Category: Christian Living

Pour Out Your Heart

She sat against the wall with the other outcasts watching the honored guests reclining at the table. The host, Simon the Pharisee, tolerated her presence to fulfill his obligation to the law. The Scriptures commanded that he provide food for the poor, but it didn’t mean he had to show warmth or kindness to her as she waited for a few meager scraps from the table. She had a reputation as a sinful woman around town, but couldn’t resist showing up with the other unfortunate, sick, and lame people when she heard Jesus was the guest of honor.

So, she sat with her back against the wall and listened to the conversation, waiting for the moment when she could talk with Jesus. He’d caught her eye at one point and instead of turning away in disgust as Simon had, he’d smiled. The love in His eyes drew her to Him. She felt seen and valued in a way she’d never experienced before. Unable to hold back any longer, she approached Him from behind and knelt. Tears welled up in her eyes and flowed onto the dusty feet that Simon had neglected to wash when Jesus entered his home. Realizing she had nothing to dry them with, she uncovered her hair and used it to wipe away the tears. Before she lost her nerve, she kissed His feet. Then, drawing an alabaster jar out of her cloak, she anointed them with costly perfume, pouring out her only possession of value.

Without saying a word, the woman’s actions showed the shame and regret she felt over her sins. Looking at her with love and mercy, Jesus raised her from her low position, honoring her humility and restoring her dignity: “Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ The other guests began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” (Luke 7:44-50, NIV)

The sinful woman came to Jesus without pretense. Tears flowed as she encountered His deep love in spite of her sin. She offered Him the most valuable thing she had and accepted His grace and forgiveness in return. Their interaction was authentic, unfiltered, and raw. Are those words you would use to describe your interactions with Jesus? 

Kristi McClelland explains, “Jesus could handle both, a mixture of anointing oil and a woman’s deepest pain poured out in her tears. We can pour our whole hearts out to Jesus. We can leave it all before Him. We can cast it all upon Him. He can take it, and He wants to take it. When we pour out our hearts to Jesus, He begins generously lifting us up in grace and truth. Like the woman in Luke 7, He can lift us up and send us on our way in peace.”1

Her words echo David’s in Psalm 62: “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) 

The Lord invites us to pour out our hearts to Him with honesty. He gives us the freedom to be raw and unfiltered before Him. Unfortunately, most of us shy away from this, just as we do in human relationships. We prefer safe and sanitized interactions that shield our vulnerability and weakness. Often, it’s not until we’re desperate that we finally shed our façades and engage the Lord honestly. At least, that’s been my experience. 

For me, pouring out my heart has often happened when I’ve had nowhere else to turn. During a season of intense loneliness in college when I felt I had no one I could trust, the Lord became my closest confidante. A decade later, during a time of deep depression after I’d been betrayed by a friend, I poured out my hurt to the Lord and found comfort and healing. More recently, I turned to Him amidst the grief of losing my mom to cancer. However, it’s not only in difficult times that I’ve sought the Lord. I’ve discovered praying with raw emotions and unfiltered words on a regular basis gives me peace and leads to deeper intimacy with Jesus.  

Although it feels daunting, pouring out our hearts to God is worth the effort. It gives us time to process and gain perspective. It allows us room to feel our emotions without having them lead us to react with impulsive behavior. Pouring out our hearts to God opens us to receive His wisdom and compassion. Sometimes it helps us to recognize where our feelings may be leading us astray. Pouring out our hearts enables us to discern what to do next and drives us to use Scripture as our guide.

We’re living in a culture that encourages us to be led by our feelings without restraint and without considering consequences. When we follow this path, it often leads to further pain and damaged relationships. Conversely, we’re also encouraged to anesthetize ourselves to numb our feelings rather than processing them. Instead of acknowledging our emotions and determining what triggered them, we pour a glass of wine, go on a shopping spree, binge watch Netflix, scroll on social media, or indulge in our favorite foods. These strategies ultimately leave us feeling hollow and unsatisfied. They can also cause additional problems, compounding the complicated mix of emotions that are already consuming us. 

Pouring out our hearts to Jesus in prayer provides a safe, loving landing place for the tangle of thoughts and feelings that plague us. Sharing them with the Lord deepens our connection to Him and helps us to keep our emotions and mental spinning from getting the best of us. 

Are you ready to approach Jesus with your unfiltered and authentic thoughts and feelings? Will you seek Him first instead of as a last resort? Make it a regular practice and receive the peace only He can provide. Need some inspiration? Listen to Rachael Lampa’s song “Perfectly Loved” by clicking here. Let it prompt you to pour out your heart to Jesus today. 

1. Kristi McClelland, Jesus and Women in the First Century and Now, Lifeway Press, 2019, 77.

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Stepping Out in Faith

Sometimes God asks us to move forward with a plan and only gives us minimal details. When we step out in faith and trust Him, we get a front row seat to witness His power. The Bible includes many stories of courageous people doing this, but one of my favorites is found in the book of Joshua.

