Category: Adversity

When Fellowship Fractures

As hard as it is to believe, even deep and godly friendships sometimes fracture. Paul and Barnabas are a case in point. The friendship between them may have begun when Barnabas stood up for Paul when the others were skeptical about the authenticity of his conversion in Acts 9. Later, the Holy Spirit ordained their ministry in Acts 13 and they traveled together sharing the gospel until a disagreement tore them apart. Despite their deep love for God and their history of meaningful fellowship, Acts 15 explains that these two pillars of the faith couldn’t reconcile in their opposite opinions over John Mark accompanying them on their next missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance after a past failure, Paul didn’t. This caused them to split up and to continue sharing the gospel in different places with new ministry partners.

Beth Moore writes about this situation, “One ministry turned into two. You and I both know it doesn’t always happen that way. It takes cooperation. We can stunt God’s redemptive work in our midst with our bitterness, unforgiveness, slander, blame, chronic regret, and unresolved guilt. Or we can go face down and beg God in our fractures to do something bigger with the broken pieces than He might have done with the whole.” (Entrusted, page 36)

Reading her words, I couldn’t help but think of how God used the broken pieces of a former relationship to make me into something better. The friendship I shared with this woman arose from our mutual desire to study God’s Word. We were the only two from our congregation that joined an in-depth Bible study at a neighboring church. After class, we’d stand in the parking lot talking enthusiastically about what we’d learned long after the rest of the cars had pulled away. My son, a toddler at the time, would fuss and squirm in his car seat once his Cheerios ran out or the sippy cup was empty. Finally, I’d have to interrupt her animated sharing with an apology and a promise to continue the conversation later. I could usually feel her disappointment as I pulled away.

A year later, our enthusiasm to study God’s Word with others led us to start a new Bible study for our own church with the help of a seasoned teacher. It was an exciting time of spiritual growth and meaningful fellowship centered on God’s Word. So much so, that I ignored the subtle warning signs that would lead to future problems between us.

Early in our friendship, I’d given her a card expressing my gratitude to God for her. I wrote about how thankful I was that the Lord was using us in each other’s lives and told her I believed He had much more in store for our friendship. I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold. Although God did use her in my life, what I envisioned when I wrote that card was not at all how things turned out.

Without belaboring the details, over the course of 9 months, our friendship went into a downward spiral because of some boundaries I had to put in place. Although she said she understood, she retreated with hurt and anger. I continued to pursue her to no avail. Soon I found that the groups we’d enjoyed spending time with together were having gatherings without me. Over the months, my heart sank lower and lower as many of our mutual friends backed away from me with little or no explanation. I felt cut off from the fellowship I had once enjoyed so much. This began a dark and lonely season in my life that ultimately led me to counseling.

With the help of a wise and godly therapist, I began to see where things had gone wrong and could take ownership over the unhealthy contributions I’d made to our friendship. I could also identify the things that were solely her issues and not my responsibility. Over the course of more than a year in counseling, I started to understand how the implosion of that friendship was a flash point for some deeper issues that I needed to sort through.

Without that fractured relationship, I never would have recognized the unhealthy perspectives and patterns I’d maintained for many years. I would have stunted God’s redemptive work and prevented Him from refining me through the longstanding struggles in my life. In that difficult season, I learned how to be authentic and vulnerable, how to have safe and healthy relationships, and how to function more wisely with people. Confronting my issues equipped me for opportunities to come alongside others who were struggling in different ways. It has also allowed me to navigate through the inevitable challenges that come whenever people work, serve, study, socialize, or live together (whether they are Christians or not).

I’ve thought many times about that card I wrote to my old friend early in our relationship. God did, indeed, use her in my life. He peeled back some issues that I needed to deal with so that I could reach a healthier place. And although it’s still painful to remember that season, I am ultimately grateful that it became a catalyst for heathy change in my life.

Before my former friend moved away, I tried one last time to reach out by leaving a card on her doorstep.  Although she never responded, I’m glad I told her about how God used our struggles for good in my life. I pray that the same is true for her.

If you’re struggling with a fractured relationship, don’t muddle through it alone. Let the song “Brother” by NEEDTOBREATHE be an encouragement to you today (and if you’re a woman, substitute the word “sister” if it makes you feel better.)

Beth Moore, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy, Lifeway Press 2016.

Take Time to Reflect

Logging onto my Facebook page, my emotions caught me by surprise as an old picture I’d posted appeared on the screen. Written above it was a heading saying, “Three years ago on this day…”Most of the time those memory prompts bring a smile to my face, but sometimes they make me sad. Last year on this day if I’d posted a picture on Facebook, it would have been one of me crumpled on the pavement after a bike crash. Or it could have been one of me sitting in the emergency room later the same day hearing from a doctor that I’d broken my elbow and wrist. (Thankfully, no one took photos to post of those two glorious events).

