Expect Opposition

Originally published on October 13, 2014

"I also told them about the gracious hand of my
God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.'

So they began this good work.

But when Sanballat the Horonite,

Tobiah the Ammonite official

and Geshem the Arab heard about it,

they mocked and ridiculed us.

'What is this your are doing?' they asked.

'Are you rebelling against the king?'"

Nehemiah 2:18-19

The hand of God was upon Nehemiah.  The God of the universe went before him, paving the way for his mission.  His favor was upon Nehemiah.  Still, there was opposition.  There was difficulty.  There were bumps in the road.

Even though I'm following God and am under His favor through faith in Jesus Christ, I can't expect clear sailing.  In fact, I had better realize I will experience trouble of some kind.  Thankfully, though, resistance to or defiance against God's plan for my life does not mean I have to give up.  No!  I am on the side of the Overcomer (John 16:33)!  The opposition that rises up against me only means I must adjust.  What must I do?

Carry On.  Before any work could be done, the wall around Jerusalem had to be inspected.  How bad was the damage?  What kind of materials would they need?  How would they go about repairing the walls and gates?  A plan was made and work had begun.  Then came the enemy to mock and make fun of them.  They could have given up, doubting their mission or fearing for their welfare.  Instead, they carried on with the proclamation that, "The God of heaven will give us success (Nehemiah 2:20)." (Nehemiah 2:11-3:32)

It is the same with me.  Who is discouraging me in the race God has marked out for me to run (Hebrews 12:1-2)?  In what ways am I being ridiculed for the peculiar life I'm living (Matthew 7:14)?  If I'm being teased or criticized for what He has called me to do, I have a choice to make.  Either I doubt whether I'm on the right path, or I speak words of faith about the God who empowers me and then carry on.

When opposition rises up against me, I can carry on with the mission at hand.

Be Wise.  As a follower of Christ placed in the middle of a cold, harsh world, I am vulnerable.  Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." (Matthew 10:16)  Sheep are defenseless against predators.  They don't have a way to fight back.  In fact, their only protection against danger is their shepherd and to huddle together in a group:  They must rely on their guardian and each other.

Likewise, I must realize my Shepherd's rod and staff will protect and comfort me in times of trouble.  I also have been placed in a family of believers who can stand with me when trials come my way.  There are some things, however, Jesus warned me to keep in mind as I live in such a helpless state.  He wants me to be on guard, not ignorant of the dangers at hand but savvy of their presence.  Still, I am not to enter the battle as everyone else does.  Instead, I am to keep my hands clean as I let my Warrior God fight on my behalf (Matthew 10:16-20).

This means when the powerful seek to bring me down, I can place my defense in God's hands and watch as He lifts me up (James 4:10,Psalm 27:5).  Furthermore, I can't expect everyone to agree with me.  As a result, I can take precautions to protect the mission and leave the rest up to God.  It also means when people make fun of me I must preach the truth to myself, replacing their ridicule with pure, just, lovely, gracious, excellent thoughts that bring honor and glory to God (Philippians 4:8). 

When opposition rises up against me, I must be wise in the way I respond.

Trust God.  I naturally want everyone to like me.  At my core, I am a people-pleaser who feels better when I receive lots of affirmation from those around me.  I'd rather do something that is widely accepted than do what sets me apart from the crowd.

Unfortunately for my sin nature, I am following One who is highly controversial and is not well-liked by all.  Therefore, I must expect to face some kind of harassment or maltreatment as I walk with Jesus (John 15:20).  The suffering I endure, however, is not in vain.  Instead, it is used by God to conform me into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).  Everything, whether it was meant to harm me or just irritate me, is woven by the Master Weaver into the beautiful tapestry of my life.

When opposition rises up against me, I can trust God to use it for my good and His glory.

I often mistakenly believe God will protect me from all hindrances when I am careful to obey Him.  As an alien in a foreign land, however, I must expect opposition of some kind.  When I do experience some form of harassment, I can carry on, be wise, and trust God.  In so doing, I will experience peace in the midst of turmoil as I watch God's plan prevail.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God even though my outlook is dismal.

When do I assume everyone will agree with the trajectory of my path?

How am I offended when opposed instead of realizing it's to be expected as a follower of Christ?

Constant Reminder

"For you are God, my only safe haven.

Why have you tossed me aside?

Why must I wander around in grief,

oppressed by my enemies?

Send out your light and your truth;

let them guide me.

Let them lead me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you live."

