How to Resist Despair

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2 ESV

I'm in the valley, maybe even the one shadowed by death (Psalm 23:4).  Things look bleak, hope is fading, it seems like the end.  I despair, wondering where this abundant life is that was promised to me (John 10:10b).  

In times such as these, periods of anguish and desperation, I can take a lesson from the psalmist.

Look Up.  His words stung me deeply.  They hurt so much because I knew they were true.  A brother in Christ rebuked me sternly for doubting God's plan through the hard time I was facing.  He said, "It's time for you to act like you believe the words you so confidently proclaim!"  Then he recited a poem that has stuck with me ever since.  "Worry looks around, fear looks back, but faith looks up!"

The writer of today's passage knew this truth well, exhorting me to train my eyes on my Father who has all things under control.  When I look around me at the problems that overwhelm, the darkness that looms, the "what-ifs" that drive me crazy, my stomach twists in knots and my outlook is bleak.  When I turn my gaze on the One who holds me in the palm of His hand, I remember that I'm not alone in this.  I have an Advocate who goes before me, fighting the battle on my behalf.

When walking through the dark valleys of life, it's important that I keep looking up from whence my help comes.

Source.  It's easy to look to other sources besides God for help, especially as I live in a world that is chock-full of resources.  When I realize that God is my go-to person, my faithful fount of wisdom, my never-ending supply of help, I will find the kind of assistance I need in every situation (Psalm 46:1).  He will never let me down and will always give me exactly what is necessary.

God is such a personal God.  The way He helps me may be different than the way He helps others.  For me, it may be necessary to give me opportunities to trust Him in impossible situations so my faith will grow and I will mature.  For others, He may deem it essential to deliver them from certain suffering in order to protect their heart or nurture their faith.  Only He knows what each of us needs and how to bring to fruition His great life-plan for each of His own, so depending on Him to help me will bring about the best outcome possible (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29:11).

When going through difficult times, it's important that I recognize God as my sole source of help (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Sovereignty.   When playing a board game, it's important to read the directions to find out the intentions of the creator of the game.  As I study the rules, I learn the objective, the guidelines for playing and how a winner is declared.  If I decided to play by my own rules, which I've often done, I'm playing a different game than the one the inventor intended.

It's the same with life.  If I want to know the purpose for my life, what my goals are and what makes a successful life, I need to go to the One who made all things, the Creator of heaven and earth.  When I do, I will discover that it's His world in which I live, His plan I can either accept or reject, and His decision as to how everything works together.  He made it so He can do whatever He wants with His own creation (Romans 9:16-18).

In the hands of a malevolent being, this would be a scary prospect, but in light of the fact that the Sovereign God is a good God, I can trust Him to do what's best for me.  In fact, He is so bent on me living out His best that He takes what was meant for evil and uses it for my good (Romans 8:28).  In this truth I can rest:  God is for me (v 31) .

When experiencing trouble in this life, it's important that I realize I'm living in my good Father's world and He has absolute sovereignty over all things.

When going through dark times, it's easy to despair.  In order to resist such a natural inclination, I must look up to God as my source of help and realize His sovereign power over all things.  As I do, I will know the secret to living a joy-filled life, no matter my circumstances.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with all the nitty-gritty details of my life.

When do I despair when overwhelmed with troubles, losing sight of God who is bigger than it all?

How am I troubled about that which God is never worried?

      

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?

God's Omnipotence

"If God is for us,

who can ever be against us?"

Romans 8:31b NLT

It felt like he was being bound.  He had God-given dreams and aspirations which he was excited to bring to fruition, but at every turn she stood against him.  Even though he was doing nothing wrong, she fought him as if he were violating some kind of sacred trust.  Would he ever be able to pursue his passion in life without finding continuous opposition from his employer?

It sometimes feels like those who are supposed to be my friends are really my enemies.  Other times there are adversaries God has allowed into my life who oppose me, making it hard for me to follow the path God has laid out for me.  Sometimes I may even find myself as the target of some unseen conspiracy where my every action is met with resistance.  

