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Difficult Situations

Mar21

Psalm 25:17 – My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! (NLT)

Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him. (NIV)

 

Difficult situations can test our endurance. Sometimes difficult situations make it difficult to trust God. We trust Him in the first few days, but then those days turn into months. We thought it would be over by now. We thought we had come through the battle, but now we are getting attacked again. It’s hard to endure and trust when we can’t see that things are getting better, when we not only can’t see the finish line but also begin to doubt that one even exists. Anne F. Beiler said, “My philosophy is: Life is hard, but God is good. Try not to confuse the two.” The Bible encourages us to put our trust in God even through hardship – especially through hardship! God is worthy to be trusted because He is good! When our grandson was a toddler, he was being punished for something he had done. I asked him why he had done it, and his reply was “I made a bad, bad choice”. Sometimes our suffering in life is the consequence of our own bad, bad choice. Sometimes our suffering comes from the unjust hands of others. Sometimes even believers ask, “Why is God allowing this to happen?” I don’t know why God allows suffering. I think that there are times that God allows us to suffer so that we can learn that He is sufficient in all situations. Oswald Chambers said, “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God, whose ways you may not understand at the time.” Lord, we know that You can be trusted because You are good, but sometimes trusting You is hard when we are going through difficult times! We need to confess our difficulty, even quoting the father in Mark 9:24 — “I believe. Help me with my unbelief”. We may feel that the anguish is more than we can handle and ask You to show us where You are working, but even if You choose not to give us that knowledge, please help us to stay focused on the truth that You are in charge and that You have a greater plan and purpose. Charles Hodge said, “The ultimate ground of faith and knowledge is confidence in God.” We can have confidence in You, Lord because we know from experience that You are loving and wise and sovereign. Even in difficult situations – especially in difficult situations – help us to have deliberate confidence in You.

Humble Ourselves and Pray

Feb24

Romans 13:1-2 – Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. (HCSB)

 

As I am having “just one more” cup of coffee, I am looking at a social media site trying to see what the day holds for everyone else before I try to tackle my own to-do list. I read post after post about our government leaders written by people who also write post after post about loving Jesus. I am sad for the writers of these posts. God calls us to honor our governing authorities. He doesn’t say to only honor them if we think they deserve it or to honor them only if they do what we want or any other “if”. The writers of these posts openly write that our leaders are unbelievers but continuously hold them to the standards of believers. If they are unbelievers, it is a standard they cannot meet. In Romans 8:7-8 Paul reminds us “the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” We as Christians are the ones called to follow the law of God. Instead of criticizing our government leaders by posting pictures of them on the golf course or counting the number of vacations each one has taken, we need to be praying for them. God will not hold his children responsible for the actions of our leaders, but He does hold his children responsible for our own actions. We are called to honor (Titus 3:1). We are called to pray (2 Chronicles 7:14). We are called to show mercy (James 2:13). We can disagree with our leaders, but we can disagree with honor, knowing that honoring does not equate endorsing. We can show our convictions while also showing respect. We need to realize that honoring our leaders is a witness to them as well as to all who observe our behavior. There are times we may identify strongly with Jeremiah 10:21 (For the shepherds are stupid: they don’t seek the Lord. Therefore they have not prospered, and their whole flock is scattered.), but all the time we know that God has allowed these “shepherds” to be our leaders. May I live with Joshua 1:9 ever before me while following Paul’s direction in 1 Timothy 2: 1-2.

Just Be Quiet

Feb18

Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.” (HCSB)

sleeping-girl When our son was about two and a half, my husband and I decided to take a family vacation to Florida. We talked it over and came up with the perfect plan — we would begin our journey at our son’s bedtime.  Being a small child plus riding in the car plus being sleepy was certain to equal a quiet trip to Florida, and because it would be so quiet in the car, I planned to nap while my husband drove and be fresh to drive while he napped later on.  It was a well thought out plan, a wonderful plan, a perfect plan ….. on paper!   We failed to account for the excitement of a two and a half year old little boy!  From the time we buckled him into his car seat in Roanoke, Virginia until we unbuckled him in Orlando, Florida, he talked. He talked about everything.  He talked about nothing.  He talked to fill the silence. He talked the entire trip.  Those were the days before in car movies, so it was up to mom to come up with games

“Let’s play the Quiet Game”

“Okay, I lose”

“Let’s look at the road signs and find the letters to spell your name”

“I don’t see any signs or letters”

