The other day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed after a very divided nation was arguing each of their sides to the issue of a recent Supreme Court ruling. I was taken back by the comments and reactions of each side. This isn’t the first time our nation has been divided on how to handle the care of human life nor will it be the last. The question we can ask ourselves in these times of heated debate is, how will the outcome be most beneficial, in our reactions or our response?
In our reactions we will always stay in the argument, the debate will never end because reactions are fueled with our emotions. The enemy would like nothing more than for us to stay in our reactions, because in our reactions is how the enemy distracts us and keeps us in the argument and chaos.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of react is: “to exert a reciprocal or counteracting force or influence—often used with on or upon. 2: to change in response to a stimulus. 3: to act in opposition to a force or influence—usually used with against 4: to move or tend in a reverse direction.”
To react is to respond without thinking, is impulsive, immediate, and chases our emotions. Our reactions are usually driven by our fears, attached to unmet expectations, and are short-sighted not able to rationally see the entire perspective of our situation. As you can see in the definition, to react is usually a negative response in opposition of something.
Definition of respond: “to say something in return : make an answer respond to criticism 2a: to react in response to a call for help b: to show favorable reaction, respond to surgery. 3: to be answerable”
In the Bible, when Jesus was presented with a situation, he responded not reacted. One of the greatest examples of this, is the woman’s life he spared from stoning in John 8. When the Pharisees brought an adulterous woman to Jesus, they wanted Him to react to her sin and make an example of her to others. But Jesus doesn’t react, He responds to what the woman needs, His grace. According to the Jewish Law of Consequence this woman deserved to be stoned publicly to shame her for what she had done. But Jesus shows a new way, one that forgives and restores, that doesn’t codon or condemn.
Jesus then stood up and said, “‘Where are they?’ ‘Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; and from now on, ‘sin no more.'” (John 8:10-11).
Jesus didn’t react to the woman’s sin, he responded to her deepest need. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to react to what this woman deserved. But this is where the enemy will entrap us to react, to cast stones at someone’s behavior, to keep us in a cycle to constantly throw stones at one another. Jesus breaks the cycle and doesn’t respond to the crazy, but sets a new path to enter into his healing grace.
The response is intentional, delayed, comes from a place of love and respect, rational, comes from self-control, and thinks about the long-term picture. From the definition, to respond is to show a favorable reaction. There will always be something we don’t agree with. An argument. A debate. We have to ask ourselves what is the outcome we desire? My desire is that everyone I know, knows the love of Jesus and one day I will see them in heaven. Life is too short and precious to spend it arguing especially with loved ones. Is my opinion and battle to be right the desire I want? Not Really. We all want to be seen and heard. We get lost in the fight to be right and miss out on God’s victory, a battle he’s already fought and won.
If there is one thing I hear Jesus telling me, is my role is to be the vessel, the messenger. My job is to bring the loaves of bread and fish, Jesus will feed the 5,000. My role is to show people the love of Jesus, not to cast stones. My purpose is to step out of the boat, not to sit there and wait until the storm is over to respond to what is happening in the world. I may get wet or even sink but Jesus will be there to hold my hand. I don’t have to like or agree with what everyone is doing, but I am called to love others no matter who they are or what they have done. We are all sinners and don’t deserve what Jesus has done for us, his gift is for everyone, we don’t have to earn it. The love of Jesus is for everyone.
Next time you see a post you don’t like or agree with, Ask God:
How should I respond?
What is the outcome you desire?
Will people see Jesus in my reaction or my response?
We may not have control over our situations, but we can control how we react or respond to our situations. Jesus came so we could have life and have it to the full. We miss out on His abundance when we allow our reactions to have the best of us. If we don’t control our reactions, our reactions will control us. How can you respond today to a situation you don’t like? We are able to have peace and serenity restored when our response is driven by God’s love.
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Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. #quote Martin Luther King
Recently I finished a Bible Study Habakkuk by Moody Publishers by Dannah Gresh. At the same time I read a You Version Bible Plan Hope in the Dark by Craig Groeschel which also followed in the book of Habakkuk. I didn’t realize the plan would be about Habakkuk as well, but how amazing when God orchestrates His plans.
The book of Habakkuk is in the Old Testament and only three chapters long, but it is packed full of godliness and wisdom. Each chapter has an important pattern of ask questions to God, WAIT, and Praise. The chapter starts out with Habakkuk crying out to God, asking why all the violence, all the iniquity, injustice (Habakkuk 1:2-5)?
