Isiah 43:2 gives us this beautiful promise, When you go through deep waters I will be with you. I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (NLT). The poetic truth of this verse comforts and builds faith. Even so, the question may come, Then why do Christians suffer, and many through the centuries have been killed for their faith? This is where we must understand the difference between the physical and the spiritual.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul (NLT). The Apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 4:8-9, We are pressed on every side by troubles. but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed (NLT). Both Jesus and Paul were letting us know that no matter what happens to our bodies, our souls cannot be touched. That is why we have stories of Christians who went to their persecuted deaths, not only with courage, but more importantly with their Heavenly Father’s own peace and joy within them.
Never forget that our physical bodies are here today and gone tomorrow, but our inner being, where the Holy Spirit resides, sealing us for eternity, cannot be touched by anything in this world, and lives on and on and on. Our minds can become downcast, hearts discouraged, minds dull of hope…but when we choose to obey the guidance given in Philippians 4:8 to, Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right and true, and lovely and admirable, then inner strength from God soars to the heights of hope where peace and joy cannot be touched nor taken away.
Does God care about what happens in our physical worlds? A resounding, Yes! Each day we awaken is a day of blessing. Every time we eat or drink, it is a blessing. Physical blessings of this world come to all humans and every creature. Jesus said in Matthew 5:45 about His Father, He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike (NLT). Our Heavenly Father loves to guide us to the right careers and jobs and places we live. He loves to provide food for our tables and clothes to wear. Even so, all the physical things of the world will pass away, but all spiritual blessings and promises last forever. It is the spiritual promises that assists our physical selves to get through the difficulties and sorrows of this world today, until one day we live in our eternal world where neither sorrow nor death exist.
Therefore, today, no matter the hardship, know that He will be your strength so that your spiritual selves are not crushed, but strengthened instead to say, “My Lord is with me and will be my everything to get me through anything.”
Our dog, Jack, had me laughing this week. We were walking together in a partly wooded area of a large field. Jack was busy with sniffing pursuits when suddenly he stopped, frozen in place, nose to the ground. Then, in a flurry of activity he began digging and digging. Dirt was flying everywhere. “What have you found, Jack?” I walked closer to investigate. He lifted his dirt covered face with a twinkle in his eyes. Whatever he was digging for, he was obviously convinced it was a treasure to find. Just a few minutes later — Presto! — he pulled up a tree root! Jack looked at me with proud eyes. I praised him for his diligence in discovering and excavating the root. Tail up and wagging he then trotted on to see what other delights he might discover along the way.
Jack may as well have been digging for gold, such was his joy in his find. Did you know you and I are also told to dig for gold? Jack’s gold was a tree root, but our gold are words of life. Jesus said to His followers in John 5:39, Search the Scriptures…they point to me (NLT). We know we should dive into God’s Word everyday, but it’s so easy to be tempted away by what seems to be more pressing and urgent matters. To appease our consciences we quickly read a few verses and then we’re on our way. When we do that, we’re skimming, not searching. Jack would have never found his tree root while skimming the dirt. He had to dig to find and enjoy his treasure. It’s no different for us as we daily walk our various paths of journey through life.
We know so many truths of God’s Words such as mediate day and night and you will be like a tree planted by the waters bringing forth its fruit in just the right season, right when you need it (Psalm 1:2-3 paraphrase mine). We must surely have read the instruction of II Timothy 2:15, Study to show yourselves approved to God, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (KJV). If we desire strength and wisdom for today as we face life’s challenges, then we must look diligently into God’s Word. In it we find words to live by. Jesus said, The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life (John 6:63 NLT). The Word of God is living and active, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).
If we do not daily pay attention to God’s Word, then we are daily ill equipped to face the darts of the enemy. Satan is our enemy who daily seeks to tempt us away from the power of God’s Word. Satan sees the Words of God as dangerous, and they are dangerous against evil, for no evil can stand against the Words of God. Digging for the gold of Scripture need not be a tedious exercise, for it is full of joy and careful instruction to guide us in all the right ways to travel.
Miners in the California gold rush days would shout, “There’s gold in them thar hills!” If Jack could speak words he would shout, “There’s gold in the woods!” You and I can shout, “There’s gold in the Word of God!” Get to digging! Keep on seeking and you will find (Matthew 7:7 NLT).
My mother and I just enjoyed a most wonderful time with dear friends visiting from Alabama, USA. Their company was a blessing of joy and sweet fellowship in the Lord, but then came the moment to say goodbye. I could feel a lump forming in my throat and a tear threatening to escape my eyes.
My life has been full of goodbyes too numerous to count. Most of my goodbyes took place at the airport saying goodbye to my parents. What sadness crept inside me with every last turn of my head and wave of my hand before I disappeared into the throngs of others saying their own goodbyes as we headed to airplanes ready to whisk us up, up, and away. There has also been many goodbyes to friends in places around the world, over and over and over again. Of course, there are final goodbyes on earth when loved ones pass away. The void left behind when a dear one has gone from our presence is grievous.
