The Sure Hope

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD.

'They are plans for good and not for disaster,

to give you a future and a hope.

In those days when you pray,

I will listen.

If you look for me wholeheartedly,

you will find me.'"

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT

Things couldn't get much worse.  The nation of Judah, God's chosen people, were in captivity, exiled from their beloved land, carried off by the Babylonians to live as foreigners in their strange land.  But God had not forgotten them.  As far away as they were from the temple, as distant as they felt from His presence, they were still on His mind.

He has not forgotten me, either.  No matter how far away I feel, how much on the fringes, how homeless and hopeless, desperate in my suffering or exiled in my sin, I am still on God's mind.  Here is the sure hope I have in Christ.

Good Plan.  It's nice to know God has a plan, although sometimes I may wonder when I look at my life.  It may seem like a series of unconnected, haphazard events that have no bearing on the arc of my life.  But He has a blueprint for my life that will bring about good for me and glory for Himself.  Even though I take many missteps and get off-track, His plan works around my weakness, superseding my humanness so that He always prevails.

I was recently talking to an older friend who was telling me about her long, productive life.  As she gave me a birds-eye view, I could see a pattern.  God had begun preparing her at a young age for the difficult task of later caring for her mother and then her husband as they progressed through the stages of dementia.  She trained in the field of nursing, entering into the specialty of caring for the memory-impaired, working for years in that line of work long before she knew her loved ones would be touched by such tragedy.  Yet she never considered there was a master plan let alone an Architect behind her decisions.  She saw it as just a series of random events that happened to work out in a positive way.

In reality, God has such a plan as this for each life, whether it is acknowledged or not.  Thus, I can look forward with hope to the good things He has in store for me.  When I take a close look, desiring to see His handiwork, I will see His mark.  If He went so far as to sacrifice His own Son in order to save me from eternal separation from Him, won't He do whatever it takes to give me the life He created for me (Romans 8:32)?  Is there anything or anyone, including myself, that can stop His plan from unfolding?  I think not.

I have the hope of God's good plan that is designed for my good and His glory.

Attentive.  It's hard to imagine or even fathom.  God is so big, so awesome, so majestic, why would He even bother with the likes of me?  With all that He has on His plate, keeping the planets aligned and the stars from crashing into each other, each heart beating and every complicated system running, how is He even able to pay attention to what is going on with my insignificant life?  Yet He does.

If God had a refrigerator, my picture would be proudly displayed there.  He delights in me, tickled by my very existence (Zephaniah 3:17).  There's nothing I have to do to prove my worth or to capture His eye.  I already have His undivided attention because I was created for His purposes.  The very fact that He made me in His own image gives me unimaginable worth.  It causes Him to rejoice over me!  Therefore, when I cry out to Him, He hears, even if I can't imagine such a thing.  When I share my heart with Him, He treasures such intimacy, even if He feels very far away at the moment.  When I speak, He listens, even if I feel abandoned.

I have the assurance of God's attentive and compassionate nature.

Approachable.  He is holy (Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 77:13).  Hallowed is His very name (Matthew 6:9).  Consecrated is His divine nature.  My sin makes coming near to Him impossible (Isaiah 59:2).  I feel dirty and ashamed to even think about reaching out to Him.  I mean, who do I think I am, anyway?  To approach God himself?  Forget it, it's just not proper.

It's good to understand God's holy nature and to stand in awe of Him, yet Jesus changed everything.  When He gave His life on the cross as a ransom for my sin, His blood covers my filthiness when I trust my life to Him, making me appear as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  Because of this imputed righteousness that comes by faith in Him, I can unashamedly come to God whenever I wish (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:16).  The heavy curtain that used to shroud the holy of holies that represented God's presence in His temple has been torn, symbolizing God's accessibility through faith in Jesus (Matthew 27:51).  The heart of God is for Him to be part of His peoples' lives.  It is not His desire to exist as an aloof deity who sits high above and never interacts with those He created.  Instead, He desires to be found.  And He made it easy for the common man to find Him if they look with all their heart.

I have complete and total access to God through faith in Jesus.

Even when I'm at my worst, have hit bottom, couldn't get any lower, I have hope.  How?  Because God designed His creation to be infused with it.  Hope is found in His good plan for me, in His attentive nature, and in His approachable Spirit.  Through Jesus, I have a sure hope.  And so, you see, no matter how bad things seem, there is good to be found.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to look for His handiwork in the midst of the mess.