For the past few months we’ve been following the narrative of the Israelites fleeing Egypt and beginning their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Today’s story fast forwards to when God’s people are on the brink of crossing into the promised land. Moses’ successor, Joshua, receives instructions from the Lord for leading all of the Israelites across the Jordan River at flood stage.  Here’s how Scripture explains God’s plan: 

“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’ Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.’ So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” (Joshua 3:5-8, NIV)

Although they’re unsure what the Lord will do, the priests and the people follow His plan and watch a miracle unfold before their eyes:

“Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away…So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” (Joshua 3:15, 16a, 17, NIV)

Imagine being the first two priests to step into the rushing waters of the Jordan balancing the holy and precious Ark of the Covenant on poles on their shoulders. Mud and slippery rocks at the water’s edge likely made it daunting, but they stepped into the swirling waters with obedience. Kristi McClelland explains, “[God] doesn’t promise to tell us everything that’s going on ahead of time. He doesn’t promise we’ll see a blueprint before we start building. The reward is often on the other side of obedience…Life doesn’t always afford us all the facts before we make a decision. But we can always decide to trust God’s character. We can always decide to believe in God’s goodness and steadfast love.”1

So, what does it look like in contemporary times to step into the waters of obedience and trust God in the mystery? For me, I think of a Bible verse that’s framed on my wall: “I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see.” (2 Cor 5:7). It was a gift from some women who have become dear friends since I stepped out in faith to start a Bible study ten years ago. It felt risky and uncomfortable joining with another friend and agreeing to lead this group. I wasn’t sure what we would study or how I would find answers to their questions, but I trusted God would give me what I would need. Ten years in, He hasn’t failed me.

Recently I sat listening to an acquaintance share about starting a similar group. After keeping her distance from faith-related activities for many years, she’s been inspired by the strength and grounding she sees in others who know the Lord. Now she feels like she’s missed out by holding back for so long. Craving meaningful connections with others, she reached out to invite women to a group that she feels ill-prepared to lead. At the same time, she’s been praying God will show her He’s real and has been astounded by the answers He’s giving her. My new friend is stepping out in faith, not knowing what the Lord will do, but trusting Him. The enthusiasm in her voice and the light in her eyes reveal evidence of God’s work in her life.

I could fill pages with stories like these—of people stepping out in faith to trust God and watching in awe as He worked in and through them. Kristi McClelland likens this to “eating a mystery.” She compares our choices to believe God and take action without fully understanding all the details with the Israelites’ choice to eat the strange new food the Lord provided in the desert. They called the bread that tasted like honey “manna” which translates to “What is it?” The metaphor of eating the mystery fits well with David’s invitation in Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” We can only taste the Lord’s goodness if we’re willing to put the mystery into our mouths.

Looking back at my life, I’ve never regretted times I’ve stepped out in faith instead of holding back and playing it safe. Opportunities to see God at work are His invitation to get us involved in what He’s doing. It’s our choice whether or not to respond.  

Where might the Lord be calling you to step out in faith, trust His goodness, and eat a mystery? Pray and ask Him to show you what He wants you to know and do. Trust Him to walk alongside you, to part the waters, to feed you the manna, and to give you the courage. You’ll find life is fuller, richer, and more meaningful than you could ever imagine. 

Be inspired listening to “Walk by Faith” by Jeremy Camp. As you watch this video, you’ll see clips from a movie based on an event in his life that made these words real to Him. Whether God is inviting you into something exciting and new or holding out His hand for you to trust Him during a hard season, walking by faith is the best choice you can make. Click here to watch.

1. Kristi McClelland, Jesus and Women in the First Century and Now, Lifeway Press, 2019, 43-44.

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Looking Back on 2022, Looking Ahead to 2023

We’ve turned the page on the calendar to kick off 2023. Before anticipating the year ahead, it’s worthwhile to reflect on the year behind. Here are a few questions I like to ask myself: What stands out from the past twelve months? What shaped your character, faith, and worldview? Where did you see God at work? How did you grow? Looking ahead, where will you focus your time and energy in the coming year? To get you started, I’ll share my answers below. 

What stands out as you look back on the past year?

As I closed out 2021, here’s what I wrote in my year-end blog post: “I want to pray consistently for renewal among believers so that they long for God’s presence, kingdom, and righteousness more than anything else. I also want to pray for the hearts of people who have been deceived by the enemy and have believed lies about the Lord. Corporate renewal begins with personal renewal, so I’d like to be more focused on God’s presence in my life. I’m considering trying a new spiritual discipline like fasting to help my prayers be more targeted and intentional.”

What stands out to me is the way God answered those prayers in 2022. He prompted me to invite two other women to pray with me regularly throughout the year. He blessed me with several young women to mentor who were eager to grow in their faith and Bible knowledge. The Lord also led me to ask a wise woman to mentor me. I also gave fasting a try and found that it helped me to focus my prayers. My hunger pangs caused me to feel like I was laboring alongside the Lord as I prayed for situations that I had no power to change on my own.

What shaped your character, faith, and worldview?

