Category: Trials

Almost Home

My boys just returned to college after a month of being home for the holidays. Our oldest is starting his final semester. It feels like yesterday that he was in high school and we were sitting at the kitchen table discussing where he would go. I remember encouraging him to branch out saying, “College is only a few years–it’s a great time to experience living in a different part of the country.”

He embraced that idea and chose a school 1500 miles from home. Over the last three-and-a-half years he’s experienced a culture that’s quite different from where we live. It’s been a rich time of education for him, both in and out of the classroom. Despite my enthusiasm about his college choice, I still bristle when anyone refers to it as his “home.” While we don’t know where he’ll end up living when he graduates, in my mind, his home will always be under our roof.
 
Most of us have experienced temporary lodgings—living somewhere for a while that isn’t our true home. We learn new things and have different experiences, but we know we’re not there permanently. I think many of us forget that this is also the case with our time here on earth. However, Scripture repeatedly reminds us of this truth. Look at Jesus’ statement in His prayer for all believers: “They do not belong to this world any more than I do.” (John 17:16, NLT) Or consider Peter’s words emphasizing that Christians are “temporary residents and foreigners in the world.” (1 Peter 2:11, NLT)
 
In keeping with this theme, Kelly Minter warns us of becoming enchanted by the things of this world. She says “I’ve been bamboozled by the shiny objects of what money can buy, hoodwinked by the allure of fame, swept up by dynamic personalities that weren’t always authentic.” (page 170) Her words remind me of this passage: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17, NIV) The world, as it’s referred to in this passage, is “a system of values and goals from which God is excluded.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary) We live in tension with these competing perspectives of worldly wisdom and biblical wisdom every day. It’s why we prioritize studying God’s Word and spending time with others who seek Him. We need to remind one another that this world is not our home. 
 
While it can be difficult to live and think differently as followers of Christ, it is also more fulfilling and rewarding. Kelly Minter highlights this saying: “The longer I follow Jesus, though, the more the temporal pleasures of this earth really do dim in comparison to the joy of His fellowship and the privilege of loving and serving people, pleasures that are eternal. The end of Jacob’s life inspires me to live fully in view of God’s promises, even the ones that might be a way off. Jacob could have made his permanent home in Egypt and identified with its prosperity, but he knew that none of those flash-in-the-pan riches could hold a candle to taking his place as part of God’s royal lineage.” (pages 170-171)
 
Like Jacob and Joseph, we need to maintain our focus on the Lord during our time on earth. God’s sovereignty hasn’t been threatened by tumultuous events at any point in history, including the present. He is the only truly firm foundation for our lives. This is a good reminder as many worldly pleasures, comforts, and distractions have been stripped away by COVID-19. As we look to the Lord to steady us, we can also share His hope with the world that desperately needs it. 
 
In the book of Colossians, Paul admonishes us: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” I like the directness of the Message version of this passage: “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you.” (Colossians 3:1-4, The Message)

Life right now may be hard for you, but remember this world isn’t our home. Let that truth encourage you today and every day. Set your mind on things above and let God use you to bring hope to those who need a perspective shift too. The trials we’re facing now are a blip in the light of eternity. If you need a reminder of that, enjoy “Almost Home” by MercyMe.

Kelly Minter, Finding God Faithful: A Study on the Life of Joseph, Lifeway Press, 2019.

Eugene Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, NavPress/ Tyndale House, 1993.

John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books, 1983, page 891.

Image by Ida Damkilde from Pixabay 

Playing the Long Game

Sitting across the chess board from my son, he explained the rules and basic strategies of the game. I’d grown up playing checkers but had never ventured into the more complicated world of chess. My son’s agile mind seemed more adept at managing the pieces and remembering the various rules for moving them. After he’d beat me, yet again, he explained his strategy: “See the future.” I realized he wasn’t playing one move at a time but mapping out multiple options and anticipating countermoves. He understood the importance of playing the long game. 