Psalm 43:2-3 NLT

Her heart ached with grief over the broken pieces of her life.  Everything that she had worked for during the past decade was lying in shambles at her feet.  She felt battered and bruised from the fight, anything but loved and cherished by a doting Father.

Still, no matter how my friend feels, she is highly regarded by her God.  She is showered with blessings in the heavenly realms, even in the midst of the storm.  She is protected and prized despite the fact that she feels vulnerable and neglected.

It's easy to fall into despair, especially when circumstances are out of my control and life is not going according to my plan.  Therefore, I must constantly remind myself of the truth, just like the psalmist did.

God.  Drugs.  Work.  Ministry.  Service.  Exercise.  Hobbies.  Alcohol.  Social media.  There are countless places I can hide during the storm, when life is spinning out of control and I need to feel safe and secure.  Where do I choose to go to find a sense of purpose and meaning when I feel low?

Instead of picking the myriad of hopeless alternatives, no matter how good they seem on the outside, I can let God be my safe haven.  Only He can give me peace in the midst of the struggle.  Only He can bring value and significance when I feel low.  Only He can rescue me from the dull, emptiness of day after day of drudgery.

While there are many good things I can do to make myself feel better about my life, my only hope for knowing my true value is through faith in Jesus Christ.  In Him I have purpose, meaning and a mission (Ephesians 2:10).   Even though there are lots of ways I can drown my sorrows, only Christ can deliver comfort, release, freedom, beauty, joy and praise (Isaiah 61:1-3).  Although I can find many places to hide in times of trouble, only trusting in God can deliver peace that doesn't make sense considering my circumstances (Philippians 4:6-7).

When times are difficult, I must constantly remind myself that God is where I find meaning, purpose and a sense of calm.

Refuge.  The wind howled through the trees, sending branches falling and turning pine cones into missiles.  Even though our retreat was in a safe harbor, it wasn't immune to the strong gales.  The water swirled and whipped up, rocking the boats secured in their slips, eventually loosing a ship free from it's moorings. The bay did not completely protect us from the raging storm.

Life throws many difficulties my way and despite my best efforts at protecting myself, I am not immune from hard times.  Therefore, it is vital that I let God be my refuge in times of trouble.  While there are other options I can choose, nothing is as secure and delivers me from fear as God can (Psalm 46:1-3).

When times are difficult, I must constantly go to God as my safe place where I will find true security.

Light.  If I want advice, there is plenty out there to be had.  I can ask anyone and they'll give me their take on things, offering recommendations, suggestions and guidance; enough to make my head swirl.  Which counsel should I take?  What should I do?

If I want to know the perfect solution to my specific problem I must ask God who generously gives His wisdom to those who believe He is the only source of understanding (James 1:5-8). If, however, I think He is only one option and it's up to me to pick the best idea, I'll never be sure of what I should do.

I can be confident that God will guide me through the hard times I'm facing.  He is faithful and true, able to show me the way He has marked out for me (Hebrews 12:1-2).  My role is to follow Him as my Shepherd, letting Him choose the path and set the pace.  Consequently, I must expect that He'll lead me in directions that seem odd or even foolish, and He'll often either go faster or slower than is to my liking. 

When times are difficult, I must constantly remember that God is the source of truth and insight that I need in the midst of the confusion.

In the span of a lifetime, I'll endure many hard times, of this I can be sure.  While such difficulty may cause me to despair, making me feel like I'm more of a reject instead of the cherished child that I am.  Instead of falling prey to such feelings, I can make it a practice to remind myself that God is the One I can always trust to give me meaning, that His refuge is truly safe, and that He is the source of understanding in a world that is often topsy-turvy.  In such storms, I must learn to preach these constant reminders to myself as protection against despair.  Then I will not fall victim to my misleading feelings that often lead me astray but will know in my heart I am cherished as a well-loved child by a doting Father.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God in the midst of the trouble.

When do I believe the fear that grips my heart?

How can I give myself a little reminder of the truth that will set me free?  

In the Dark Valley

"Even though I walk through 

the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4 ESV

I get the wrong idea sometimes.  I hear people say trusting Jesus will deliver the good life to me, and I see pictures of all my troubles melting away.  Somehow, I make it all about me and my comfort, my desires, my expectations.  I believe I can have my best life now if I will only think positively.  But Jesus has something much bigger and better in mind.  