God responds-
This study was so timely for me. I’ve been working in the COVID ICU’s taking care of very sick patients. I wouldn’t wish what I do or see on anyone. All of it is so heavy and hard to watch over and over. I feel like Habakkuk, looking around seeing all the suffering, the injustice, and loss of life at the hands of a violence but in my case a virus. I can just picture him on his knees before God crying out, ‘how,’ ‘why,’ ‘when?’ It’s hard at times not to focus on the fear of it all, am I next? Am I exposing others? How many more will suffer? When will this all end?
It can be difficult to see that God will use all of this pain and devastation for His greater work in us and the nations. It’s hard to believe God will use all this to strengthen our faith when we wait and trust in His timing. Physically, logically my brain can’t comprehend what is going on around me, but by faith I don’t have to have it all figured out and answers to all my questions. The only thing I need to know is God’s outcome is loving and good.
Being honest, I’ve focused a lot on my fears of what surrounds me. It FEELS as though God has left and I’m walking through this battlefield ALONE, just waiting for the explosion to go off. BUT I KNOW, these thoughts come from a place of FEAR. They are NOT God’s TRUTH or what He PROMISES US.
It’s easy to look around at what the world is doing and Fear there will be more spread of the virus. People are at their wits end and just want to be TOGETHER. I believe God doesn’t want us to LIVE in FEAR, but He wants us to also practice Discernment and Wisdom. He wants us be in community to support one another by giving empathy and compassion. God is the creator of universe and science. We will all have a different opinion and comfort levels on what we believe is safe for our health and well-being and that’s okay.
When the world of chaos feels out of control, I have to stay anchored, centered, and grounded in the ONE who IS in CONTROL. The balance of trusting, surrendering, having faith, and standing firm can be a fine line to walk. My HOPE will never be found in the ability to figure it all out. When I CHOOSE to LIVE in FAITH and not by FEAR, there is always HOPE. When I TRUST and ALLOW God to GROW my FAITH way beyond anything I could ever do on my own.
He is the God of HOPE. He is the God of PEACE. You are loved. You matter. You are KNOWN to God. What you are going through Matters and He will use for all for His good.
“His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power”. Habakkuk 3:3-4
I will ask. I will wait. I will praise. Just like Habakkuk. My faith will carry me and take me further than any amount of fear can. When I am troubled by what surrounds me. When I waiver at the battle before me. I remember the one who has it all in His control.
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Have you ever faced a battle in your life and wondered ‘why me?’ or ‘when will this ever end?’ Well today you are in the right place. I’m excited to share with you a book written by Dr. Jon Chasteen, Half the Battle: Healing From Hidden Hurts. A lot of us go through life discrediting the hidden hurts and trauma of our past, stuffing it down to hidden areas where it can’t hurt us anymore. We tell ourselves lies, ‘they don’t matter,’ or ‘I’m fine, that was the past,’ when in reality we keep those hurts hidden away, not healed from them, just put in a different area of our hearts.
Funny thing how the body works. It wants to heal. Although this method of suppression will serve you well for probably many years, it never lasts. God has a way of surfacing those hidden areas we’ve managed to keep ‘safe,’ by nudging us into areas of His eternal healing. It’s our choice whether we want to be healed or keep sitting on our mats like the paralyzed man.
“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time thee will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” John 11:38-40 ESV.
In biblical times, the dead weren’t necessarily buried but put in caves with large stones to seal them (cave burials were for the wealthy). They did this so there wouldn’t be the horrific odor from the dead that was buried there. The odor was kept hidden by the stone. Dr. Chasteen calls this the ‘stench behind the stone.’ He uses this example as a parallel of our undealt with pain.
What’s so amazing about the story of Lazarus is, everyone had started the mourning process, there was no possibility of a miracle, their loved one was dead, end of story–Jesus entered the scene and changed everything. So why allow Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha, and all his loved ones go through all that pain in the first place? To show us what it looks like to invite Jesus into our pain. Dr. Chasteen, uses the story of Lazarus to paint the picture of what we do with our pain. How we try to bury our pain and seal it off in a grave without truly healing from it. He wants us to see what happens when we invite Jesus into our pain, how miracles and healing happen when we do.
Our pain is Jesus’ pain. You’re pain matters to him. “Jesus knows where you’ve hidden your pain” (quote, Chasteen). He wants us to take Him to that exact place where we stopped believing and gave up hope. Healing isn’t healing if it’s done half-way. Jesus knows the way to heal because He is our Healer.
Maybe your pain stems from the pain of rejection. Or from the pain of being abandoned or forgotten. Maybe you’ve been the victim of abuse or racism.
The enemy will always use our pain for his evil plan. He’ll whisper lies it’s better to keep our pain hidden, attach shame to it, not allow Jesus in to help us, and to carry this burden on our own. We can’t change the pain of our pasts. We can’t pretend our past didn’t happen. We can only take steps towards allowing Jesus to have access to all areas of our hearts so He can heal the forgotten hidden areas of our heart. What the enemy uses for evil God will use for good (Genesis 50:20).
