So close
A wee hours in the morning storm rumbled in the distance. I lay listening as it grew closer. Soon flashes of lightning lit up the edges of the curtains. Loud booms followed. And then, whoosh, rain pelted the still dark morning. I smiled and snuggled down.
Storms like these are comforting to me. For one who has always been in “control” (or thought I was), the weather was not something I could control. But I knew Who did. Living in the lightening capital of the USA I’ve experienced many thunderstorms. The fresh air that accompanies them, the quiet right after the storm – those are sweet moments and a reminder of our Mighty God.
That morning, after the storm, our walk along the water was still overcast. But as we turned to head back, a break in the clouds with a peak of blue sky and rays of sun casting down to the river lifted my head. A living picture of this verse: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 BSB)
My fears have been heightened a bit this past week. My default ‘fix it’ mentality has fought to take over. And I’ve fought to stay close to the Lord. Hard to say which is winning at the moment, depends on the moment 🙂
Further along in Psalm 34 I’ve clung to: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (vs 18 NIV) He knows our hearts, how this sin-stained, broken world at times breaks us.
There will be times in earth life where the crushing seems too much. There will be times in life where pure joy accompanies our days. But there will never be a time in this life that our Jesus is far away. He is with us in all the ups, downs, and middles.
I know all too well that sometimes He seems far away. Like He forgot me. Like I’m lost and I don’t have GPS. We feel this way because we are human – He doesn’t condemn us for our doubts or worrying. But He has fixed it all – past tense. Whatever you’re going through, He’s got a great ending. Sometimes in the here and now and sometimes only when we enter our forever days.
Going back to verse 1 of Psalm 34, I invite you to join me: “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.” (NLT) Always looking not to what we see, but what will eternally be. You were prayed for before you read this. Our Father has prayer warriors covering us that we often never know about. Let’s turn our fears to praise and let Him be so close.
Courage
A pastor and author that I’ve come to dearly love, announced it is time for him to step down from his role. He’s in his 70s and physically things aren’t going well. Tears sprang to my eyes. I’ve learned so much from him. Through the last couple of hard years his love for God and ability to teach the Bible have encouraged me more than he’ll ever know.
Courage is a scary word. To need courage implies that something is frightening or difficult or painful. In your life and mine multiple times we will need courage. Whether it’s when we’re 5 and afraid of bugs or 65 and afraid of losing a loved one – and all the in betweens – to take the next step requires courage.
The world would tell us we must find it in ourselves, or in a bottle, or in money, or in power. As I’ve read the Old Testament, I’ve seen that in Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and all the prophets the common thread was where their courage came from. As David faced Goliath he shouted: the battle is the Lord’s! The writers of the New Testament daily faced persecution – and it was ugly. Being flogged, imprisoned, tortured – still they persevered, but not in their strength.
So where does that kind of courage come from? There’s a word I love and daily try to give: encouragement. A little word that sounds like a nice thing to say. But ‘en’ means to put ‘in to’ or ‘on to’. And ‘ment’ means to put into action.
God encourages us through His Word. The Holy Spirit, residing in us, encourages us as He lives in us. And we in turn are to encourage those around us. When I’m at a low point, my friends speak truths to me. My husband assures me. And God tells me over and over He is my strength, my ever-present help in trouble, the One who goes before me – beside me – behind me.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 NIV)
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2Thessalonians 16-17 NIV)
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)
Whatever you’re facing today, I want to encourage you: you are dearly loved by your Creator; nothing is too hard for your Heavenly Father; the best is yet to come. For we have an eternal hope not in this world but in the One who helps up defeat lions, walk into promised lands, stand firm in our faith, and reminds us the promise of forever is the courage we need for this moment.
No comparison
Looking up I noticed light creeping through the window edges, the fringes of dawn. As I raised the curtains I smiled at the beginning of a new day. I’m a morning person; I love first light. I’m also a walking, hiking person. Give me a good trail and my cares melt away – at least for a little while.
This morning my husband and I set off on a trail near our home we hadn’t yet discovered. As it opened into a wide vista of pine straw floors and giant trees shading the way, I knew I would want to walk it often. The strong winds rustled the treetops, and as they swayed, they drowned out the sounds of civilization. It was a gift, and I knew who to thank. Jesus is in the details of our lives – and this path, here all this time, was a gift He showed us when we were ready to find it.
