Category: Adversity

Assuming God is Good

Giggling from the backseat, my son read the completed Mad Lib aloud to his brother and friends. At the time, the boys were in elementary school—a prime age for reveling in the silliness of this classic fill-in-the-blanks activity. You probably remember doing Mad Libs of your own in younger days: one person acts as the scribe and asks the group for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech to write into blanks in a pre-written story the participants haven’t read. The results are usually funny—especially with boys who strive to choose the most ridiculous words they can.

As we get older, we continue filling in the blanks mentally, but the results are usually less fun. We get in the habit of making assumptions about gaps of information with our best guesses. For many of us, these are more negative than positive. We do it all the time with other people. We also do it with God.

That’s why I find the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, Isaac, so astounding. As a test, God asked him to do the unthinkable and place his cherished child as a burnt offering on the altar. Abraham had waited 25 years for the Lord to give him an heir with Sarah. So why did He make such a brutal request after fulfilling His promise? Perhaps Abraham had gotten his priorities out of order and had been prizing his son above all else. Maybe he needed to be reminded God still deserved first place in his heart. Whatever it was, Abraham didn’t ask for the reason, he just obeyed.

Scripture gives us a few clues about how he saw the situation. The first is when he prepared to take Isaac up the mountain as a sacrifice: “He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” (Genesis 22:5, NIV)

Despite the plan to use his son as an offering, he told the servants both he and Isaac would return. Why would he say that? I used to think he was just trying to cover up what he was about to do so his servants wouldn’t try to stop him. But, maybe it was an example of his faith in God. As we read on, it seems possible he really did believe both of them would come back.

After leaving the servants behind, Isaac asked his father where they would find an animal to sacrifice and Abraham replied: “`God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.” (Genesis 22:8, NIV)

Again, I previously assumed Abraham was stalling and giving an excuse to Isaac, but now I see that he really believed what he said. At the moment Abraham raised his hand to kill his son, an angel called out to him, showing that God was, indeed, trustworthy: “`Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” (Genesis 22:12-14, NIV)

In the New Testament’s “Hall of Faith,” we discover more insight about the sacrifice of Isaac: “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” (Hebrews 11:17-19, NIV)

This story is hard to grasp on many levels, but what strikes me most is Abraham’s unwavering trust in God. Not once did he accuse the Lord of being cruel or unfair. He believed God was good and trusted Him to provide. God tested Abraham and he passed with flying colors.

So, what’s the personal application for us in this? I’m learning that when we lay down what we cherish before God, it enables us to reprioritize and give Him the place of honor in our lives He deserves. Only after realigning our will with His can we receive back what we freely offered Him. Or, as A.W. Tozer says, “As God is exalted to the right place in our lives, a thousand problems are solved all at once.”

I’m humbled by Abraham’s faith as I recall the many times I’ve filled in the blanks with negative assumptions about God. How often have I fretted over a difficult or uncertain situation instead of simply laying it before Him? When have I demanded to know why the Lord allowed pain in my life instead of trusting that He would use it for my good and His glory? What about times I’ve struggled to believe promises in Scripture, like this one:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Instead of trusting God is at work in ways He hasn’t yet revealed, I tend to worry and make contingency plans. Many of us in the midst of the unknown assume God is either not paying attention or not going to act in time. We want the Lord to work for our good according to our purposes instead of His. So, we seek comfort, security, and control in other things instead of trusting Him and waiting patiently. We act using our own wisdom when God doesn’t do what we want, when we want, how we want. All the while, we’re forgetting what Abraham remembered, even in his darkest hour. God is good. God is for us. God loves us. He has plans for us and provides for us. He knows us and what we need. He keeps His promises. His timing is perfect. He’s worthy of trust even when we don’t have all the answers and the path ahead is unclear.

For me, the best way to remember this is to fill my mind with truth about the Lord. Listening to music with sound theology is a great method for doing this. The lyrics redirect me and stop me from filling in the blanks with negative thoughts. And I’m always drawn back to the One who never fails me. If you need a dose of truth about God, listen to “King of my Heart” by Kutless.

A Solid Foundation

The next time you’re feeling unsteady or overwhelmed, use David’s words in Psalm 62 to regain your footing.

Looking at the realtor’s glossy advertisement, the house seemed to be brimming with potential. It sat on a quiet, tree lined street and was close to good schools for the kids we hoped to have one day. The floorplan was versatile and the large backyard had a panoramic view. But it was the price that initially drew us in. The numbers on the advertisement were far lower than any we’d seen in the area. It seemed too good to be true.