I will never forget when God did this for me in my life. I knew there were areas of pain and hurt I was holding onto. I knew God was nudging me to deal with them and allow Him to lead Him to the root. I kept saying, ‘no,’ until one day I couldn’t say, ‘no,’ anymore. He had brought me to the very place our son died in the hospital, when our daughter had broken the tip of her finger. God asked me in this moment, ‘Do you want to heal?’ I finally said, ‘yes.’ He then nudged me to walk into the place that caused so much of my pain, the room where our son died. The moment I stepped into the room, God gave me an overwhelming sense of peace, letting me know, you don’t have to hold onto your pain anymore, I have your son, I’m taking care of Him, you will see him again one day.
The key to healing is our willingness to heal.
Healing is hard but so worth it. Half the battle is being willing. Our willingness allows for places of honesty and vulnerability places where Jesus will do His amazing work in us, when we allow Him. We don’t always have to know how only trust that God knows a better way. We will never find healing and restoration in shame and pride. Everlasting peace and freedom will only happen when we partner with Jesus and let Him in, not when we try to carry our burdens on our own. We were created and made to have a holy dependence in God not a holy independence (kind of never works out when we do).
God doesn’t always provide the front door approach to our pain, because He knows many of us won’t walk through it! Sometimes He uses the back door approach, allows us to go through the battles, pain, and struggles so we can draw closer to Him and invite Him in. If you struggle with allowing God to have your pain, Half the Battle will help lead you to those place where hidden hurts reside. Dr. Chasteen will help you roll the stone away so you can deal with those hidden hurts that don’t allow one to heal.
Do you invite Jesus into your hidden hurts?
Where do you keep hidden hurts?
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I know You’re able and I know you can, Save through the fire with your mighty hand, But even if you don’t, My hope is you alone…..
Have you ever felt like these words? Ever felt like giving up thinking to yourself, what’s the use? What good is it to do what I’m doing? Or It’s hopeless, my situation will never change!
Maybe you’ve prayed the same prayer a thousand times and never seen any results. Or maybe you’ve been on the crazy cycle doing the same thing over and over, not getting anywhere.
In the midst of it all we are never hopeless, we are never powerless when we have the one who is able with us.
Sometimes the road of devastation we walk can seem like an endless road to nowhere but I can promise you these roads of brokenness are always paved with his glory.
Even If you Don’t…….
“On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout!” For the LORD has given you the city!” (Joshua 6:15-16).
What if God told you I will give you everything you could have ever imagine (and then some)? How would you respond? What if He told you, The Promised Land I’ve promised you is right at your fingertips. But first you must………
Ahhh, there’s always a catch right!?!? Yes and No. Last week’s post Letting Go and Letting God addressed Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and wandering the desert for 40 years. At this point The Israelites had already crossed over the Jordan River and were thinking, ‘Yes! We’ve made it!’ Well not really first they had to face some giants a whole army of them.
So God gives Joshua the instructions to march seven times around the ginormous walls of Jericho for six days. And then the seventh day march 7 times around! For six days the Israelites marched in silence until the seventh day.
I think I would have been feeling quite tired and weary of marching around a huge city for 7 days straight to see nothing happening. Not being able to speak and just march in silence day in and day out. It makes me think how heavy their feet felt, each step they took. How heavy their hearts felt each day that passed, thinking why must we keep doing this?!?!?
Haven’t we’ve been through enough Lord?!?!?!?
I can’t imagine the thoughts that must have ruminated in their minds as they marched. What if God doesn’t do what he said he would? What if God isn’t going to come through? What if this is all for nothing?
Maybe you are running out of fuel and have nothing left. Maybe you can relate to The Israelites, the trials they endured in the waiting, in the wandering, in the when will this end?!?! Even in their despair, in the unknowing they kept placing one foot in front of the other and kept on marching. When they did, they saw God’s amazing plan unfold, the indestructible city of Jericho’s walls fall down.
Have you ever felt like giving up?
Have you ever felt like what you go through is all for nothing?
Every road of brokenness is paved with his glory, we just have to stay on it. Don’t give up. Whatever road you are on towards healing, restoration, redemption, reconciliation stay on it, it’s so worth it.
Even if you don’t Lord, I know you are good.
Even if you don’t Lord, I know your are faithful and keep your promises.
Even if you don’t Lord, you are still my Maker, My Creator, My God in whom I love and am Thankful for.
Even if you don’t Lord, you are MY God in whom I trust and know your ways are greater and better.