Although my memory of last May is not a happy one, it evokes tremendous thankfulness in me. First and foremost, I revel in the fact that I’m not in pain or hampered by having my right arm in a sling.  As I made my kids’ lunches today, I thought back to last year and remembered how little I could do on those first days after my crash. I felt weak and helpless and had no choice but to let others step in to support me with even the simplest tasks. I’m thankful not to be in that position now.

Yet with a year’s worth of perspective, I am also grateful for the ways God used that difficult time to teach me. Days before my crash, I had begun a new volunteer position as coordinator for a large women’s Bible study at church. I was adjusting to working with a team after several years serving in a solo role blogging for the ministry.  As coordinator, I knew I had to depend my team, but putting that into practice didn’t come easily to me.

Looking back, I see that God used my injury last year to prepare me for my new role leading the team. I think He wanted to remind me of the importance of the Body of Christ that is manifested through followers of Jesus:

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, NIV)

During the time I was recovering from my injury, God used many people to help me. They didn’t always do the things the way I did but I learned to appreciate the differences instead of being frustrated by them.  This prepared me to serve on a team with a variety of women who had a multitude of gifts and perspectives. I learned to trust them and to give them room to use their gifts and to follow God’s leading in their specific roles. Many times they thought of things that enhanced our ministry that had never crossed my mind.  Everyone would have missed out on what they had to offer if I had stifled their gifts or tried to do everything on my own.

During my recovery, I also discovered that trying to behave like a superhero is not a good idea. I learned to let people help me and to share my burdens instead of muscling through things on my own strength. I began to accept my weaknesses and to trust God to provide others that would compensate for them: “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 12:10, NIV)

During this past year serving as coordinator I’ve realized that I have to trust God and let others help me. When I’m confronted with a problem or challenge, I recognize my limitations and seek wisdom from Him and insight from those serving alongside me.

I’ve also learned the value of trying “softer.” When I’m tempted to push through something difficult and force a solution, I’ve learned to step back and pause. Sometimes the wisest thing to do is nothing– to rest and wait for God’s timing instead of trying to force things on my time table. Pulling back creates space for rest, rejuvenation, and perspective.

We live in a culture that prizes self-sufficiency.  The value we place on individualism causes us to forsake community and to try and do it all on our own. Self-sufficiency often leads to pride and a false sense that we don’t need others or God. We gain an unrealistic view of ourselves and a lack trust for others. Sometimes, it takes a difficult circumstance to remind us that we need each other.

So what strikes you from my reflections?

  • Is there a past painful experience in your life that God wants to use to teach you?
  • Do you recognize the different gifts God gives to others?
  • Do you celebrate opportunities to see the ways the Body of Christ works as a whole?
  • Do you hold so tightly to individualism and self-sufficiency that you’re missing out on being in community?
  • Do you have weaknesses or hardships in your life right now that could be springboards for growth?

Summer provides a good opportunity to take a break from life’s hectic pace and to reflect on the places God is trying to teach you that you’ve been too busy to see. Why not take some time to be still and consider what God is doing in your life? Use Hillary Scott’s song “Still” to inspire you. And if you’d like to read more about what I learned last year, go to the “Archives” field on the right side of this page and select May 2016 and June 2016 from the drop down menu. The posts about this incident are entitled:

  • “When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong”
  • “The Myth of Self-Sufficiency”
  • “Productive Pain”
  • “Making Room for Margin”
  • “With Every Broken Bone, I Lived”

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” (Psalm 46:10, NIV)

 

 

 

Sober Minded and Alert: 1 Peter 5:8-9

Do you have someone in your life that’s a “Button Pusher”? That person that says or does something that triggers negative reactions in you like insecurity or self-consciousness. Maybe it’s someone that has a knack for making you feel “less than” in some way.  All of us have different “hot buttons” that trigger negative thoughts, feelings and reactions.  Understanding what they are and what pushes them helps us to deal with them more effectively.

As we begin to understand ourselves and what sets us off, it is critical to recognize that Satan is the worst “Button Pusher” of all. Through keen observation, he knows our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, and our insecurities.  He sees what triggers us and knows when he can capitalize on a situation and use it to derail us.  And that’s why Peter says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV)

Being sober minded and alert helps us to recognize when and where the enemy is prowling around in our lives.  The key is identifying places we leave ourselves open to attacks so that we can take measures to avert the lion’s pounce.