Touring the property with a realtor, my husband and I soon discovered the reason for the low price: the house had a cracked foundation. A large gash in the concrete slab was widening incrementally over time. The garage was shifting in the opposite direction from the house and would eventually pull away from it altogether. Assuring us that it was an “easy fix,” the realtor claimed the money we were saving with the low price would more than cover the repair job. With a bit more research, we learned that contractors hadn’t been able to determine the extent of the problem. They didn’t know if the house would have to be lifted so the deteriorating foundation could be replaced, or if the crack could simply be shored up. This meant estimates of the cost and the time it would take to fix it were rough guesses at best.

The more we thought about it, the less enthused we became. Buying a home on a faulty foundation just seemed like a bad idea. Wary of all the unknowns, we decided to pass on the opportunity and to keep looking. At that point, we learned that when something seems “too good to be true,” it probably is.

I’ve thought a lot about that house and what a metaphor it’s been for my adult life. With each decision my husband and I have made, our goal has been to build a solid foundation in both the physical and spiritual worlds. One of my favorite Psalms written by David captures this idea well: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV)

I’ve returned to this Psalm again and again over the years. I’ve clung to its truth during times of sorrow and stress, especially when family members or close friends have had serious health issues. It’s also my “go to” Psalm when I’m feeling threatened and unsettled by unwanted change or overwhelming circumstances. 

Over the last few posts I’ve been exploring different prayers from Scripture to see what we can learn from them. Psalm 62, however, is more of a pep talk than an actual prayer. It gives the key ingredients we can focus on when hard situations throw us off kilter. It reminds us where our attention needs to be so we won’t be shaken to the core.  In a nutshell, it builds a framework to remind us how to engage God when we’re feeling off balance.

-Find Rest in Him: So often when we’re on unsteady ground we feel emotionally and spiritually depleted. We’re tempted to seek solace in things that lack substance and that ultimately leave us feeling unfulfilled. What’s your default when you’re off balance or running on empty? Stop and think about it for a minute. Do you anesthetize in front of a TV screen? Get lost in a good book? Scroll through social media? Look for an escape through a fun activity? Pour yourself a stiff drink? Eat an entire pan of brownies? Flip mindlessly through a magazine? Go on a shopping spree? Distract yourself with work and productivity? These things aren’t bad when practiced in moderation, but they’re distractions that only soothe you in the moment. None of them will sustain you with the deep rest and reassurance your soul craves. Before going to your usual default for comfort, spend some time with the Lord and ask Him for the grounding and rejuvenation you need.

-Remain Steady on the Solid Rock: The allure of wealth, power, financial security, education, social status, material possessions, health, and relationships makes them seem like reasonable foundations for our lives. With fingers crossed, we hope they’ll keep us steady and secure. And when they fail us, we’re shattered. Conversely, when we build the foundation of our lives on the Lord, He provides a rock solid steadiness that is firm no matter what storms blow through our lives. He provides a refuge and a resting place that withstands chaotic and uncertain times. When you’re feeling unsteady because something you hold dear is threatened, take heart remembering that your feet are firmly planted on the Solid Rock.

-Find Your Hope in Him: We often look for hope in things of the world–the promise of a happy home, a healthy body, a robust financial portfolio, a fulfilling career, or a significant relationship. Our hope rests in circumstances going according to plan as the future unfolds. These desires aren’t bad or wrong, but we’re treating temporary things like they’re of eternal significance. When we take refuge in the Lord, however, we find hope that is secure despite unpredictable circumstances. This hope encompasses something far beyond even the best things our broken world has to offer. That’s what Jesus explained as He concluded the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV)

The next time you’re feeling unsteady or overwhelmed, use David’s words in Psalm 62 to regain your footing. Ask the Lord to help you find rest in Him. Thank Him for being your solid rock and firm foundation. Celebrate that your hope and security are grounded in Him and aren’t dependent on anything else. Even if your circumstances don’t change immediately, your perspective will

David’s words invite us to be defiant in the face of distress, choosing instead to focus on what we know is true about God. “Build My Life” is a song that captures this audacious hope. Prayers that center on God’s character remind us to rest secure on our solid foundation, no matter what. Listen to this version by Pat Barrett and make it your prayer today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrq6hc-vcU

Praying through Stressful Seasons

While most of us have not experienced the intensity of being hunted down by an enemy or living through the tumult of battle, we all know how it feels to be in a stressful season. Psalm 27 is one that can bring hope and truth in times when we need to lean into God and receive His comfort. It also provides promises we can trust and words we can pray in challenging times.