Prayer: Dear Lord,
I know you’re able and I know you could just wave my pain away right now and that hurts. I know that you can see me And have been watching me year after year go through what I’m going through. I know you have heard every prayer I’ve cried. Even if you don’t answer my prayer, even if you my sorrow doesn’t subside, I know you are faithful and good. My hope is in you alone, Lord. Despite what I’m going through I want to believe there’s a better way, a better outcome, you’re glory refined. I know you don’t need me, but you chose me. I know your way is better, your plans are amazing. I pray for your unsurpassed peace to supersede in the midst of the chaos, in midst of the pain. When my hope is in you, your glory will arise and make the most beautiful masterpiece ever out of my situation.
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I will never forget when my family and I went on this one camping trip. We had a golden retriever named Ginger. My dad handed my eight-year-old sister the dog leash and gave her the instructions, ‘don’t let go.’ I was standing next to her and a squirrel ran across the parking lot up a tree. You can only imagine what happened next. The dog chased the squirrel, the only problem was my sister was holding on to the leash.
My sister was then drug across the gravel parking lot holding onto the leash. I yelled, “Let go! Let go of the leash!” I couldn’t believe it. If a dog who weighed as much as me ran across a gravel parking lot, I would have let go of the leash. But for some reason my sister held on and endured scrapes and injuries from the gravel as a result of holding on.
This picture of my sister holding onto the leash shows me this is what a lot of us do in life when we are going through hard times. We think we have to hold on so tightly to what God is allowing in our lives, and just take the injuries along the way. In reality we have a choice to let go of what we’re holding onto so tightly and allow God to handle it or keep holding onto it and endure more suffering.
Recently, I was in a group discussion about what it means to “Let God and Let God.” This phrase is used all the time but what does it really mean to be able to accomplish the task of letting go and letting God?
According to Psychology Today, Letting go means, being willing to allow life to carry you to a new place, even a deeper more true rendition of self. Holding on means trying to push life into the place of your making or be damned
In our group discussion we determined letting go meant, trusting in God that things will get better, to accept the things we cannot change and having the courage the courage to change the things we can.
Letting go doesn’t mean keep holding on and hoping for the best.
Letting go doesn’t mean keep walking around your problems hoping God does his part.
Letting go doesn’t mean sit back and wait for God to do all the work.
“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
Letting go might feel like you are walking away and don’t care, but in reality it’s the exact opposite. Letting go allows God to do his job of what he was intended to do in the first place. When we hold on, we just get in the way.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Letting go might mean to let go of expectations or resentment. Letting go may even mean one needs to forgive to be able to let go of un-forgiveness. We may even have to let go of the outcome.
One group of people who learned the epitome of letting go, were the Israelites. They had expectations God was going to deliver them from Egypt into The Promised Land. God is a God who ALWAYS keeps His promises we just might not agree with His timing. God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt but not immediately into The Promised Land.
“Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink” (Numbers 20:11).
At this point the Israelites had been wandering around the wilderness for 38 years. Over the years God had provided food, protection, etc. for them time and time again. This time they were groaning for water complaining they were surely going to die if they didn’t receive it.
Moses and Aaron went before God with their request. God instructed Moses to take the staff and TELL the rock to yield water.
As you can see in the above verse, this is not what happened. Instead Moses took the staff and struck the rock twice. Although there is only a slight difference in what God told Moses to do and what he actually did, this caused a BIG difference in the outcome.
I can relate to Moses.
Maybe he was frustrated the wandering was taking so long. Maybe he couldn’t handle the Israelites complaining anymore. Or maybe he held onto pride, let it get in the way and wanted to deliver the water the way he wanted instead of how God intended.
Whatever the reason, we can see God honors our obedience. God says to them, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12). Ouch. That consequence had to hurt.
Because Moses wasn’t able to let go of frustration, resentment, pride and/or expectations, he acted out because of it and received a heavy consequence. When we hold on to what God is asking us to let go of we aren’t trusting He is able.
Letting go will never pull us into a direction that will intentionally hurt us. Letting go will allow room for God’s original plan in our lives to fill us with His joy, peace and freedom.
What does letting go and letting God mean to you?
Do you struggle with letting go and letting God?
What has God asked you to let go of?
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Earlier this month a beloved Pastor named Jarrid Wilson took his own life. He was a Pastor of a Harvest Christian Fellowship and founder of Anthem of Hope Ministries, a ministry to help those who struggled with depression and suicide. He brought many to know Jesus and was an accomplished author of a few books, “Love is Oxygen,” “Jesus Swagger,” and “Wondrous Pursuit.”