Author and teacher Kelly Minter draws a comparison between chess, checkers, and our spiritual lives saying, “I am queen of the short game…On my bad days, I measure God’s favor toward me (or lack thereof) by whatever has gone right or wrong that day. When I do this, I forget that not only is God after the long game in my life—my personal sanctification, spiritual growth, blessing of others, heart growing to look more like Christ’s—He’s also after His long game. In other words, God cares deeply about our individual lives, and at the same time, He wants to use us in His far bigger story of redemption. We’re meant for something much larger than ourselves, but this is easy to forget in our instant gratification and selfie culture.” (p. 145)

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 is just one of many in the Bible that illustrates this. He shows amazing trust in God and a willingness to endure hardship for the Lord’s greater purposes. Consider Joseph’s explanation when he reveals his identity to his brothers who had sold him into slavery 22 years earlier: “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:4-7, NIV) 

Instead of being vengeful towards his brothers for selling him or angry at God for allowing him to endure such hardship, Joseph focuses on the good that resulted from his presence in Egypt. He sees that his oversight of the food storage and distribution not only saved Egyptian lives but would ultimately preserve his family line as well. Kelly Minter explains, “So far in our study we’ve been mostly looking at Joseph’s story from a checkerboard perspective—lots of reactionary and sometimes unrelated moves that don’t seem to be governed by a bigger plan. We’re finally at a point where we’re beginning to see God’s much bigger plan of redemption playing out, a plan marked by patience and forethought. We’re beginning to see that God, in and through all the little moves of His people in our story—some sacrificial, some selfish—is working out a great plan to turn the house of Jacob into the nation of Israel in the land of Egypt. 

One might say all the players in Joseph’s story were playing checkers while God was playing chess. Except God isn’t playing a game with kings, queens, pawns, and knights. He’s writing a story of redemption that’s all about one King whose name is Jesus—the King who will rescue His people from their sins.” (p.149)

We know this ultimate truth about Jesus, but sometimes I wonder how many of us let it impact us daily. It’s commonplace lately to hear stories about lives filled with hurts and hardships. Many of us are grieving the loss of our pre-COVID lives. In the past year we’ve lost loved ones and livelihoods; we’ve grappled with depression and anxiety; we’ve struggled with loneliness and longed for community. We’re under pressure at work and at home. Marriages and families are crumbling. Some of us are suffering from physical ailments or caring for others with major medical problems. And to make matters worse, our nation continues to battle political strife and deep division. 

With so many sad, hard, and negative things happening all around us, I wonder sometimes if we’re doing exactly what Kelly Minter describes: getting so mired in the details that we’re forgetting God’s bigger plans. Is it possible that these hardships we’re facing could be reminding us of our need for Him? Instead of magnifying the difficulties in our lives, perhaps we should try a different tactic by trusting God to use them for good. When we’re grieving unwelcome changes or staggering losses, let’s look for the new things He might be doing.

Think of the hardships Joseph endured that preserved his family line, which ultimately brought us Jesus, our Redeemer. Because of Him, we have hope in the midst of every struggle. We have purpose and fulfillment. Our foundation is secure. Jesus is the answer to all the world’s problems and to our personal ones as well. This isn’t just a nice “Christian” thing to say—it’s the truth. So, if you call Him your Savior and Lord, then live like you believe it. Let your faith in Him steady you in these trying times and then ask God how He wants to use you as part of His bigger plan. It’s time to put away the reactionary thinking of checkers and to trust in God’s strategy for His long term plans.

Even though the world feels like it’s falling apart, rest assured that Jesus is holding all things together:

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3a ESV)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17 ESV)

If you’ve been letting the troubles in your life or our world drag you down, maybe it’s time to change your focus. Let “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton remind you that you already have exactly what you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZXRIw5uBuY

Kelly Minter, Finding God Faithful: A Study on the Life of Joseph, Lifeway Press, 2019.

Christmas Can’t Be Stolen

The high-pitched sound was impossible to ignore. Perplexed, I picked up my phone to silence it and saw an alert flashing on my screen. My heart sank reading the news–our county was being required to shelter in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. It’s feeling like March 2020 all over again, but this time we’re in the Christmas season. The virus continues to make us hold our plans loosely and to find new ways to connect with others and do our jobs. As the list of restrictions and limitations grows longer, it’s starting to feel like we could re-name Dr. Seuss’ classic book How the Pandemic Stole Christmas. The situation feels frustrating and out of our control. However, we still have a choice in how we respond.

That’s what came to mind as I read Kelly Minter’s commentary on the story of Joseph. The false accusations that landed him in prison probably left him feeling frustrated and out of control too. But in Genesis 41, we read about a stunning reversal as Joseph is set free from prison and placed second in command over all of Egypt. Thanks to his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams and his wise stewardship during seven years of plenty, the Egyptians remain well-fed and prosperous as famine ravages the land. 

