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?    

Salvation that is in Vain

"Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!"

Psalm 108:12 ESV

Humans are all around me and seem like the obvious choice to turn to for help.  I can see them, and many claim to possess the answers I need.  There are reasons, however, why this choice to turn to man is foolish.  Looking to a mere mortal for help is a worthless practice.

Busted.  Man has been found out.  The fallibility of humankind is evident.  No matter how much anyone claims to have all the answers, we, as a people, are busted and can't be trusted.  Humans have this problem that makes our line of thinking faulty, that skews our perspective, thus leaving any answers we come up with as filled with errors.  The issue common to every man, woman and child who ever lived?  Sin (Romans 3:23, Ecclesiastes 7:20).

My sin nature makes it impossible for me, or any other human, to give reliable advice 100% of the time.  The help I give or receive from others is always tainted by this fleshly imperfection.  While we may mean well, we just can't be trusted to know the best way to handle every situation, the escape route from trouble, or the purpose for pain.  As the psalmist wisely pointed out, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust man." (Psalm 118:8)

Even though man may have good intentions, it is foolish to turn to people for help.  When I don't know what to do, only God holds the road map for my life (James 1:5-7, Jeremiah 29:11).  When I feel everything is going wrong, only God sees the big picture and can show me how He's at work in my heart through the trouble (Psalm 46:1).  When I'm in despair, only God can give me hope for my future (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is perfect and 100% trustworthy, making Him my go-to Source for help.

Limited.  Man is created.  Everything I have is given to me from the Lord.  There is nothing I am, no feat I have achieved, no goal reached that is not enabled by Him, the Source of all good things.  I only have what I've been allowed to possess.

Since people are limited in what can be done, how much can be understood, and in point-of-view, help from man will reflect our finite nature (Psalm 146:3-4).  Due to the fact that my life is temporary, that I am only here for a season, any assistance I give or receive from others will be based on our limited scope that only takes the here and now into account.  While I may think myself wise, my wisdom is considered as foolish in the heavenlies (1 Corinthians 3:19).  Even though a powerful position may promise certain advantages in gaining assistance, it is limited at best and won't be able to deliver.

God is eternal, constant, and all powerful, making Him my unlimited Source for help.

No Authority.  I may feel secure if I have the assurance from a seat of power.  It may seem I'm immune from trouble if the leader give his promise of help.  If I call to the movers and shakers of my community in an appeal for help, I may feel on solid footing.  Unfortunately, any assistance they can give is in vain in the face of a sovereign God.

When Jesus stood before Pilate, standing silent regarding His accuser's claims, Pilate tried to understand why this prisoner would not defend Himself, frustrated that Jesus didn't seem to recognize his authority to condemn or grant pardon.  Jesus finally said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were give to you from above." (John 19:11a)

No matter how things seem, man just doesn't have the authority to help in the way I need.  Only God can grant freedom from the punishment I deserve through faith in Christ.  Only God can empower me to live as I was meant to live in relationship with Him.  Only God can propel me forward through the valley of the shadow of death as I walk with Him.  Man has no ability to do such wonders for me.

God is righteous and holy, making Him my only salvation.

It's easy to turn to man for help.  I am constantly bombarded with claims of relief, support or assistance that comes from man. Turning to people for salvation, however, is a practice that is in vain.   It is only God who is able to give trustworthy, consistent help.  He is my only hope and His salvation is not in vain!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to deliver me from trouble.

When do I look for help in what I see, instead of in the unseen?

How am I drawn to the temporary fix of man?

   

Trouble with a Capital "T"

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19 ESV

"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden, along with the sunshine; there's gotta be a little rain sometime!"  I remember singing along to this catchy 1973 hit by Lynn Anderson.  As a child, I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics, but as an adult I think this first line could have been penned by God Himself.  

Committing my life to following Jesus does not mean my life will be trouble-free.  It's quite the contrary, really, as I live in enemy territory in a body that can be my greatest adversary until I'm called home (John 16:33, 1 Peter 2:11-12).  This sounds like a recipe for difficulty, if you ask me!  I'm not promised a life free of hard times but an abundant life in the midst of the mess (John 10:10).

But.  If the first part of today's scripture passage was the whole message, life would be hopeless indeed!  Thankfully, there is a "but."  The "but" means there is something more; an Overcomer who has vanquished death and has authority over sin and evil!  

Through Jesus, my Champion, I can live without fear of death.  It is no longer the end, but only the beginning of an eternity of bliss in the presence of the One who loves me perfectly!  I can trust Him that the everlasting home that is promised me will be one that fulfills me perfectly, giving me complete contentment as things return to how they were meant to be (John 14:2-3).  