As a Pastor and Man of God we think how can this happen? It goes to show struggles are real and even godly people aren’t exempt. How is it a man who walked with God so closely, spread His good news, helped hundreds with depression and brought many to Christ take his own life?
Jarrid Wilson’s situation asks deeper questions.
Did Jarrid not have enough faith?
If His faith didn’t save him, then what’s the point of having faith?
So many people in the Bible can ask the same question.
Did Daniel’s faith save him from being thrown in the lion’s den? No
Did Shadrack, Meschack, and Abendago’s faith save them from being thrown in the fiery furnace? No
Did the Israelites’ faith save them from being attacked by the Egyptians? No
Did Jesus’ faith prevent him from being crucified on the cross? No
You may be thinking, then what is the point in having faith if it doesn’t keep me safe?
Samaritan’s Purse put out a movie a couple of years ago called ‘Facing the Darkness’ which was a documentary of the Ebola crisis outbreak. Dr. Brantly the doctor and first American to contract the Ebola virus, said something so profound. He said, “Faith is not something that makes you safe. My faith did not save me but got me through it. My Faith actually brought me to the Ebola crisis.”
These examples of faith did not PREVENT them from being put in scary, dangerous circumstances. Standing firm in their faith DID PROTECT them and allow for God’s greater plan to happen.
If Daniel didn’t have faith we would have never seen GOD’S POWER to shut the mouths of lions.
If Shadrack, Meshack and Abendago didn’t have faith we would had never seen GOD’S POWER protect them from being burned in the fiery furnace and how God was with them.
If the Israelites didn’t have faith we would have never seen GOD’S POWER to part the Red Sea providing a way out from their enemies.
If Jesus refused to put his trust in His Father’s hands, we would have missed out on the greatest plan that ever existed—OUR ETERNAL SALVATION.
Each example of faith, including Dr. Brantly’s brought them to the heart of a crisis where their lives were at stake. Through each act of faith, we were able to see how trusting in God’s plan moves mountains and makes the impossible, possible.
How big is your faith?
Matthew 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
It’s not the size of our faith that moves mountains, but the size of our God.
Our faith allows God’s greater plan to play out. Our faith does not save us, but God’s grace does.
Our faith will not SAVE us from our bad circumstances or GUARANTEE us a life without struggles. Our FAITH will not prevent us from being thrown into a pit of lions, a fiery furnace, being attacked by our enemies or contracting a deadly disease. Having faith does not exempt us from harsh realities of this world.
Our faith DOES allow God to be in control and puts the trust in HIS capabilities. Our faith is the very thing that will get us through to the other side and live in the abundant blessings God has to offer. It doesn’t matter what circumstances we are up against, when we have faith we become OVERCOMERS in Christ. Our faith allows us to experience PEACE in the storms and JOY in our struggles because of what God has already gone ahead of us and done.
Where will you allow your faith to take you?
Our faith may lead us into scary, dangerous places. Be encouraged……..
God’s grace and love are greater and bigger than anything in this world.
1 John 4:4 “ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
How has your faith protected you in your hard circumstances?
Friends, suicide is never the answer. If you are having suicidal thoughts please reach out and ask for help, call a friend. Please know your life matters, you are worthy and valuable.
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Ever wonder why we go through what we go through? After our son died, I was left with a lot of questions, “Why?” “How could this even happen?” When bad things happen in our lives, we can question if God is a good God then how could he allow something like this to happen?
I’ll never forget when someone gave me a little story book called, “Water bugs and dragonflies.” I wondered, ‘why would someone give me a children’s book after our son just died?” As the story goes, there was a family of water bugs. Every so often the water bugs would venture off up the stalks of grass, above the surface of water to never return or be seen again.
When it was time for the water bug, narrating the story, turn to leave, he discovered when he went to the surface, something amazing happened. He gained wings! In his excitement he realized, ‘wait, I have to go back to tell my family!’ Then he realized he couldn’t because of his wings, and in his transformation, no one would recognize him anyway. He would have to wait until the rest of his family went through their transformation to see them again.
Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God. Isa. 66:9 NIV
He Makes All Things New
When life hurts and we think God’s promises have failed us, one person in the Bible reminds me that God never leaves us and uses everything we go through for his greater purpose. Job was a man of great wealth, blameless, upright, feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1). He had a big family, a big house, lots of cattle, and servants. Everything Job touched was blessed.
Then Satan comes along and wants to test Job, put him through trials, to see if he would still praise God and stay faithful. God granted Satan access to Job to be allowed to test job in ways that were beyond imaginable, knowing whatever Satan did, Job would never turn away from Him (Job 1:8-12)
Satan’s first set of attacks on Jobs targeted his family (killing all his children) and cattle (all were taken and stolen from his property). Imagine losing all your children and cattle all at once. The depth of despair and loss must have been heavy and great. Despite this Job still cried out to God and said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:21-22).