Quite honestly, I think my husband and I were willing to do most anything if he would just be quiet. We were beyond the wanting quiet for all night.  We were beyond wanting quiet for hours.  We were praying for quiet minutes, maybe even seconds!  I was telling that now funny story to my friend over coffee, when it occurred to me that the way my husband and I felt that night must be how God feels when we chatter and prattle on in our prayers.  We talk about everything. We talk about nothing. We talk just to fill the silence.  We talk our entire prayer time.  We try to play the Quiet Game but our actions say “okay, I lose” because being quiet is too difficult. Is there any surprise that God says “be still” (Psalm 46:10)?  What about when He says, “just be quiet”?  We may even admit that it’s God’s turn to speak, but we want the burning bush, the booming voice, the angel choir.  We ask for a sign but quickly declare, “I don’t see any signs or letters” if the sign is not our name with a neon flashing arrow pointing out the path.  We are on a journey in this life, and we know that for God’s children, a wonderful, exciting place is waiting.  We have so much to say to God as we travel along, but we need to have times of quiet and rest.  God, I know that You don’t need for me to be quiet so that You can rest, but I need to be quiet so that I can rest in You.  Help me to keep Exodus 14:14 always in mind.

More Precious Than Diamonds

Feb7

Isaiah 43:4a – “Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you…..” (HCSB)

I was sitting with a group of friends, sipping coffee and chatting about everything that came to mind, when one of my friends expressed her desire for a ring with chocolate diamonds. Someone chocolatediamondselse in the group began to tell us that chocolate diamonds are actually low quality diamonds and that before they were renamed “chocolate” by the Le Vian Corporation, they were just brown and were used in industrial settings or even tossed into the road with the gravel. The people who can determine the value of these stones thought they were useless. As she told about how someone had seen their value and elevated them from “useless brown rocks” to “expensive chocolate diamonds”, I was suddenly overcome with the realization “That’s how we are!” Many times the people who we have allowed to determine our value label us useless. We allow the world to determine that we are stones to be trashed rather than diamonds to be treasured. I have no idea if my friend’s story about the brown diamonds is true, but I do know that when God looks at me, He doesn’t see me as paltry; He sees me as precious. I may not ever be honored in the opinion of the world, but Isaiah 43:4 tells me that I am honored in the opinion of the One who created the world. Darlene Sala has said, “God has formed many diamonds, but He made only one you”, and Psalm 139:14 says I am wonderfully made. People may see me as worthless, but God sent His Son to die for me because He thinks I’m worth it. I thank You, Lord, that when You look at me You see something precious. Psalm 3:3 tells me that You lift my head, and I know that in Your eyes I am cherished.

Hiding From The World

Dec5

childhidingPsalm 55: 6-7 —  “I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest– I would flee far away and stay in the desert” (NIV)

Psalm 32:7 — You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (NIV)

As soon as I finish my coffee, I think I’ll run away! Or build a cave of sofa cushions and hide from the world. There is so much going on, so much I want to do, and I am feeling overwhelmed and somewhat defeated. I recently saw a sign on a social media site that said “I have thought of running away more as an adult than I ever did as a child.” I totally identify with that statement because that’s where I am right now!! Mentally, my bags are packed and my get-outta-here shoes are laced. Things are getting more and more difficult to plan, and everyone knows I love a good plan! I have tried to do all that was expected of me. I have tried to accommodate everyone’s preferences. When things didn’t work, I have tired to fix it. I have tried all I know to do. Obviously, the only clear answer is to run away somewhere – I don’t know where — somewhere that isn’t here — and that will fix everything!! I have been told that people have a flight-or-fight response. I don’t like to fight so flight seems like the perfect plan! Lord, as I look in my Bible, I see that King David felt these same feelings. In Psalm 55: 6-7, he wants out! He doesn’t want get-outta-here shoes; he wants wings, and his GPS is already set for the “somewhere that isn’t here” destination. Lord, I know that running away is not a viable option. I don’t have a wood and stone hiding place to run to, but Lord, I have a hiding place in You. Psalm 32:7 tells me that not only are You my hiding place but that You will protect me and surround me with songs.   Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra said “He who sings scares away his woes.” Like David in Psalm 104:33, I will sing; I will sing praise to You as long as I live. Instead of running away I will run to You. Psalm 119:114 tells me that You are my shelter and my shield and that I should put my hope in Your word.  I guess it’s time to put the cushions back on the sofa!

Living Out My Gratitude

Nov27

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (HCSB)