In Genesis 42 we see the famine also affects surrounding nations when Joseph’s brothers arrive from Canaan in hopes of buying grain. They appear before Joseph to make their request and he recognizes them immediately. The brothers, however, have no idea it’s him. In describing Joseph’s initial encounter with his brothers, Kelly Minter observes: “Even though [the brothers] had been living in the promised land of Canaan, their hearts don’t appear to have softened much, despite them having access to the God of their fathers. On the other hand, though Joseph had been living outside the land, he’d been dwelling in the presence of God.” (p. 84) Kelly emphasizes here that what matters most is how we respond to our circumstances and engage with God through them.

She continues, “You may be waiting for a difficult circumstance to change, but with Jesus in that place with you, the greater miracle is that you can be changed…Our physical location doesn’t determine our redemption story; He is our redemption story. So although some circumstances remain unchanging, our God remains too. The gift of Himself is the fulfillment of the promise. As we dwell in His presence, we experience life change whether we’re in Egypt [where we don’t want to be] or Canaan [where we do want to be.] Forgiveness, hope, redemption, and reconciliation can and will occur because He is with us. Circumstances do not achieve this. He does.” (p. 84-85)

So, what does this have to do with sheltering in place in 2020? Everything. So much of what we value and rely on has been stripped away from us. Favorite traditions and gatherings with friends and family probably won’t happen this year. Many people are isolated, depressed, anxious, and struggling financially. But here’s one thing that no shelter in place order can take away: God’s presence. This is at the heart of the Christmas season, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1:23, italics added.)

If you’re struggling to feel God’s presence during this seemingly unending season of difficulty, let the Lord’s words be an invitation to you this Christmas: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV) Use the extra time at home to cultivate a deeper relationship with the Lord. In the absence of the usual stress and bustle of the Christmas season, embrace the opportunity to focus on the real meaning of all our celebrating.

The Grinch failed to steal joy from the residents of Whoville; COVID can’t steal it from us this Christmas either. Yes, it’s going to look a bit different this year. But what matters most remains as true today as it did in Bethlehem long ago: God became flesh and dwelt among us. He’s with us and that’s a hope we can cling to regardless of our circumstances.

Let Matthew West’s song “The Hope of Christmas” lead you to the heart of this season. 

Kelly Minter, Finding God Faithful: A Study of the Life of Joseph, Lifeway Press 2019.

Artwork courtesy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, Random House, 1957.

I choose joy.

I’ve been writing blog posts consistently since fall of 2012. In all that time, I’ve never had a guest writer on my site. But today that changes. With his permission, I’m sharing an article written by my son, who is a junior in college. He has been sheltering in place in his dorm room 1500 miles from home. As a Community Leader (RA) in his residence hall, he chose to stay at school, continue his job, and do classes online. There are twelve other students in the building who didn’t return home. In his role as a CL, he was asked to write an article for a weekly newsletter sent out to the 550 students who usually live in the community. When he shared what he’d written with me, I felt compelled to give it a broader audience. It’s a thought provoking perspective– especially coming from someone so young. I hope his words inspire and challenge you like they did me.

“I choose joy.” by Garrett McCullum
Originally published in “Updates from the HRC” Special Edition, Issue 6, April 19, 2020. (Baylor University)

It seems like every day we hear more bad news. Coronavirus is still spreading. Shelter in place has been extended again. We haven’t seen our friends in weeks. Someone we know is sick. We are stuck at home with families we may or may not like but are definitely tired of seeing every waking moment. Our professor still hasn’t figured out how to unmute his microphone on Zoom. 

Often times when I talk to friends and family over Zoom or Facetime or text the conversation centers on coronavirus and sheltering in place. We talk a lot about how hard it is to be stuck at home, unable to see friends or even family in some cases. We talk about how long this might drag on and how much different online classes are. It’s not uncommon for me to feel more discouraged after these calls than before. When we talk only about the things that are difficult and only focus on what we have lost, it is hard to find any encouragement.

Things may not be easy and fun right now, but there is more to life than coronavirus. I think that too often we choose to let all the bad things in the world color our attitude and outlook on life. We choose to dwell in our sadness, frustration, and loneliness. The problem with this is that there will always be hardships, and even when we aren’t sheltering in place life won’t be perfect. So instead of sitting in loneliness and self-pity, I am going to choose joy. No matter the circumstance I am going to make a conscious choice to be joyful. 