I can also live a life free from the bondage of sin where temptation is not my slave driver but I can choose to take the out He's provided and walk a new way that is contrary to my fleshly desires (1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 6:6).

Furthermore, Satan has no license to operate freely in my life.  Instead, through Jesus I have authority over him, giving him no leeway except for what I allow.  When I recognize his evil plot, my Warrior has given me armor and weapons with which to fight him off (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Jesus is who I need to withstand the trouble I face in this world.

Deliverance.  It was like nothing anyone had ever seen before.  The men walked in the fiery furnace that was hot enough to melt iron yet emerged unscathed, without even the smell of smoke upon them (Daniel 3:19-30).  How could this be?  God delivered them!

The same is promised for me as His child through faith in Jesus Christ. Even though the waters may rise up until I may fear drowning, He will be with me keeping my head above the waters.  When rapids rush around me, threatening to take me back from where I came, I won't succumb to the current.  While I may not escape the fire, the flames will not destroy me (Isaiah 43:1-3).

In the same way that Jesus was there with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they walked in Nebuchadnezzar's deadly furnace, He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me (Daniel 3:25, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).  With Him at my side, what weapon can prevail, what trouble can overcome me (Romans 8:31, Isaiah 54:17 )?

Jesus is my deliverer who will stand with me through the trial, delivering me through it unscathed.

Complete.  Ever present.  Always ready. Very present.  Well-proved.  God is my refuge and strength.  Always, without fail, never to let me down in my time of need (Psalm 46:1).  With such a God as this at my side, what do I have to fear?

God's help is complete and whole.  He does not do a job half-way, but delivers total healing, full recovery, and thorough transformation.  He does not miss a detail.  Therefore, I can trust Him completely no matter what chaos is going on around me.  

Still, I must keep close to Him and train my attention upon Him to keep the current crisis from sending me into a tailspin of panic.  God is my refuge, but I must stick with Him in order to experience the help He is ready to give.  He will not let me down.

Jesus can be counted on to always provide complete help at just the right time.

Yes, life is full of trouble with a capital "T."  Even though I'm ushered into God's kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, I'm not promised an easy, comfortable life.  I do have hope, though, in the person of Jesus Christ who will always be with me, faithfully delivering me through whatever trial may come.  Therefore, I can choose faith in Jesus instead of fear of what surrounds me.  I'm not promised a rose garden, but the joy that comes with walking through the fire with Jesus smells sweeter than any flower ever could!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus as I encounter today's trouble with the grace God has promised me.

When do I let the trouble send me into fear and doubt?

In my panic, how do I forget Who is right beside me?           

God's Choice

"He said,

'I came naked from my mother's womb,

and I will be naked when I leave.

The LORD gave me what I had,

and the LORD has taken it away.

Praise the name of the LORD!'"

Job 1:21-22 NLT

The worst had happened.  His greatest fears had been realized as he lost his family and his wealth, all in one day.  Wave after horrible wave of news arrived, seeming to knock the air out of his lungs.

In the midst of the horrible revelation, in the middle of learning the worst, while he was still numb from shock, Job recognized an important truth about God:  He is sovereign.  What does this mean for me?

I won't get it.  I always thought it would be hard to serve in the Army like my husband did for 24 years.  During his years of service, he was expected to follow orders, even if they didn't make any sense.  It is important for a soldier to learn how to do as their told so when the moments of heated combat come, there will be no hesitation in putting the battle plan into action.  When everyone trusts the commander enough to follow his orders without question, success is more likely.

Living my life as a follower of Christ is similar.  The difference is that my Commander is all-knowing and understanding.  He knows exactly what is needed to draw my attention back to Him, to hone my faith, and to further His purpose. God has the perfect solution for every problem.  He has His own ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, my role is not to expect to be able to comprehend His reason for allowing certain difficulties into my life, but to simply trust Him.  He does have a plan.

Trust is not dependent upon my ability to understand what is going on and why it is happening.

He's still good.  It's all good.  It's one of my least favorite phrases in today's modern vernacular.  It sets my teeth on edge when I'm facing something hard and I hear the loathsome phrase.  How can they say this is good?  It's far from it!  

While it's true that God will use all things for my good, the circumstances, difficulties and just plain ugliness is not good (Romans 8:28).  What I can say with all certainty in the midst of the sorrow, grief and misery is that God is good.  He is a noble God who is worthy of praise and His purposes are always beneficial and what's considered as His best for me.  As a result, I can always praise Him.

Praise to God is not dependent upon my circumstances.

No guarantee.  I love a money-back guarantee.  It allows me to try a product or service for a period of time, testing to see if it's worth my money.  If I don't like it after the trial period, I can get my money back.  If I found it to be worthwhile, then I can keep it as my own.  That way, there is no risk.