Bible scholars have different theories about the historical events happening in David’s life when he wrote Psalm 27. Some think he composed it during the years he was fleeing for his life from King Saul, others think it was written much later when his son, Absalom, attempted to overthrow him as king. No matter what the circumstances were exactly, it’s clear he penned the psalm during a season of great stress in his life. Despite this, David begins with a triumphant proclamation:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of who shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” (Psalm 27:1-3, NIV ’84)

In the subsequent verses, David makes several requests of the Lord that may seem surprising. Rather than asking God to resolve his stressful circumstances, he prays:

  • That he can dwell in the house of the LORD forever to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD (verse 4)
  • That he will be exalted above his enemies so he can shout for joy and make music to the LORD (verse 6)
  • That the LORD will teach him His ways and lead him in a straight path (verse 11)

Defiant in the face of fear, David directs his gaze on the LORD. This convicts me to shift my perspective during difficult times.  My prayers often center on asking God to fix my problems (and offering suggestions for how He can do it). Perhaps it’s time I focused on glorifying the Lord and letting hardships drive me closer to Him. Following David’s, example, I want to learn the Lord’s ways and to be led by Him through whatever I face.

My favorite part of the passage is the last two verses:

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:13-14, NIV ’84)

This portion became personally meaningful to my husband and me during a long and difficult season of waiting for an answer to a big prayer. As we endured that stressful time, we returned again and again to the promise in Psalm 27 and trusted that we would see God’s goodness “in the land of the living.” It reassured us that the Lord cared about our practical needs and our earthly circumstances; His promises weren’t just about the hope of heaven in the future. We began to trust that God would change our perspective or remedy our situation when the time was right. 

Over those months, we claimed David’s words as our own. We asked the Lord to help us trust Him and to teach us as we waited for Him to act on our behalf. Eventually, He did provide an answer for us. And although the wait was much longer than expected, we could see that God had been orchestrating events behind the scenes all along. His timing didn’t fit ours, but we later realized the wisdom behind it. His vast perspective accounted for so much more than our limited minds could fathom.

During that difficult time, another passage encouraged us as well: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV) 

When we’re firmly planted in the Lord, we can flourish regardless of our circumstances. If you’re in a season of stress or waiting, pray and ask God to help you be like the tree described in the Jeremiah passage. Use the picture at the top of this post to help you visualize it. Ask the Lord to help your roots grow deep in Him so you can draw on His endless supply of strength. Trust Him to calm your fears and to replace your worries with confidence in Him. Invite God to help you see past your temporary challenges and to grasp the eternal significance of your difficult season.

Bethel Music’s “Raise a Hallelujah” is one of my recent favorites. Let the lyrics remind you that we are triumphant in Christ, no matter what challenges or difficulties we may face. Join me in letting the melody be your weapon against discouragement and hopelessness in stressful times.

Following Through Despite How You Feel

Almost before he could walk, my son loved anything with wheels. He played with toy cars constantly and was naturally drawn to the world of professional auto racing from a very young age. As a pre-schooler, he dressed up as his favorite NASCAR driver for Halloween and by elementary school, he had most of the drivers’ names, car numbers, and sponsors memorized. Watching Sunday afternoon races on TV became a regular practice in our household. Although I’ve never sat through an entire race from start to finish, I’ve learned a few things about the sport. 

One of the key aspects of car racing is the use of colored flags to communicate to drivers and spectators. Most of us are familiar with the image of a black and white checkered flag that signals the end of a race and the declaration of a winner. I’ve learned there are many other colored flags during a NASCAR race that are used before that one however: a yellow flag means “caution” and indicates hazardous conditions, a red flag brings the race to a halt temporarily, and a green flag allows the race to resume. A black flag denotes a rule violation and means a driver must return to the pit and a white flag signals the last lap of the race. 

Much like those colored NASCAR flags, our feelings help us to interpret our surroundings and determine how to proceed. Unfortunately, however, our feelings aren’t always reliable. When we depend on them solely to make decisions, they may lead us astray. Like the colored flags, they tell us there is a reason to react, but often don’t equip us to handle the situation accurately. For example, we might not always “feel” like following through with a commitment we’ve made, but when we remember the reason we agreed to do it and recognize how God is using it, we push past our feelings and persevere. For this reason, we must filter our feelings through our minds and the Holy Spirit to determine how to proceed. Many times, we’ll discover we need to press on, despite how we feel.

Take the Old Testament character of Ruth, for example. In chapter 1 of Ruth, we learn that she’d lost her husband and had committed to travel to Judah with her grieving mother-in-law. As a Moabite, she chose to leave behind her homeland, culture, and family to stay with Naomi. She put her faith in the God of Israel and walked away from the idol-worship of her people. 

 Chapter 2 in the book of Ruth opens with the two returning to Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem penniless and alone. As widows, they had no safety net and no obvious connection to family members who would look out for them.  So, Ruth made a practical decision for the sake of their survival:

“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor’ …So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek…Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, ‘Who does that young woman belong to?’ The overseer replied, ‘She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.” She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.’