I recently experienced what happens when I’m not alert and sober minded on a trip to Mexico. I was serving as a leader with our church’s youth group and we were there to build simple homes for needy families. It was a challenging trip on many levels– physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Each day we’d wake up at 6 at our campground to eat breakfast and pack lunches before taking a bumpy bus ride to our work sites.  Days were spent doing hard manual labor: hauling buckets of gravel and cement, hand-mixing concrete and stucco, hammering and sawing wood, etc. Filthy, sore and tired, we would return to camp in time to bathe (sort of), eat dinner, worship, hear a message, and have small group discussions in our tents.

As fulfilling as it was to be serving the Mexican families and the youth group students, I felt utterly depleted on every front by halfway through the week. Physical exhaustion and minimal opportunities for time alone had reduced my quiet times to a few pre-dawn moments when I asked God to fill and strengthen me before I climbed out of my sleeping bag to pull on my overalls.  A quick reading of a devotional or Bible passage and some fleeting prayers throughout the day were my main spiritual sustenance. Everything else that keeps me centered was put on hold for the week.

By the trip’s midpoint, my physical, spiritual and relational reserves were at an all time low. I was ripe for the prowling lion looking for someone to devour, and he didn’t miss the opportunity.  Throughout one day, the enemy used several challenging circumstances to send me on a downward spiral. I was convinced that I was a failure as a leader and that I had nothing to offer in the way of building expertise. Several of my “hot buttons” had been pushed, causing old insecurities to rear their heads. And I believed every lie the devil lobbed at me.

When I finally pulled away from the group to call home late that evening, I dissolved in tears as I recounted the day to my husband. Immediately reading the situation, he told me I was believing the enemy’s lies and offered to pray for me. My exhaustion had opened me up for spiritual attack, but my husband’s prayer quickly changed that. By the next morning, I awoke with a whole different outlook and could see how deceived I’d been. The prowling lion had been sent packing, thanks to the power of prayer.

Personally, I know I’m more prone to having the devil pounce when I’m not staying grounded in the things that keep me healthy and aligned with truth.  Here are a few times when my hot buttons can be pushed:

  • I haven’t spent time in God’s Word or prayer
  • I haven’t taken care of my physical needs (exercise, adequate sleep, healthy eating, preventive medical care, etc.)
  • I haven’t been connecting with healthy people who help me stay aligned with God (which means I’ve missed Bible study, church, small group or other gatherings of believers)
  • I’ve let unhealthy thoughts roam freely in my mind
  • I’ve let negative attitudes and emotions rule me
  • I’ve been overly focused on myself
  • I’ve been comparing myself to others
  • I haven’t spent time nurturing healthy relationships that matter to me
  • I’ve spent too much time with people who don’t care about God or point me towards Him
  • I’ve spent too much time in front of screens (TV, computer, phone, iPad, movies)
  • I’ve been reading things that influence me negatively or taint my worldview
  • I haven’t been honest with myself, God or others about something I’m struggling with
  • I’m sinning and not seeking God for forgiveness
  • I’m holding onto offenses others commit against me instead of letting them go or forgiving them

When I’m alert and clear thinking, I see how the devil uses these things against me. It doesn’t take long to recognize they are like a button with the words “push me” glowing on top. When I’m unaware and not thinking clearly, I give the roaring lion a lot more room to roam in my life and it takes much longer to recognize he’s been messing with me.  I think this is why Peter reminds his readers twice in two chapters to be alert and sober-minded (4:7 and 5:8).  The sooner we realize how the enemy is scheming against us, the faster we can pray and stop him in his tracks.

Is it time to take stock of your own “hot buttons” and to figure out where and when you’re unintentionally inviting the prowling lion to pounce?

The best way to remain sober minded and alert is to immerse yourself in God’s Word. Click on the link and be encouraged by “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaVg0cWkgA

A “Half Full” View of Suffering: 1 Peter 3:13-22

A friend of mine wears a necklace that has a flat, rectangular charm with a drawing stamped onto it. A simple sketch depicts a drinking glass with a line running horizontally through the middle of it. Beneath the glass are the words “Half Full.”  It’s only a two-word statement, but it communicates volumes about how she views life. Think for a minute.  If you see a glass that has equal amounts of air and water in it, is it half empty or half full?  The way you answer says something about whether you see life through a positive or a negative lens. It’s all a matter of perspective: a glass is simultaneously half full and half empty. It just depends on the viewpoint of the person describing it.