In His kingdom, making God's greatness known is of more importance than keeping me free from difficulty (Proverbs 16:4).  In His kingdom, avoidance of the hard stuff is not considered, rather the ugly is transformed into something beautiful (Isaiah 61:3).  In His kingdom, every brush with death, time of suffering, and bout with pain is used to conform me into the image of Jesus (Romans 8:28-29).

Following Jesus as my Good Shepherd does not mean my life will be free from suffering, pain or difficulty (John 10:14, 16:33) .  Instead, I have the benefit of my Shepherd as He leads me through the dark valley.

Presence.  When I was pregnant with my triplet daughters, I spent two months in the hospital where I could be kept under the watchful eye of the medical staff.  Every morsel of food and drop of drink I consumed was tracked.  My vital signs, weight and emotional well-being were measured and recorded.  Normal bathroom functions were out of the question as my output also needed to be checked.  There was even a monitor strapped around my ever-expanding girth so that any contractions could be detected.

While this seemed quite constricting at times, I did discover it's necessity one day as I raised the bed up so I could eat breakfast.  Suddenly, the nurse on duty burst in the door asking, "What are you doing?"  I dropped by forkful of hashbrowns, feeling like I had done something wrong.  "Oh, you're just eating breakfast.  You suddenly started having contractions and I see it was triggered by moving to an upright position so you could eat."  It should come as no surprise that they suggested I start eating in a partially reclined position in order to hold off labor as long as possible to give our precious girls the best chance possible.

This reminds me of God's constant monitoring of me.  David said in Psalm 139 that God sees everything and has it all under control.  "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." (v 5)  There is nothing that happens in my life that escapes His attention.  In fact, it all is filtered through His hands for approval before it can enter into my life.  Everything is under His watchful eye and He is always at work guiding me and protecting me.

As I walk through the dark valley, I am under the constant care of my Shepherd.

Rod.  A shepherd always carries a rod as an extension of his own right arm.  He uses it to protect his charges from harm, throwing it to keep them from wandering into a dangerous hazard or wielding it against a hungry predator.  The rod is also a sign of his authority and strength so the sheep know he is in charge of them.  The shepherd uses it to count his sheep, conducting a careful examination of each animal as he searches the thick wool for any kind of hidden symptoms that could point to disease or injury.

The sheep under his watchful eye know they are cared for.  Seeing the rod in his hands gives them comfort as they are reminded of his ability to protect, discipline and lead them.

Similarly, I can trust Jesus to foresee danger before I even know of it's presence.  This could mean He uses the firm hand of discipline in my life to keep me from harming myself, or in staving off the enemy who is lurking and ready to attack.  He also is constantly checking my heart for faulty thinking, selfish attitudes or ulterior motives that are developing, convicting me of the danger lurking there (Psalm 51:10).  Knowing He is always on guard gives me peace and a sense of security.

As I walk through the dark valley, I am comforted by the rod of my Shepherd.

Staff.  Sheep can get into some of the most preposterous dilemmas.  Being curious yet completely helpless is a combination that finds them inadvertently falling off cliffs into the sea, getting tangled in brambles as they search for green blades of grass, and becoming stuck in the mud as they wander off.  The shepherd's staff then can be used to rescue them from such predicaments.  

The long slender stick with the curve in the end is also useful for drawing the shy animals toward himself, to guide them as he uses it to apply pressure on their side to give them reassurance of their path, as well as to safely lift a newborn to present to its mother without the risk of applying a scent which could repel the ewe.

Likewise, my good Shepherd's staff brings much relief and encouragement as I walk through hard times.  He expertly extracts me from the ridiculous situations I get myself into, saving me from myself.  He also draws me to Himself when I hang back, afraid I'll be rejected or am unlovable.  Other times He applies gentle pressure, giving me the confirmation that I'm on the right track.  It's as if He's saying, "Keep going little lamb!  You're doing well!"

This kind of care gives me such comfort because I am easily discouraged, often wondering if I'm going in the wrong direction or somehow got off track.  It also is quite assuring to know He has such a kind and tender way of drawing me in, especially when I'm feeling vulnerable and hurt.  Yes, my Shepherd is sensitive enough to know what I need when I need it.

As I walk through the dark valley, I am comforted by the staff of my Shepherd.

When I put my life in Jesus' hands, I will not avoid suffering.  Instead, as He leads me through hard times, I am constantly under His watchful eye, have the assurance of His rod of protection, authority and power, and the comfort of knowing His staff is there to care for me, draw me closer, and guide me when I feel insecure.  There are many benefits to trusting in my Good Shepherd as He leads me through the dark valleys of life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust Jesus enough to believe He is there for my protection.

