Just Because It's Hard

And I will lead the blind
in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 (ESV)

Back in April, I had a traumatic health event happen and afterward, I had to decide whether or not to have a surgery to fix the problem. I am one of those people who thinks you should try everything you can to heal yourself naturally. I think medicine is a good thing but I believe we could be healthier, heal naturally if we put in a little effort and look to medicine after we do those other things.

Having a surgery was something I did not want to do. At. All. Without it though, there was a good chance that I would have more traumatic events and that I may not come out on the other side. I asked everyone I knew what they thought. I studied. I researched. Everything pointed to having it but I still didn’t want to. Finally, I asked God. I felt that he said I should. I scheduled the surgery.

After the surgery, recovery was hard. I remember the second night I was awake most of it believing I wasn’t going to make it through this. I prayed and told God that I knew I had misunderstood and he wouldn’t have told me to have this surgery because this was one of the hardest things I’d ever done and it was awful.

A couple of days later the surgeon came in to discharge me. He looked at me and explained what they found on the pathology report. He said that the part they removed was so diseased and I quote “You would had have major problems with this if you had not had it removed.”

I realized as I processed this that God was in it after all. Sometimes, the path we are walking is not easy. Sometimes, he gives us hard things to do. Just because it’s hard, just because we feel like we are not going to make it, doesn’t mean God isn’t in it. He is.

When things are really, really hard and you feel like you are not going to make it through, trust. Trust that God is in it with you. Trust that he didn’t forsake you. Trust that he knows what you need to do, even if it hurts.

A Minute In It - Get Your Feet Wet

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and answer the questions at the bottom of the post!

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:22-31 (NLT)

As you examine your life, is it possible Jesus is asking you to "get out of the boat"?
Is he asking you to do something that is a little scary?
Is it possible that the reason you are "stuck in the boat" is because you don't trust that he is going to be in it with you?
What would happen if you took that first step?

Battle Plans

When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” Joshua 5:13-14 (NLT)

Joshua was near Jericho. Perhaps he was scouting out the terrain before the big battle that was before him and the Israelites. Maybe he was looking at the huge wall that surrounded the city. It seemed impenetrable. Could he be wondering how they were going to win this battle? Was his mind racing trying to figure out how to do the impossible?

Suddenly he looked up and saw a warrior standing in front of him ready for battle. "Are you for us or against us?" he asked. And I love what the Warrior says next.  "Neither."

How often do we face our day, our tasks or our problems and stand there staring at them trying to figure out how we are going to fix it. Just like Joshua, we are looking at the wrong thing. When Joshua finally refocuses, he sees Jesus standing there. And when he tries to pull Jesus into his focus by asking "Are you for us or against us?", Jesus says "Neither. I am with God."

Jesus basically says to Joshua, "This isn't your battle to fight. It's not for you to carry alone. All you need to get through this is standing in front of you. Refocus. Remember who is in charge." And immediately, Joshua is reminded of why he is doing what he's doing and where his focus should be. He drops to his feet and worships.

I don't know about you but I pull a Joshua on a pretty regular basis. I get up in the morning, have my time with God and align my thinking. Then, as I go through my day, I start focusing on what isn't working and how I'm stuck. I get frustrated and complain.  I forget that this is God's battle and that he has a battle plan. 

Maybe when we find our gaze drifting to something other than the Commander of the Lord's army, we should pause and ask "God, what is your battle plan?" 

I Didn't Think Of That!

For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Deuteronomy 8:4 (NLT)

We were faced with a huge challenge. Things weren't going so well in my business and we were at the point where I would no longer get paid. To be honest, I was in full panic mode. I had a knot in my stomach; I was barely able to hold it together in front of other people.  Every prayer consisted of "We need your help." I wasn't sure what to do. I felt like my only option was to close the business and get another job.

One morning I woke up about three days in with the Bible text in my head "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)  Now, I don't normally wake up with a Bible texts in my head so I kept repeating that text over and over and I kept praying.

To tell you the entire journey would take a long time because it lasted for a year and a half. All that time he said "Wait. Don't do anything, just wait." And do you know what? All that time God provided. All that time we had the money we needed to help pay the bills even though I wasn't getting paid.  And the money came in from so many different avenues you just knew it was God. 

When I read this text about the Israelites clothes not wearing out for forty years, I paused.  In the past I would not even have noticed it but now I read it and think, "Yeah, that's God." When he provides he finds ways to meet your needs that you wouldn't even have thought of. Who would have thought he would keep clothes from wearing out for forty years? Who would have thought he kept their feet healthy as they walked through the dry desert? 