Our happiness does not need to depend on the world around us, in fact if it does, we will be disappointed time and time again. The apostle Paul went through countless hardships in his life and ministry. He was imprisoned frequently, beaten repeatedly by both Jews and Gentiles, shipwrecked three times, and almost constantly in danger. Paul had every reason to be miserable and give up. But through all of it he did not lose hope and through all of it he remained joyful. As he sat in prison, Paul wrote to the Philippians, “The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” 

Paul’s hope and joy did not come from this world, they came from God and his work in the world. Paul knew something that we would do well to remind ourselves of: we serve a God who is greater than imprisonment, greater than coronavirus, even greater than death. Just last Sunday we celebrated the resurrection, when Jesus rose triumphant over all of our sin. In the resurrection we have hope beyond this world, an assurance that no matter how dark the world may seem, God is greater. 

So, because of this we have a choice. We can choose to place our hope in the world and its uncertainty. There will be good times and bad times, and our outlook and attitude will change as often as the weather. Or we can choose to place our hope in God. There will still be good times and bad times, but we can choose to look beyond these to the God who made it all and has a plan for everything. I’m going to choose God. When I feel overwhelmed and when I feel completely alone, I am going to look to him. I am going to do my best to not let my circumstances determine how I feel, I am going to lean on God for hope and assurance. The world is only as dark as we allow it to be, all we have to do is ask and God will shine his light into the darkness. I’ll leave you with this verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Photo by Emma Nelson

A Spacious Place

Sitting in the driver’s seat as my husband backed the boat into the water, my heart pounded with apprehension. The launch ramp was short and the levee across the narrow slough was only a few feet away. The tight space to maneuver made me nervous, especially with other boats in the water nearby. I breathed a sigh of relief once I tied up at the miniscule dock to wait for my husband.

Only a few hundred yards away, a much wider channel on the Delta beckoned us, promising a day of boating in the summer sun. I had to remind myself of the fun that awaited us every time I felt dread about launching the boat.

It may seem funny that I imagined that scene as I read Elihu’s words of wisdom to Job:

“He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.” (Job 36:16 NIV)

He encourages Job that his season of hardship will draw him out of dire straits and into a broad place. It’s a surprising use of the word “wooing.” Why would he need to be wooed from distress? Wouldn’t he run from it on his own? After researching the meaning of “woo” in the original language, I discovered it’s defined as “to stimulate, seduce, move, persuade, or provoke.” Elihu’s metaphor shows that it is only by passing through the jaws of distress that we can enter the fullness of the “spacious place.” It’s not so different from labor contractions that help with delivering a baby.

Bible commentator W.F. Adene provides a deeper understanding of the contrasting metaphors depicting a life in narrow straits and one in spacious places. He explains that various influences combine to make life “narrow” for us. These things include:

Selfishness: The tendency to think about ourselves overshadows the world around us. If we’re living “chiefly for our own ends, we are shut into a small circle of personal, private interests, and, the great world being ignored, we ourselves shrink into littleness.”

Worldliness: When we’re consumed by the things of this world and overlook the eternal, we become short-sighted. Our thoughts and interests are “shut in to the domain of the visible and temporal.”

Conventionality: Our worldview narrows when we lose the courage of personal conviction and “fall back on the ideas and practices” of the world around us. 

Routine: When all goes smoothly in our lives, “the mill grinds on in a dreamy atmosphere of changeless indifference.” We grow apathetic if nothing rouses us to see beyond ourselves.

Consequently, there are times when “God delivers us from narrowness by means of affliction.” The Lord sees how hurtful and limiting narrowness is to us, so He uses difficulties to spur us onward and out of our rigid, stunted ways of thinking. Like the birthing process, the pressure of our hardships awakens us and goads us to move forward. “Then, as it cures our errors, it leads us out of its own constraints.”

Adene goes on to explain that God’s deliverance takes us to a more spacious place in three ways:

Liberty of Action: Jesus tells us in John’s gospel “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:38, NIV) Freedom of the soul comes when we look beyond ourselves. “There is a large place with great scope for work, which can only be enjoyed in unselfishness and unworldliness.”

Breadth of View: Our vision is broadened and deepened through experiencing sorrow. “Although at first it may be cramped and confined to the immediate present by the absorbing influence of pain, when deliverance comes, this is followed by a wonderful mental expansion. No one knows the depth and breadth of life who has not been through the waters of affliction.”