When do I fear the hard stuff, forgetting that I have a Shepherd to comfort me?

How am I resisting His rod of discipline?

Treasure of the Relationship

"Are you the first man ever born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

Do you listen in on God's council?

Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?

What do you know that we do not know?

What insights do you have that we do not have?"

Job 15:7-9

If this is what you would call encouragement, I want nothing of it!  Eliphaz, friend of Job, accused the suffering man of being arrogant and casual with God.  In Job's time of greatest need, as he lamented his life as a natural part of the grief process, this friend crushed him like a grasshopper beneath his foot.  With friends like that, who needs enemies?

The truth was, Job was intimately acquainted with God, so much so that he felt comfortable pouring his heart out to Him, hurt as it was.  This is exactly what was needed for God to bring healing to his wounded soul.  Unfortunately, those who gathered around to console Job didn't seem to get that.

I can't let others talk me out of who I know God to be, shaming me into turning my relationship with Him into a kind of religion with rules made and expectations held by man.  What did Job grasp about God that his friends did not?

Heart.  God is bigger than my feelings.  Somehow, it's easy for me as a human to think it's improper to share negative or upsetting feelings with God.  I think I need to tell Him what I think He wants to hear, keeping it clean and neat, all tied up in a neat little package.

The problem is, life is messy and my heart is often aching with pain.  Other times, the coldness of the world around me rubs off, turning my heart of flesh back into one of stone.  Every so often I might even feel downright angry at the circumstances in which I find myself.  Does God really want to hear what's going on in my heart?

Yes, He does!  David was considered by God as a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).  One of the things that David did to capture the heart of God was to be honest before Him.  He did not put up false fronts,but shared what was truly in His heart, ugly as it might be.  As he ran from his enemies, for instance, David felt abandoned by God, "tossed aside" and oppressed (Psalm 43:2).  Instead of cleaning it up and withholding his true feelings from God, he was brutally honest.  Then God worked to turn His heart back to the truth until he was able to ask himself, "Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again--my Savior and my God!" (v 5) 

God is big enough to handle my messy feelings, and being honest as I share my heart with Him will draw me closer to Him.

Secure.  She had suffered much loss in her life.  Her husband was killed fairly early in their marriage while he trained pilots for World War II.  She also lost her firstborn son to a condition that left him non-responsive and eventually took his life.  As a result, my grandmother lived in fear of losing those she loved.  This fear of abandonment crippled her in ways she didn't even realize.

It's natural to develop mechanisms to cope with the pain found from living in a fallen, broken world.  Often, these means of survival address a fear of loss or rejection of some kind but are far from healthy.  Knowing that I have security in my standing with God, that through faith in Jesus Christ I cannot lose the love He has for me, means I can face the difficulties of life with confidence.  Nothing I can do, or can be done to me, will make God stop loving me (Romans 8:35-39).  His love is so much bigger than that!

My place as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ is secure enough to weather any storm.

Truth.  There must be some part I play, some work I must do, some way I should meet God partway.  It seems too much to expect Him to do all the work and make all the sacrifices.  How can I accept such an expensive gift at no cost to me (1 Timothy 1:9)?

It can be hard to receive the gift of salvation without feeling obligated to do something for God in return.  I live in a world where nothing is free and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Therefore, I often think I must somehow earn what Jesus has already secured for me through His death on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Once I realize that the relationship I enjoy with my Father in heaven is entirely based on His mercy, grace and love, not on my faithfulness, the pressure is off to somehow keep up my end of the bargain.  When I understand that my security in God's kingdom is due to His great love for me, I will no longer find it necessary to jump through hoops to please the God that wants nothing more than my heart.  After I get it through my thick head that there is not a thing I can do to earn my place in God's family, I will be free to be the me God created me to be, doing only what He compels me to do out of an overflow of His great love for me.

Since my relationship with God relies on Him, there is nothing I can add to somehow make it better or keep it strong.

I am bombarded with messages that may contradict what I know in my heart about the God who loves me perfectly.  It's easy to fall prey to the mindset that I must be careful what I say to God, that I could lose His love if I'm not careful, and that I have a responsibility to maintain the bond I share with Him.  In reality, God is big enough to handle what's going on in my heart and He wants nothing more than for me to come to Him honestly and frankly. Furthermore, He already did everything necessary through Jesus Christ to secure my place at His table and my connection to Him is entirely dependent on Him, not on anything I can do.  This is the kind of relationship I have in Christ.  May I let no one talk me out of such a treasure as this!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to rest in Him.