The things we read, watch, listen to and experience all affect our mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health. So, I try to be intentional about what I allow into my mind. Here are few inputs that have impacted me positively in the last year:

Studying the Bible: I’ve always been a big fan of doing workbook Bible studies and did several in 2022 that were excellent. But what made the past year noteworthy was opening the Bible and unpacking its truth without a workbook. Studying First Peter and Jude with a young woman I mentored gave us the chance to absorb a few verses at a time. Reading and discussing Scripture together helped us to see where we were on track and where we needed to re-focus our prayers and attention. I’ve also loved studying the gospel of John with four high school girls. Delving into such a meaty book and examining one chapter each week has been faith building for all of us. 

Events: I had the privilege of attending IF:Gathering in Dallas with a group of friends last spring. My favorite message was Sadie Robertson Huff’s “The Truth vs. My Truth.” If you haven’t seen it, check it out here.  The teaching and worship there were truly inspiring, and I’ve loved continuing to learn through Jennie Allen’s Made for This podcast. It’s full of practical and biblical insights that realign me with God’s Word.

I also had the privilege of going on two trips as a leader with our high school youth group—a mission trip to Mexico and a houseboat trip at Lake Shasta. Seeing the Holy Spirit move in both of those places was the clearest answer to my prayers to see spiritual renewal in the lives of others. 

Participating in these events reminded me that there’s no substitute for showing up in person. It’s one of the best ways to let God work in and through us.

Books: Live No Lies by John Mark Comer was a highlight of 2022 for me. Understanding the enemies of our souls and how to move forward in walking with Jesus was challenging and thought-provoking. This book is so relevant and timely, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard is a Christian classic that I finally read at the recommendation of my son. Willard’s writing is dense, and his ideas are deep. It took all summer to read it. I’m still processing his assertion that being a Christian isn’t synonymous with being a true disciple of Jesus. I’m also mulling over this quote: “And what does ‘dwelling,’ or ‘continuing,’ in his word mean? It means to center your life upon…his good news about The Kingdom Among Us, about who is really well off and who is not, and about true goodness of heart and how it expresses itself in action. We will fill our souls with the written Gospels. We will devote our attention to their teachings, in private study and inquiry as well as public instruction. And, negatively, we will refuse to devote our mental space and energy to the fruitless, even stupefying and degrading, stuff that constantly clamors for our attention. We will attend to it only enough to avoid it.” (The Divine Conspiracy, p. 296).

Podcasts: Live No Lies with John Mark Comer. Listening to these enhanced and extended what Comer discusses in his book as he interviews various experts he referenced in writing. 

Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast with Pete Scazzero. We’re all leaders in different arenas- whether it’s at home, work, church, or volunteering. This podcast provides practical and realistic tools to navigate life, faith, and relationships with health and biblical wisdom. 

Now, consider what shaped your character and worldview this year. To borrow Dallas Willard’s words– are there fruitless things clamoring for your attention right now? What will you add or eliminate for 2023 so that the Holy Spirit can shape you more?

Where did you see God at work? How did you grow personally or spiritually?

I’ve grown by focusing my prayers on aligning with God’s will. Jesus says in John’s gospel: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14, NIV) I’m learning that praying in Jesus’ name means seeking God’s glory and will to be done, not mine.

I’ve seen God at work in places where I can’t try harder, I can only trust Him more. I’ve prayed for new opportunities to meet people who don’t know the Lord and I’ve begun to see that answered. I’m also thankful God has placed strong believers around individuals I love so that they can be spurred on in their faith. This has been a significant answer to prayer.

Where will you focus your energy in 2023?

I want to pray for God to use my circumstances to refine me, to expand His kingdom, and to bring Him glory. I hope to resist the tendency to pray for circumstances to unfold as I think they should.  I’m also praying the Lord will increase my capacity to see where He is at work and inviting me to join Him. As my awareness grows, I pray God will use my time, resources, and gifts to pour into others and point them toward Him. And this year I’m also praying I will experience God’s joy in increasing measure.

Before you wade into the waters of 2023, take some time to reflect on where you’ve been. It will help you set a course for the year ahead with God’s wisdom to guide you. Whatever highs and lows we’ll face, we can trust that God is there with us. Let the song “God is In This Story” remind you of that today. Click here to listen.

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Carrying the Wilderness with You

Hiking was one of the main activities my family enjoyed when I was growing up. Sometimes my dad liked forging his own trails and taking us “overland.” He led the way with confidence, but the paths he chose rarely ended where we expected. I remember one afternoon when we trampled through knee-high, brittle grass trying to find our way back to the car. The sun dipped behind the hills as we trudged along, shivering in the waning light. As we reached the gravel parking lot complaining of aching feet and rumbling bellies, the first stars twinkled in the night sky. That’s probably the closest I’ve come to wandering in the wilderness in a literal sense.