Life is full of goodbyes, but oh, there is a day coming when goodbyes will be a permanent thing of the past. For every child of God there is that beautiful and unbreakable promise found in Revelation 21:1-4, I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying ‘Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (NLT).
No more sorrow, or crying or pain? No more ever! No more goodbyes from those we love so very much because we will all be in our eternal home, together for eternity. I hope you know Jesus; not just know about Him, but know Him personally. If you have accepted His gift of forgiveness and salvation, then be ready. Press on in all His ways, be ever learning about Him, be ever experiencing His strength and peace that only comes by walking closely with Him. Be always reading His Words of truth and guidance. Be empowered in the Holy Spirit, listening intently to hear that still, small voice saying, this is the way, now walk in it (Isaiah 30:21).
Goodbyes for God’s children are temporary. Goodbyes have no place in eternity. That glorious day is drawing near. I look forward to seeing you there with an excited, “Hello!”
I remember as a child, vending machines were fun to me. I loved putting in a coin, pressing the button with the number corresponding with my selection, and presto! what I desired dropped to the bottom of the machine, waiting for me to push the little door open to retrieve what I ordered (usually an orange soda or a Heath chocolate bar). The fun relationship I enjoyed with the vending machine began to dwindle when unexpected things would happen: it ate my money, the item got caught on its trip down provoking me to much shaking (perhaps a kick or two) of the machine in attempt to loosen my item, or the button I pressed to obtain my desired item didn’t work, sending another selection down instead! Oh! The frustration!
As this memory came to mind, a question came, too: do we ever treat God like a vending machine? We know what we want. We tell God our desire. Having made the selection we wait for our request to come to fruition. We wait and wait. Frustration overtakes trust. Perhaps we want to punch something. Maybe we take our irritations out on whoever is nearby. Maybe God gives us another selection of His choosing other than what we told Him we wanted. We sink into disappointment. Thoughts of “that’s not fair!” churns over and over pushing inner peace right out the door. What can we do to regain peace, joy, and trust again?
When we are disappointed with God, the first thing, the necessary thing that must take place is repentance. It is absolutely vital to our joy that we see ourselves as we are: demanding, trusting our ways are better than His, refusal to wait, inability to control our frustration. When we can truly come before the Lord, and with humility pour out our regret at our behavior and attitude, seeking forgiveness, then sleeping faith awakens. We sense His love and deep understanding of our weakness in wanting our own way above His.
To repent means to turn away. It’s deliberately walking in a new direction that is God-led rather than self-led. When we begin to behave in this manner, our spiritual eyesight clears. We begin to see the blessing of God when He says, “not that way, but this,” or “not now,” or even, “no, not ever.” God always answers our prayers. He always gives us what we need, and guards us against what is not best for us. Our best interests are forever etched into His heart.
We must never forget the absolute truth of Romans 8:28, We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes for them (NLT). We find it easier to concentrate on everything works together for our good, but we must also focus on whom will everything work together for good — those who love God. It is a helpful exercise to take a spiritual health check from time to time asking the Holy Spirit to search me and know my heart (Psalm 139:23) then to create in me a pure heart and renew a loyal spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).
It is imperative in knowing full joy and peace in God, that we surrender ourselves to the loving examination of the Holy Spirit, listening as he reveals what is wrong in our lives, then repenting, turning again to His ways. The beauty and calm of trust in Him will grow steadfast and sweet once more. God is not a vending machine. He is Holy. He is perfection.. He is love without measure.
There are various situations in our lives that can leave us brokenhearted. Perhaps you and your spouse pledged to love each other forever, but at some point, love and trust shattered, leaving you bereft, unsure of love ever finding you again. Perhaps parents weren’t as nurturing as they should be, leaving children to grow up with a lack of understanding the depth of true love. There may be parents who truly did love and nurture their children, holding them dear to their hearts, sacrificing for their children’s every need, but one day the child that is so loved turns away in betrayal. Friendships once thought to be everlasting fades away with the passing of years. Love so strong can end so cruel. How then can one ever trust in the love that God promises them?
Humans are fallible. Our emotions are topsy-turvy, with feelings of love one moment, and feelings of diminished love the next. We can’t always understand our own selves; how can we expect anyone else to understand us? If God so loves the world, then why is the world so full of hate? If God can do anything, then why does evil exist? Why doesn’t God just fill everyone with love and do away with betrayal?
First of all, we must remember that love is not merely a feeling, but it is something you do. God is holy. He cannot accept sin because sin is not holy, but we are born sinful. What, then, can be done? Enter Jesus. He is holy, encompassing all of love within that holiness. His love is without fault; it is pure and endless. To show His love for us, He did something amazing. He did not just speak empty words. No, He hung on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin; thereby, making us pure, too. This action was the epitome of His love.
How could Jesus bear all the sins of the world upon Himself? When you and I are falsely accused, we want to defend ourselves, to prove our innocence. To stand up for ourselves is human nature, but Jesus did not defend Himself — because of His God nature. Human nature makes excuses. God nature took the blame upon Himself. We are naturally selfish. God is naturally giving. He gave the ultimate gift — His only Son, Jesus. Jesus willingly stretched out His arms on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, but even in that selfless act, His love would not allow Him to force anyone to receive His gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Him in Heaven where sin and death and sorrow are no more. To receive His gift is our choice alone.