When I face such hostility, the good news is found in Psalm 118:6 where the psalmist focused on God's sovereignty.  "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?"  Psalm 118:6  When it feels like I can't catch a break from man, I must remember the benefits of God's preeminence as well as His matchless love for me as His child.

God's Favor.  The high priest and his 70 members of the Jewish ruling council were out to get the apostles of Jesus Christ.  This governing body threw the men in jail, jealous of the attention they were receiving as they performed signs and wonders, healing the sick and driving out demons from those who were living in bondage.  Surely their message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was heresy!

Still, the next morning these same men stood in the temple courts teaching all who would listen about this rebel Jesus Christ.  How did these jail birds escape?  When questioned, all they could say is God sent them and they must obey Him.  Then they had the audacity to accuse this sacred council of killing Jesus.  They could not let such claims go unpunished! (Acts 5:17-33)

Then came the voice of reason from one of their own.  The highly respected Gamaliel said, "Leave these men alone!  Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."  (Acts 5:38-39)

When I am walking in obedience to the Lord's calling on my life, it doesn't matter who opposes me for God's favor surrounds me as a shield.  (Psalm 5:12)

God's Protection.  It seemed risky to follow this path God marked out for me.  If I did what He was calling me to do, how would I survive?  I had no resources, nothing upon which to fall back.  I felt like a fool for putting myself and my family in such peril.

It is easy to think that walking by faith instead of by sight is a foolish endeavor. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Since I can't see the ground before me, I assume I'm teetering on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge down to meet my demise.  As God's precious child, however, I am protected by His constant presence and His righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10)

Instead of assuming the worst, then, I can expect the best.  In the place of envisioning what terrors await me around the next bend, I can wonder what goodness God has planned for me this day.  While it is natural for me to brace myself against the difficulties I imagine are about to descend upon me, I can instead look forward to the blessings He has stored up for me.  (Psalm 31:19)

When I am doing as God called me to do, His mighty power protects me from harm.

God's Plan.  No one else had succeeded in opposing his efforts.  Until then, every sovereign nation he endeavored to conquer had fallen to his mighty army.  Why would the tiny nation of Judah be any different?  (2 Kings 18:13-37)

The Assyrian king Sennacherib was pretty confident in his ability to continue his plan of regional dominance by running over Judah.  Unfortunately for him, he did not know the power and sovereignty of the God of Judah.  While the other nations called on their gods but still fell, this people was different for they called on the One True God.

When God gives His marching orders, there is not one living, breathing human being who can stand against Him.  As Isaiah said, "When His hand is raised, who can stop Him?" (Isaiah 14:27)  Therefore, if I'm going in the direction in which God has pointed me, there is nothing anyone can do to thwart His plan for my life.  What, then, do I have to fear?

When I am walking the path God has marked out for me, His good plan will not be hindered, no matter how things might look.

Living life as a follower of Christ is not easy:  I often run into opposition of various kinds.  As a result, it is important that I keep God's omnipotent power always in mind, remembering that His favor shields me, His protection is over me, and His plan for my life cannot be frustrated.  With such benefits as these, I have nothing to fear.

As I begin this day may I keep God's omnipotent power always in mind.

When do I forget that God is in control?

How do I easily fall into periods of fear and doubt?  

Unmet Expectations

Now there was a famine in the land,

and Abram went down to Egypt to live there

for a while because the famine was severe.

Genesis 12:10

What am I to think when I answer God's call only to step into heartache and pain?  Or I take a leap of faith only to land in a wasteland?  Or I do what God is asking of me only to be rewarded with struggle?  I thought if I obeyed I'd be blessed!  I think to myself.  It was my understanding that God would make my paths straight and the going easy if I trusted Him completely.  I expected things to go smoothly if I only did what He said to do.