Bible teacher Kristi McClelland explains: “We often think of a desert or wilderness as something we want to get out of. But the Jewish people view the desert as the place where the Lord often meets His people and speaks to them.”1 The Israelites experience this after leaving Egypt under Moses’ leadership. In the desert God shows them His character and demonstrates His care for them. The events they witness reveal the Lord’s power, presence, protection, and provision. A glance at the first four chapters of Exodus provides ample evidence:

-The Lord fights for them: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

-The Lord surrounds and protects them: “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them.” (Exodus 14:19)

-The Lord makes a way for them: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)

-The Lord provides food for them: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Exodus 16:11-12)

-The Lord provides water for them: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17:6)

-The Lord protects them from enemies: “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, ‘Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 17:15-16)

The Israelites’ time in the wilderness gives them tangible, personal, and specific evidence of the Lord’s hand at work in their lives. No wonder Kristi McClelland says the Middle Eastern perspective asks: “How do I carry the wilderness with me?” and “How do I remember the word the Lord taught me in the wilderness?”2

Although I’ve had limited experience wandering in the actual wilderness, there have been many times when I’ve metaphorically found myself in the desert—times when I’ve felt lost, discouraged, and unsure how to proceed. Although they were difficult seasons, I look back on them with gratefulness because of how I encountered the Lord. That’s why Kristi McClelland’s words resonate with me: “In the desert—the wilderness—God meets you and teaches you unique lessons that these dry and barren places frame in a way no other place would. In the Middle Eastern culture, the wilderness is seen almost as a sacred place, a place of intimacy where God speaks a ‘word’ to you.”3  

In the desert of my freshman year of college, the Lord met me in my loneliness and taught me to pour out my heart to Him and He became my closest confidante. During the wilderness of discouragement and depression in young motherhood, God beckoned me to seek Him for comfort and He became my shelter in storms. More recently, I wandered in the desert after an intense season in my life came to a close. Leading up to it, I’d been stretched to the limit for over two years managing care for my mom as her health declined. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, four months of daily visits and constant monitoring of her medical needs consumed me. After my mom passed away, my sister and I spent six months sorting the contents of our family home and preparing to put it on the market. 

Although I’d been grieving all along, the magnitude of what I’d experienced fully caught up with me only after my mom’s house sold. Instead of being relieved, I felt untethered, adrift and unsure how to move forward. As I turned to the Lord for wisdom, He coaxed me to rest and grieve. He helped me to see that my constant productivity had shielded me from fully experiencing my grief. He impressed upon me the wisdom of Psalm 46:10: “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NASB 1995) My time in the wilderness provided much-needed margin to process, pray, and find comfort in the Lord’s presence. Eventually it also allowed me space to hear from Him and discern what He was calling me to next.

Desert seasons feel disorienting and uncomfortable; we’re not sure which path to take or what our destination will be. We may not enjoy them, but they are incredible opportunities to grow in trusting the Lord. So, instead of asking “Why?” or “How long?” we’d be wise to invite God to teach us and reveal Himself to us. Seeking the Lord in the wilderness instead of rushing through it enables us to grow deeper in faith and equips us with tools we can use and share with others. I’ve seen the God’s power and felt His strength during wilderness seasons in ways I never would have experienced in times of ease and comfort. 

“The Lord drew Israel into the desert and spoke to her there. The place that seemed to only represent barrenness became one of restoration and redemption, of covenant pledge, of love everlasting…The Lord often speaks to His people in a special way in wilderness seasons.”4  Will you let Him do the same for you? 

Click here and be encouraged by Jeremy Camp’s song “Wilderness”

Do you know someone in a wilderness season who would be encouraged by this post? Consider forwarding it to them today.

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  • 1. Kristi McClelland, Jesus & Women: In the First Century and Now, Lifeway Press, 2019, 22.
  • 2. ibid, p. 23
  • 3. ibid, p. 22
  • 4. ibid, p. 26

Getting Specific with Gratitude

It’s no secret that focusing on gratitude leads to a healthier, happier life. A recent article from Harvard Health explains, “With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”1

The article goes on to explain the research of Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, who tested the impact of various positive psychology interventions on 411 people. “When their week’s assignment was to write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had never been properly thanked for his or her kindness, participants immediately exhibited a huge increase in happiness scores. This impact was greater than that from any other intervention, with benefits lasting for a month.”2

It’s fascinating to see the way participants were positively affected by expressing gratitude to a specific individual. It reminds me of the importance of directing our general feelings of gratitude to the Lord as we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week. That is, after all, how the holiday came into existence. You probably know the pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving feast to honor God’s provision for them through a brutal winter. You might even know that Abraham Lincoln was the one who made it a national holiday. But, like me, you may not have realized that it was George Washington who made the original Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789.

Washington’s words in the proclamation state: “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.”3

The whole point of the holiday was to pause, look back and thank God for all He had done for our nation. The purpose of the day was not to watch football, attend parades, or even to eat turkey. It wasn’t created to signify the kick-off to the Christmas shopping season or to boost the economy with Black Friday sales. The purpose of the National Day of Thanksgiving was to thank God for His care, provision, and protection of the citizens of our country. It was a time to pause and reflect with gratefulness to someone very specific—the Lord.

George Washington was not the first leader to do this, nor is the United States the only nation in modern times that pauses for a day to give thanks. We are following the examples of those who have gone before us: Moses, David, and Solomon are among a variety of people in Scripture that led others to stop, reflect, and express gratitude to God collectively. (See Exodus 15, 1 Chronicles 16 & 1 Kings 8)

The New Testament also reminds us of the significance of expressing gratitude. Paul wrote in Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NIV) Usually we focus on the end of the verse that encourages us to offer our requests to God, but we tend to skip over the first part that tells us to precede our requests “with thanksgiving.”  However, expressing gratitude to God not only honors and acknowledges Him, it also changes our perspective. It reassures us of His faithfulness to us in the past, helping us to offer new requests with confidence. Thankfulness enables us to trust God is working for our good, even in difficult circumstances. It also reminds us of His unchanging character and directs us to notice His activity around us all the time, bringing unexpected joy. 

