Xerxes knew he had to do something in response to his wife's public display of disrespect.  If he let it go, he believed every wife would follow suit and they would have a revolt on their hands!  Therefore, he decided to send a strong message to the women of the land.  Your husband is king of your home and you should respect him always, or else!

Wisdom based on man's way of thinking often uses such tactics to obtain the desired results.  It's manipulative, influencing the behavior of others by holding something over their head.  If I don't do "this", then I will receive "that."  And the "that" is always something I want to avoid.  In this kind of advice, I don't willingly comply out of respect for the law or law-giver, but out of fear of the consequences for disobedience.  This kind of tactic is often found in countries ruled by dictators, or organizations led by the power-hungry, or families headed by the insecure.  

In contrast, God gives me free will to decide which path to take.  I will experience the natural consequences for my actions, but He does not strong-arm me into doing things His way.  He desires for me to obey Him because He knows it is what is best for me, but the choice is always mine to make.

God's wisdom is freely given while man's depends on coercion and intimidation.

Comfort-aimed.  The solution was simple:  Get rid of the problem.  Since Queen Vashti was rocking the boat, the king's advisers recommended that he dispose of the queen and find a new one.  Problem solved.

This is often the case with worldly advice.  It follows the path of least-resistance, that which causes the smallest fallout, or whatever gives a minimal amount of trouble.  In short, it's all about what is the easiest and least troublesome.

God does not avoid pain, and neither does He expect me to take such an easy way out. He does what is right, looking for the outcome that will bring about permanent healing, beauty out of ashes, and joy from the darkest night (Isaiah 61:1-3).  While man's brand of wisdom doesn't usually solve anything, God's brings about surprising goodness from the rubble.

It reminds me of an injury our cat Blacky sustained one day as he roamed the woods behind our house.  He sustained a puncture wound that required lancing for proper healing.  Any kind of similar injury must be healed from the inside out.  This meant that all the pus and putrid fluid had to be drained from the wound, a painful process.  In order for our cat to experience complete recovery, however, he had to go through this treatment.  Similarly, my healing may require that I face painful realities as I purge the ugly hurts from my heart.  

God's wisdom brings about health and wellness while man's is most focused on comfort and avoiding pain.

Advice is everywhere, free for the taking.  Trouble is, the kind of counsel I receive from the world is focused on preserving my reputation, manipulation using fear, and aims for my comfort as it's highest goal.  If I want true wisdom, I'll need to ask God who will give me His best, let me choose to follow or not, and results in wholeness.  When it comes to advice, I'll take God's over worldly wisdom any time!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can make God my go-to source for wisdom and advice.

When do I rely on what makes sense to me instead of following God's advice?

How do I prefer comfort over true wisdom?    

Out of Pain

"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.

His mother had named him Jabez, saying,

'I gave birth to him in pain.'

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,

'Oh, that you would bless me

and enlarge my territory!

Let your had be with me,

and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.'

And God granted his request."

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez was born through great pain experienced by his mother.  Instead of his troubled beginnings coloring his life, God used it to propel Jabez to greatness in His kingdom.  Out of pain came a prayer that inspires millions.  What will come out of the pain in my life?

Character.  If it wasn't for the struggle of running out of money in the middle of nowhere, constant rejection when searching for housing, uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring and a period of homelessness, I would not be the person I am today.  Going through times of difficulty, pain and heartache bring about strength of character that cannot be gained any other way.  (Romans 5:3-5)

How else would I learn how to look beyond the problems and focus instead on Jesus and His power in my life (Luke 8:43-48)?  In what other way would I know how to keep in mind that God possesses a great and good plan for my life especially when it looks like everything is going wrong (Jeremiah 29:11-13)?  If things always went my way, would I ever get the chance to exercise the faith Jesus has given me, walking not by what I see but by what is unseen yet no less real (Hebrews 12:1-2)?

Out of the pain in my life comes character.

Faith.  It comes from Jesus and He is responsible for perfecting it.  It has the power to turn me away from fear, securing my belief in the God of the impossible.  It transforms my fleshly eyes into spiritual ones, giving me a view similar to that of my Father's.  