How do I try to earn what has already been given?

When do think I must keep my harsh or ugly feelings to myself, thinking that God doesn't want to hear such unpleasantness? 

No Formula

"There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job,

and that man was blameless and upright,

one who feared God and turned away from evil."

Job 1:1 ESV

I like to think that if I live right, am faithful to God and seek to please Him, He will bless me with a trouble-free life and protection from evil.  Examining Job's life, I see this can't be true.  Why not?  Why can't I expect a smooth ride in return for my godly choices?  There are several reasons.

Mysterious Purpose.  In the midst of the heartache, Job lamented his birth and wanted his life to end.  So great was his grief that he yearned for peace and release from such a heavy burden (Job 3).  Behind the scenes, however, God was busy working out His mysterious purposes.

Since I am not God, I have no clue as to the reasoning behind His actions (Isaiah 55:8-9).  I can't answer, "Why?"  I don't know what He's up to.  The only thing I do know for sure is that He is up to something.  And that something is good (1 John 1:5, James 1:17).  

God has His own purposes of which I cannot fathom.  Even though He doesn't reveal why He allows suffering into my life, He has clued me into the what.  What outcome can I expect for me as I love Him and am called according to His purpose?  It will be His best for me (Romans 8:28-29).  It will be a part of the cleansing, lifelong process that sets me apart for His use.  It will help to conform me into the image of Jesus.

Since God is the keeper of the "Why?", I am to concern myself with the "Who?"  Ultimately, God is in control.  Since He's a good God, I can trust Him to be the gatekeeper of my life, filtering out those things that will bring harm and somehow, mysteriously, weaving the hurtful and difficult into a breathtaking masterpiece that could come about no other way.  

When I go through hard times I can remember that God is guided by His good yet mysterious purpose.

Different Economy.  It's upside-down, backward, and opposite of this world.  I live in a culture that rewards hard work with material success, that is generous to those who give and stingy toward those who are powerless and have nothing to contribute.  Value is placed on what can be spent, consumed or enjoyed.  Popularity is achieved by the beautiful, funny and entertaining.

In contrast, God's kingdom is a place where rewards are heavenly and unconditional generosity is the rule not the exception (Matthew 5:12, Hebrews 11:13-16).  The things that are deemed as valuable are intangible and eternal while each life is equally important and precious (Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 139:14).

Since God's kingdom is so different from the world in which I temporarily dwell, I must remember that my reward for living in relationship with God will come later.  I can't expect Him to give me what He has in store for me now, but in eternity where things will be as He created them to be.  Until then, I can realize that my desire to please God with a heart that is dedicated to Him will not go unnoticed by my Father whose eye is always on me (Matthew 10:29-31).

When I go through hard times I can remember that God is saving up a reward for my choice to stay true to Him (Galatians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:58).

Character-Focused.  The conditions were ideal.  Temperature, humidity, and soil pH levels were closely monitored.  Harmful substances were strictly prohibited and the plants were shielded from the extremes of the elements.  Vegetation will grow well in such a perfect environment.  In order to truly test their hardiness, however, they must be transferred outside into the real world.

Similarly, it would be easy to stay true to Christ in such a protected environment as a greenhouse plant enjoys.  There would be no pressure to stray, no temptation to lure me away from Him, no harsh environment to plant seeds of doubt into my heart.  But would my faith be real?  Would my intention to follow Jesus really mean anything in such ideal surroundings (Job 1:8-10)?

The only way to find out if I mean it when I say I love Jesus more than anything, is to place me into the fray.  As the temptations come, the losses hit, and the trials enter, I'll learn if what I profess so confidently to be true has penetrated my heart.  If I keep looking around me, fretting at the harshness of the temperatures, the strength of the wind, or the life-threatening power of the storm, I'll see that I don't really trust God as much as I thought I did.  Worry and anxiety then rules my heart.  

If, however, I look up, keeping my eyes trained on Jesus who gave me my faith and is always at work refining and bolstering it, I will begin to see that my faith is real (Hebrews 12:2).  It is only through the difficulties that my faith is purified and tested (1 Peter 1:6-7).

When I go through hard times I can remember that God is testing and purifying my faith.