With the many extra things that have been added onto Thanksgiving over the years, acknowledging gratitude to God often gets lost in the shuffle.  And even when we do reflect on our thankfulness, it tends to be about what we’re grateful for instead of to whom we’re thankful. This year, I want to pause to acknowledge and appreciate God in specific ways. I want to stop and notice not only the gifts I’ve received, but the Giver. 

Rather than just having a general warm fuzzy feeling of thankfulness, will you join me in directing your gratitude to the One who gave us all that we have? Make it a goal to follow the advice repeated throughout Psalms: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  (Psalm 106:1, NIV)

Let Crowder’s song “Thanks Giver” set the tone for your Thanksgiving celebrations this year. Click here to listen.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.

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Testing or Trusting

City lights twinkled in the rearview mirror as we crossed the Bay Bridge in stunned silence. Sitting in the backseat, I hadn’t begun to process the events of the past few days as my brother drove my mom and me home from the hospital. We’d left our active and strong father lying unconscious in a hospital bed looking frail and vulnerable. The grey tinge to his skin was unsettling, but the most alarming sight during our brief visit to the ICU was the ten inches of sutures running like a zipper down his chest. I’d been shocked when my mom called from the emergency room a few days earlier with news of his heart attack . There had been no indication he had cardiac issues, but now he was fresh out of triple bypass surgery.

Staring out the window as rain pelted the car, I sat thinking of my parents and the busy lives they led. They’d embraced being empty nesters and loved serving at church, going on mission trips, traveling, and spending time with their kids. They were best friends who did everything together. I couldn’t imagine what my mom would do if my dad didn’t survive. Leaning forward from the backseat, I broke the silence as we entered the Caldecott Tunnel “Mom, how are you doing? Dad didn’t look so good, did he?” 

I feared she was on the brink of falling apart and was surprised and relieved by her answer: “No, he looked terrible, but I’m doing alright. I haven’t been studying the Bible all these years for nothing. I know God is good. No matter what happens to Dad, He’ll be faithful.” 

My mom’s trust in the Lord’s goodness gives a stark contrast to the story of the Israelites’ testing Him at Meribah in Exodus 17. Scripture portrays the people quarreling with Moses and almost stoning him over a lack of water on their journey in the desert. Other books of the Bible fill in more details about why their attitude was so displeasing to the Lord. Several chapters in Psalms use the story as a warning for future generations:

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.” (Psalm 95:8-9, NIV)

“He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test…for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance…their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.” (Psalm 78:15-17, 22, 37, NIV)

The Israelites test God at Meribah by asking “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7b) Despite experiencing His power, provision, and presence during their deliverance from Egypt and their journey into the desert, they fail to trust Him. These psalms highlight their hard hearts and their poor memory for God’s goodness. They also point out the Isrealites’ disloyalty to the Lord and their lack of faithfulness to His covenant promises. “Doubting God’s ability, they put Him to the test expecting Him to do miracles for them when they were out of His will.”1

In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews uses the story of Meribah as a reminder for us not to harden our hearts but to remain confident and hopeful in Christ: “`Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.’” (Hebrews 3:5-9, NIV)

Although it’s unlikely we’ll ever be traveling on foot through a desert, all of us will experience painful, difficult, or challenging circumstances in different seasons. And when they occur, we can choose to test God or to trust Him. Seeking the Lord and studying His Word consistently will lay a foundation so that:

  • Instead of questioning if God is still good, we can choose to remember where He’s shown goodness and faithfulness to us in the past.
  • Instead of railing against the Lord in anger, we can choose to trust the promises in His Word. 
  • Instead of feeling offended thinking God “owes” us for the good things we’ve done, we can remember we deserve nothing and trust His grace to be sufficient in our struggles. 
  • Instead of asking “why?” we can invite the Lord to show us what He’s going to do in our lives through the hardship.
  • Instead of hardening our hearts, we can lean into God to keep our hearts tender.

My parents showed many of these responses through my dad’s rocky recovery from open heart surgery. They continued to demonstrate trust in the Lord several years later when a rare disease slowly took his life.

Scripture provides wisdom for how to avoid testing God: “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14, NIV) 

Rather than testing the Lord by questioning His goodness or faithfulness in hard seasons, approach Him with your honest emotions and trust Him to be your refuge: “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 62:6-8, NIV)

Exploring Scripture for this post led me to an incredible verse where God implores His people to listen to Him and follow His ways. He concludes with a promise reminiscent of the manna that was sweet like honey and the rock that poured forth water: “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Click here and enjoy listening to this celebration of God’s perfect provision in “Honey in the Rock” by Brooke Ligertwood.

