Blessing hidden in the shadows

“There’s nothing life can throw at us that God can’t use to draw us closer to him.”- Kyle Idleman

In Chapter 2 of The End of Me, Kyle Idleman observes that it’s human nature to do everything one can to stay away from suffering in the first place.  But we take things one step further when suffering inevitably hits.  We do everything possible to stay away from mourning.  And when we do catch ourselves mourning, we embrace avoidance behaviors to do all in our power to make mourning go away.

Pastor Idleman refers to this as a “grim quest to turn that frown upside down.”  However, Kyle explains, that frown won’t go away because gravity keeps tugging at the edges.  Rather than mourn, we shift our efforts to getting over it.  In fact, a man named Jeff Goldblatt founded Get Over It Day (March 9th).

Kyle counters that Jesus wants us to realize we can find incredible blessings hidden in the shadows- but that blessing only may be visible through the lens of our tears.  Through the unique focus of those tears, the intruder begins to look strangely like a guest.

When adversity hits, we can’t see anything bigger than our loss.  The truth is God more than fills that space, including spaces we didn’t know we had.  Kyle concludes:

“. . . those who follow Jesus find that their pain is not wasted.  There is a blessing that seems totally illogical.  It requires climbing to the bottom of the deepest pit, without a flashlight, venturing far into the darkness.  But the blessing is there, and it’s worth everything.”

Today’s question: What Scriptures have helped you find blessing hidden in the shadows?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Spit first.  Dig second.”

Blessing hidden in the shadows

Living the dream

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”- Matthew 5:4

“The end of me often comes when my dreams come to an end.”- Kyle Idleman

Kyle Idleman begins Chapter 2 (“Mourn to Be Happy”) of The End of Me by remarking that toward the top of his list of least favorite things is waking up in the middle of a fantastic dream.  “But,” Kyle observes, “it seems a law of life that if you’re in the middle of an awesome dream, something will wake you up.”

Pastor Idleman states we’ve all had times when life was on cruise control.  Then adversity blindsided us and the ride got rough.  Kyle explains:

“You were living the dream, and then life was shaking you awake.  So intrusive.  To come awake is to lose something- money, health, work, innocence, some special someone.  If you’re going to live, you’re going to lose.  You will come to the end of yourself.  You might as well wake up to the fact.”

You’ve gone from dreaming to mourning.  But what if, Pastor Idleman asks, you could reverse that equation so that you would wake up from a nightmare to a dream, and mourning could lead to blessing.  Kyle encourages us:

“In the midst of loss and deep disappointment, when it feels like we are coming to the end of ourselves, he [Jesus] turns the page and shows us a new story of hope and redemption.”

Today’s question: What is your response to Kyle’s statement that we must wake up to the fact that we will come to the end of ourselves?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Heartache and shattered dreams”

Living the dream

The seasons of our lives

“When we view our lives as a string of random days connected only by the calendar, it’s easy to overlook the active movement of God.”- Bill Hybels

In Chapter 9 (“From Stuck to Moving On: Welcoming New Seasons in Your Life”) of Simplify, Bill Hybels notes the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds became the number one song in America on December 4, 1965.  Pete Seeger based the words of his song on the writings of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3.  Today these words draw Pastor Hybels’ attention for a much more substantive reason- the words call for change.

The author comments on the necessity of viewing our lives to see the active movement of God:

“Our ability to identify the seasons of our lives increases our ability to cooperate with God, recognizing His guiding hand, follow His lead, and accept the end of one season as the beginning of the next.”

The seasons we enter into have different lengths- weeks, months, or even years.  All these seasons have a beginning and an end.  We spend time in one season and then move on to the next one.

Adverse circumstances, such as a ministry downsizing or vocation loss, define some of our seasons.  When adverse seasons come in rapid succession, the challenge is extraordinary.  Pastor Hybels exhorts us that it is vital to remember that adverse seasons don’t define our whole life:

“Good or bad, easy or difficult, every season on this earth is temporary.”