The same holds true with the topic of suffering– our perspective on it can lead us to deep spiritual growth or debilitating self-pity and bitterness. Since suffering is mentioned in every chapter of the book of First Peter, it’s clear God has a few things to say about it:

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed…For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:13, 14a, 17,18, NIV)

So how can we consider ourselves blessed when we experience suffering, especially when it comes as a result of doing what is right?  Scripture gives us some clear answers about its purpose.  And while suffering isn’t an enjoyable thing for anyone, good can result from experiencing it. Here are four reasons you can consider yourself blessed when you suffer:

Refinement: Hebrews 2:10 tells us that Jesus was “made perfect through what he suffered.” Suffering was part of the process He had to endure to bring us to salvation.  So, when He died on the cross, He accomplished one of His primary reasons for coming to earth. In the same way, suffering is a process that accomplishes something in us. Peter explains this in 1 Peter 1:6-7 when he says we suffer trials so that our faith may be proved genuine. Just as fire refines gold and removes the impurities, suffering refines us, causing us to turn toward God when we recognize everything else is worthless by comparison.

Humility: Suffering removes the illusion of control that so many of us cling to unconsciously. No matter how wealthy, powerful, or accomplished we are, no matter how closely we walk with God, no matter how much we may try to avoid it, all of us will experience suffering at different times.  It reminds us that we aren’t in charge, God is. The apostle Paul learned to rejoice in suffering when he realized it kept him from becoming conceited.  After pleading with God to remove an unnamed and ongoing struggle he had, he says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

Paul then explains why God’s choice not to end his suffering brings him joy instead of causing him to become angry or bitter: “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 12:9-10, NIV)

Character: A life of ease may feel good, but it is through suffering that our characters are shaped.  Paul explains the qualities we gain through suffering when he says: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:2-5, ESV) Suffering builds our endurance and when we persevere through it, we gain character and hope. These qualities become part of a firm foundation that sustains us through future challenges we’re bound to face.

Comfort: Suffering is a jumping off place for showing the love of God to others. When we lean into the Lord and allow Him to speak into our suffering, He gives us hope, help, and comfort. Seasons of suffering become the times when seeds of faith sprout and grow stronger in us. And when we recognize that our suffering can be used for good, we begin to look beyond ourselves, becoming a conduit for God to impact others. Through us, He blesses people struggling through similar issues: “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.” (1 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

Looking back, I see different times of suffering in my life with a strange sense of fondness. Of course, I didn’t enjoy the difficult things I’ve had to endure, but I see how God used them to reveal Himself to me, to make His Word relevant in my life, and to connect me with others in ways I never would have experienced in good times.  So, while I don’t look forward to future seasons of suffering, I know they will come.  And when they do, I will choose to view them through the “half-full” lens and to look expectantly for how God wants to use them in my life.

If you are in a time of suffering, imagine Jesus is singing to you as you listen to “Brother” by NEEDTOBREATHE. And if you’re on the other side of a season of suffering, consider who you could reach out to with the sentiments in this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRSLz_KgUsM

*Inspired by Week 7 in 1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway   Press, 2016.

Submitting to Authority: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Tires screeched and sparks flew as the group of cars drove in tight circles next to one another. Scoffing at the law and jeering at authority, the drivers were clearly reveling in doing “donuts” together. But these cars weren’t in a deserted parking lot or on an empty road.  Instead, they were in the middle of a four-lane freeway.

I’d never heard of something like this until taking a car trip recently with a group of friends.  Throughout our long drive, we’d been calling and texting back and forth between the two vehicles.  Our chatter was fun and light hearted, but all of that changed when our friends a few miles behind us called. They were at a dead stop and trying to figure out why.  As we checked traffic reports, the horrified driver began narrating the unfolding scene.  A group of cars just ahead of them had stopped on the freeway simultaneously and had begun driving in circles. Through a coordinated effort, they’d created a huge traffic jam and could have caused serious injuries. A few minutes later they sped off just before Highway Patrol arrived on the scene.

Their blatant defiance of traffic laws and basic safety was frightening.  After all, aren’t rules of the road made to protect all of us and to keep traffic moving in an orderly fashion?  When people decide not to abide by them, traffic snarls, tempers flare, and accidents occur.

It doesn’t matter whether we like the laws of the road or think they’re fair.  We must accept them to keep our roadways safe and orderly. As drivers, we submit to the authority of the law because we know it’s meant to protect us, even if it means some of our freedoms are limited.

But what do we do about other authorities in our lives?  What about a leader in local or national government whose policies we oppose? How are we, as followers of Jesus, called to respond?