When do I despair, feeling as if there is no hope?

How do I fail to look for God, feeling like He's far away even though He's right there waiting to be found?  

   

At the Lowest Point

"Comfort, comfort my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her that her 

hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for,

that she has received from the LORD's hand

double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:

'In the wilderness prepare

the way for the LORD;

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.'"

Isaiah 40:1-3

Judah suffered greatly.  The people experienced tumult and chaos within their own nation, followed by the promise of exile for 70 years.  They were certainly at a low point and must have felt much despair.  As if to showcase His own heart of God, He did not kick His wayward and rebellious people when they were down. Even though they deserved it.  Instead, He offered something unbelievable.  He offered comfort, relief, and hope.  

This, too, is offered to 21st Century people immersed in a culture that has sunk to a low point.  There is blessing offered in the midst of the grief caused by unchecked wickedness.  Even though it seems there is no hope of crawling out of this pit, in Jesus, God is offering something incredible.

Comfort.  He doesn't enjoy watching His image-bearers suffer.  He is loving and kind, compassionate and patient.  But God is also perfectly holy and just, righteous and good.  He can't simply stand by and let sin ruin His creation unchecked.  Sin must be punished according to His own sense of right and wrong (Romans 6:23, Galatians 6:7).  Still, with all His heart He wants to avoid unleashing His holy wrath on any of mankind (2 Peter 3:9).  So He waits, He pursues, He sometimes introduces trials and tribulations that seem so unbearable but are designed to knock us to our knees where we will repent and turn to Him through faith in Jesus, the only way to be saved from His righteous judgement (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).

This is the heart of God.  He cannot change with the times like shifting shadows and is unable to deny any part of His character, yet His love is so strong that it drives Him to comfort the very ones upon whom He's punishing (James 1:17, 2 Corinthians 1:3).  After all, His objective is to draw people to Himself where each will find peace and fulfillment along with salvation from eternal condemnation (John 6:44, Romans 8:1, Romans 5:1).  He wants relationship with those He made who are more valuable than any other living creature.  It is man, broken and unrepentant as we are, that He wants to love.

At my lowest point, when God seems to have turned His back on mankind, He offers comfort in the midst of the pain and suffering.

Relief.  It's hard for me to pace myself if I don't know the end is coming.  If I'm enduring a grueling workout, for instance, it helps to spur me on if I can shoot for the finish line, so to speak.  If I had to keep grunting and sweating indefinitely, it would be very hard to push through the pain.  Humans need to know that relief is coming.

It's the same with life. When I'm weathering the storm, it's good to know the clouds will soon break up and the sun burst through.  To know the suffering is temporary and relief is coming helps me to carry on.  This relief comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  When I wait on Him, I can tap into His abundant, never-ending supply of grace that propels me forward when I'm weary from the struggle (Isaiah 40:31).  He offers relief, not always from the suffering itself but from the impotence I feel to endure the present hardship.  When I am weak, then I am strong because Jesus is my strength (2 Corinthians 12:10).

At my lowest point, when God seems to have turned His back, He offers relief that empowers me to soar even though I feel like giving up.

Hope.  The prophecy was intentionally given at the point when God had unleashed His righteous fury upon His own.  He did so not to see them suffer, but to draw them back to Him and His perfect plan for their lives.  They had fallen so far, forgotten everything He had taught them, and turned to their own wicked ways.  Sound familiar?

We, too, have fallen so far, forgotten everything He taught us, and have turned to our own wicked ways (Isaiah 53:6).  In the midst of such brokenness, God offers hope in the name of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who would come to make mankind right with God.  While theirs was a hope deferred, mine is a hope realized.  Today, all have the opportunity to turn away from the destructive ways that come naturally to man and toward Christ who took the punishment for all sin (1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5).  When I do so, I have the hope that this present darkness will not last forever.  The Light has overcome (John 1:5, 16:33).

At my lowest point, when God seems to have turned His back on mankind, He offers hope in the person of Jesus Christ.  

There is blessing to be found in the midst of pain and suffering.  The difficulties of life are all due to mankind's sin.  And while it is because of this sin that I am broken and deserve God's wrath, it is in the midst of feeling the consequences of this sin that I find treasure.  I discover that God can comfort in a way no one else can, that He offers relief from the burdens I carry, and hope for a future of bliss.  All of this is mine through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Even at my lowest point, God is offering something good.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop taking advantage of God's patience and turn my life over to Jesus.