When we neared the end, there was a grassy area with boat ramps. Apparently, the far back of a nearby neighborhood. Who knew? Turning back, I thought if this little jewel is near my home, how many amazing places are there on this earth? And I was reminded, I haven’t seen anything yet. Eternity and the trails and hikes of forever I can’t even begin to imagine.
All of us are walking a trail daily. The one from first breath to last sigh. We miss a lot along the way. In our busyness we become focused on the temporary, what is seen. But what if now and then we remembered this verse: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2Corinthians 4:18 BSB)
The verses preceding it are our reality: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.” (2Corinthians 4:16-17 BSB)
When our world comes crashing around us it’s very easy to lose heart. And as we age, we see our bodies not cooperating with us like they used to. But Paul tells us a truth we can cling to – these earthly woes are temporary, the Holy Spirit is renewing us on the inside, and what awaits us has no comparison.
‘Weight of glory’, I had to look that up to see what was meant: “The ‘weight’ suggests something substantial and valuable, far surpassing the fleeting nature of earthly troubles.” Yes, as much as a beautiful trail can calm a heart, the reminder of what is truly valuable is our assurance at all times.
How long
I’ve been reading through the Bible for…well let’s just say it’s taken more than a year. I turned to a short book in the Old Testament, Habakkuk. I’m trying to be more purposeful with my readings lately. Instead of rushing through and checking the box I decided to ask God to show me what I’m supposed to see as I read and to show me Jesus.
Habakkuk starts off with a question many of us ask or have asked: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help” (vs 2a) The prophet is struck by all the deception, wrong doings, wickedness, brokenness around him. He thinks, as I am prone to do – wouldn’t now be a good time for You to act Lord?
We have lots of ideas for Him: how about bringing a loved one to salvation now? Healing us or a loved one from cancer? Giving a marriage proposal or a pregnancy long waited for? A job or financial turn before everything is lost? Even, can’t Jesus just come back now?
God speaks to Habakkuk and tells him He is indeed going to do things that will amaze him. But the prophet thinks it’s taking an awfully long time and again asks God why He tolerates all these things and basically says ‘I guess I’ll wait and see what God is gonna do’ – sigh.
That’s me. I fuss. I fret. I worry. I sometimes try to help. Then I sigh.
Again, the Lord responds to Habakkuk in great detail. And this time Habakkuk decides to pray instead of question. What a concept, right? A friend reminded me today that we so often just keep going when in a matter of a few minutes we can connect with the Almighty.
God delights in our heartfelt prayers. As Habakkuk prayed, He recalled the awesome deeds of the Lord. He acknowledged there is no other God and no other power greater than God. And then…the calm.
The verses ending this short book come from a heart calmed by a loving Father: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,” (vs17) In other words: though sickness and death still happen, financial ruin still comes, marriages end in divorce, fill in the blank ________. “yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength;” (vs18-19a) Habakkuk has found the answer to His first question: How long? As long as it takes and in the blink of an eye – both are the same to the Lord, but He knows which one is best for us and all those we love. Yet, we will rejoice!
(verses from NIV)
Every day, every way
I was starting to read a devotion by one of my favorite authors (Holley Gerth) when she mentioned she felt God ask, ‘Will you let me use you, right here and right now?’ I put the book down and responded in my heart: ‘Every day, in every way’. But will I?
At the time I was reading this, the day didn’t have anything challenging happening. No demands were being made on my time or resources. I was in a content and happy mood. But what about on a day when everything seems to be going wrong? Or a day when I want to run the other direction from current circumstances?
It reminds me of Gideon – at one of his lowest moments God calls him to do something monumental. His reaction is basically ‘Who me? I’m no warrior, I’m the lowest of the low.’ Or Joseph whose been in and out of slavery and prison and now the ruler of Egypt wants him to interpret a dream and then wants him to be second in the command of the kingdom. I have to believe that he probably thought: ‘I’m not so sure I can do this’.
My head knows I’m supposed to say to myself: trust God – it won’t be my strength or wit or power, it will be His. But what I really say in those times is: I can’t. And figuratively stomp my foot (just for emphasis).
What I’ve found is those two words are true. I can’t – but in God’s unfathomable ways, He does it through me. Sometimes it’s a painful process. But all the time, it turns out better than all the ways I could have strategized.
What about you right now at this moment? Has God asked you to do something you would rather not? Or are you facing a crisis that you want to wake up from and find out it’s a bad dream? Or have circumstances built one upon another until you’re frustrated, exhausted, and plain old fearful of what’s next?