So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you.’” (Ruth 2:2-9 abridged)

So, what feelings might Ruth have had to overcome to provide for herself and Naomi? 

Shame: Gleaning fields was for the poor and destitute. Ruth’s choice to do this meant putting aside her pride and accepting that she had descended to the bottom rung of society’s ladder.

Emotional Exhaustion: It’s likely that living with her bitter mother-in-law in poverty drained her emotionally, yet she pressed on to provide food for them.

Physical Exhaustion: Gleaning in the fields was probably back-breaking labor in the hot sun, yet the story tells us Ruth worked so hard she earned the respect of the hired hands and the the field owner, Boaz.

Grief: Ruth had lost her husband, left her homeland and parents, and was living as a pauper. Being relegated to do manual labor only added insult to injury. She could have wallowed in her emotional pain and used it as a reason to stop trying, but she didn’t.

Fear: The fact that Boaz told his men not to lay a hand on her hints that it was not uncommon for women in her positon to be used and abused by those who had more power. As a foreign woman alone, without ties to male relatives who could protect her, Ruth was incredibly vulnerable. She was easy prey for anyone that wanted to take advantage of her. Fear of being harmed could have been a reasonable excuse not to follow through with gleaning in the fields.

While it’s unlikely anyone reading this would find themselves in a similar situation to Ruth, there is much we can learn from her example. Take a moment to consider the role feelings typically play in your decision-making process. How often do you opt out of something because you just don’t feel like doing it? How often do you press on because you realize it’s worth it in the long run? Do you allow your emotions alone to guide your decisions or do you balance them with reason and intellect? Do you invite the Holy Spirit to help you interpret your feelings and to show you how to respond? Do you consult Scripture to access biblical wisdom?

Consider the words of the writer of Hebrews who gives us Jesus as the ultimate example to follow:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)

Decide right now that you won’t let your emotions be your primary guide. Don’t ignore your feelings, but don’t let them be the only factor you consider when making decisions. Step back and look at the big picture. Consider God’s perspective and then decide the best way to proceed. In the long run, you’ll be more apt to wave that checkered flag of victory knowing you followed through despite how you felt.

Listen to Lauren Daigle’s song “Look Up Child” and be reminded where to fix your eyes when you’re tempted to let your emotions take the lead.

Nicki Koziarz, A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, Lifeway Press, 2018.

God’s Names Reveal His Character

Brilliant gold, orange, and pink clouds accentuated by the black silhouette of trees in the dawn's early light brought me reassurance that God holds all things together.
Some nights I toss and turn, my mind churning on the many things that are heavy on my heart. In those quiet moments, I lay my concerns before God, hoping to offload them onto Him so I can get a few more hours of precious sleep. It seems there have been a lot of burdens to entrust to Him lately. Some days I write feverishly in my prayer journal about the many people and situations where I long to see God bring help, change, and healing. I pore over passages of Scripture searching for words of hope and encouragement to guide me. 
 
But sometimes, God doesn’t reveal Himself to me through the pages of Scripture. Instead, He gives me an experience to show me His majesty. Recently I had a sleepless, angst-filled night. When I finally shuffled out of my bedroom bleary-eyed and groggy, I noticed an unusual glow coming through the front window. Glancing outside, I saw our car in the driveway reflecting hues of gold, pink, and orange in the early morning light. I stepped outside for a better look and caught my breath as I admired God’s handiwork splashed across the sky. Within a few minutes, the brilliant colors faded back into the muted greys of the winter morning. Interestingly, this same thing happened again later in the week after another sleepless night. Again, the vibrant colors only appeared for a few minutes before fading away, but both times I was there to see them and to be encouraged by God’s presence. I immediately thought of a verse that has reassured me frequently in the past year: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17, NIV)

Remembering His character and drawing near to Him put my worries into perspective and brought me peace. The color-drenched sunrise was a visual reminder of the Lord’s infinite power. I knew that the same God who created breathtaking artwork in the sky would be sovereign in my life and would tenderly care for me and the many concerns that swirled in my mind. There was no doubt that He would hold all things together.
 
So frequently we come before God with a list of fears, needs, and concerns. And while He does invite us to give our burdens to Him and to cast our anxieties before Him, He also longs for us to come near to Him just because we love Him. Priscilla Shirer advises, “Don’t bypass the relationship because you’d rather have answers to your questions. God wants to speak to you because he wants you to know Him. Knowing His direction is just a byproduct. He wants to reveal truth about Himself to you because this knowledge will lay the firm path toward fulfilling His purpose for your life.” (p. 107)
 
Throughout the Old Testament, God appeared to different people and reassured them with exactly what they needed. And when He did this, the people he encountered would label Him with specific names. Each one revealed a different aspect of His character. I’ve included several of them below. 
 