I desire a carefree, comfortable and enjoyable life.  If I am to follow Jesus in a world that is dedicated to everything that goes against Him, however, I must expect difficulty.  As a child of a Heavenly Father who loves me, I might expect that He will shield me from all harm if my heart is devoted to Him.  If so, I'll be disappointed because the truth is that God has His own purposes that are a mystery to me, operates under a different economy, and is more focused on my character than on my comfort.  Therefore, I must realize that there is no formula to live my best life now.  Instead, I can strive for His best, a far, far different thing.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay focused on Jesus, especially when the going gets rough.

How am I more dedicated to my comfort than to letting God have His way?

When do I despair when hard times hit, forgetting that God has a purpose through it all?

  

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?  

He Holds Me Together

"On my bed I remember you;

I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;

your right hand upholds me."

Psalm 63:6-8

It seemed as if there was no purpose, no reason for the suffering.  Everything looked like it was falling apart; my life suddenly appeared as if it were a series of tragic mistakes with every door that appeared before me slamming in my face.  What was I to do?  Where was I to go to find help?  Did anybody care?  Where was this God who had claimed to love me?

My family recently sold every stick of furniture in order to move across the country so we could help my dad in his time of need.  When we arrived at our destination, we felt like Abram, going to the land where God had called us without knowing our exact destination. (Genesis 12:1)  I expected God to make our paths straight, however, setting everything up to prepare us for a smooth transition.  

As is to be expected with a God whose ways are far superior to mine, He had something else in mind.  As we lived the lives of the homeless for nearly two weeks, I wondered if we were fools to give up everything; our home, our security, our friends, and recklessly set out on this venture without a plan, without having everything set in stone before we left.  We believed God had the plan and was faithful to provide, but my eyes were telling me a different story.  What kind of a plan was this?

Thankfully, God is God no matter what I go through.  Consequently, when it seems like everything is falling apart, He is still there holding me together. It just takes eyes of faith to be able to remember the truth when my difficult circumstances obscure it from my perception.

Plan.  God's plan is not diminished by my crummy situation or difficult state of affairs.  When I focus on the problems that overwhelm, my life seems like nothing more than a big cosmic joke.  As I flounder through each day, each blow solidifies my belief that life is simply a series of random acts with no purpose.

When I turn my attention back toward the Maker of heaven and earth, reminding myself of His great and good plan for my life, I remember He takes every heartache, every struggle and every tragedy and works it together for my good. (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Romans 8:28) He take the ashes and turns them into beauty.  In His mighty and gracious hands the grief is transformed into joy.  Where I perceive nothing but ruins He brings about restoration.  (Isaiah 61:3-4)

When it seems like everything is falling apart, His plan is not diminished one bit by my lack of faith.

Love.  No matter how difficult my life becomes, His love still sustains me.  Trouble is, I tend to hold a low view of love, thinking His compassion for me will lead me through nothing but green pastures and beside quiet streams.  I focus more on my comfort, desiring to live a pampered life free from difficulty.  When the inevitable trials come, it gives me the idea that God doesn't love me anymore, that He doesn't care enough to shield me from heartache and pain.

The truth is that there is nothing that can separate me from His love: the potholes of life, the sorrow of death, the fear that grips my heart or the anxiety about what is to come.  None of these things or any other power on earth or below it can take me away from His great love for me.  (Romans 8:28-29)

When it seems like everything is falling apart, God's love for me is not lost by my lack of faith. (Psalm 100:5)

Hope.  The one thing I always have through Christ Jesus is hope.  If this life was all there was, it would truly be hard to carry on.  Thankfully, through faith in Christ, I have eternity with Him to look forward to. (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Therefore, when it seems like there is no rhyme or reason to my life, I can remember the place being prepared just for me where I will experience true fulfillment and belonging. (John 14:1-3)  When my life is marked with much suffering and pain, I can keep my eyes on the prize of heaven which will make the struggle worth it.  (Philippians 3:14)  When I am surrounded by trouble, I can keep my eyes fixed on Jesus who endured far worse for my sake.  (Hebrews 12:1-4)

When it seems like everything is falling apart, the hope I have in Christ Jesus is never gone even when my faith falters.

One thing I can count on in this life is trouble.  Despite the difficult seasons I must endure, God's plan is never diminished, His love is not lost, and the hope I have in Christ is never gone.  Even when I feel otherwise, the truth tells me a different story.  He always holds me together and this time is no different.  Will I trust Him with today's trouble?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will give God a chance to work through my circumstances.

When do I despair based on what I see instead of rejoicing in what I cannot see but is no less real?

How do I fail to walk by faith? 

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.