Satan’s second set of attacks, targeted Job’s health leaving him with sores all over his body (Job 2:7). Job’s wife even said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). But he said to her, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).
In other words, life encompasses good and bad. Are we to only embrace the good parts of life and not the bad parts?
Jobs’ his life had been good up until this point, just because bad things were happening now, does that mean God wasn’t good?
When Job’s three friends heard of his suffering and turmoil, they came to support and mourn with him. For seven days they sat in silence, wept with him and comforted him (Job 2:11-13). After those seven days, Job starts opening up about his heartache and hardship to his friends, questioning, ‘why was he even born?’ or ‘why must he go through all this suffering?’
Then his three friends chime in and given their own opinion and reason for Job’s suffering. If Job was the target of all this suffering, he must have done something in his life to deserve all this. Job’s circumstances must be a result of not being right before God and he needed to repent of any sin to make his suffering go away (Job 4).
“As I have seen, the who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same” (Job 4:8). His friends believed somehow God was judging Job’s character and he was now reaping the consequences. It is true there is a law of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7 and 2 Corinthians 9:6, whatever effort we put into things we sow what we reap.
To turn that around and apply this concept to God implying he punishes and condemns us for our past mistakes is not the truth. God is a loving forgiving God.
Yes it is true God allows certain circumstances to happen in our lives, but that does not mean God is evil and wants us to suffer. There is nothing we can do, that would make God Not LOVE us. We can be forgiven no matter what we’ve done, how lost we are or how far away from God we are. His love is for everyone and anyone has the choice to be saved and forgiven.
The part of Job’s story I love the most, is how he remained faithful and praised God despite is horrible circumstances. I love what Job says,
In the end, God restored Job’s fortunes and blessed him with twice as much as he had before.
Our past does not define our future. #quote Pastor Rick Warren
Job may have endured a lot, but he persevered because:
He praised God even in his darkest moments
He didn’t listen to naysayers (his friends)
He held onto the goodness of God and trusted what God had for him was greater
God may allow us to endure hardships, but will use them to refine us and rid of us anything getting in the way of His greater purpose. Job never turned his back on God and allowed his story to be all for God’s glory. God can do all things and no amount of evil can ever stop God’s purpose and plan of what He’s already done for us.
No trial, no heartache, no struggle is ever wasted. Just as a woman goes through the pain of labor, God doesn’t allow anything to happen in our lives without something new to be born.
“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelations 21:5).
I love how God can turn the most tragic circumstances into His greatest plans ever. Just like the water bugs, God makes all things new.
Have you ever had a trial or hardship in your life that God used for his greater purpose?
How has God made things new in your life?
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Have you ever had one of those eye opening moments that grabbed your attention? One of those moments God used to show you a deeper meaning to what is really going on in your life?
The other day as I was reading my Bible study No Other gods by Kelly Minter, I noticed something moving in the corner of the room. As I looked closer I realized IT WAS A MOUSE! I had a moment of fear come over me. How long has this mouse been there? Were there more? And then my fear came true, I saw 5 more sightings of the mice scurrying across my kitchen floor!
What I had been reading in my Bible study only moments before, was about being fruitful and multiplying. And then it hit me. Is it possible that we can allow the wrong things in our lives to create bad fruit and multiply in our lives, like the mice?
When someone has an infestation of mice, no one says, ‘It’s ok, they can just live here.’ Or, ‘It’s totally normal for the mice to be here.’ Or just pretend they’re not there. That would be considered crazy and insane, right?
The same goes for our spiritual lives as well. Why would we allow for crazy cycles of brokenness to perpetuate in our lives and label them as normal or pretend they’re not there? This is just as crazy as not setting a mouse trap or calling the exterminator.
Unless we step into places of honesty, we can never be fruitful and multiply the way God intended.
3 Ways to Be Honest With Yourself:
1. Acknowledge- We can never learn how to be honest with ourselves when we are trying to pretend we’re something we’re not. Or when we put labels of normalcy on things that are dysfunctional. The sooner we live in the honesty of God’s truth, the better we will be able to start growing the fruit in our lives that God intended. Whatever is going on in your life, be gentle with yourself. Honesty can be hard, because it often can reveal things in our past we’re not proud of, things we’ve been in denial about, or poor choices we’ve made.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
2. Accept- One prayer I have learned to depend on, is the Serenity prayer. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Learning to accept the things we cannot control will open a whole new set of doors that allows you to be free from your burdens and circumstances and step into more places of honesty. Having the courage to change the things that you can, like what you’re exposing yourself to, can free you from the lies that perpetuate crazy cycles. Seeking wisdom in God’s word will help you discern what’s His truth and what isn’t helping you step into acceptance of your situation.