Jesus chose to die because of His love for us. We must choose to live because of our love for Him. We must choose to truly repent of our sin (not just saying sorry) but to turn away. When we make that choice, the Holy Spirit fills us, empowering us to love as Jesus loves, to forgive the unlovely, to reach out to the poor, to show kindness to the filthy, in all of these actions, to point others to Jesus, that they may also make their own choices to receive Him or not.
Love fills us with sweet emotion, but human love can betray. The love of God also fills us with sweet emotion, but God’s love only grows stronger within us as we make another choice — to walk in His ways, to meditate upon His lovely promises, to share His endless love with others. God’s love never betrays or disappoints; it only draws us closer to Him as we surrender to His everlasting arms that holds us so dear.
The world will not always be evil and hateful. Jesus will come back to make all things new. Only those who have chosen to receive His gift of salvation will live in that world. In the world that is to come, betrayal does not exist, love is never broken, sin is finally no more.
I hope you choose God’s love, for there is nothing more certain in all this world.
It was in the ’70’s when I got my first real job; something other than occasional babysitting. It was part-time after school, making $20.00 a week. Back in the ’70’s that was not bad at all. It felt so good being able to buy things myself. As Christmas neared, excitement grew as I knew I could purchase presents for my family from my own saved money.
As I shopped around my eyes fell on something beautiful; a sewing box. I just knew my mother would love a new sewing box. Hers was worn and a bit tattered. This new sewing box was blue and white wicker with a braided handle, and the lid was embroidered with flowers of different colors. It was beautiful and my heart was happy. I looked at the price tag — $14.00 — over half my weekly salary. It was an expensive gift to me, but I joyfully made the purchase.
I can still picture my mother’s smile when she opened her present on Christmas morning. The expense had been worth it. We moved a lot in those days because of my father’s Air Force career, so I took it upon myself to carefully take charge of wrapping my mother’s sewing box. I found the right size box, scrunched up newspapers to pad the box and gently set it in. The treasured sewing box was secure, ready to present to my mother again.
This story of the sewing box rushed to the forefront of my memories this week as I read Isaiah 40:11, He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart (NLT). Jesus is our Shepherd and all we who know Him are His sheep. We are precious to Him. We know that because He paid a great price for us: it was His own blood on the cross where He paid the penalty for our sins. He treasures us. We are precious to Him. For all our days on earth He holds us close to His heart so that one day He may present us unharmed to His Father who also counts us as lovely treasured ones.
I took care of the sewing box for my mother. Jesus takes care of us for His Father. Both cost so much. Both are treasured. Whatever you are facing today, may you rest in Jesus’ arms, peaceful, secure, knowing you are precious to Him.
One thought more — my mother still has that sewing box. It’s well worn and rather worse for wear, but it’s still a treasure to her. As days, months, and years pass by, you and I are also worn, tired, perhaps slower in movement; rather worse for wear, but we are no less treasured by Jesus. The day is coming close when we will look upon His face. Oh, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
We have all had moments when we’re extremely upset with ourselves. We have failed in some way — again! — and become swamped in feelings of worthlessness. Why try, we say to ourselves. We become convinced it’s all useless. The self loathing washes over like a swelling tide threatening to suck us into a sea of lost hope. Is there an escape from this undertow of despair?
Yes, but we must change our focus from the sin which besets us to our Savior Who saves us. We reside in a body that is imperfect; encased in a mind that is vulnerable to temptation. However, we are also sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30 KJV). What does this mean? It means we cannot lose our salvation. We still sin in our imperfect bodies and minds, but when the day comes after physical death, we will be in the presence of Jesus, and He will present us faultless to His Father. This is reason for rejoicing, not self loathing.
Does this mean we are free to sin as we please? Oh no! Let’s read the whole of the verse in Ephesians 4:30, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption (NKJV). When we sin, the Holy Spirit Who lives within us is greatly saddened. Why? Because we have soiled our holy garments which damages our inner joy and peace. The Holy Spirit longs for us to walk in the ways of Jesus because that brings great joy to us and great glory to Jesus. That’s why we have access to Holy Spirit power working within us, that we may shine like a bright light for others to see Jesus in us.
When we sin and cause the Holy Spirit to grieve on our behalf, He also pricks our consciences, urging us to repent. When we sin, it is repentance that brings us immediately back to full joy in Jesus. When we put off repenting, we are fighting the tides that seek to suck us into misery. Repentance allows us to break free, to stand on solid ground once again. Repentance reminds us of the beauty of forgiveness.
We all sin until we leave this earth to live eternally in Heaven where sin no longer exists. Until then, we all have a choice when we sin: fight the tides of self loathing and drown in self pity or repent and walk on in the power of the Holy Spirit, displaying our inner Jesus joy and peace that fills us with holy contentment, and with deep love for Jesus and our fellow man.
Are you fed up with your failures today? Then get out of the water of despondency, reach for the rope of repentance, and walk on in joy, peace and love once more.
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