When do I bide my time, figuring I have tomorrow to live by faith in Jesus?

How am I stubborn in my desire to control my own life, thus reaping what I've sown, lashing out at God who waits patiently?    

How to Strengthen Our Knees

"With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

Say to those with fearful hearts,

'Be strong, and do not fear,

for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.

He is coming to save you.'"

Isaiah 35:3-4

I remember a silly scene in an unknown film, possibly Monty Python, where some men were buried up to their knees in the ground.  As my memory goes, they laid down and stood up in tandem while chanting, "We must strengthen our knees!"  Even though I was unable to find the clip as I remembered it, today's scripture passage brought this scene to mind.  When times are tough and it seems there's nothing for which to live and I'm weary and weak in the knees from fear or worry, Jesus will give me hope and courage to press on.

Restoration.  It's not always going to be like this.  Entropy rules in this fallen world.  Everything moves toward chaos and disorder.  It all is deteriorating in one way or another.  My body is aging; skin loses elasticity, muscles and tendons lose flexibility and strength, organs wear out, joints cease working properly, cancer threatens.  Similarly, relationships tend to fall apart.  If no effort is made to improve, no input of energy made toward building bonds, they too deteriorate.  Even my garden left to its own devices will become covered in weeds and the plants would die of neglect.  Without my constant attention, little fruit would be produced.

It's no wonder I need a master Gardener to tend to my soul (John 15:5).  I need the hope that comes from knowing that His Spirit is at work within me, growing me and transforming me into the woman He originally created me to be ( Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:2): The me that was His design apart from the sin that now corrupts it.  While I'm in this world I'll never fully achieve His vision for me, but I have the hope that He continues to work in me, never giving up (Philippians 1:6). 

God is a God of restoration who is always at work returning His image bearers to their original condition with the full realization coming when Christ returns (Isaiah 35:1-2).  I have hope in Christ!

Splendor.  It's sometimes hard to see.  I really have to look for it.  It's there but I often focus on the broken, the ugly, the hurtful that blares up in my face.  The beauty is quiet, not vying for my attention like the shattered is.  It's easy to see the litter strewn along the road but fail to appreciate the wildflowers growing among the tall grass in the ditch.  Or the fluffy, white clouds looming above the parched, barren land.  Or the sparkling eyes peering out of the face mangled by horror beyond imagination.  

There will come a time when God's splendor will be displayed for all to see.  There will no longer be any doubt that Jesus is Lord as every knee bows to His magnificent beauty (Philippians 2:9-11).  All will see with clear eyes, no longer hampered by sin.  Some will rejoice at His coming, others will weep and gnash their teeth as they realize they missed His majesty when they had the chance to get to know Him (Luke 13:22-30).

God is a God of splendor that is fully displayed in the glory of His Son (Hebrews 1:3).  I have hope in Christ!

Salvation.  I'm broken in so many ways, inside and out.  The world is also messed up as everything is turned upside down with evil reigning and good being suppressed.  Pain is the mantra of the broken.  To where can I turn to find help?  Who will rescue me?  My greatest fear is to be left all alone without anyone to call out to, that the evil criminal is pounding on my door and when I call 9-1-1,no one answers.  From where does my help come in times such as these?

I need a Savior, and I've found Him in Christ Jesus.  He's the strong One, the brave One, the compassionate One.  Not only does He care, but He has the power to save.  And He has. In dying on the cross He destroyed the power of sin and death, the root of all evil, the thing that ruins beauty, and ushered me into a state of forgiveness where I'm made right with God (Hebrews 2:14, 2 Timothy 1:10, Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21).  And if God is by my side, who can really hurt me (Romans 8:31)?  Who is greater than God that they could overpower Him?  No, Jesus is the Victor and I am His beneficiary by faith (Romans 8:37).  In Him, I have the hope of freedom from anything that I could ever fear.

God is a God of salvation delivered through faith in Jesus Christ.  I have hope in Christ!

It's easy to get downhearted in this broken world filled with heartache and things to fear.  I can quickly become overcome with fear and worry.  But in Christ I have hope.  I have restoration, God's splendor revealed, and salvation in Him.  This is the hope that can strengthen my knees and empower me to stand firm until the end!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to keep my eyes on Jesus no matter what is thrown my way.

How do I get so overwhelmed with the bad that I cannot see the good that is coming through Christ?