I prayed for you before you read this – because I have been there. Tomorrow or this afternoon I will probably be in the midst of something too big for me. Our life in this world is never going to be ‘carefree’. Who came up with that phrase anyway? We have many cares – the free part is when we release them into Jesus’ hands.
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NLT) – Jesus said that when He was speaking to religious leaders, but His word transcends time and is there for our hearts. The truth is He has all our cares in His capable hands. Best of all the truth is: someday we will be carefree because our life on earth is only the beginning. Truth – God’s truth – is our freedom.
To know
My husband and I spent a week in Northwest Florida. This was my playground as a child. It was very different then – no condos, huge houses, or hotels on the beaches. Just a few motels and little homes here and there. To come here is to sigh deeply and look back over the years.
Life is oh so very short. We no sooner become ‘grown-ups’ than we find ourselves wondering where the decades went. Do you ever wonder things like: did I waste precious time? Was I supposed to do more, be more? Have I made an impact on anyone – one that points them to God?
As I read the New Testament writers, it’s clear their burning desire was to do that very thing. In whatever time God had given them, they wanted to make sure others knew Jesus. We often lose sight of our purpose in our day to day. Like Martha, we busy ourselves and focus on the tasks and not the treasure – Mary’s focus was the treasure.
It’s quiet right now. The porch swing gently sways back and forth. The air is cool, the sun is sinking low. Sometimes I think life is supposed to be more like this. But why should it be? Jesus’ 30+ years were not slow, peaceful. The brief years He ministered were fast paced, noisy, purposeful.
Each day, no matter how peaceful or busy, is a gift that is gone at end of day. How can we reveal the glories of Christ this day?
We don’t all have some big grand purpose on this earth. God chooses who comes to world renown and who seemingly lives in total obscurity. Our purpose is to know Him and to make Him known in whatever way He has gifted us to share Jesus.
A grandson called and asked: “Grammy, what countries are we besides American?” Our highest calling is what God told His people in the Old Testament: “And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7 BSB) “Tell it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.” (Joel 1:3 BSB)
Still, it is not us who moves a soul to God. The Holy Spirit speaks in ways to their hearts we can’t comprehend. It’s not about doing more or being more or wondering what our impact has or will be. It’s about Jesus in us and the light He shines through us. Jesus in us changes hearts for eternity.
All my heart
Last week there were issues beyond my control. And control has always been my go-to. I’m a slow learner, but I have improved. These issues were not life and death. Yet they seemed to loom large. And a verse that has been memorized by so many took over my thoughts.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 BSB)
My head wanted to say “But what about this and what about that…” but my heart repeated: Trust in the Lord. So, I decided to take apart these well-loved verses and really look at them.
Trust in God – not in my own abilities. Because, truth be told, how many times have I messed things up.
With all your heart – not with plan B in mind, complete surrender. A divided heart is one devoted to self and to another. God wants it all.
Lean not – I can lean on friends, my hubby, my children. But the only one who can hold me steady indefinitely is my Jesus.
On your own understanding – not what I see and know, because I can’t see or know it all. But God does.
In all your ways acknowledge Him – don’t default to what the world is telling me, or the plumber, or the a/c guy, or the doctor. My Father is in all the details, look to Him no matter how seemingly mundane the issue.
And He will make your paths straight – Google can’t straighten my paths no matter how much I search. My best earthly adviser is only that, an adviser. No one has the power to get me towards the best outcome other than God.
It’s amazing how many times the phrase “all your heart” appears in the Bible. God not only wants, but deserves our full devotion. He gives us our very breath. He brought us to salvation in Christ. And He has made an eternity where joy knows no bounds.
The rest of last week when I would start to question outcomes, I repeated the verse in a personalized way: I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will not lean on my own understanding. In all I do I will acknowledge Him. And He will make my paths straight. God’s Word is personal, so make it personal to you.
On purpose
Yesterday everything seemed so right – you know that feeling, like finally things that were so daunting have worked themselves out. Today, not so much. Do you ever long for no more ups and downs? Just one thing to go right?
When you’ve been on a journey where seemingly ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ was right in front of you, it’s oh so hard to take a step back. It can seem unfair. It can feel like being abandoned. The enemy of our soul would really like for us to think these thoughts, feel these feelings. But our Savior wants us to take our eyes off circumstances. How?