Peter tells us: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.  Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”  (1 Peter 2:13-17, NIV)

In case his words seem quaint or ridiculous, let’s not forget some of the ruthless and corrupt government authorities Peter had seen in his lifetime. During his childhood, he’d heard stories of Herod the Great killing the baby boys in Bethlehem to eliminate a rival king, the prophesied Messiah.  In adulthood, Peter knew John the Baptist, who was beheaded by Herod Antipas on a whim to please his step-daughter during a party.  He’d watched Pilate allow the crucifixion of Jesus with no grounds.  And Peter endured the ongoing oppression of Nero, a great antagonist to followers of Christ who found pleasure in dipping them in tar and lighting them on fire to illuminate his garden parties.

So, when Peter gives us instructions about how to respond to earthly authorities, we would be wise to take heed. Author and theologian John Piper helps us understand Peter’s teaching by explaining how to honor leaders who oppose our biblical views.  What follows is a summary of an article he wrote that contains some timeless truths on this difficult topic. (See the link at the bottom to read the article in its entirety.)

Humbling Ourselves:  We honor our leaders because we are humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God. We acknowledge that we are sinners in need of mercy and forgiveness. We are not the final judges on any matter, God is. We are not morally superior to anyone and are utterly dependent on the mercy of God found in Christ.

Acknowledging God’s Image:  We honor authorities because they were created in the image of God. We honor them because they are utterly unique human beings with tremendous potential, just like us.

Acknowledging God’s Institution:  We honor authorities because Government is God’s institution.  Leaders are in power by God’s appointment and we honor that (see Romans 13:4).  We may grieve when leaders enact policies that are contrary to our values, but we know that bad government is better than no government. We honor our leaders for the stabilizing role they play in society. As my opening story illustrates, their job, metaphorically speaking, is to keep the cars moving in one direction down the freeway for our good.

Honoring Laws Not Conflicting with Christ’s Lordship:  We honor our leaders by submitting to laws of the state and nation that do not conflict with our higher allegiance to Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords.  We submit to the right of government to limit us in many areas, especially when the good of others is at stake. We submit not for a leader’s sake, but for the Lord’s, as 1 Peter 2:13 describes. We submit to honor leaders under God because it is from God that they have the authority to enforce the laws of the land.

Not Withdrawing into Isolation:  We honor our leaders by not withdrawing into little communes of people disengaged from American culture. We make it a priority to play our part in doing good as God calls us to in 1 Peter 2:15. We live with integrity and expect our leaders to do the same.

Opposing with Non-Violence:  If we oppose an authority’s position, we do it without violence or dishonorable speech.  We make it our goal to put forth truth and not to be fueled by emotions.  (2 Corinthians 4:2)

Trusting the Sovereign, Loving Purpose of God:  We honor our leaders by trusting the purpose of our sovereign and loving God. We pray for our leaders as God commands us to do, keeping His Word in mind:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  (1 Timothy 2:1-4, NIV)

We are living in tumultuous times, but if we can keep these biblical truths in the forefront of our minds, they will help us to live with integrity and to honor God.  If you’re having a hard time swallowing this truth, be encouraged by Lauren Daigle’s song “O’Lord.” Make it your prayer as you listen.

 

To read the full text of John Piper’s article, click on the link below. Although it was written in 1993 for a very specific political issue, the words of wisdom he provides are timeless:

Click here to read John Piper’s article.

Inspired by Week 5 in 1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press, 2016.

 

 

 

Genuine Faith: 1 Peter 1:1-12

Vibrating beneath my hands, the power sander spewed a cloud of fine dust as I ran it over the wood. The dresser had an ugly, opaque finish and I was curious to see the quality of the wood hidden beneath it. To my delight, the sanding revealed pure, unblemished maple with a beautiful grain that far exceeded my expectations.

I was reminded of that dresser recently as I read the apostle Peter’s teaching about the way God refines our faith:

 “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NLT)

Like using a sander on wood, trials refine our faith. They remove the ugly layers of protection we often put on ourselves over time. The faith was always there, but trials draw it to the forefront of our lives.

Oftentimes when we study a passage like this one, we envision major “life event” sort of trials. A cancer diagnosis. The death of a family member.  The loss of a job. An ugly divorce. A traumatic event that derails plans and dreams.

While those life-altering trials often refine our faith, smaller difficulties can produce the same results, if we let them. A challenging person or situation becomes spiritual sandpaper in the hands of God.

A few years ago my family experienced a relentless chain of hard circumstances that led us to deeper intimacy with Jesus and profound spiritual growth. Ironically, at the center of many uncontrollable difficulties was a situation that we’d brought on ourselves: a home remodel.

With every annoyance we experienced, from doing laundry on our back patio to living without a kitchen for seven months to working with an unreliable contractor, we learned we had a choice. We could wallow in self-pity and bitterness or we could let God refine us through the process.

The Bible makes many references to God as a refiner. Psalm 66:10 states it clearly. “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” God uses people and situations to cleanse us from impurities, to perfect us and to make us look more like Jesus in our actions and attitudes. 

