Even When It Hurts

There are not sufficient words to express how difficult this week has been. It's in these incredibly trying times we need the powerful reminder to seek God. He is the only unchanging variable in constantly fluctuating circumstances. His faithfulness will be the anchor we need to endure and help each other find the light of hope in the darkness.

Always

There is a word that I caution people not to use when they are dealing with conflict or going through counseling. It is the word, "always" as in "You always say that" or "You always ignore me!" It can be a very unhealthy word in conflict resolution and can come across as extremely accusatory. When used in the wrong context it's a word without patience and grace. Even if it's used in a positive light, it's not completely accurate since none of us are constant enough in our reactions and character to make this 100% true.

I do know that it is a word that I can use to describe God. His nature does not change and His desire to rescue His children never fades. He has promised to be our refuge and that if we are faithful enough to ask for help He will answer. God doesn't necessarily answer in my timing or in the fashion that I would hope, but I do know with complete certainty that He will not abandon His people. When we accept that truth, there is peace that comes with a sense of certainty.

We sang a song today called, "Always" that speaks of that confidence and that God will always hold to His promises. I watched as people were deeply moved by the words of this song, not because of the excellence of the band, but because of the truth of the words that were sung. They resonate deeply within us as we all need a promise to hang onto when our circumstances seem to be constantly shifting. When we say that God will always be there for us it changes our outlook and lets us know where to go in our time of need.

Not Traveling Alone

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I have arrived where I am today. I used to say that I was a self-made man, one who had endured tough trials and managed to find success because of my personal drive and will. In retrospect, (and after having several helpings of humble pie) I gladly recognize that there is no way that could be a possibility if I am willing to be honest. If my current status was just the result of my personal supply of willpower, ambition, and focus, I would be very limited in my personal development and overall health. Instead, I am grateful to acknowledge the direct and indirect contribution of thousands of people to my journey.

I see the impact of the lives that God brought around me and continues to use to shape me into a better man than I could ever be alone. It's a powerful reminder that God cares far too much for me to let me ruin my life with my own decisions, but instead works faithfully to direct my steps down a path that leads to me being a God-focused man. It reinforces the simple truth that Pastor Patrick Morley shares in his books: "Because God is good, your life will not turn out like you planned." I'm forever grateful that God didn't abandon me to my own decision-making and poorly guided plan of life. I know that I am far from being complete, but I have greater confidence in this path from Him than I do in my ability to forge an independent life journey.

Sovereign

There are some songs that seem to resonate with us more than others. Perhaps it's a better fit with our season of life or with a specific situation. I think that it is often a combination of inspired lyrics and the passionate truth that creates a visceral response within us.

As a pastor, I am often afforded the blessing of seeing the reactions of people during songs. Today I was able to experience this as people responded to a song by Chris Tomlin called, "Sovereign." It simply speaks to God's power to hold all of who we are in His hands and our response of trust. This gives us hope when things have not worked at out as well as we would like. This brings us rest when we know that God can handle all parts of our life. This quiet truth brings us peace when we in a place of unrest. It's a confidence I am grateful to have.

Being There

The old axiom is that showing up is half the battle. While there certainly has to be more concentrated effort than simply our attendance, there is truth in being in the right place at the right time. Opportunities very rarely become available while we are sitting in our recliner (although the prayers that fuel them might start there.) We have to ask for God to work and then put ourselves in positions where He can show us what He is doing. 

What are you waiting on God to do? Do you believe that God will do what He has said? We should be faithful in doing what we know is right and trust that God will be faithful to His word when the time and place is perfect according to His plan. Being there as a follower, parent, spouse, and worker will set us up for taking full advantage of what God is ready to show us.

Big Buts (one T)

It's commonly said that if you say something positive and then follow with "but," it negates whatever was said first. I don't necessarily disagree with that theory--especially in view of God's Word. The phrase "But God" carries such weight that it overpowers circumstances, devastation, devious schemes, and even death. I've had a sermon series on this phrase planned for three years & hope to have an opportunity to share it one day. 

In lieu of a sermon on this blog, however, I offer a few Scriptures to affirm the hope we have when God intervenes.

• Genesis 8:1  But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.
• Genesis 50:20  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
• Psalm 9:18  But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
• Jeremiah 10:12  But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
• Acts 2:24  But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
• Acts 3:15  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
• Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• 1 Corinthians 1:27  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
• Galatians 3:18  For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
• 1 John 5:9  We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

That's Weird

In Joshua 6, the Israelites are poised to conquer a city named Jericho. While they believed firmly in God's ability to bring them victory, the method that God chose to use was a little unorthodox. They were to march around the walls of the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around it seven times with priests blowing trumpets, have everyone shout loudly, and the walls would fall down.

Nowhere in the text do I see that Joshua or the people questioned this. If God gave me directions similar to this I might have to reassess the strategy and prayerfully ask for clarity. This was going to make them look foolish in the eyes of their enemy and certainly was not written in  the Hebrew book of potential warfare maneuvers. The reaction of Joshua and the Israelites was instead one of obedience. They simply followed what God told them to do and trusted that He would produce what He promised. It's obvious that Joshua spent a lot of time with God and he knew that when God gave a command He would follow through as a result of His faithfulness and the people's obedience.

The challenge for us is to have that same level of trust in God's plan. We have to spend enough time with Him that we are able to see the direction He is sending us and trust that His way is better. As we do we will gratefully and obediently follow through on whatever God commands no matter how ridiculous it might appear to those around us. What seems to be absurd can actually be evidence of the power of God and our willingness to do whatever He asks.

Memory Loss

Ministry is hard. Life is hard. We often lose focus in the challenges of raising our children, working through difficulties in the church and struggling through our own uneven steps of faith. It can feel as if the walls are closing in and that the comfort and confidence we seek just can’t seem to be found. This is discouraging, deflating and has the potential to derail us from God’s path and vision.

I am reminded from Scripture this morning that we simply need to look to the past evidence of God’s work for our hope. It is easy for us to forget that He has already delivered us from a fruitless and hopeless future. The loud voice of urgency from our current circumstances can cause us to forget the soothing voice of what is important-our King has always been working for the good of those who love Him.

Much like the Israelites, we need to talk about the things that God has done to bring us to this point. Our faith will be emboldened as we pray, work and worship through current circumstances and are always looking to what our God will do next.