Today’s question:  What Bible verses help you persevere through your temporary seasons of adversity?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Mourning and dancing”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiprqeaydik

The seasons of our lives

A vivid point of light

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”- Psalm 119:105

“A ‘life verse’ is a power clarifying tool when it comes to simplifying our lives.”- Bill Hybels

In Chapter 8 (“From Drifting to Focused: Claiming God’s Call on Your Life”) of Simplify, Bill Hybels tells of the time he went sailing with his dad from South Haven, Michigan to Chicago.  Bill was eight years old.  On the way they encountered a massive storm, which they fought for over ten hours.  Finally, in the distance, they spotted a vivid point of light- the Chicago Breakwater Lighthouse.  The safety of the harbor was near.

The experience was so seared into Bill’s mind that he painted a picture of that vivid point of light.  It hangs in his kitchen to this day.  In life, Pastor Hybels explains, we need a light directing us back to safe harbor:

“. . . we all need a vivid point of light from Scripture- a particular verse that resonates with us personally, to guide our paths and give us a reference point, no matter the size of the waves.”

When adversity overwhelms us, a life-verse can guide us back to the things that matter most.  In the next blog, Pastor Hybels discusses how he chose his life verse as well as the power of adopting a life verse.

Today’s question: What verse or verses immediately come to mind as a potential life verse?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Choosing your life verse”

A vivid point of light

Decidophobia

“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”- James 1:5 (NRSV)

In Chapter 5 (Door #1 or Door #2) of All the Places to Go, John Ortberg tackles the question of choosing the right door.  For example, when facing prolonged adversity, we may wonder whether God wants us to grow by persevering in our difficult situation or whether God wants us to leave because He’s concerned about our happiness.

Pastor Ortberg states that what often drives us is our state of great distress.  When we’re filled with anxiety, it’s tempting to look for a guarantee of future outcomes that removes the responsibility of decision-making from our shoulders, as opposed to seeking God’s will.  As John phrases our temptation: “God has to tell me what to do for I am in great distress.”

Princeton philosopher Walter Kaufmann coined the word decidophobia to describe our fear of making decisions.  We don’t want to be wrong and decisions wear us out.  Because King Saul really didn’t want God’s will, his prayers went unanswered and he consulted the medium at Endor.  While superstition seeks to use the supernatural for our purposes, faith surrenders to God’s purposes.

John emphasizes that prayer is closely associated with seeking and discerning open doors because it’s our primary means of communication with God.  The author concludes:

“If I’m facing a choice and I want to find God’s will for my life, I don’t begin by asking which choice is God’s will for my life.  I need to begin by asking for wisdom.”

Today’s question: Are you seeking to use the supernatural for your purposes or are you surrendered to God’s purposes?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Seeking Lady Wisdom”

 

Decidophobia

Holy confidence

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”- Matthew 10:29-31

“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.”- Abraham Lincoln

As Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 7 of The Grave Robber, he states that Ethiopia has a long history of Christianity because Philip unquestioningly obeyed God, encountering an Ethiopian eunuch on a desert road.   God only told Philip to take a specific road- not what would happen or why he was heading toward Gaza.

Pastor Batterson states that’s where most of us get stuck, because we want God to reveal the second step before we take the first.  To take that step of faith, we need holy confidence.  In ancient Israel, a sparrow was the cheapest ticket item in the food market.  The Father’s concern for such little birds shows He cares about every minute detail of His creation.

Mark emphasizes we’re born on a cosmic battlefield between good and evil.  Reality is defined by our reaction to adversity, as Mark notes:

“You cannot control your circumstances, but you can live with holy confidence, knowing all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.”

Our hurt can become someone else’s healing, our worst day transformed into our best day.

Today’s question: What Scriptures of Christian authors have strengthened your holy confidence in God?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “God Speed”

Holy confidence

The path for your victory

In Chapter 6 of Waiting on God, Charles Stanley offers these words of support when we are especially disheartened during times of delay:

“As you submit to the Father during this difficult time, He provides for you, makes you all you need to be, bends other people’s hearts toward you, and sets the path for your victory.”