In the book of Zechariah God speaks again about refinement. “I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.'” (Zechariah 13:9b)

God revealed many ugly impurities in me that needed to be surrendered to Him throughout our remodel. And, as painful as it was, I chose to let Him do His refining work in me. He uncovered my lack of patience and my craving for control. He taught me to wait and watch for His answers in His timing. Submitting to that process transformed me in ways I never would have expected.

Our struggles and challenges, both large and small, are an amazing opportunity to uncover the faith planted deep within us. As I learned with refinishing my dresser, true beauty shows only after the messy refining process removes the ugly outer layers.

Rather than lamenting the difficult things we must endure, we can rejoice knowing that they are revealing a genuine and lasting faith that is more valuable than anything this world could offer.

Click on the link to enjoy Francesca Battistelli’s song “This is the Stuff.”  It’s a fun song with great encouragement to let God give us perspective when we face trials, both large and small.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H73AyGZvwEA

Inspired by Week 2 in 1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ, by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway 2015.

 

Assuming God is Good- No Other Gods Session 6

For many of us, we “fill in the blanks” with idols 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.

img_9485

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 think of.

As we get older, we continue filling in the blanks mentally, but the results are usually less fun and often reap more negative results. We get in the habit of making assumptions and filling in 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 asks Abraham to do the unthinkable and kill his cherished child as an offering on the altar. Yet never once do we see Abraham getting angry with God or assuming he’s cruel. Scripture gives us a few clues about how Abraham saw the situation. The first is in Genesis 22 as Abraham prepared to take Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him:

“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 plans he had to sacrifice his son, he told the servants both he and Isaac would return. Why would he say that? I used to think he was just trying to act casually to cover up what he was about to do, but now I see that it may actually have been an example of his faith in God. A few minutes later 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 used to think 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 Hebrews 11:17-19, we discover more insight about Abraham’s perspective on God, especially regarding 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.” (NIV)

This story is hard to grasp on many levels, but what strikes me as I read it this time is Abraham’s unwavering trust in God. Never once did he accuse God of being cruel or unfair, even though what he was asked to do would cut any parent to the core. Abraham believed God was good and trusted him to provide.

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 many times have I fretted over a difficult or uncertain situation instead of simply laying it at his feet, knowing he is trustworthy? When have I demanded to know why God allowed pain in my life instead of trusting that he would use it for his perfect purposes? If I’m honest, there are many times I’ve struggled to believe the promise of Romans 8:28:

“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.” (NIV)

Instead of filling in the blanks with positive assumptions about how God will work in the unknown, I tend to fret and worry he won’t come through. For many of us, we assume God is either not paying attention or not going to act in time, so we turn to idols. We want God to work for good according to our purposes instead of his. So we look for comfort, security and control in other things instead of trusting him and waiting for him patiently. We “fill in the blanks” with idols 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. He knows us. He knows what we need. He keeps his promises. His timing is perfect.

For me, the best way to remember this is to fill my mind with truth about God. I’ve found listening to good music with sound theology is a great method for doing this. So often, I find myself mentally playing a song that reminds me who God is and keeps me from filling in the blanks with negative thoughts. I’m always drawn back to my good, good Father. Click on the link to marinate in truth about God by listening to Chris Tomlin’s “Good, Good Father.”

Continue reading “Assuming God is Good- No Other Gods Session 6”

Seeking Biblical Truth in the Post-Truth Era: No Other Gods Session 3

For followers of Jesus, navigating life in the era of “post-truth” means we must swim against the current of our culture.

img_9442

(Third in a series of posts inspired by Kelly Minter’s Bible Study No Other Gods.)

Turning up the volume on the radio, I wasn’t sure I’d heard the announcer correctly. She was sharing her thoughts on the Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year for 2016. It is an annual event for the dictionary staff to narrow down a list of words that highlight the ways the English language is changing in response to current events. In case you haven’t heard yet, this year’s word is “post-truth.” The official definition is: “Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” So, basically, post-truth means defining what is true based on feelings and personal beliefs rather than actual facts.