1 Chronicles 16:34 – Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. (HCSB)

I was having coffee with my friends and listening to them tell about their plans for Thanksgiving. The thought came to me that when most people think of Thanksgiving, they think of weeks of preparation that concludes with a day of the family gathering to eat too much. Thanksgiving should be more than a day of eating; it should be a life of giving thanks with true gratitude. So many times “giving thanks” is a term used to describe a rote prayer said before meals, words recited quickly without meaning. My father prayed before every meal – to this day I have no clue as to what he said! True thanksgiving is true gratitude, and gratitude is actually good for us! Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy of Duke University, is quoted as saying “If [thankfulness] were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system.” I read that researchers at Baylor University found that gratitude leads directly to feelings of satisfaction and wellbeing. I take that to mean that I need to wake up every morning being thankful, not that my life is perfect by earthly standards, not that I own more than enough possessions, not that I have all that I think I need but because I have decided to live out 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Focusing on what I don’t have leads to self-pity, resentment, and bitterness. Focusing on the blessings in my life leads to contentment, joy, and gratitude. I think of the Pilgrims and their hardships, yet they chose to give thanks. I heard someone say that we should not focus on the glass being half empty or half full; we should be thankful that we have a glass at all. Practicing gratitude doesn’t cost me anything but can make such a difference in my life. John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” Father, I just want to stop and say “thank You.” I pray that I will live out the gratitude I have to You and to others. Lord, I sincerely give thanks for all that I have and especially for the love You show to me every day.

Wondrous Creation

Nov19

beachfootprintsAnyone who knows me, even a casual acquaintance, knows how much I love the beach.  I love taking my coffee out on the hotel balcony before the sun comes up and just listening to the waves.  I love sitting and sipping while seeing the sky turn from black to shades of pink and blue as the sun announces the beginning of a new day.  I love the feel of the waves as they wash over my toes on the sandy beach.  I love the sights and sounds and smells. Behati Prinsloo said, “The beach is definitely where I feel most at home.” I can say “The beach is definitely where I feel most with God.” I see His strength as well as His gentleness when I see the waves. I see His power as well as His provision in the storm. I look around me with true awesome wonder and think of scripture.  As the sun begins to brighten the beach and surrounding area, I think about Genesis 1:3 when God said “let there be light” and there was light.  Thank You, Lord, for giving that direction to the sun and to my life. The sun and Your word both brighten my path so that I do not have to go through my life living in darkness (Psalm 119:105).  I go for a walk on the beach, and walking with my head down, I think of Psalm 3:3.  Thank you Lord for lifting my head from shame and defeat by letting me know that my sins are forgiven, that You say to me what You said to Jerusalem “the battle has already been won”  (2 Chronicles 20:15). I look out across the ocean and think of Psalm 104:25. Thank You that in that vastness You have placed creatures that I will never know as well as creatures that I will have for dinner! Billy Graham said, “I believe the greatest form of prayer is praise to God”, and Lord, I am praising You right now. Although I am quiet and still, my spirit is following the command of Psalm 150:4 and is like David in 2 Samuel 6:14. As much as I love the ocean, I know that one day it will cease to exist (Revelation 21:1). I love the beach. Anyone who knows me, even a casual acquaintance, knows that. But, I won’t care when that day comes because, like Jonathan Edwards, I believe that “To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.” Thank You, Lord, that one day I will be there to fully enjoy You, but in the meantime, thank You for giving me this wonderful way to enjoy Your wondrous creation.

Words

Nov9

Exodus 3:11a – but Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go……..”

2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

letterpile I am drinking my coffee this morning and still smiling from the events of a conference I recently attended. I was included in a gathering of women – women of various ages and at various stages in their lives.  We laughed; we cried, and oh, how we talked!  The theme for our meeting was “words”, and there were plenty of words – words of prayer, words of sharing, words of encouragement, even a new word that sprang from a mispronunciation of another word!  At one of the sessions, glass tiles were randomly placed before us so that we could each make a necklace.  My tile had the word “believe” on it. When I saw my word tile, I had no words of my own because I am convinced that my random word tile is actually a word from You.  I am the modern day Moses of Exodus 3 and 4.  I believe in You, but I need to believe in what You can do through me.  I believe that You told me to do something, but I don’t believe I am accomplished enough to do it (Exodus 3:11).  I believe that You are above all others, but like Moses, I believe that I am too inferior to accomplish anything. I believe there are people who speak in Your name, but I don’t believe that I am one of them (Exodus 4:10).  I believe that You tell me to step out, but I don’t believe I can do more than take tiny steps (Exodus 4:1). I believe You are there when I am sure of the direction but sometimes forget to believe You are also there when I am unsure of the next path.  I have come to believe that my reluctance is not a sign of my inabilities, and especially not humility, but instead is a type of unbelief.  I now see and believe that I have been refusing to join You in Your work, and in doing that, I was not believing in Your ability to work through me.  I believe that You remind me as you reminded Moses, that You gave me the gift to speak and You tell me to use the gift You gave to me (Exodus 4:11-12). When I question and offer excuses, You answer “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).  When, like Moses, I argue that You need to send someone else, I am hinting that I don’t want to do it because I don’t believe You will come through with Your promise to make me capable.  I believe that You are capable of equipping others but need to believe that You are capable of equipping me.  Through obedience, Moses became a powerful leader—powerful enough to change the course of history and a powerful man of faith. I don’t know that I’ll ever be a powerful leader, but I do believe I can be known as a powerful woman of faith.  I believe that You are Creator of the Universe, and I believe that You are the creator of me. I believe that You knew me before I was even formed in the womb (“I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.” – Jeremiah 1:5) and I believe that You knew my shortcomings.  I believe that You are capable of equipping me for the work to which You have called me.  Thank You, Lord, for Your words.