When do I see only the hurt and not the good that comes from it?       

Resilience

"For though the righteous fall seven times,

they rise again,

but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."

Proverbs 24:16

When I gave my life to Jesus to do with as He wills, He never promised I wouldn't fall.  Life is hard, that's for sure.  What is it that I can count on as I walk with my Shepherd?

Strength.  By the end of the day, I'm worn out.  I always tell my family that if they want my help, opinion, or guidance, they had better ask me earlier in the day rather than waiting until bedtime because I have nothing left by the time the sun is ready to set.  When my head hits the pillow, I'm a goner.

Humans are weak (1 Corinthians 1:25).  I like to think I'm strong, mentally and physically, that I can do anything I put my mind to, but the reality is that I am limited in my capabilities.  When I only rely on my own strength, I will soon come to the end of it.  But, if I place my hope in God, putting all my confidence in His boundless abilities and unlimited power, I "will find new strength" to rise higher than I dared believe, carry on longer than I thought possible, endure hardships greater than I'd ever choose for myself (Isaiah 40:31).

When I trust in Jesus as my Savior, I find a strength that far surpasses anything I can muster up on my own (Ephesians 6:10).

Hope.  As a human, its easy to want to wallow in self-pity, staying down where I fall.  Life can be so discouraging, especially when I keep encountering difficulty after difficulty.  I may wonder as I flounder around in the muck, Can't I catch a break?  When do I get to experience smooth sailing?  It can be hard to rise up and keep going.

The good news is that in Christ I have every reason to get back up again.  The hope that comes by faith in the promises of God gives me confidence that I don't suffer in vain, that it's all used to work out His best for me so that He gets the glory for all He is doing to conform me into the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29, Genesis 50:20).  This confidence in what God is doing in my life propels me forward as I remember that He finishes what He has started (Philippians 1:6).  There is also an anticipation of the fruit that will abound through the work of God's Word as I stand on it's firm foundation (Isaiah 55:11).

When I trust in Jesus as my Savior, I have a hope that gives me reason to get back up each time I fall.

Attitude.  This world is negative, cynical and pessimistic.  As a human with sinful flesh, I'm easily drawn to this outlook, homing in on all that is wrong and completely overlooking what is right.  I tend to see the trouble without perceiving the comfort.  I'm good at picking out the evil while overlooking the good.

Thankfully, in Christ I have hope for a new outlook.  As I submit myself to God's will for my life, He works to change the way I think, giving me a different lens through which to see the world (Romans 12:2).  What naturally causes me to despair, seen through God's eyes is an opportunity to experience His grace (Romans 5:20).  What seems like the worst thing that could happen, with a godly attitude is transformed into the best thing as it brings forth perseverance and a stronger faith (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:3).  What looks like a disaster or a crisis, through eyes of faith is seen as another opportunity to trust God and see Him work it out for His glory (Isaiah 43:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-11).

When I trust in Jesus as my Savior, I am given a new attitude that allows me to see more of Him at work all around me, through every circumstance.

Living for Jesus instead of myself does not promise an easy life.  Instead, it could be said that more troubles come my way as I live counter to the ways of this world.  As I do, though, I can take heart.  For when difficulties knock me off my feet, I am given supernatural strength to get up again, the hope to know there's a reason to rise from where I've been knocked, and an ability to see troubles in a godly light.  This is the kind of resilience that comes by faith in Christ.  This is the kind of resilience that propels me to my feet time and time again.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to rely on His strength instead of my own.

When do I deny my own weaknesses?

How am I looking at my troubles through my own self-centered lenses?     

Love His Word

"I reach out for your commands,

which I love,

that I may meditate on your decrees."

Psalm 119:48

In order to live by God's Word, to allow Him to use His holy scriptures to change me, I'll need to see the Bible as more than just a collection of wise teachings.  I'll even have to go beyond the idea that His Word is a way for me to obtain head knowledge about Him, or even that it is a beautiful love letter written to me.  

In order to live by God's Word I'll need to see it as my life line, my daily bread, my sustenance; only God can bring about such a hunger within me (Psalm 119:18).  When He does, I will truly love His Word.

Trust.  "You think you're better than everyone else!  No one is impressed, Goody Two Shoes!"  The words hurt, although I knew my mocker could not understand my reasons for following Jesus.  Neither could he comprehend why I would live such a radically different life.  While my flesh cried out for revenge, to hurt as I'd been hurt, my heart knew there was a better response.