For followers of Jesus, navigating life in the era of “post-truth” means we must swim against the current of our culture. While people around us are deciding what they want to be true based on their feelings, we must hold firmly to the truth of God’s Word. I see a clear connection here to what I’m learning about lies in No Other Gods. Author Kelly Minter says, “I don’t see God’s heart in Scripture telling us to separate ourselves with a self-righteous finger that points at all the ‘sinners’ in pop culture. Instead God clearly teaches us to love all people. But loving is very different from putting ourselves in the way of messages that oppose His truth. It’s different than leaving open doors for the lies of culture to waltz into our hearts.” (No Other Gods, p. 67)

The lies of our culture permeate our lives, subtly and continually influencing us to revise our stance on what is actually truth. Reading through 2 Timothy 3, it’s easy to see connections to our world today: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4, NIV)

So many examples from current culture come to mind as I read this that it’s hard to know where to start. With the onslaught of technology and the rise of social media, it’s become commonplace to embrace and celebrate every one of those things. It’s not hard to see pleasure and comfort are valued more than almost anything else. Many movies, shows, theater productions, magazines, popular songs and famous people model and promote living in a way that lacks self-control and values self-absorption (and pretty much everything else listed).

As followers of Jesus, however, we are called to a different standard. We cannot afford to be “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim 3:7, NIV) God’s Word is our standard of truth, but it’s up to us to absorb what we learn and then to live like we believe it. In a world that no longer cares about actual truth, this is especially challenging. The more we make choices that honor God, the more unusual we will appear to others in our culture.

Now that you’ve seen what NOT to embrace, maybe you’d like some specifics to help you understand how to honor God and stay aligned with truth.  Here is a great start: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”  The final statement of this passage explains what we gain as a result: “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV)

I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to follow Jesus, I don’t want my endeavors to be ineffective or unproductive.  I don’t want to ride the fence and dabble in my faith while simultaneously letting the world shape my values and opinions.

I also don’t want to be someone who knows the truth of God’s Word but chooses to embrace the lies of the world or let my emotions lead me.  People like this are in the worst position of all: “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” (2 Peter 2:20-21, NIV)

Living according to God’s Word is the path to freedom, hope, wisdom joy, and salvation. Our culture continually feeds us lies to distract us from this truth. God’s ways and plans are best, but the Enemy will stop at nothing to make us forget this. He loves to lure people into compromising what they know is right so that they can find fleeting acceptance, false hope or temporary comfort. But we know better, don’t we? Hold tightly to God’s Word and continue to study it diligently. Although you can’t entirely remove yourself from the lies that permeate our culture, you can learn to identify them and reject them when you know the truth.

In Session 3 of No Other Gods, Kelly Minter includes lyrics to a song about lies written and performed by one of the “NOGS.” To hear “Liar’s Dream” by Alli Rogers, click on the link. If you have your book handy, you can follow along by reading the lyrics on pages 71-2.

Continue reading “Seeking Biblical Truth in the Post-Truth Era: No Other Gods Session 3”

Bad Year, Good God

No matter how ugly or distressing the events in the world are, we never have reason to despair.

img_9433

I’ve heard people joke that 2016 is a year they’d like to forget. Daily headlines remind us our nation and our world have seen more than their fair share of ugly circumstances: tragic accidents, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, disturbing racism and political upheaval. Our nation is deeply divided, confused and disillusioned. Our world is in turmoil. People are losing sleep and shedding tears as they agonize over the variety of complex issues that have plagued us this year.

And yet, in the midst of all of these ugly and awful things, I am thankful. Not because of them, but in spite of them. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I am thankful that my hope isn’t in human leaders, or manmade institutions. My hope isn’t in people, prosperity or earthly peace. I’m thankful because my hope is in the living God, who is sovereign over all things. I’m thankful because my ultimate citizenship is not in this world, but with God in heaven.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture seems especially fitting this week as I reflect on my thankfulness for God and his sovereignty. Below I’ve included excerpts from Isaiah 40 that cause me to feel thankful, hopeful and reassured, no matter what is going on in our nation and world:

Isaiah 40:21-25

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. ‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.”

Thankfulness Point #1: People who seem important or influential in this world may make a positive or negative impact for a time, but they will ultimately blow away like chaff in the wind. No earthly leader, no matter how wise or respected could ever compare to God. Likewise, no earthly leader, no matter how corrupt or questionable, could ever thwart God’s plans.

 Isaiah 40:26

“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

Thankfulness Point #2: God knows the stars by name and calls them out one by one. He also knows the number of hairs on my head and the head of every other person who has ever lived. (Luke 12:7) Nothing escapes his gaze. I am deeply thankful that the God of great power and mighty strength knows and cares about me personally.

 Isaiah 40:27-28

“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

Thankfulness Point #3: Even when we don’t understand what God is allowing in this world, we know he is trustworthy. His understanding is beyond anything our miniscule minds could comprehend. We can be thankful even when God’s ways and purposes are hidden from us. He is everlasting and sees world events from a vantage point that has a much larger scope than anything we can see.