Knowing and Believing and Scared and Worried

Oct25

We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. 1 John 4:16

 

I have a friend whose daughter recently had surgery. Doctors promised that after the surgery, she would be “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!” Maybe that’s not exactly what they said, but they did make grand promises and painted a picture of an outcome that would make the pain and physical therapy seem trivial. Those promises have proven to be as empty as Superman’s pod. The doctors are baffled at some of the things that have happened and have expressed their confusion during many consults and conversations.   But, no matter the variety of comments made during the various consults, each doctor always ended with “It will get better.” That is supposed to be encouraging, but better than it is now is still worse than it was! Her parents are strong believers in the Lord, but their spirits are dragging from seeing their child suffer. My friend is wiping her child’s tears as exercising therapy becomes excruciating torture, is cheering her child on as walking the steps feels more like climbing the mountain, facing each new day with a big smile while silently crying in her bedroom every night. Crying into her pillow and crying out to God. Someone once said, “The hardest part of being a parent is that you can’t stop the world from hurting your child. You can only be there to ease the pain.” But, she can’t ease the pain; she can only watch the pain. Watch and wonder and worry . John MacDuff reminds us that we need to “Trust God where you cannot see Him. Do not try to penetrate the cloud He brings over you; rather look to the bow that is on it. The mystery is God’s; the promise is yours.” My friend knows that this is just a season of their lives, a difficult and discouraging season but just a season. There are times when the dark night of discouragement tries to block the light of God’s promises. There are times when she feels the night will never end and begins to doubt the dawning of a better day. There are times when she feels alone, even as she clings to Jesus’ promise that He is always with us. There are times when we all have emotions that spin and tumble much like a child’s toy, but no matter what our emotions are telling us, Jesus tells us that He has control over the storm (Mark 4:37-40). As moms we worry about our children. We suffer when they are in pain. We smile so they will be encouraged and sob because we are so discouraged. We cry out “Lord, don’t You care?” Jesus says to us as He said to the storm in verse 39, “be still.” Sometimes we beg God not to be silent, but maybe He is silent so that we will be too. Like the disciples, we get scared and we want God to make the scary part go away. But, while we are busy being frantic and scared, He just wants us to be faithful and still. He wants us to feel His presence and know that His presence is enough. My friend is very strong – strong in her faith, strong in her parenting, and strong in her body and spirit. Lord, I ask You today to help her be strong in the knowledge that You are always with her.

Seasoned Language

Oct9

Ephesians 4:29-30:  Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

Colossians 4:6: Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

brokenbonesAs I’m drinking my coffee this morning and reading Ephesians 4, this verse really jumps out at me. I have an uncle who joined the Navy during WWII. He is the stereotypical sailor, and it is his image that comes to my mind whenever I hear the phrase “curses like a sailor”. Peppering his speech with curse words is so normal to him that he isn’t even aware that he does it. I think most people read Ephesians 4:29-30 with my uncle in mind and therefore think it doesn’t apply to those of us with a less seasoned vocabulary. Actually, the Greek words Paul uses here would paint a picture of something putrid, decaying, and rotten. I translate that to say “don’t be so putrid and rotten in your thoughts that your words naturally come out that way.” We have all heard, and probably most of us said, the children’s rhyme “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Eric Idle said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.” Sadly, I can identify more with the Eric Idle version that with the actual nursery rhyme. Herb Warren said, “sticks and stones may break the bones but leave the spirit whole, but simple words can break the heart or silence crush the soul.” My own version would be “Sticks and stones may break my bones but they will heal and be strong. Words will be forever in my head and always tell me I am wrong.”   When do we use foul and dirty language? Unkind comments are foul and hurt. Gossip can destroy. Tearing someone down to build yourself up uses dirty language that contaminates everyone involved. Making comments with the intent to cause hurt is murderous. Sometimes its not the words themselves that cause the brokenness but the tone that breaks the heart. Sometimes having someone stand silently while foul comments are being made is what crushes the soul. I have a T-shirt with the words “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean for it to be out loud.” The shirt is meant to be funny but the reality is not. Luke 6:45 tells me that when putrid, decaying, rotten thoughts are in my head, they come out of my mouth.   Lord, I want to always speak with love, to build up rather than tear down, to add support rather than crush. I want my language to be seasoned with the salt of Colossians 4:6. May my new rhyme be “sticks and stones may break my bones but they will heal and be strong. May my words always be filled with love and create a joyful song.”