At this point, Dr. Stanley notes that we question why God doesn’t change our circumstances, allowing us to suffer and wait.  After all, we know that God is with us in our darkness and is all-powerful, but things seem to be at a stalemate.  Here we need to remember this second point as difficult times persist:  The Lord has an important purpose for the seasons of adversity you face (author’s emphasis).

Especially when we see a glimmer of hope, a way out of our land between, postponement of that hope can make a normal person question everything.  Disappointments can plunge our soul into despair.  Dr. Stanley notes that these are times when we decide whether we truly believe in the Lord or whether He’s simply an idea we cling to.

Dr. Stanley offers five reasons why the Lord allows us to experience dark times.  The first is presented today.

1.  To firmly mature and establish your trust in Him when there is no visible evidence of His activity.  As our faith progresses from little to maturing to perfect, we become confident that the Lord already has accomplished what He has promised.  The wonderful blessing we’ve eagerly anticipated will be even more meaningful because we’ve clung to Him through every trial and setback.

Today’s question: What has strengthened your trust in God during your time of adversity?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation, “My Lifesong”

The path for your victory

Gripping the past

“If you live gripping the past, you will forfeit you future.  Adversity can either make you bitter or better.”- Charles Stanley

In today’s blog, Charles Stanley completes his discussion of six common idols we often hold too tightly.

5.  The past.  Dr. Stanley states in no uncertain terms that the past is one of the most destructive idols of all.  This happens when we fixate on the people who have hurt us or we harbor unforgiveness.  If our pain turns to bitterness and unforgiveness, we have reached a dangerous point.  We begin to suspect the Lord’s motives, fearfully expecting more trials or further wounding.

Our past becomes an idol when we trust our experiences more than we believe in God.  We don’t have to allow this to happen.  Our adversity can be a bridge to a deeper relationship with the Father if we set our heart to trust Him.

6.  Hobbies.  While hobbies and preferred forms of entertainment aren’t necessarily wrong in themselves, there is a problem if they grab more of our attention than the Lord does.  Even ‘harmless’ activities and pastimes can consume us, Dr. Stanley writes.  Hobbies have no capacity to diminish our profound feelings of emptiness, exile, or worthlessness following our vocation loss.

Today’s question: Which of Dr. Stanley’s six common idols resonate most with you?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “God’s workmanship”

Gripping the past

When God sifts us

“Delay never thwarts God’s purpose; rather, it polishes His instrument.”- Victor Raymond Edman

Today Charles Stanley concludes his discussion of five lessons we can learn while expectantly waiting on God.

2.  To value God’s timing.  Dr. Stanley defines God’s timing as “a tool God [uses] to effectively carry out His will and build dedication to His plan.”  Just like David, we can’t be driven by what others think.  God will take care of our situation in His perfect time.  We are simply to wait for His direction.  Dr. Stanley concludes:

“. . . the delays we face are not a denial of His promises; rather, they are an integral part of His strategy to arrange all the details and get us positioned for His excellent plan.”

3.  To prepare for His blessings.  Confining God’s blessing to our timing may be absolutely destructive to us today, but completely wonderful for us tomorrow.  Dr. Stanley adds that the Lord also cultivates our character to increase our commitment to the responsibilities and challenges of God’s gift.  Dr. Stanley states: “God lingers, develops you, and matures your character so you are fully equipped to receive all He has planned for you.”

4.  To strengthen our faith.  Our faith is tested and grows greatly when we only have God’s promise to rely upon.  For this purpose, Dr. Stanley stresses, “the Lord will intentionally put adverse conditions in our path so we choose to believe Him rather than focus on our circumstances.”  We’ll never go wrong waiting on God.

5.  To sift our moments and desires.  If our motives are wrong or our tactics sinful, God will work to align our hearts with His purposes for our lives.  Dr. Stanley encourages that when God sifts us, there’s no telling what “wonderful, exciting, energizing and fulfilling things He’s purposed to do through us.”

Today’s question: Which of the five lessons are most meaningful?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Directed toward God”

When God sifts us