God is providing all the time. Whether it be funds when there are none, gifts to ease the financial strain, a comforting word from a friend, keeping our bodies functioning so we can do what he wants us to do or a text from the Bible at just the right time to keep us going....those (and so many other blessings) are all God.

Thank God he doesn't work based on our limitations. We see a problem and believe that there is no way around it. God sees a problem and sees a million ways to solve it.  That is the God we serve! 

Not My Job

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. 11 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. 12 Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Exodus 17:10-13 (NLT)

As I read this story, I was wondering about what Joshua was thinking during this battle. Could he see Moses? Did he know that when Moses dropped his hands, he would start losing? Was he constantly looking over his shoulder checking out the situation? Maybe he'd see the arms sag and yell something like "Hands up! Hands up!" Was he trying to control something that was out of his reach? Somehow I doubt it.

When Joshua was on the battle field, I am sure he was focused on the battle. He was fighting with a bunch of unexperienced men who needed a leader that was engaged in what they were doing right then and there. That had to be Joshua's focus.

Moses was also doing what he what he was supposed to be doing at that moment. He was interceding. He was standing in the gap for Joshua and the Israelites. It's a good thing Joshua and Moses knew their roles and what they were supposed to be doing. And in the process they trusted God to do what he was supposed to be doing.

What about you? When God gives you a job, do you look around to see what everyone else is doing or do you look to God and trust that he is going to work it all out. Do you keep your focus on today's duties or are you trying to supervise God's plan for tomorrow?  I bet if Joshua kept looking back at Moses or if Moses kept trying to get into the fight with Joshua, things would not turned out as perfectly as they did.

You Are Not Alone

When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:1-2 (NLT)

Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Genesis 39:19-21 (NLT)

Poor Joseph. He was sold into slavery because his brothers were angry and jealous and then, because he chose to do the right thing he was put into prison. As we ponder that, maybe we shouldn't feel so sorry for him.  

Did you see the line that is in both of today's texts? The Lord was with Joseph. Where ever Joseph was, God was there too. No matter the twists and turns that his life took, God was walking beside him. When things were pretty much as bad as they could get, God was in the mess. How does that translate for us today?

When you lose your job and you aren't sure how it's going to work out. The Lord is with you.
When your marriage is on the rocks. God is in the mess.
As you look at your bills that equal more than what's in your checking account. You are not alone.
As you struggle with the health problem that seems way too serious and complicated. God is walking beside you.

Joseph was not more important than you are. No matter what you are facing today, you can be assured that you are not alone. 

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

A Minute In It - Helping Differently

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,[a] get up and[b] walk!”

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.  Acts 3:1-11 (NLT)

When you think of helping someone, do you always think of monetary help? How could you help someone without giving them money? What else do you have that you could share?

From the lame man's perspective, was what he received better? What was his response to God showing up in his life? Do you think God still shows up in such miraculous ways? Do you think he could? Do you trust that he will?

What's Behind Door Number Three?

“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord.  1 Samuel 14:6 (NLT)

Last night we were having a discussion about God opening doors for us to walk through. Sometimes, it is clear that a door has opened in answer to prayer. It is totally obvious so you walk through it.

Sometimes however, it is not so clear. Maybe the door opened only a crack. Or maybe when the door opened, it didn't look like what you prayed for so you don't know if God opened it or not. What do you do then?

When Jonathan was walking to the Philistine camp, it feels like he was going up to the door and jiggling the handle. There was definitely a door there but he wasn't sure if God was behind it so he said "Perhaps the Lord will help us." and he came up with a test.

The test was that if they said If you come up here we'll kill you, the door was closed. If they said Come up and fight, the door was open. In my mind that is a crazy test but then again, God's plans are always crazy.

Jonathan jiggled the handle, got the answer and went through the door. That day in battle he killed 20 Philistines. But what happened next was amazing. The army began to panic. They turned on each other and started fighting. Eventually, the Israelites won the battle.

Jonathan jiggled the handle of the door he was facing and it opened. He didn't really know what it was going to look like but he stepped in anyway. God didn't expect him to take care of the entire army. He expected him to take a step of faith and God would do the real work.

Isn't it the same with us? Often we stare at a door thinking we have to do everything on the other side but that is not what God wants. He wants us to trust him, step out in faith and leave the fighting to him. Perhaps if we do this, the Lord will help us like he did Jonathan.