Over these last couple years, I have often thought ‘I wonder if anyone else ever feels this way, thinks these thoughts’ – and I’ve found out: I’m not the only one. I’m human. God designed us just the way we are. Whether we’re glass half-full people, or half-empty, there is a purpose in our lives – for where we are, who we are, and where we’re going.
What can the purpose be of our setbacks? Our heartaches? Our physical pain? Our fear or sorrow or anger? Especially when we thought we had gotten beyond some of those things.
I’m reminded that Jesus did tell us that in this world we will have trouble. And that He has overcome this world. And this reminder also: “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” (1John 5:4NLT) Even though it may not seem so…
Before time began Christ was the plan for us in all our troubles. An Old Testament full of mankind trying to do it their way and failing, and a few who sought God no matter what knowing that He is true and His plan is sure. And we are on the other side of the Cross, where we know the best is yet to come. But we are human and slow to learn and weary on the journey.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2 BSB) When we cry out, He is there – and He is even when we forget He has a purpose. We may not like the fallen way of the world we live in and the effects on our lives, but we grow so much through them. Becoming more like Jesus in the process.
Now we see dimly the Bible tells us. Someday we will see clearly. And in that someday we will see His face and not even remember this relatively short journey to forever.
It is a prayer
It’s been a long challenging week. I’ve let things that cause me tension take over my thoughts. That tension has manifested in my body. Feeling like I’m in a battle once again as I deal with neck and body pain. I couldn’t see beyond me.
And then my blurry vision cleared a bit. I called out and asked my Creator: ‘Help? Help me to focus on You.’ The enemy is great at getting our attention off God and on self. He attacks our weaknesses. For me it’s fear of being lost in physical pain again.
For you it may be different: other physical symptoms, depression, overeating, anxiety, alcohol, etc. No matter how lost you are, how sick you are, how heartbroken you are, the One who made you hears you and sees you.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?” (Psalm 121:1 NIV emphasis mine) It all starts with lifting up our eyes – off us, off circumstances. Whispering or shouting or crying ‘Help!’
“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2 NIV emphasis mine) The Lord, our Maker – there is no one who knows us better, no one more able to help in our time of need.
Slowly, as I replaced my anxious thoughts with His truths, I could feel a bit of relief. It’s a battle and satan wants to win. However, our part in the battle is not to pull up our bootstraps and somehow fight. Our part is to fall on our knees in faith. To call on our Mighty King, the God who fights for us.
Read the rest of Psalm 121. As you do, you may think God isn’t doing the things it says. But He is the Hero in our story. He is watching over you and me. And because of Jesus we are more than conquerors – for the battle has already been won, and we get a forever of no more struggle.
Help is a prayer. The Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart from God’s heart and your cries go straight to the throne of God.
New
If you read last week’s post, you will understand why new toilets and water pumps are a big deal around this house. Both happened today and now we can breathe a sigh of relief, no more water woes. As I thought about the word new, my heart was drawn to Jesus’ words when He told us what is coming: “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5b BSB)
There was a time a few thousand years ago when, in human history, all things were new. The whole earth was brand new. The first elephants, flamingos, whales, mighty oaks, wildflowers. The first man and woman. New life spoken into being.
Have you ever thought about how it must have been? Nothing had been marred by sin’s selfish stains. There was no dying of any kind. There were no allergies, infections, or cancers. There was no disharmony, hatred.
It seems foreign. Several thousand years later species have become extinct. Landscapes have been destroyed by fire or floods. People and animals and plants are diseased, dying. All things are not new.
“There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him…And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means, ‘Be opened!’).” (Mark 7:32, 34 BSB emphasis mine)
When you read that do you hear the sigh? See Jesus looking knowingly to the Father? His heart is breaking. In that look and that sigh He in essence says, ‘It’s not supposed to be this way.’
It’s not. But because God loves us so very much, He has allowed us to take His perfect creation and make a mess of it. So that we can see how powerless we are, how selfish we are, how in need of Him we are. And knowing all this, before there was even the need, the trip to cross was already in place.
And so, Jesus died in order that once again, all things can be new. He went on to tell John to write in Revelation the rest of verse 21:5: Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” God is faithful and His Word is true and in His perfect timing, all things will be new. And this time, because of a lavish love that we can’t even begin to comprehend, we get to live where nothing decays, gets sick, or dies. The minute you say ‘Yes’ to Jesus you are a new creation, forever.
parisrenae 