-Elhohim means Creator and is first found in the creation story in Genesis 1:1
-El Shaddai means The All-Sufficient One and is first found in the story of Abraham in Genesis 17:1-8
-El Elyon means The Most High (Sovereign) and is found in the story of Abraham and Melchizidek in Genesis 14:18-20
-Adonai means Lord or Master and is found in in the story of Abraham in Genesis 15:2
-El Olam means The Everlasting God and is found in the story of the Treaty at Beersheba in Genesis 21:33
-El Roi means The God Who Sees and is found in the story of Hagar in Genesis 16
-Yahweh means LORD or The Self Existent One (also translated later as Jehovah) and is found in the story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3:13-15
-Jehovah Tsidkenu means The Lord is Our Righteousness and is found in prophetic remarks about Judah and Israel found in Jeremiah 23:6
-Jehovah Jireh means The Lord Will Provide and is found in the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22:14
-Jehovah Raah means The Lord my Shepherd and is found in the words of David in Psalm 23:1
-Jehovah Shalom means The Lord Send Peace and is found in the story of Gideon in Judges 6:24
-Johovah Rapha means The Lord Who Heals and is found in Moses’ instructions to the Israelites from the Lord in Exodus 15:26
-Jehoval Shammah means The Lord is There and is found in the vision of the temple and city rebuilt in Ezekiel 48:35
-Jehovah Nissi means The Lord is My Banner and is found in the story of the Israelites defeating the Amalekites in Exodus 17:15 while Moses held his arms high with the help of Aaron and Hur
-Johovah Sabaoth means The Lord of Hosts and is found in the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:3-11 and the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:42-47
-Johovah Mekoddishkem means The Lord Who Sanctifies and is found in the discussion of observing the Sabbath in Exodus 31:12-18
-Qanna means Jealous God and is used to describe God’s desire to have the unrivaled affection of His people in Zechariah 1:14
 
Which aspect of God’s character do you need to focus on right now? Maybe it feels like you’re lacking in some way and you need to know He’s the All Sufficient One. Or perhaps you’ve been overlooked or forgotten and need reassurance that He is the God Who Sees. Maybe you’re struggling to trust God through financial challenges and need a reminder that The Lord Will Provide. It could be that you or someone you love needs physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual healing and you need to lean into The Lord Who Heals. Whichever name and character quality resonates with you right now, draw near to God and let Him comfort and encourage you.
 
On those mornings when I witnessed amazing sunrises, a song came to mind that seemed perfectly suited for those moments. Click on the link below to enjoy, “Nobody Loves Me Like You” by Chris Tomlin.

Names of God lists compiled from LORD, Teach Me to Pray and LORD, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur.
Discerning the Voice of God by Prisilla Shirer, Lifeway Press, 2017.

Defiant Thankfulness

Smoke hangs thickly in the air, making my throat dry and my eyes burn. Looking out my kitchen window, I can’t even see the outline of the hills across town that are usually in plain view.  An enormous wildfire rages about 150 miles from my home, but its effects can be detected all around us. People seem heavy hearted, both from the stifling air and the sadness of knowing so many lives and homes have been lost.

And yet, the holiday season is fast approaching. A few days ago I pushed my cart through a store as an employee loaded plump turkeys into a refrigerated display. It feels paradoxical to be preparing for Thanksgiving when there is so much grief and sadness in our world. And yet, expressing thankfulness in times of distress is exactly what the Bible calls us to do.

Throughout the Psalms, we see laments followed by thanksgiving and praise. One of my favorites says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:5 NIV)

I love the resolve of the downcast Psalmist who says, “I will yet praise him.” It takes effort and intentionality to look beyond our difficult circumstances and to praise God anyway. But the act of giving Him thanks causes us to remember His faithfulness and to rest assured that He’s still in control. The Psalmist didn’t wait until his situation was resolved, but thanked God in the midst of his troubles. He didn’t know how the circumstances would turn out, but he knew he served a good God who deserved praise and thanksgiving, no matter what.

I think there’s a lesson for us in our own trials. Smoky air may obscure my view of the mountains, but it doesn’t mean the mountains have ceased to exist. Similarly, there are seasons in life when God feels far away, when His plans and purposes seem veiled. When we’re not careful, we can let those feelings alter our perception. Fear, uncertainty, or bitterness may cloud our vision and cause us to think He’s not there for us, even though His Word promises He will never leave us or forsake us.