When in difficult situations when my faith is being attacked, it is important to trust God to give the best answer from the depth of His own Word.  Since I study His Word often, steeping my soul in it's goodness, the words are there, hidden in my heart and waiting for their Master to bring them to my mind.  And when He does, I can speak the Truth in love to a weary and broken soul, bringing healing to his bones (Proverbs 16:24).

When God cultivates in my heart a love for His Word, I will be able to trust Him to bring it forth in times of taunting.

Hope.  In the face of such a dark and discouraging world, it's easy for me to lose heart.  I may feel like giving up, especially when the going gets rough and rocky.  I may wonder, what's the point of living for Jesus?  I'd rather just drift along instead of struggling against the current of this world.  

Then I remember the Truth of God's promises found throughout His Word and I find courage to continue my press toward Jesus.  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)  "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19)

When God cultivates in my heart a love for His Word, I will find hope upon which I can depend.

Seek.  "Obedience brings much blessing."  The young man proclaimed these words as truth as I shared the difficulty of doing God's bidding.  His way is so much different than the way I naturally am inclined to follow so living with Jesus as my King is not a natural thing to do.  But when I let Him have His way, seeking out His guidance, His best for me, His desires for my life, I find a certain freedom there.  Surprisingly, instead of being weighed down with a burden to obey, I find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

Maybe this is part of the blessing my friend was talking about, this free and straight-forward way of living where I simply follow my Shepherd.  He knows the right way to go, He has all the resources to provide for my needs, He carries the burdens of my soul.  My only concern is to keep in step with His Spirit.  As I do, the responsibility for choosing correctly is off of me and placed squarely on my Lord's shoulders.  This is the blessing of obedience; the liberty to live as a well-loved sheep of the Good Shepherd's pasture!

When God cultivates in my heart a love for His Word, I will walk in freedom as I seek His best for me.

The Bible is more than just an instruction manual or words to live by.  It is the living, breathing Word of God that is able to transform my life.  When I ask God to give me a love for His scriptures, I will find a growing trust in His ability to give me the right response to my attackers, hope when it seems there's none, and a desire to seek His way above all others.  This is what will come from a love of His Word!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that God will give me a love for His Word.

When do I depend on man's wisdom instead of God's?

How do I neglect the very Word of God, or see reading it as simply a good habit?

Open Up!

"Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

There shall be no strange god among you;

you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide,

and I will fill it."

Psalm 81:8-10 ESV

We as a people can be frustrating.  We, like the Israelites, claim to follow God, but then we wander off, pinning our hopes on something other than the One who brings true fulfillment and meaning.

When I go off like this, God misses me, longing for a close bond with me.  He chastises me, disciplining me as a way to draw me back to Him, saying, "I have so much I want to give you, why will you not receive?  Why do you stubbornly resist my advances?"  He never stops pursuing me, reminding me of all I could have from Him, all the acts of His mighty hand that I have experienced.  He does not give up on me; He passionately desires my whole heart!

If I would open my mouth, He would fill it with such goodness; blessing beyond compare!

Love.  When I hear the word, "love," I get a picture of human love in my mind.  I think of a parent's love for a child which sometimes pushes her beyond her own capabilities in an effort to help her succeed.  Or the love of a man for a woman which smothers her, not allowing her to become the woman she was created to be.  Or the love of a woman for a man which is dependent upon him for her feelings of worth and well-being.  Or the love between two humans which is strong at one moment then fades in another.  This inferior love is far below what God has in mind when He speaks of love.

The kind of love I can expect from God is powerful.  It is grand; its scope being beyond my ability to fathom (Ephesians 3:18-19). This love is part of His character, not just an action He shows or a deed He does.  Love is who He is (1 John 4:8).  Therefore, this love does not change, waxing and waning according to my performance or attitude at the time:  God's love is constant.  It also is not dependent upon me at all, but absolute and unrestricted.  Therefore, this love cannot be lost (Romans 8:38-39).  This is the kind of love that cannot be constrained or limited.  In it's character, it is meant to flow freely to me and then out to others.  It is a sign that I belong to Him (1 John 4:7). 

This is the kind of love my heart desires, and this is the kind of love God is waiting with which to fill me.