3. Abide- “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit for apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5. The more we are honest with ourselves and our situations, the clearer we can hear and discern the voice of God. When we abide in Him, in His word, we can see His fruit growing in our lives. There will be joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
God’s will, will never ask us to lie, hide or go against His will. Honesty begins with putting a boundary on the craziness of our situations or lives and being open and willing to acknowledge and accept what we can’t control, so we can abide in God’s greatest promises.
Being honest with ourselves, doesn’t allow hidden places of our hearts to stay in places of darkness. Staying in places of honesty allows for God’s freedom to overflow in abundance in our lives.
The next day after setting the mouse traps, I got up to finish my Bible study. This time, I did not see one mouse nor did one mouse get caught in the trap. And then the doubt and the questioning set in, ‘did I really see the mice?’ Just because I can’t see the mice doesn’t mean they’re not there.
This is what the enemy does to us so many times, ‘Did God really say?’ or ‘Did that really happen?’
Be careful of the enemy’s tactics to twist and deceive. Don’t allow him to knock you off course and dismantle your confidence. Stay strong, stay close to God’s words and stay in your places of honesty. You won’t regret it.
Are you able to stay in places of honesty?
How has honesty allowed you to gain more freedom?
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Have you ever been stuck in a rut or the same pattern that keeps repeating over and over? You wonder how do I get off this treadmill that leads to the land of nowhere?
Sometimes I tend to blame my situation or circumstances of why I can’t move forward or get off that treadmill when I realize I AM the stumbling block. I’m the one trying to do things my own way, with my own strength, forgetting to rely on God for HIS Courage to get me through.
When you feel yourself getting into a rut or running on the treadmill keep these verses near and hide them in your hearts, so we don’t keep trusting in our own strength but in God’s strength. When we refer to the ONE who is the PROVIDER of COURAGE we will always have an endless supply.
Here are 10 Bible Verses That Will Give You More Courage:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
This Bible verse is hanging in my bedroom above my bed. I love how I can physically see this verse and be reminded of it’s power. We don’t have to fear or be afraid when God is holding our hands.
2. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4
In my experience, displaced trust causes more fear. When we put the trust in ourselves we will always fall short and fail. We don’t have to be afraid when our trust is placed in God our PROTECTOR who is able to keep us safe.
3. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
I love how before Jesus left this earth, he gives encouragement we don’t have to be afraid. We can receive a peace that’s not of this world when we focus our hearts on HIM and not our circumstances.
When God’s courage strengthens us.
4. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
God uses EVERYTHING we go through for HIS GLORY and HIS PLANS. He uses our circumstances, our trials, burdens, our struggles to strengthen us and build our COURAGE so he can use us for what He has in store for us, if WE LET HIM. When we patiently WAIT for what he has for us we will see HIS glorious plans unfold within our lives.
5. “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24
God never says what we go through isn’t going to be hard. He left instructions in how to strengthen the courage he gives us. Courage needs strength in order for it to be courage. When we depend and seek God for our strength we will have all the courage we need. We can trust his courage is enough and all we will ever need.
6. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10
We can rest in God’s mighty power for our strength and courage. We don’t have to use our own strength to go through what we’re going through. Nothing in this world can compare or even come close to be being more powerful that God’s power and strength.
When God’s Courage motivates us to accomplish His will for us.
7. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
We don’t have to be discouraged. Whatever work we we do, when we do it for the Lord, it will never be in vain. We can stand firm even when don’t like our circumstances and trust he will use them for something greater. The assignments God has for us can’t be messed up by the circumstances of our past (@OhSheNoble). God made us with flaws and all. He made us all with a specific purpose.
8. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Don’t miss out on the journey God has for you, because of fear-filled thoughts and discouraging doubts. God didn’t create us to live in a world of defeat but be victorious in His strength and courage. Embrace who you are in how God made you, flaws and all and allow HIM to use them as a platform for HIS strength.
We can trust in His plans.
9. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
We can trust God’s plans are the best plans.
10. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
When you feel the tug of defeat weighing on your heart, refer to these verses. And Remember…………
How God use situations of adversity like David when he defeated Goliath. A young boy was an unlikely choice to defeat a giant, but God used David’s skill and God’s courage to defeat a giant 4 times his size.
Remember how God used a storm to show Peter, when we step out of the boat in obedience to God’s calling we see miracles happen (walking on water).
Resting in God’s endless supply of Courage will his greatest accomplishments to arise in US! God’s strength is ENOUGH!