 Isaiah 40:29-31

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Thankfulness Point #4: God renews our strength. No matter how weary and beaten down we become, we can always find refuge in him. His strength is available and accessible to us whenever we seek it. Not only does he renew and restore us, he enables us to soar like eagles so we can rise above even the most distressing situations.

Final Thought

No matter how ugly or distressing the events in the world are, we never have reason to despair. We can put trust and hope in the living God. He is our rock and refuge. Anything else we’re thankful for builds on that one truth. God is God and we are not. And that’s something we can celebrate at Thanksgiving and all year long.

For further reassurance on God’s sovereignty, click on the link and enjoy Natalie Grant’s song “King of the World.” Make it your prayer this Thanksgiving season.

Continue reading “Bad Year, Good God”

The Sword of the Spirit- The Armor of God Part 7

I’ve begun to notice a clear difference between the lives of people who are actively engaging God’s Word and people who simply embrace the Christian lifestyle and its values.

img_9410

To say I was going through a rough patch would be an understatement. One of my boys was a toddler and the other was in pre-school and although life at home was good, some hard situations outside our household were weighing heavily upon me. Looking back, I see that there was an element of spiritual attack I hadn’t even considered.

I remember one morning in that season I awoke feeling especially burdened with dark thoughts and anguished emotions. Sitting at the breakfast table flanked by one son in a high chair and the other chattering beside me, something triggered a flood of tears. The lump in my throat couldn’t hold back the sobs as I pushed my chair back and abruptly left the kitchen. Throwing myself face down on my bed, I wasn’t even sure why I was crying, but the tears wouldn’t cease.

A tap on my shoulder a few minutes later gently reminded me I had little people to tend to and forced me to gather my emotions. Wiping tears away, I tried to regain my composure as I looked up to find my older son standing in front of me. He held out his Beginners Bible and with wisdom that defied his tender age simply said, “Here Mom, read this. It’ll make you feel better.” I’m still not sure how he knew to bring me a Bible, but I’d been following his advice since long before he was born.

I’ll never forget the first time the words of Scripture jumped off the page, making me feel like a passage had been written just for me. I was a freshman in college, struggling to find true friends and to live by God’s standards. It was not the easiest time in life to decide to follow after Jesus whole-heartedly. The many worldly temptations of college had wooed away the one friend from home I’d depended on for spiritual support. Trying to shine a light for Jesus in the dark was not easy. I felt utterly alone, but undaunted in my desire to pursue Christ without compromise. And then one morning I stumbled across this passage:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV)

Armed with this verse in the face of deep discouragement, I sensed God telling me not to lose my perspective. The trials I was facing were temporary, but if I persevered through them, my faith would prove genuine, which was eternal. Eventually, God also brought me friends who were godly, encouraging, and just plain fun.

Since that time, many more verses have felt especially relevant and personal in different seasons of my life. So much so, that I could make a time line of events in my life with corresponding Scriptures that spoke directly to me with words of wisdom, comfort, and direction. God’s Word has provided truth and light when I’ve been deceived by lies or have lost my way. It’s given me encouragement in times of trouble and hope when I’m tempted to despair.  I guess that makes sense considering Paul lists it as the final piece in the armor of God when he says, “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (Ephesians 10:17, NIV)

The Bible has been my greatest weapon to fend off attacks of the evil one throughout my adult life. And because it is the spoken Word of God, it is always fresh, relevant and personal. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”  (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).  Scripture is so much more than just words on a page.  When we engage it and apply it to our lives, it changes us.  It changes our attitudes, our desires, our relationships and the things we value.   It is a guide for every aspect of daily living.  It is our solid foundation and the plumb line that keeps us aligned with God’s will.

I’ve begun to notice a clear difference between the lives of people who are actively engaging God’s Word and people who simply embrace the Christian lifestyle and its values.  People who study the Bible consistently and apply what they’ve learned have a passion and a sense of purpose in what they do.  They serve others out of gratitude to God, not as an obligation.  They grapple with hard truths and have teachable spirits.  They are hungry to know more about God and how He’s calling them to live.  They don’t follow rules and checklists–they abide with Jesus and let the Holy Spirit guide them.  Their lives are not safe and predictable.  They trust God when things get messy and complicated.  They have too much integrity to worry about whether or not they are “showing well” or impressing the “right” people. They are profoundly aware that they are sinners only saved by Gods’ grace.  Their resulting gratitude causes them to give their lives for God’s Kingdom purposes.

Putting on the armor of God daily means putting into practice what we say we believe. And when we do that, the enemy doesn’t stand a chance.

I can think of no better song to include than Third Day’s “Your Words.” Click on the link to enjoy a musical reminder of the value of God’s Word:

Priscilla Shirer, The Armor of God, Lifeway Press, 2015.