Grace.  I want good things in life, but deep down, I feel like I don't deserve them.  I mess up despite how hard I try to do right.  I fail time and time again regardless of how much effort I put into following God's ways.  It seems like for every step forward I take, I end up going backwards three.  Life can be like running in loose sand; lots of effort with little progress made.

What I need to grasp is God's gracious character.  His grace gives me what I don't deserve.  His grace is all about lavish goodness flowing into my life apart from my ability to earn it.  It's God's favor upon me despite my failure to earn it.  Grace offers forgiveness where there is no virtue, kindness when I deserve wrath, abundance even though my actions earned lack (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24).

God is waiting to pour out His grace in my life until it is overflowing in abundance.

Hope.  Without Him, I have nothing to look forward to.  Apart from Him, there is no expectation that things will be okay.  On my own, I can't honestly say that life will get better, that it will turn out for the good in the end, that there is anything beyond what I experience in the here and now.  If I don't have Jesus, I have no hope (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Through Christ, I can have an expectation for something better to come.  This is not all there is, and I was made for more than just survival.  I was created to thrive in the abundance of His love, and this is why Jesus came; to offer such fullness of life (John 10:10).  If things are bad right now, hope spurs me on with the thought that He came to give me a rich and satisfying life, not a measly existence filled with struggle and lack of purpose. 

Since He is always at work I can maintain a positive attitude based on the expectation that He is at work on my behalf, even if I don't detect it.   Furthermore, I need not fear the end, because in reality it is only the beginning.  The best is yet to come (John 14:1-3).  I have a future (Jeremiah 29:11)!

In Christ I have the hope that spurs me on to greater things, if I would only open myself up to receiving it.

I admit that I am stubbornly resisting God's work in my life.  Even though He desires to lavish His love, grace and hope upon me, I often fail to receive.  It is my desire that I let go of everything that holds me back, and simply open my mouth to accept His goodness.  When I do, I will find that He will fill me until it overflows in abundance.  Let me open up to Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will stop resisting God's work in my life and simply let Him give what He wants to give me.

How am I clamming up in the face of such a generous God?

When do I stick to my measly existence, refusing to even consider the abundance God is offering?

          

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?       

Olive Tree

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good, 

in the presence of the godly."

Psalm 52:8-9 ESV

Olive trees are virtually indestructible.  No matter the conditions, whether hot, dry, cold, wet, planted in rocky or sandy soil, the robust olive tree will live and produce fruit.  Even if it is cut down or burned, new shoots will sprout up from its roots.  Furthermore, these tenacious trees can thrive with a minimum of water in great heat and some even grow from roots systems that are over 2,000 years old.  

No wonder David compared himself as one who trusts in God to an olive tree.  In Christ, we too can make such claims.

Trusting.  In the same way that this durable tree can survive the harshest of conditions, I can endure whatever comes my way when I put my trust in the steadfast love of God.  His love can help me weather any storm, pull through any trial, and endure even the harshest of conditions.  While its one thing to survive, His love enables me to thrive as I live connected to His root system (John 15:5).  

I wouldn't expect to be able to produce fruit during times of trouble, but I've noticed in my life that some of the sweetest times have been when I've been enduring the most difficult circumstances.  In the middle of the crisis, God comes through in some powerful ways, giving me the supernatural ability to exhibit His love, reach out in mercy, and maintain a peace that cannot be explained.  Letting God be my strength has never let me down (Isaiah 40:28-31).

I am like an olive tree, fruitful and indestructible, when I trust in the steadfast love of God.

Thankful.  Olive trees are old souls.  These hardy plants are not just able to withstand any kind of condition, but they tend to multiply.  One root system not only survives for thousands of years, but can have ten or more other trees surrounding it that have sprouted from its one source.  

Like this productive plant, I can cultivate an atmosphere of praise wherever I go.  When I give thanks to God for the good things He is constantly at work bringing about in my life, my thankful attitude tends to rub off on others, promoting thankful hearts in their lives as well. 

Furthermore, the more I praise Him, the more I can see of His handiwork and the greater is my vision of His power at work.  It's like a cycle of praise that expands each time I give Him thanks, opening my eyes up to even more that He has done in my life and in the lives of those around me.  Before I know it, I'm living in constant gratitude to Him for all He has done and for who He is to me.

I am like an olive tree, sprouting shoots of thanks, when I cultivate a grateful heart to a God who is worthy to be praised.