1. Walvoord and Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, Zondervan 1985, 851.

Inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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Hungry and Tired 

Over the years of raising kids, I learned they usually got grumpy for two reasons: needing food and needing rest. One of my sons would transform from a good-natured, happy kid to a foul and angry “devil child” when he was hungry. (Later we learned the word “hangry,” which described his demeanor perfectly at those times.) I wonder if this is how the Israelites may have been feeling as they trudged through the desert those first three days. It’s tempting to criticize them for being so quick to spiral into negativity after the Lord delivered them from Egypt, but I wonder if we’d be any different in their position.

After complaining to Moses and Aaron, the Israelites experience God’s incredible power again as He sends quail in the evening and then begins giving them manna to collect each morning. The food He provides comes with some clear guidelines. Moses instructs them to gather enough for each person to eat the same day. The only exception to this is on the day before the Sabbath, when the Lord tells them to collect a double portion. Moses explains: “Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.’ So the people rested on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:29-30, NIV)

These simple commands highlight the Lord’s provision for two needs basic to all people: food and rest. Beyond physical replenishment and sustenance, the Lord also meets these same needs on a spiritual level.

God’s provision in the wilderness saved the Jews from physical death during their 40 years of wandering (Exodus 16:35). Similarly, the Father’s provision through Jesus saved us from spiritual death, meeting our greatest need for forgiveness of our sins. Through Christ, the Lord made a way for us to have a restored relationship with Him now and for eternity. (Colossians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; John 20:31). 

The Lord’s Prayer uses bread as a symbol of God’s provision: “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11, NIV) This is profound when we consider Jesus’ words in the book of John: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:47-51, NIV)
 
Those listening to Jesus’ teaching would have noted the significance of asking for bread by remembering the Father’s provision for His people in Exodus. There’s one key word in the Lord’s Prayer we can’t overlook: “daily.” Just as our bodies were made to need sustenance from food every day, our hearts were made to need daily connection with God. Everything we have, including our ability to earn a living, ultimately comes from Him. Asking the Lord to meet our needs daily keeps us humble, but also enables us to grow in our connection to Him and our dependence upon Him. 

One commentary explains, “Yes, God sustains us physically and meets the less tangible needs of this life. More than that, He fulfills our spiritual needs. He is the bread that satisfies our spiritual hunger. He sustains our hearts. When we ask God for our daily bread, we are humbly acknowledging Him as the sole giver of all we need. We are living day by day, one step at a time. We are exercising simple faith in Him to provide just what we need, when we need it – for every area of life.”
 
The Lord’s commandment for the Israelites to gather a double portion of manna on the sixth day to allow rest on the Sabbath also has significance for us. Times have changed, but the need to rejuvenate our bodies, minds, and souls remains the same. There are many reasons to observe the Sabbath, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll touch on two highlighted by respected author, pastor and teacher Timothy Keller.

Sabbath Reminds Us We’ve Been Liberated from Enslavement
God told the Israelites: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you” (Deuteronomy 15:15, NIV). When we fail to take a Sabbath rest, we are allowing ourselves to be enslaved to the tasks we’re compelled to accomplish. This could be a job, but it could also be any form of busyness that we do without ceasing. If we have the need to be productive constantly, something is out of balance and we are letting those activities enslave us. Sabbath rest reminds us that our work and our accomplishments don’t define us, our relationship with Christ does. He liberated us from enslavement to sin and freed us from needing to find our sense of worth in anything other than Him.

Sabbath Reminds us to Trust God
Being productive makes us feel powerful and in control. It can also make us have a misplaced idea that we are indispensable. The world won’t stop spinning on its axis and the sun won’t forget to rise if we take a day to rest. That’s why the Psalm says, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NASB) When we pause from the acts of achieving and accomplishing, we’re reminded that it’s God who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). We can rest because He is trustworthy. Everything doesn’t depend on us; taking a Sabbath is an act of humility that acknowledges this.

Few people would disagree with the idea that we are over-stimulated and under-rested in our society today. But how should we spend our time when we downshift one day a week to let our souls catch up with us? Tim Keller suggests three ways to observe the Sabbath:

1) Enjoy an activity that is outside your usual daily routine/ occupation. Do something that re-charges and rejuvenates you. Don’t use the Sabbath to accomplish tasks on your to do list.
2) Make time for contemplation. This means taking your eyes off yourself and putting them on God. Start by attending a worship service. Add to it by spending time in prayer or reading Scripture. Set aside specific time to give the Lord the honor and praise He deserves.
3) Make time for inactivity. Let your brain and body rest. Give God room to speak to you by clearing your mind. For highly productive and capable people, doing nothing is often the one thing they struggle with most. (If this makes you twitchy, know that I’m right there with you.)

Johnny Diaz’s song “Breathe” beautifully captures the importance of rest. If you don’t think you have time to watch the video, then you need to click here right now!

Inspired by Timothy Keller’s sermon “Work and Rest” and Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

Commentary quotation from https://www.gotquestions.org/daily-bread.html

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The Scenic Route

I didn’t see it coming. With one swift move on the game board, my son thwarted my carefully constructed plans. We’d been playing the game Ticket to Ride and I had been quietly building my railway empire laying my black trains on tracks spanning from east to west. With each turn, I’d been amassing the cards I needed to connect cities between New York and Seattle. The route was obvious and the rail lines I needed had remained unclaimed for many rounds of play. However, in one move, my son’s blue game pieces blocked my westward path in Helena, Montana.  