Without faith, I am unable to please God.  It gives me confidence in what I hope will happen, believing it will actually come to pass.  Faith gives me a kind of proof of things that I cannot see, as if the intangible were somehow plain as day. (Hebrews 11:1)  

This faith to which I cling in times of trouble delivers the power of Jesus into my life, providing a conduit for His healing touch, His gracious forgiveness and His transforming power  (Luke 7:50, Mark 10:52, Luke 18:42).  Waning faith inhibits His ability to bring about the change He came to deliver, limiting the flow of his power into my life (Matthew 17:19-20).

The thing about faith is that it weakens from lack of use.  If I'm not thrown into situations that are over my head, beyond my ability to handle, and that stretch my faith, it atrophies from lack of use.  When I face trouble, pain and heartache, I am being given the opportunity to trust God in new ways, breaking out into fresh territory where I will see Him in a new light.

Out of the pain in my life comes faith.

Inspiration.  Seeing her ability to weather the storms of life gives me confidence to step forward into my own unknown.  Hearing about the way he was able to keep walking ahead in the face of great danger inspires me to persevere when dealing with my own threats.  Learning of her willingness to trust God through her overwhelming pain encourages me to do the same when experiencing my own form of hurting.

There is something so powerful about hearing the story of a brother or sister in Christ who has endured much yet came out on the other side the better for it.  When I endure suffering, heartache or difficulties, it brings me into a more intimate position with my Father who desires to comfort me in the way no one else is able.  Once I experience His compassion, I have the ability to pass this same consolation on to others who are in a desperate state and need His loving touch (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

We are meant to live in community with others and we draw strength from one another.  Pity the man who falls down by himself for he has no one to help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)!  When I share my struggles with others, I inspire them to carry on.  Similarly, when I am feeling lost and hopeless, I need another to come alongside and remind me of the truth through the victories they have experienced.

Out of the pain in my life comes inspiration.

No one likes to struggle or experience difficulty or sorrow.  When I do, however, I can be assured that God will use it for my good, building my character, growing my faith, and giving me inspiration to carry on (Romans 8:28).  In these ways, good comes out of the pain.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep God's greater purpose for my pain in mind as I struggle.

When do I give up hope in the face of great difficulty?

How can I keep my eyes on Jesus through the trial?

The Risk of Comfort

"When I have brought them into the land

flowing with milk and honey,

the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,

and when they eat their fill and thrive,

they will turn to other gods and worship them,

rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

And when many disasters and calamities come on them,

this song will testify against them,

because it will not be forgotten by their descendants.

I know what they are disposed to do,

even before I bring them into the land 

I promised them on oath."

Deuteronomy 31:20-21

They were on the cusp of seeing the promise they had so long awaited be fulfilled.  This new generation of Israelites, the children of the whining and complaining group of desert-wandering people, had heard all their lives about the land flowing with milk and honey.  They grew up with the assurance that God would one day, when the time was right, usher them into the land of their inheritance.  

Before they set foot in this glorious land, however, God wanted to make sure they were fully aware of His expectations for them.  After He laid down the law, instructing them directly in His ways, He ended with a warning.  The caution was centered around a tendency for the human heart to stray when times are good.  When they were wandering around the desert, directly dependent upon God for their sustenance (manna and quail), clothing (supernaturally preserved) and guidance (pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day), it was necessary for them to stay focused on their Provider.

Once they entered into the land promised to them, however, times would get easier.  They would live in houses they did not build, eat from gardens they didn't plant and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor. (Deuteronomy 6:10-13) They would get comfortable.  

When things start to go well, the sinful human heart tends to turn away from God.  It is this treacherous tendency of which God warns.  Thankfully, there is an antidote given for this malady.

Faithfulness of God

"I forgot."

This was often the excuse one of my daughters would give when confronted about her unfinished chores.  While the human memory often fails, God's never does.  

No matter how faithless I tend to be; going my own way, depending on my own strength, and focusing inwardly, God never forgets His promises.  My weakness does not in any way diminish His strength.  My sin never takes away from His holiness.  My waywardness doesn't negate His persistence.  

Therefore, my success in His kingdom depends completely on Him and not on me.  Like He told Paul, His grace is enough for me and His power is evident when I give up in my own labors.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)  When I surrender my life into His hands, He grows to take up a more prominent place in my life.  Once I get out of the way, He can truly show His power.  Until then, my efforts block His work from manifesting in my life.