Hope.  The thing about an olive tree is that it is a source of food that gives sustenance, oil for lamps that provide light, medicine that brings healing; possessing an olive tree in one's garden is a symbol of hope in the good things it will provide.

Similarly, I always have hope in Jesus Christ, because through Him I have a Father who generously provides for all my needs and even lavishes good gifts on me as His child (Matthew 6:31-32, Matthew 7:11).  

Waiting on His good name gives me a mental toughness that enables me to endure even the most harshest of conditions with the confidence that He will come through for me.  I can believe without a doubt that I will make it through because He has promised to go before me and to never leave me (Deuteronomy 31:8).

I am like an olive tree, sure to possess all that I need and more, when I wait on the good name of the Lord.

Olive trees are symbols of prosperity, perseverance and privilege.  When I trust in the steadfast love of God, give thanks to Him forever, and hope in His good name, I can do as David did and compare myself to an olive tree.  In Christ, I will bear much fruit, multiply in praise to God, and enjoy more than I could ever imagine.  The olive tree is more than just a gnarly old tree; it is a symbol of all that I can be in Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can wait on the Lord.

When do I falter, losing hope when Jesus died to deliver me all the hope I need?

How am I cultivating a griping spirit instead of a heart of praise, missing out on noticing all the good He has surrounded me with? 

Photo courtesy of http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2004/01/Ancient-Olive-Tree.jpg

   

Hope When Down

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God."

Psalm 42:5

It seemed there was no reason to carry on, like life was futile and just an endless series of disappointments, hardships and heartaches.  What's the point?  Why am I here?  The pit yawned deep and dark beneath me.  Despair loomed.

It's hard to carry on when I feel discouraged and without hope.  Will I ever feel better?  Will joy return? This psalmist understood the wisdom of living according to what he knew instead of by how he felt.  How did he endure depression? 

Heart of Praise.  It's hard to give God glory and honor when I'm not feeling it.  It's not natural to lift my voice with words of worship and adoration when the darkness presses in.  My heart is not inclined toward the Lord when it feels like everything is spiraling out of control.  At these times, it's good to continually remind myself of the transient nature of my current emotional state.  This too shall pass.

My hope is not in my circumstances, not in anything inside of me, not in my own ability to save myself nor in any humans willingness to help.  The only confidence I have is in God.  As the prophet Jeremiah professed as he lamented the affliction, anguish and desperation he and the nation of Israel have endured, "'The LORD is my portion' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" (Lamentations 3:24)

Reminding myself that God will pull me out of the pit, placing my feet on solid ground, gives me the strength to carry on (Psalm 40:1-2).

Deep Calls to Deep.  The waves of turmoil and trouble keep coming, one after the other.  It feels I'll never catch a break, as if I can't breath in deeply but have to settle for the quick snatches of air I can suck in between outbreaks of heartache.  As I weather such storms, I have the rare opportunity to connect to God on a deeper level, the core of my soul reaching out to Him in desperation.

It's hard to think of the struggles as a benefit, but it can be a sweet time of seeing God on a new level where I experience His comfort, His lovingkindness, His faithful strength and support.  If my life was always easy and comfortable, I'd never get to see this side of God.  My relationship with Him would stay on the surface, shallow and superficial.  

The times of heartache and misery are opportunities to connect to God on a new level, growing in my relationship with Him as we endure the hard times together.

His Song.  Most of the time you don't hear birds singing once the sun goes down.  If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where the Mockingbird resides, you may hear a bachelor's love song resonate through the still, night air.  While this sound may annoy one who is trying to sleep, it is a beautiful reminder of the song of the Lord that stays with me during the dark times.

Just because I'm going through hard times doesn't mean God's goodness has gone away.  He is still a God who is worthy to be praised, no matter how bad things look in my life.  His character never changes and His constant nature is imprinted on my soul.  Therefore, if I look hard enough, I'll see evidence of His handiwork throughout the night.

My connection to the steadfast love of God is not lost no matter my circumstance.

When I feel down and in the dumps, it may seem like I'll never come out of it.  During such times, it's important to remind myself that my heart will praise God again, that joy will return.  It also helps me to realize the hard times are a unique opportunity to grow in my relationship with the Lord.  Finally, the song God leaves in my heart will not depart just because the night has come.  When I'm in a state of depression, I always have hope through Jesus.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God through the darkness.

When do I give in to feelings of depression instead of reminding myself of the hope I have?

How do I fail to connect to God when the going gets rough?