Through the Storm

             In this life, we experience many trials and hardships.  We feel the pain of rejection, fear of the unknown, and grief after a loss.  Yet, through the midst of each of these circumstances, we are promised comfort and peace through Christ Jesus.  The Bible tells us that, “by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).  Even in the midst of our grief, He is with us.  When one’s heart feels broken, He is there.  We can take comfort in the fact that any trial we go through, Jesus experienced it first.  He felt rejection, pain, hatred, suffering, betrayal, isolation, desertion, and ultimately death on a cross.  He experienced all of these atrocities and more!  Why?  All because of His unfailing love for us!  No matter what we are going through, no matter how big the problem or pain may be, we can take comfort knowing that our God is bigger still, and He has “overcome the world!” (John 16:33).  When low in spirit, He is there to bind up the wound with His love and peace.  He is with us!  His word tells us that “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

            Regardless of the fact that life doesn’t always make sense and even though we may have to experience trials that we don’t understand, wait for things we think we’re ready to have, and feel pain that hurts more that words can describe, we need to remember that Jesus has it.  We need to stop worrying about things that can’t be changed, and instead of focusing on our human ability, utilize our strength through prayer.  We need to take our hurts, trials, and desires to the cross.  We need to go before our Savior and ask Him to be in the center of every moment and every circumstance.  If we would seek His peace, we could take comfort in knowing that He is for us and will always love His children.

Dear God,

I know we have messed up.  We have felt the pain from the world.  We have been selfish enough to want to only focus on us and not realize that there are others in pain.  Help us to bring our pain to you and allow your love to heal us.  Please heal our hearts and wounded pride.  Help us to always run to you first!

                                                Amen

A Pure Heart

Whenever one reads a book, looks things up on the internet, or watches TV the things that are said and done enter into the heart.  It is as though one is making a deposit into the bank, the heart bank.  When wholesome things are watched and God’s word is read, individuals are making a good spiritual deposit into their lives.  However, when it is something bad, it still goes in.  One absorbs the bad along with the good.  This is why the Bible says that followers of Christ must “renew [their] minds” (Romans 12:2).  If one fails at this, the individual will be overcome by the sin within their life.

            When placed in difficult situations, a withdrawal is made from the heart bank. Whatever has been deposited into the heart, whether good or bad, is what one is able to withdraw from the heart.  If bad or sinful things are what have been deposited, that is what can be withdrawn and that is the way one will respond under pressure.  My former youth pastor, now head pastor, used to tell a story in order to illustrate this idea more fully.  He told of a time when he was a young boy and his father made him and his brother a ramp for their bike.  One of their favorite maneuvers was to ride up the rap cross their arms, uncross them, and then ride back down.  One day, they were out riding the ramp and they decided to take a break and eat some Ho-Ho’s.  After eating some Ho-Ho’s, my pastor climbed back on his bike and got ready to ride the ramp.  He made it to the top and crossed his arms, but when he came down he was unable to uncross his arms before hitting the ramp.  His stomach came down full force onto his arms and Ho-Ho’s were spewed everywhere!  What was in him came out.  In this illustration, the ramp is like life; the Ho-Ho’s are an example of what was put in.  When the pressure was on, what was put in (Ho-Ho’s) came out.

            Whatever is stored in the heart will one day be made known by or through what is said, the way one thinks, or even an individual’s actions.  The Bible says that “out of the overflow of [the] heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).  If one desires good things to be their withdrawal or overflow then one must read and watch things that are in accordance with God’s word.  God gives us guidelines as to what His standards are in Philippians 4:8, he tells us that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”  This verse is a list of qualities to think on and can be used as a canon for what to fill our hearts with.  If God’s word is read on a daily basis, it will not return void!  As a Christian, one must stay strong in commitments and convictions so that the heart is not made dirty or deceived.

Waiting on God's Answer

            So often today we pray to God asking Him what His will for our life is.  However, when we bring our requests before Him we expect an immediate answer.  We expect a yes or a no reply.  We have been brought up in a generation of instant gratification; I like to call it the Microwave Generation.  This generation differs from previous generations because it no longer has to wait for what it wants but instead can have its desires immediately.  In past generations, if one wanted hot food it had to be prepared and then cooked in an oven and the individual had to wait hours for their meal.  Yet today, one can simply pop food into the microwave and presto! in a few short minutes a hot meal is ready! 

            I say all of this to explain how we have become in our walk with Christ.  As Christians, instead of waiting on God, we now expect a microwave answer, yet usually God is giving us an oven answer.  We come before Him expecting and wanting a yes or no, but He so often is saying “wait.  Wait on me!”  However, because of instant gratification we don’t want to listen to this reply, it’s as if we’ve forgotten how to wait, and instead we take our life into our own hands and we pursue what we think we want and need.  Then when what we thought we wanted and needed doesn’t work out and it ends in heartbreak we turn back to God and blame Him for our pain.  Yet all the while God is telling us that if we would just wait on Him and trust His timing He has something so much better for us then what we could ever choose! We need to, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).  Instead of following our own wants and desires come before God and give them to Him!  Wait on God, and wait for His answer.  Be strong in Him, take heart in the knowledge that He has a plan, and know that He will see it through.

            You see, God’s timing is perfect.  Even though we think everything needs to happen right this instant, God tells us to wait more often than not.  He brings people into our lives when we are ready.  He uses our moments alone to build our character and to deepen our relationship with Him.  He knows when everything will come to pass.  But before He reveals even the smallest piece of His plan to us, we have to trust Him no matter the circumstances.  We have to trust His timing and that He has a plan.  Our focus should be on Him and not ourselves.  God allows things to happen for a reason, He has a plan for every day, every moment, and every second.  There is a set time God has made for things to happen in our lives and even though it may not be the way we want it to happen or in the time we expect it, we need to trust Him.

            God has set a time for the things we desire and need.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is  a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven.”  We need to trust this and be patient instead of expecting an instant answer or instant gratification.  Wait on Him and His timing.  He has a plan that is far greater than we could ever imagine.

            Dear God,

We know that you have brought everything to pass in its exact timing, and now it is up to us to trust you and wait on you.  Help us to trust your plan.  Show us where you want us to go, when to the take the next step in our lives, and who to take those steps with.  Help us to honor you in this and in our walk with you.  We know that so often we don’t want to wait on you and your plan.  There are many moments in our lives when we feel as though you have forgotten us and our desires.  But that is never the case!  So help us, help us to honor you and wait on your timing.  Help us to make you proud!  Help us to become a generation after your heart! Teach us how to become such a generation.  This is my desire, help it to be the desire of all!  For it is in your holy and beautiful name that we ask this,

                                                            Amen