Despite my disappointment, I studied the game board carefully and discovered an alternate course I hadn’t considered. It was less direct and forced me to veer south to Salt Lake City but would still enable me to link New York and Seattle on my fictional railway line. After a few more rounds of play, I successfully reached my destination, although the route was more circuitous than I’d planned.

Like my train tracks on the game board, there are times when we are so singularly focused on getting from Point A to Point B that we can’t imagine any other way for plans to unfold. Yet when we’re willing to accept unexpected changes and interruptions, we leave room for God to teach us, reveal Himself to us, and protect us. The Bible includes many stories of people who experience God’s divine re-routing. One example of this occurs when the Israelites leave Egypt after the tenth plague: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.”  (Exodus 13:17-18, NIV)

Following the Lord’s “scenic route” protects the Israelites from war while fleeing Egypt after the first Passover. With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit behind them, the Israelites reach a seeming dead end. However, this obstacle allows them to experience one of the most miraculous events in Scripture: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22, NIV) After passing safely through the waters, they witness the Lord’s power again as the sea closes behind them, engulfing Egyptian chariots and horsemen: “And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”(Exodus 14:31, NIV)

If their trip had simply gone from Egypt to the Promised Land without incident, the Jews would have missed seeing these incredible wonders. The parting of the Red Sea illustrates such a powerful example of God’s miraculous provision and protection that it’s mentioned in the biblical books of Joshua, Psalms, Isaiah and First Corinthians. This singular event has encouraged and strengthened believers for thousands of years.

Once the Israelites pass safely through the waters, they join Moses in exalting the Lord: “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Ex 15:11, NIV) As they praise God, their hope in the future and their trust in Him also increase: “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” (Exodus 15:13, NIV) Because the Israelites witness God’s mighty hand, they gain a deeper understanding of His character and approach Him with renewed awe.

I wonder what we miss when we lament the “scenic route” instead of looking for where the Lord is at work. When life doesn’t go according to our plans and we feel indignant, disillusioned, angry, or bitter, we close ourselves off to seeing God’s power at work. What if we learned to loosen our grasp on the need for control and to trust God when our plans got rerouted? What if we saw alternate paths as opportunities to see the Lord’s hand move? What if, instead of bemoaning the “scenic route,” we prayed with hopeful expectation while trusting God’s leading?

I’m a born planner and feel great satisfaction when events unfold predictably, but I’m learning to embrace unexpected course changes. Detours in my life have caused frustration, inconvenience, and heartbreak for me many times. However, I can see also the Lord’s hand in them. I feel grateful for the ways they’ve deepened my faith, grown my wisdom, and increased my understanding of God’s goodness.

With the wrong perspective, traveling on the “scenic route” has the potential to cause major discouragement. But if we choose to trust the Lord, it can also provide incredible opportunities to witness His power and to grow in faith. 

What’s your response when the Lord leads you on the “scenic route”? Will you relinquish your need for control and let Him reveal Himself and His glory to you? 

Click here and enjoy a contemporary version the Israelites’ song of praise “Who is Like God.” Although there are no lyrics included, you can open your Bible and read along from Exodus 15:11 & 13. 

Post inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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A Hard Heart

The showdown between Moses and Pharaoh in Exodus 7-10 displays the Lord’s power as He sends nine different plagues to Egypt, one at a time. Scripture tells us that even as Pharaoh’s people suffer through water turning to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, the death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, and 3 days of utter darkness, his heart remains hard. Maybe you’ve known someone with a hard heart, or, maybe you’ve gone through seasons of having one yourself. It’s discouraging seeing it in others and not something we want to drift towards in ourselves. So, understanding the causes and solutions for a hardened heart will help us safeguard ourselves and guide us in how to pray for others.

First, let’s clarify the broad biblical meaning of the word “heart.” “The Bible considers the heart to be the hub of human personality, producing the things we would ordinarily ascribe to the ‘mind’… Also, Jesus tells us that the heart is a repository for good and evil and that what comes out of our mouth – good or bad – begins in the heart: ‘A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.’”1 (Luke 6:45, NIV)

No one is immune from developing a hard heart. Even Jesus’ disciples experienced this at times. When Jesus overhears them bickering about not having enough bread for their journey, He says: 

“Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Mark 8:17-21, NIV

Jesus identifies the characteristics of a hard heart as an inability to see, understand, hear, and remember the hand of God at work in our lives. Do you ever lament current circumstances or worry about future ones without remembering how God has provided for you in the past? I do. When we forget to look back at God’s faithfulness or fail to have gratitude, we’re more prone to having feelings of entitlement or resentment when life doesn’t proceed as anticipated. Sometimes our hearts harden when our comfort feels threatened or we don’t get what we think we “deserve.” When we act like God owes us something, we’re overlooking our pitiful state and the Lord’s incredible grace: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-4, NIV)

Similar to lacking gratitude, unconfessed sin also leads to a hardened heart: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10, NIV) Ignoring sin causes us to lose our sensitivity to wrongdoing and dulls the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It’s a bit like developing thick callouses on bare feet: We feel the pain of sin less as our hearts harden more. Consider David’s words to the Lord when he finally confesses and repents after committing adultery with Bathsheba: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17, NIV) David’s heart had to be broken over his sin before he could admit it, turn away from it, and be restored to a right relationship with the Lord.  To prevent our hearts from hardening, we need to be intentional about not letting sin build up in our lives. As we consistently confess and turn away from sin, our hearts remain soft and malleable toward the leading of the Lord.