If you’re in a season of personal discouragement or fretting over the latest string of tragedies in our world, it’s time to draw near to God with a thankful heart. Author and teacher Lysa TerKeurst suggests using the following prayer strategy when you’re struggling through a dark time and need God to shed His light on it:

  1. Thank God for the prayers that have already been answered about the situation. Pay attention to small changes and things you might have taken for granted.
  2. Thank God for the strength you (and others) are gaining in the process. Thank Him for each time you’ve gone to Him to shed light on your situation. Thank Him for trading your struggle for His strength.
  3. Thank God for the reality that a black hole isn’t a black whole. The whole isn’t all bad—there are still some good things happening despite the hard ones. Thank Him for specific things going on in your life or in the world around you that are still good.*

Turning our laments into prayers of Thanksgiving reminds us of God’s goodness and enables us to reaffirm our trust in Him. When we trade our struggles and fears for His strength and hope, our minds are renewed and our spirits are rejuvenated. I’ve found this to be true personally as I’ve journaled prayers using Lysa’s strategy. Over the past few months it has given me clear direction for praying through specific challenges in my life.

This Thanksgiving, stand firm in the face of hopelessness and discouragement. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong in your life or in the world, boldly proclaim, “I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Listen to Ellie Holcomb’s song “Find You Here” and make it your prayer of defiant thankfulness in spite of difficult times.

*The three points above are adapted from Lysa TerKeurst’s Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart, Lifeway Press 2017, page 59.

Strength and Endurance

Stumbling down the dirt trail our feet ached and our knees threatened to buckle beneath us. The muscles in our legs felt weak and weary, but we pressed on. One thing urged us forward: the desperate need for water.

The hike to the top of Yosemite’s Half Dome had been filled with stunning scenery that included rushing waterfalls, granite staircases and majestic pines. It was a sparkling June weekend and my husband and I had been enjoying time away with extended family. A small contingent of our group had decided to brave the all-day adventure to hike to the top of Yosemite’s most iconic landmark. It had been a fun, but grueling day.

Although we’d set out early in the morning with plenty of water, we’d discovered less than half way into our day that a leaky bottle had pooled much of our precious water supply in the bottom of a backpack. We were young and fit and felt invincible, so we’d made the decision to complete the hike anyway, figuring we could ration the rest of our water. By early afternoon, we’d summited Half Dome and had begun the long journey back down the mountain. The exhilaration of achieving our goal faded with each step. The strenuous hike and the lack of water left us parched and fatigued.

At one point the trail paralleled the Merced River and we took a break to cool our aching feet. It required every ounce of self-discipline we had not to drink from the unfiltered water that we knew could make us sick with a nasty parasite called Giardia. As the sun sank low in the sky, we urged each other on, remembering the drinking fountain at the base of the trail. Bending down to take that first sip, I don’t think water has ever tasted so good to me.

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the single-minded focus we had at the end of that hike. I’ve had some similar cravings in the past few months, but my thirst has been more spiritual and emotional than physical. It has been an intense season in my life filled with stressful and difficult situations that have left me utterly depleted by the end of each day. Drinking in Scripture consistently and connecting with God in prayer have filled me with the strength I need to face each day’s challenges.

This past Christmas we received a small chalkboard as a gift—one square that had been cut from a large one that hung in my husband’s childhood home. We loved receiving a piece of family history to display in our house. What I’ve appreciated even more is using it to remind myself of the truth I need to drink in daily.

As I pore over the Bible each morning, God seems to draw my attention to certain passages that feel especially relevant in my current season. I’ve been returning to the same ones regularly to renew my mind and sustain me for the day’s challenges. Carefully choosing key words from the verses that speak to me, I write them on our chalkboard as a constant reminder throughout the day. Each time I grab my purse and keys to leave or put them back when I return, the words of truth are there on the wall to give me encouragement.

Right now, the passage that I’ve been mulling over is one that’s appeared a few times in recent posts. I’ve condensed it on my chalkboard focusing on key words.

The full passage says, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:9-12, NIV).

I pray daily for God to strengthen me with His power so that I can have endurance and patience. Later, I look back and thank Him for carrying me through and giving me exactly what I needed.

Here are a few things I’m trying to remember right now that may benefit you too:

-I don’t want to fall into the trap of feeling invincible, like I did on that Half Dome hike, thinking that I can survive on less than I need. I want to drink continually from the Living Water daily to draw on God’s strength, power and wisdom. I can’t ration it and hope that it carries me for long stretches of time without returning to it.

-I don’t wat to look to lesser things to quench my thirst. The water in the stream would have refreshed us for the moment, but made us sick in the long run. The same is true when we rely on lesser things to quench the thirst that only God can satisfy. Sometimes I’m tempted to anesthetize myself with shallow pleasures like buying something new, watching a funny show, eating a bowl of ice cream, or drinking a glass of wine. In moderation, these things aren’t bad, but ultimately, the comfort they provide won’t sustain or guide me when I face challenges and hardships.