It is important, then, that I admit to my failings, am honest about my inabilities and stop trying to put up a strong front.  Pretending like I've got everything under control does not bring glory to God.  Showing my weaknesses by living transparently before God and others, admitting of my need for Him does.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must keep connected to the God of faithfulness.

Remember

My dad loves to tell stories of his youth.  He recounts the adventures he experienced, the people he encountered, and the hard times he endured.  Hearing about his life helps me to better understand him and the legacy he is leaving his family.

It is important that I use this same practice when it comes to the Lord.  When I talk about His mighty works, recounting all the ways He has provided, comforted and prevailed, I leave a legacy of faith to those who are listening.  As the years go by, these tales may seem like a distant memory or a kind of fairy tale, but the practice of telling the story keeps alive the legends of God's greatness.

For this reason, I make it a practice to keep a "Stones of Remembrance" journal.  Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter into the Promised Land, God instructed them to collect twelve stones, one for each tribe, and erect them as an altar of remembrance for generations to come.  Whenever children would see the pile of rocks, they would inquire of its significance and those present would have the opportunity to tell how God parted the waters to provide a way for them to enter into the land in which they now live. (Joshua 4:1-7)  In the same way, I keep a record of God's mighty works, big and small, to serve as inspiration in times to come.  

It is good to remind myself and others of how God has provided in the past when I reach a time of want.  When times of loss come, it is beneficial to look back at the comfort God has given during other periods of grief.  If I reach a moment of crisis, it helps to keep in mind the strong leadership my Shepherd has provided in days gone by.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must make it a practice to remember the works of God.

Sovereignty of God

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make it work.  I had the dream of digging a pond for the duck our neighbor gave me.  Even though I was just a kid, I wanted to give my new feathered friends the joy that came from paddling around a body of water.  So, I got to work digging a sizable hole.  Once it was big enough, I ran the hose until it reached the hole and filled it up.  Much to my dismay, the water quickly soaked into the ground.  Without the help of an adult who knew about building ponds, my efforts were for naught.

In the same way that I couldn't reach my goal only with what little know-how I possessed in my young mind, there is no way for me to succeed in life without the Lord. (Proverbs 16:1-9) Nothing happens outside of His will, so if I want to live a life of peace and purpose, I will need to pay attention to His instructions and His leadership.  In the same way that my project failed in my own feeble attempts, so will my life if I rely only on my own understanding and common sense.

Formulating a plan, then, is not what it takes to live a life of meaning that will bring glory to God.  Wanting to do something of worth and value with my life will not get me to my goal.  Taking the steps I think are necessary to please God will do nothing to bring pleasure to Him.  Instead, I must seek God wholeheartedly, relying on His sovereign plan to give me my marching orders.

This means when I want to charge full-steam ahead, I may need to reign in my enthusiasm and wait for the go-ahead from the Master Planner.  I will also find that in the times when I'm feeling vulnerable, God may have amazing feats of wonder to work out in my life in the midst of the struggle.  There is also the possibility that my sense of ill-preparedness is exactly what God will use to showcase His power.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must keep in mind that nothing of significance can happen apart from Him.

Even though I desire ease and comfort, there is a risk in reaching such a plateau.  I would be wise, then, to heed God's warning designed to keep me close to Him, and guard against my tendency to drift.  As a result, it is my intention to stand firm on the faithfulness of God, remember His mighty acts, and live as if my life depended on Him.  In these ways, I'll minimize the risk of living a life of comfort and security.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep God in the foreground of my vision.

When do I let God fade into the hazy distance?

How do I try to make things happen on my own, neglecting to consider God's sovereign plan? 

Alpha and Omega

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,'

says the Lord God,

'who is,

and who was, 

and who is to come,

the Almighty.'"

Revelation 1:8

I gotta hurry; I'm running out of time.  If these cars don't move out of my way I'll be late for my appointment!  As I sit at the light, aggravated and annoyed, my mind goes over a perpetual list of things to do.  The day is getting away from me and I don't know if I'll be able to get everything done!  Arrrgghh. . . . 