Why do I find this benefit to be so helpful?  Maybe its because I want to see for myself if something is good instead of simply taking the word of the clever marketing scheme:  It's hard for me to think I might be taken advantage of.  I want the security of knowing I won't lose time or other valuable resources while testing the veracity of the promise.

The problem comes when I translate this same desire to life.  I've not been promised tomorrow, yet I assume it will be there.  I can't expect things to go the way I think is best, yet I usually want it my way.  The direction my life takes is not my choice to make, yet I like to think I can control the outcome if I try hard enough.  Life can seem an awful lot like gambling.  

Since following Jesus takes a risk as I give up my autonomy, rights to my self, and independence, I must also see that there are no guarantees in general.  As a result, I can look at each day, every opportunity, and all the openings I receive as gifts.  Since I don't know the plan God has for my life, I must trust Him in each moment, taking all that He gives with a spirit of thankfulness (Philippians 4:6-7).

Thanks is not dependent upon what might be but entirely based on what is.  


There is no question that life is hard.  It is filled with times of suffering, difficulty and trial.  When these inevitable times comes, I could get angry at God, losing my faith in Him, failing to praise Him for anything, and withholding thanks until things feel better again.  Or, when the crisis hits I could continue to trust Him even though I don't get what God is doing, praise Him for His goodness in the midst of the bad, and thank Him for all He is to me.  In these ways I am realizing what Job did:  What comes my way is God's choice.


As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to not expect to understand.

When do I think that I can't trust God because He is allowing such pain into my life?

How am I being narrow-minded and selfish in my view of God and His purposes?    

His Love Never Fails

"Because of the LORD's great love

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail."

Lamentation 3:22 ESV

What are you facing right now?  His love is strong enough to get you through it.

What keeps you up at night?  His love will not grow dim through the night watches.

How do you feel discouraged, like giving up?  His love will never fail, even when your will does.

When do you feel unlovable?  His love does not depend on you but on God, and He is faithful.

Listen to today's song of praise about the great love of our amazing God, and worship Him for His limitless love.

  

One Blessing After Another

"From the fullness of His grace 

we have all received 

one blessing after another."

John 1:16

"Too blessed to be stressed."

"Count your blessings"

"Blessed and highly favored"

"Bless your little heart"

These are some of the ways I have heard the word blessing used.  Many times, I twist the meaning of the word "blessing," equating it to physical gifts such as my home, job, family, car or my abundance of "stuff".  It's true that I need to acknowledge God as the giver of all good things.  But do I also recognize the spiritual blessings that come with belonging to Jesus?

Promise  When Abraham was 75 years of age, God told him to leave his home in Haran, and "go to the land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1)  In other words, "start walking and I'll let you know when you get there."  But God did not leave it at that seemingly impossible request.  He also blessed Abraham with the promise that would eventually affect all of us.  God said He would make Abraham into a great nation, that he would be well known, and that, "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (v 3)  Jesus is the greatest blessing I have received. He restored my relationship with a Holy God, and He gave me the hope of heaven. . . all through His selfless decision to be born as a mere child, and grow up to become a man who would die on the cross, taking the punishment for my sins and the sins of all who trust in Him as their Savior.  This Christmas, I want to remember the blessing of Jesus.

Trials  I don't usually think of hard times as a blessing, but God considers them to be beneficial to me as a believer. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (Jame 1:12)  There are things I learn during times of difficulty that I would never learn when everything is going according to my plan.  Faith is trusting God's plan for my life, especially when I have no idea how that plan is going to play out.  Martyred missionary Jim Elliot* seemed to understand well the importance of trusting God no matter the outcome, "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him."  This Christmas, I will remember the blessing of trials.

Humility Ask anyone on the street about humility, and you will find a negative connotation associated with the word.  Either people will talk about humiliating situations that were an embarrassment to them, or they may mumble something about low self-esteem. Ask them if they desire to be humble, and most would likely say, "No."  But God looks highly upon those who have a modest or low view of their importance.  On His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  In God's kingdom, self-esteem is derived from God-esteem.  My worth comes from who I am in relation to God, not who I am in my own right.  All the good that is in me is from God.  When I acknowledge this truth, I am lowering myself to my rightful place, and honoring God with the respect He deserves.  If I want to build my view of myself, I need to first clarify my understanding of God and where I stand in relation to Him.  This Christmas, I will remember the blessing of humility.

The next time I start counting my blessings, I will begin with the spiritual ones, like the blessing of Jesus, the trials in my life and an attitude of humility.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will see all the blessings God has given me, not just the ones I can see and touch.  

How do I try to avoid hard times, thus robbing myself of that blessing?

When do I think of myself more highly than I ought?

*Jim Elliot quote from:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jim_elliot.html#ixzz1gz3aNPwX