The problem here is not with God but with my expectations.  His ways are higher than my ways so it follows that God's plan would be way beyond anything I could comprehend.  Therefore, why would I think things would turn out the way I expect?  He has something much better in mind.

As a result, when I answer God's call but instead of triumph I experience what seems like defeat, I can take heart knowing that God's love for me is not diminished one iota and His good plan is still in effect.  I must look through eyes of faith and trust in the One who has my best interest at heart and who promised to never leave me and to always take care of my needs.  (Romans 8:28,Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 6:31-33)

Or when I take a risk and jump into the great unknown only to land on what seems like shaky ground, I can remember that God's plan transcends my understanding.  While I focus more on the here and now, His focus is eternal.  He takes me places I'd never go on my own steam so that I can learn things about Him, His kingdom and my faith that I'd never otherwise comprehend.  The life of a follower of Christ involves on-the-job training!

Or when I do what God asks me to do only to find my circumstances taking a turn for the worse, I can remember that God's blessings are mostly spiritual, not physical.    Through the struggle I will be rewarded with the blessings of experiencing the comfort that only comes from the Father of Compassion, or His tender love that gives me hope for what is to come, or His grace that makes each breath possible.  Sometimes, simply the awareness of how much I have been given is a much greater blessing than receiving all the riches in the world yet being ignorant of God's intimate touch.

Today, it is my intention to look at my current situation through eyes of faith, dropping my fleshly expectations of what I think should happen and simply let God be God, not limiting Him in any way by what I think He has planned for my life.  Instead, I want to see God's plan for what it is: perfect, good, and completely beyond my ability to comprehend.

God's Purpose in Trial

"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.

For those God foreknew he also predestined

to be conformed to the image of his Son

that he might be the firstborn 

among many brothers and sisters."

Romans 8:28-29

Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life.  In retrospect, it wasn't because it seemed that God was working against me, shutting all the doors in my face.  I thought this day was crummy because things looked hopeless, like we would never find a place to live in this new land, but that wasn't the reason either.  Why did I struggle so much in my attitude toward our circumstances yesterday?  Because I lost track of the message in today's verse.

God is not about my comfort.  He is not here to make my life easy and to ensure that all the pieces fall into place smoothly and simply.  My Father is not about giving me the quick and easy solution so that I won't have to suffer.  Instead, God is all about building my character.  He is here to conform me into the image of His Son.  My Father is all about building my faith through suffering.

This means He will sometimes send me down a road that has all the markings of a dead end.  It also means He will occasionally take me to a path that the world has labeled as off-limits or as a foolish way to go.  Additionally, it can mean that He will sometimes drop me off in the wilderness and seemingly abandon me.

While these experiences bring much suffering, they are not without a purpose.  As I labor toward what seems to be a futile goal, looking around me and finding no way out, I suddenly discover a hidden treasure, a small gate covered by vines that no one else noticed.  (Matthew 7:13-14)

As I ask myself if I'm a fool to have left everything to follow God's calling, wondering if I will ever again have a place to call home, I remember that even the Son of Man did not have a place to lay His head.(Matthew 8:20)  God has a greater purpose for my life than what we all tend to run after; comfort, pleasure, the trappings of a successful life.  Instead, He intends that I build up treasures in heaven that will last forever.  Most of the time my focus is on what I see around me instead of the unseen jewels of His kingdom.  Therefore, my Father finds it necessary to sometimes take me down a reckless path to purge me of such worldly mindsets.

Even though the wilderness seems like a lonely place, it is also where my faith is tested, where I find out what I truly believe.  Words are cheap but when it seems everything I find to be valuable is taken away, I will learn whether what I profess to be truth is really what I hold in my heart.  Do I walk by faith, or am I easily knocked off the solid rock when things look hopeless?  I will only know for sure when God takes me to a desolate place.

Today it is my intention to keep my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.(Hebrews 12:1-2)  Then, no matter what news I hear regarding the temporary home we are hoping to secure, my real hope will be on nothing less than my Solid Rock.