-I need visible reminders of God’s Word to realign my thoughts and to encourage me throughout each day.

Listening to Christian music has been another source of drinking from the Living Water throughout the day. Let the truth of Jeremy Camp’s song “The Answer” encourage you today:

My Weakness, His Strength

Turning my head for the briefest moment, I realized my carelessness just in time to see my front wheel colliding with the curb. The pavement seemed to rise up to meet my face as I crashed in a heap. Before I’d had a chance to react, I was sprawled on the side of the road, tangled in my bike and still clipped into the pedals. Rushing back to help me, my husband gently pulled the bike off me and surveyed my injuries.

The road rash on my swollen cheek and shoulder looked bad, but were minor injuries compared to the pain radiating down my right arm. A trip to the ER confirmed I’d fractured my right elbow and wrist. The bones took twelve weeks to mend, but it was an entire year before I regained the full range of motion in my arm. It’s now been almost two years since my accident, but there are times when twinges of pain and stiffness still remind me of it.

A few days after my crash, I began asking God what I could learn from that season of physical weakness and forced rest. As is often the case, He started speaking to me through His Word. One of the first passages that gave me comfort came from Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth:

 ”Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV)

God’s grace was sufficient for Paul, so I prayed the same would be true for me. With every task I was unable to accomplish with one hand, I asked God to let His power be made perfect in my weakness. I began to realize that my physical brokenness had many parallels to humankind’s spiritual brokenness. We want so badly to believe we’re strong and in control, but it’s when we finally surrender to God that we access true and lasting power and strength. It’s not until we admit that we can’t do it on our own that He can really work in our lives.

The twinges of pain I still feel in my arm from time to time provide a physical reminder of my frailty and weakness. But I’ve also learned to seek God’s strength when my weakness reveals itself in more subtle ways. Times when I’m feeling insecure or lacking in confidence or overlooked or unappreciated provide ample opportunities to tap into God’s strength. Days when I don’t have the energy to deal with a challenging person or feel fearful about what the future holds, I lean into Him. The more I recognize and admit my weaknesses, the more I can access the Lord’s strength. This is incredibly humbling, but infinitely reassuring.

Matthew West’s song “Broken Things” captures this idea beautifully. Click on the link and let it encourage you if you’re feeling weak today.

Kelly Minter, All Things New: A Study on 2 Corinthians, Lifeway Press, 2016, Session 7.

Hard Pressed, but Not Crushed

Speeding across galaxies, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker set out on a mission to rescue Princess Leia from imprisonment by the sinister Darth Vader. Arriving at the evil Empire’s main base, they free her from her cell but must evade multiple foes on the way back to their ship. At one point, their only choice to avoid enemy pursuers is to dive into a chute that deposits them into a garbage bay on the space station. Standing in stinking debris surrounded by metal walls, they quickly realize that their escape route has led them to a dead end. As they search for a way out, the purr of a motor kicks into gear and the room lurches ominously. Within moments, the walls start closing in on them and they realize they’re lodged inside a gigantic trash compacter. Scrambling atop the heaps of refuse, the characters make vain attempts to brace the walls and save themselves. They are hard pressed on every side and it seems they’ll be crushed in a matter of minutes.

You may laugh when you read this, but I envisioned that scene from the 1977 hit movie “Star Wars: A New Hope” as I read Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Although most of us have never experienced the hardships Paul endured, (or being inside a trash compacter on a space station) I think we can relate to the idea of feeling “hard pressed on every side.” The pressures and demands of life feel crushing at times, especially when we face challenges on multiple fronts.

Lately it seems I’ve encountered a significant number of people who feel hard-pressed by difficult circumstances. Relationship challenges, health issues, struggling kids, aging parents, wayward grandchildren, financial difficulties, traumatic experiences, and day to day stress have left them feeling overwhelmed. However, I’ve also noticed that those who follow Jesus find their strength by leaning into Him for hope and wisdom.

Their examples inspire me and make Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians come to life. He explains “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV) Despite our human weakness, we have access to God’s all-surpassing power. The NIV study Bible explains that our insufficiency as human beings reveals the total sufficiency of God. Rather than focusing on the perishable container (our frail humanity), we choose to focus on the priceless contents (the Holy Spirit).

Doing this requires us to be intentional in our perspective. Our natural inclination is to look horizontally and focus on the walls closing in on us, lamenting that we will soon be crushed. A wiser choice is to fix our gaze on God and maintain a vertical focus, trusting that He will use our troubles  for our good and His glory. Paul explains it this way: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV)

Even hardships that last for many years are light and momentary in comparison with the vastness of eternity. And God promises to be with us, to give us access to His power, and to help us every step of the way.