I have to admit that I am driven by time.  I wake up at a certain time, have a goal to finish writing by a specific time, set a time for discipleship appointments, dinner is planned for the time my husband gets home and I should be in bed by a certain time in order to get enough sleep.  Time threatens to be my god.

But the Lord my God transcends all things including time.  He is greater than my schedule and can never be early or late.  He is the Creator of time and thus is not bound by it.  In fact, time bows to His Sovereignty. 

Present

It's hard to live in the here and now.  Usually I am preparing for the future, fearing what may happen, or I'm grieving over the past, overwhelmed with shame and regret over what has already happened.

This is when I need to remember that God is.  He is here now with me and there is nowhere I can go where I will be apart from Him.  When I am standing at my highest point, feeling invincible and on top of the world, He is right beside me.  When I sink to the depths of despair, weighed down with the cares of this world, He is there. (Psalm 139:7-12)  

If I can remember that my God is not a far away God who cares not for my circumstances, troubles or hurts, then I can take comfort in His constant, loving presence.  (2 Corinthians 1:3)

He is my Father who is never too busy to listen to my fears, strengthen my weak knees, and give me a word of encouragement.

The Lord my God is always with me so I can walk in peace with Him.

Past

Many of us define ourselves by our past.  I'm a drug addict.  I'm promiscuous.  I'm a failure.  I'm divorced.  I'm an abuser.  I'm a victim.  When I describe myself based on my past, I am forgetting that my God was.  He was there.  He is the God of the past.

The Lord my God is the healer of my hurts, the mender of my broken heart and the forgiver of my sins.  He is the lover of my soul.  As His child through faith in Jesus Christ, He sees not my transgressions. (Isaiah 1:18)  In fact, the blood of Jesus has so purified me from my sins that I can stand blameless before Him.  (Jude 24)  Who I was in the past as been far removed from my new identity in Christ.  (Psalm 103:12)

Consequently, I can move forward as the new creation Christ has made it possible for me to be.  I can step into this new identity as a forgiven, cherished, daughter of a loving Father.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  I can let go of the old me, who I used to be before I knew Christ and accepted this gift of reconciliation with God.  I can stop identifying with my sinful past and start embracing my redeemed present.

The Lord my God has freed me from my past so I can walk with Him in liberty.

Future

I sat in the seat getting ready to experience a ride at an amusement park, wondering what I had gotten myself into.  I'm not a big fan of going upside down and drop-offs terrify me, but I wanted to challenge myself to push past my physical fears by going onto this roller coaster-type ride.  The trouble was, I didn't know what was about to come.  I could see the riders before me blast off and shoot through the doorway into the darkness, but I had no idea what came after that.  My near future was uncertain.

This is similar to life where I have no idea what the next moment may hold.  I may convince myself that I am in control of my life, but the reality is that it is filled with the unexpected.  Just as that roller coaster took me upside down straight out of the chute, my greatest fear could be right around the corner.

Thankfully, my God is to come.  He is the God of tomorrow and as Casting Crowns sings in Already There,  "To You my future is a memory 'cause You're already there."  He's sees all things as if they exist together.  Time does not constrain God like it does me; He can move freely through my future, presence and past.  To Him, tomorrow is already here and He knows how it will all turn out.  And more importantly, He is waiting there for me.

Therefore, I need not fear.  If the God who has the power to create, forgive, love, repair, and guide,is already where I am headed, what is there for me to fear?  As He told His chosen people when they were scattered in exile, He's the One who was there at the beginning, and is present at the end so there is no need to fear what is to come.  As He has always protected, provided and preserved, so He will continue to do so.  (Isaiah 41:4, 10)

The Lord my God is already in my future so I can walk boldly ahead with confidence.

The Lord is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end who is and was and is to come.  Obviously, He is a mighty God.  To me as His child, this means He is with me in the here and now, giving me peace as I walk beside Him.  It also means He has domain over my past, giving me the freedom to walk forward with Him.  Finally, it means He is waiting for me in the dark unknown so I can walk boldly into my future, knowing He is already there.  Yes, my God transcends all time so I can rise above it as well.  Time is not my god: The Maker of heaven and earth is my God!  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with my past, presence and future.

When do I dwell in the past, or fear the future?

How am I letting my past define me?