Largeness of Joy: Emerging from the confines of a painful season, we discover a new sense of freedom. As we grow out of stunted and limited ways of thinking, our ability to experience the deep joy of the Lord grows. Our minds become spacious places as we become more accepting of the variety of ways God works.

Seasons of suffering and hardship open our eyes and give us new perspective on ourselves, our circumstances, our relationships, and God. They teach us in ways that good times can’t.

Lisa Harper explains, “Whether the genesis of the pain and hardship you’ve had to walk through was caused through no fault of your own, like Job’s agony, was the consequence of bad, perhaps even sinful, decisions, or was the result of God’s sovereign, albeit mysterious pruning, we all have a choice in how we respond after we’ve been injured. We can choose to isolate in shame, become prickly and accusatory because of guilt, or move toward God in the tenderhearted posture of humility, trust, and repentance—the only path to healing and restoration.” (p. 116)

Perhaps God is using difficult circumstances to woo you into a more spacious place where the richness of a broader perspective awaits. Consider how He might be urging you toward freedom as you enjoy Austin French’s “Freedom Hymn.”

This post is primarily an adaptation of a sermon entitled “A Broad Place” by W.F. Adene. You can read the original outline by clicking here.

Lisa Harper, Job: A Story of Unlikely Joy, Lifeway Press 2018.

The Gift of Empathy

Stepping into line, I clutched my son’s tiny hand and kept my head down as we inched toward his classroom door. The preschool check-in process took a while, but usually created a welcome opportunity to chat with other moms. On that day, however, just walking into the building required excruciating effort. Participating in such a “normal” activity seemed surreal when I felt so raw, exposed, and vulnerable.

Just a few days earlier, I’d sat at my dad’s bedside as he exhaled his final breath. For the two weeks prior to that I’d been consumed with trekking back and forth to see him as he’d received hospice care. I’d been so removed from regular life that it felt overwhelming just dropping off my son at school. 

I assumed most of the moms in line knew I was grieving since I’d received flowers from the class. My sagging shoulders and red-rimmed eyes hinted at my fragile state, yet not one of them acknowledged my loss. I didn’t fault them for it—most of my peers hadn’t yet experienced the death of a parent and didn’t know what to say.

After a few awkward minutes, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder. Looking up, a mom I barely knew pulled me in close and said, “I’m so sorry for your loss. My dad died a few years ago– I totally get what you’re going through.” She described the range of emotions she’d experienced, mirroring mine exactly. What a relief to encounter someone who understood my pain.  

In the years since then, I’ve been blessed by other compassionate people who have reached out to empathize with me through different struggles. None of them tried to fix my problems, but they all showed me compassion and understanding. They made me feel seen, heard, and loved. These kind acts beautifully illustrate Paul’s words in the New Testament:

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

Painful experiences are fertile ground for receiving God’s comfort. They also enable us to grow in our compassion for people. When we’re going through hardships, we can find hope knowing God will use them to bless others in the future.

Once you’ve experienced true empathy, you’re able to recognize how it differs from sympathy. Empathizing with others means we identify with their pain and connect with them in it. It’s when we say, “I get it, I know how you feel.” Sympathy, however, is like saying “I feel bad for you.” Instead of being a participant in the pain, a person offering sympathy remains a passive observer feeling pity for the hardships of another. While the intentions are kind, it can make a struggling person feel emotionally isolated. If you’ve ever gone through a hard time, you probably know that receiving a person’s empathy comforts so much more than the clichéd words of sympathy.

Sometimes we encounter people in pain and we have no frame of reference to empathize with them. It’s tempting to hold back and say nothing for fear of getting it wrong. However, there are simple tools we can use to respond in caring and sensitive ways that promote connection and understanding. Here are a few I’ve learned:

-Listen to understand, not to respond. Don’t get distracted thinking about what you’ll say next– you’ll miss what the person is telling you.

-Listen for feelings, not facts. Validate their emotions and don’t judge them as bad or good. Focus on the person, not on the details of their situation.

-Be present and patient. Let the struggling person have room to share the tangle of emotions they’re feeling. Get comfortable sitting in silence too. Remember your presence will communicate your support more than any helpful suggestions you might be tempted to offer. People may forget what you say, but they remember the way you made them feel.

-Avoid sharing stories about yourself. This may seem like empathy, but it’s really turning the attention to yourself. Saying “I’ve been there” or “I feel you” is enough. If they want to know more, they’ll ask.