You may have noticed that I didn’t tell you what happened to our heroes from Star Wars as the walls were closing in. Their attempts to stop them from moving were fruitless because they didn’t have the physical strength. However, they were clear-thinking enough to seek aid from an outside source. Although it took a bit longer than they’d hoped, help did come through for them just in the nick of time. It’s a cinematic example of what happens when we stop trying on our own strength and tap into God’s limitless power.

Just for fun, instead of a song I’ve included a two-minute clip of that scene from Star Wars so that you can get the full visual experience of being hard pressed on every side. You’ll hear Luke Skywalker pleading several times “Shut down all the garbage smashers on the detention level!” If you’re feeling hard pressed today, call upon God’s all-surpassing power instead of trying harder on your own. Shout out to Him, fix your eyes on what is unseen, and watch how God works in your heart, mind, and circumstances.

Kelly Minter, All Things New: A Study of 2 Corinthians, Lifeway Press 2016.

The God of All Comfort

Stepping into line, I clutched my son’s tiny hand and kept my head down as we inched toward his classroom door. The preschool check-in process always took a while, but was usually a fun time to catch up with other moms. Normally I would have been chatting with friends and acquaintances or smiling at people walking by. But on that day, it took every ounce of energy just to walk into the building. Participating in such a “normal” activity felt surreal when I felt so raw, exposed, and vulnerable.

It had been only a few days earlier that I’d sat at my dad’s bedside as he exhaled his final breath surrounded by family. For the two weeks prior to that I’d been consumed with making arrangements, communicating with family, and trekking back and forth to the facility where he was receiving hospice care. I’d been so removed from regular life that it felt overwhelming just being out in public to drop off my son at school. My sagging shoulders and red-rimmed eyes told everyone all was not well with me. It was almost like I had stickers all over my clothes that said, “Fragile: Handle with Care.”

I assumed most of the moms I was standing with knew I’d just lost my dad since one of them had sent flowers from the class. Despite that kind gesture, not one of them acknowledged my loss in person. Some smiled sympathetically while others avoided eye contact. I didn’t fault them for it—most of my peers hadn’t yet experienced the death of a parent and didn’t know what to say, so they took the safest route and decided to say nothing.

After a few awkward minutes, I felt someone’s arms wrap around me from behind. As I turned to see who it was, a mom I barely knew pulled me closer. Hugging me tightly, she said, “I’m so sorry for your loss. My dad died a few years ago– I totally get what you’re going through.” She went on to describe the range of emotions she’d experienced, mirroring mine exactly. What a relief it was to encounter someone who understood my pain. She didn’t try to fix it, she just identified with it.  Her presence and willingness to revisit her own hurt were a tremendous comfort to me.

In the years since then, I’ve tried to be intentional about reaching out to others who have experienced loss. God has regularly prompted me to offer comfort in different ways, whether it is writing a card, providing a listening ear, delivering a meal, or sharing music that has brought me comfort and hope.  It wasn’t until later that I realized that doing these things has been in God’s plan from the start:

 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

Every person on the planet experiences painful situations at different points in life, whether they are visited upon us or self-inflicted. No matter what the circumstances are, we have a choice in how we respond. We can seize the opportunity to let God teach us through hardships, or we can wallow in self-pity and risk becoming disillusioned and bitter. Challenging experiences are conduits for learning and growing spiritually. They also provide fertile ground for receiving God’s comfort. When we lean into Him through them, we also inspire and impact others through the faith we demonstrate.

Difficulties are an opportunity to grow in our empathy for others who will experience similar situations. Our pain can equip us to show God’s comfort to people who desperately need it. We can even be intentional about praying for God to lead us to people we can bless with His comfort.

Sometimes when you’re in a season of pain it may feel like God is distant. However, Scripture promises: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)  Ask Him to help you feel His presence and to be open to His comfort. Sometimes He does this through Scripture, a song, or written words from someone with godly wisdom.  Other times, He blesses us with people who can walk with us through our struggles.

Occasionally painful chapters in our lives tempt us to pull back from people and to isolate ourselves. While a little alone time can help to ground you, too much can cause you to spiral into unhealthy places emotionally. Even though it’s difficult, try to let others listen and encourage you. Some may have had similar experiences and can be a source of support for you.  In time, you’ll receive comfort and wisdom and you’ll be able to do the same for someone else.

In God’s economy, nothing is wasted, even our pain. All of it can be used for good when we allow Him to speak to us through it.

If you’re in a difficult season or know someone else who is, be encouraged by Jason Gray’s song “Nothing is Wasted.”

Kelly Minter, All Things New: A Study on 2 Corinthians, Lifeway Press, 2016.