Do you need more courage?
What makes your courage stronger?
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Need a reminder to Be strong and Courageous? Here’s a FREE Downloadable printable bookmark. Just Download and Print! Just Click on this link: We need to know we are not alone.
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I will never forget the first Bible study I ever attended, 8 years ago, was Daniel by Beth Moore. I know what you’re thinking. That’s a pretty intense study for someone who had never done a Bible study before. You’re right. I don’t recommend jumping into the end of times or a book of prophecy for newbies. However, looking back the book of Daniel ignited something deeper in me–a yearning and desire to learn more, because of everything I lacked.
Before starting the study I had heard of the Bible teacher Beth Moore, but didn’t know much about her. After completing the study she had such a fervent spirit of teaching the Bible I knew I had to learn from her again and my journey had just began.
If you are thinking about joining a Bible study, DO IT! Don’t let your excuses outweigh the reward of joining a study {of course only if it’s the right season for you.}. Also don’t sit in those chairs too long, eventually God will be stirring in your heart to lead a study–follow his guidance an prompting, you will never regret it!
Here are My Top 5 Favorite Bible Studies and Teachers:
1. Beth Moore- It’s so hard to pick which are my favorite studies, because she’s done so many of them. My most favorite are James and Children of the Day (1 & 2 Thessalonias). I’ve also completed her Esther study and Entrusted (2 Timothy). If you are looking for in-depth material that’s rich with biblical knowledge and personal application, Beth is a good place to start. She can be very intense {but so can I} so I relate to her. Her videos can be long, but her studies are great to do with a group.
2. Priscilla Shirer- If you never had a chance to do one of Priscilla’s Bible studies order one now! I love her passionate teaching style how she relates real life to the biblical and has so many rich #truthbombs that resonate with my life and what I’m going through. It’s like she’s speaking right to you and meeting you right where you are at any given time. I just finished Gideon and have completed Fervent, Jonah and the Armor of God.
I started Discerning the Voice of God but have not finished it yet. And I would love to complete her Awaken devotional and The One in a Million Study one day. My son has started reading her Prince Warrior series as well You will not be disappointed when completing her study. Your passion for more will be ignited.
3. Lysa Teurkerst- I also like Lysa’s teaching style, which is a down to earth, gentle hearted style. Lysa doesn’t have per say books of the Bible studies but Life studies that she uses biblical application. This can be less overwhelming for someone starting out trying a Bible study for the first time, because it’s not as intimidating as completing an entire chapter of the Bible. My favorite studies I have completed by Lysa are Finding I AM and My Best Yes.
I LOVE Bible studies that cover a topic of the Bible like the 7 I AM statements Lysa covered in the book of John. I loved how she made short videos with rich biblical content in Israel! The Best Yes was also so good for me, because the majority of my whole life I was a people-pleaser and said yes before really thinking things through. This book gave me the confidence to say NO and stick to it.
4. Kelly Minter- Kelly’s style is also down to earth and very intimate like you’re sitting on her couch (hence the name Living Room Series she completes). Every time I complete a Bible study, it’s like God placed that exact Bible study in my hands and the exact right timing. It’s like God knows what you need (LOL). Why am I surprised every time?
I love how Kelly personalizes her studies with her own style of including recipes (which cooking is her passion), her music (because she’s a songwriter), and her journeys she takes to the Amazon. My favorite studies I’ve completed by Kelly are What Love Is and Nehemiah and I’ve read her book Where the River Runs and started the Hannah (tween) Bible study with my daughter.
5. Moody Publishers Authors Erica Wiggenhorn and Kim Erickson-Up until this point I’ve recommended Lifeway authors only. There are soooo many great Bible study teachers out there from other publishers and moody publishers does a great job publishing great women studies as well. I’m a little biased, about these two authors because they are my friends. I first met Erica and Kim 8 years ago in AZ when I lived there.
Ever since then we have prayed for one another and cheered each other on in our ventures. It’s so exciting to see their work published and for women to be learning about Jesus through them! Both of their studies following along a book of the Bible and has lots of biblical and life application. Please check out their work on the their websites at Erica Wiggenhorn and Kim Erickson.
Bottom line we reap what we sow, we grow when we allow God to use our time and weakness for His greater plans. Each study we complete he will use to equip us for what He has store for us in our lives. Check your local church for their Bible studies, join one on-line or host one in your home!
What is your favorite Bible study and/or teacher?
What are you studying?
Did you enjoy this blogpost? Please share with others! Want more encouraging messages sent right to your inbox? Subscribe to my blog and receive a FREE E-book The Jericho Prayer and a weekly Monday Message or like my Author Facebook page to catch the latest posts.
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