-Don’t offer advice, quick assurances, or comparisons that minimize what they’re going through (ie: “At least….” Or “It could be worse…”). Don’t offer the “bright side” of the situation they aren’t ready to hear.

-Remember it’s not your job to speak for God or to make conjectures about why He’s letting a hard thing happen. Don’t over-spiritualize, preach, or quote a verse attempting to make them feel better. Instead, offer to pray with and for the person.

-Circle back later and see how they’re doing. Ask if there are any specific ways you can be praying. Sometimes after the initial conversation, we check off the “reach out to my struggling friend” box and move on. Difficult seasons can last a long time and most people appreciate ongoing support (to whatever degree you have the bandwidth to offer it.)

Want to learn more about the difference between sympathy and empathy? Watch this two minute video by Dr. Brené Brown.

Singer/ songwriter Toby Mac gives us an intimate glimpse into the pain of losing his son, Truett, in his song “21 Years.” Let it remind you to look at others with empathy and to invite God to use you to comfort them.

The Blessing of the Broken Road

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tossed the essay on my son’s bed and congratulated him. Across the top of the page, his teacher had written “This is AMAZING!” in bold blue print. He’d been assigned to write about an event that sparked a period of personal growth for him. His descriptive language impressed me, but it was the recognition of how a difficult season in his life had changed him for the better that made me weepy. What a joy it was to see him choosing to learn and grow through hardships instead of letting them make him bitter and cynical.

It’s hard work to re-frame the way we view difficult times. We’re quick to label them as bad and to rail against the unfairness of having to endure them. Most of us view setbacks as interruptions from the way life is “supposed” to unfold, betraying a sense of entitlement we may not realize we have. But when we pause to examine hard circumstances further, there is much we can learn. The opportunities for personal and spiritual growth are only limited by our willingness to shift our perspectives. When we begin to view hard circumstances through a biblical lens, we start seeing that what looks bad on the surface is brimming with good.

Perhaps one of the best examples of this comes from the life of Joseph recorded in Genesis. After being sold by his jealous brothers to slave traders, he finds himself in a series of unfortunate circumstances. Despite being a person of honor and integrity, he’s falsely accused of rape, thrown in prison, and left there for two years. Eventually his character and faithfulness to God lead to a stunning reversal. After interpreting a prophetic dream for Pharaoh, he’s made second in command of Egypt. In this position, he’s tasked with ensuring the crops produced during seven years of plenty are stored to prepare for seven subsequent years of famine, in keeping with Pharaoh’s dream.

Meanwhile, Joseph’s family in Canaan experiences the ravages of the famine and heads to Egypt to buy food. His ten older brothers appear before him to buy grain and, “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.” (Genesis 42:8, NIV)

After several interactions with them over time, Joseph can’t restrain himself any longer and proclaims, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.’” (Genesis 45:4b-7, NIV)

Rather than spewing anger at them for selling him into slavery and inflicting years of misery upon him, he reassures them. Joseph sees the big picture and realizes that God, in His sovereignty, used him to save his family and many others from starving to death during the famine. Later, he reiterates this to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20, NIV)

Reading that leads me to think of someone else who endured hardship for the good of many: Jesus. Just as Joseph tumbled downward from his privileged position as Jacob’s favorite son to a lowly slave, Jesus left the glory of heaven to become a lowly man: “[Jesus] made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7, NIV)

Joseph endured the humiliation of being falsely accused and punished for a crime he didn’t commit.  In the same way, Jesus was falsely accused and received punishment for the sins of all humankind: “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV)

Scripture explains the purpose behind this: “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4, NIV)

Joseph traveled a broken road, but he saw how his painful circumstances led to ultimate good—the saving of many lives. Like him, Jesus’ suffering led to an even greater good–the saving of humankind. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV)

God allowed His son to walk a painful path for the sake of ultimate good, triumphing over evil, death, and sin. Could it be possible that the lesser hardships we endure can also be used for His glory and our good? 

Beloved author and theologian C.S. Lewis describes pain as “God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Are you willing to listen? How about refocusing your perspective on hardships using the lens of God’s goodness? This can move you past the pain and discomfort to discover the greater significance, as Joseph did.

Keep his story in mind and consider how your hurts and hardships might be pointing you toward the Lord as you listen to “Bless the Broken Road” by Selah.

To learn about other parallels between Joseph and Jesus, click here.

Assuming God is Good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God’s Names Reveal His Character

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

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

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

Strength and Endurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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