Pride is another factor leading to a hardened heart. “The root of Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness was his pride and arrogance. Even in the face of tremendous proofs and witnessing God’s powerful hand at work, Pharaoh’s hardened heart caused him to deny the sovereignty of the one, true God.”2 Pride causes us to rely on our own wisdom but Scripture tells us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8, NIV)

Neglecting time with the Lord also contributes to a hardened heart because we remain soft and teachable as we seek Him. David provides a pattern for prayer we can follow daily: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-4, NIV) Studying the Bible consistently also keeps our hearts tethered to the Lord: “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:10-11, NIV)

In addition to prioritizing time with the Lord, connecting with other followers of Jesus is vital for accountability. Fellow believers help us to recognize attitudes or behaviors that are dulling our sensitivity to sin or causing us to grow complacent: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV) Gathering to worship and study Scripture with other believers also fortifies our faith and keeps us from drifting into apathy or hard heartedness: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25, NIV)

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians provides an inspiring example of how to pray for others and ourselves: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Ephesians 3:18, NIV)

Click here to enjoy a worship moment Kristian Stanfill’s “My Heart is Yours.”

  1. Quoted from “What are the causes and solutions for a hardened heart?” www.gotquestions.org 

2. ibid

Post inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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Becoming Spiritually Durable

Moses’ conversations with the Lord may have happened thousands of years ago, but there’s something so relatable about them. Consider, for example, how he complains to God after Pharaoh increases the Israelites’ workload: “Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.’” (Exodus 5:22-23, NIV)

Maybe you’ve felt like Moses at some point– you stepped out in faith and took a risk to obey the Lord. Despite your best efforts, things didn’t turn out as you hoped or expected. If we’re pursuing God’s will, should we anticipate encountering difficulty? Is it reasonable to expect the path of God’s will to be free of roadblocks or conflict? While we tend to label challenges and setbacks as “bad” because they’re painful, uncomfortable, or frustrating, I don’t think God sees them through the same negative lens. From His vantage point, they’re just tools that are part of the process helping us to grow, mature, and understand our need for Him. 

Think of this concept in terms of physical fitness. If you want to have a healthy cardiovascular system, strong muscles, and durable bones, then challenges need to be a regular part of your exercise routine. Instructors for my spin classes are constantly pushing me to increase resistance to make it harder to pedal. It’s grueling, but if a workout is too easy, it’s not building endurance or strength. Making our bodies work hard may not feel good in the moment, but it produces durability that will benefit us in the long run. 

This same principle applies in our spiritual lives. We don’t grow through easy, comfortable, or predictable circumstances. Progressing in spiritual maturity comes from trusting God through conflicts, roadblocks, and setbacks. Let’s take a look at some passages of Scripture and see what we can learn.

1. Difficulties help us build perseverance and character. Trials remind us that our hope isn’t in earthly circumstances going the way we want, but in knowing that God deeply loves us. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5, NIV)

2. Hardships lead us to experience joy knowing we’re persevering and maturing in our faith. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

3. Trials refine our faith and show that it’s authentic. God receives glory when we endure hardships without losing hope in Him. “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)

4. Setbacks keep us spiritually sharp. When the enemy tries to thwart God’s plans, we can fight back using the spiritual authority we have through Christ. As we stand firm in the faith, we experience God’s power at work in and through us. Trusting the Lord through hardships also gives us empathy and unity with other believers experiencing similar difficulties. “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)

5. Challenges help us clarify our purpose and identify areas we need to surrender to the Lord. Sometimes they humble us and reveal sin we’ve been ignoring. Once we confess and repent, we’re freed to move forward and focus more completely on God and His plans for us. We’re also able to identify with Jesus, who experienced and overcame opposition. “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)

When you experience setbacks or conflicts as you’re pursuing God’s will, don’t fall into the trap the Israelites did. Although Moses provides reassurance that the Lord will redeem them and bring them to the land He promised their forefathers, they refuse to receive his encouragement: “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.” (Exodus 6:9, NIV) Sometimes we can be so mired in difficult circumstances that we reject truth offered to us by others. In seasons of challenge and hardship beware of becoming bitter or incapable of receiving encouragement. Don’t let setbacks harden your heart, causing hopeful and positive words to bounce off you.

Rather than seeing difficulties as roadblocks to accomplishing God’s plans, we can see them as necessary parts of the maturing process. Jesus reminds the disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV) When we expect troubles to be part of life, we’re less likely to let them surprise or discourage us. Instead, we equip ourselves with encouragement from God’s Word. Then we’re more prepared to press on and trust Him to use hardships for our good and His glory.

If you’re in a season of challenge or discouragement right now, let Mac Powell’s song “New Creation” lift your spirits today. Click here to listen.

Post inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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