Courage For Today

situation

Rest in His Sheltering Arms

Strength

Let’s face it, we’ve all been through tough times at one point or another in our life.  In fact, some of you may be going through tough times even now.  Life has a way of throwing us challenges that aren’t always what we want them to be and they seem to always be at the worst possible times.  During these inevitable times of adversity and struggle, what do we do as Christians to make it through another day?

I was recently sitting out on my terrace enjoying the beautiful sunny day.  It was a great time just to catch up on my reading and have some study time.  The sun was blistering hot but, fortunately, I was sitting in the shade under the sheltering arms of an overhanging tree.  The breeze in the shade was wonderful and while the heat of the day was all around me, I was totally comfortable under the sun-blocking arms of the tree.  As long as I stayed under the protection of the tree, life was good; let me have to venture farther out on the terrace away from the tree’s protection and my life suddenly became very uncomfortable.

As I look back on my life, I can think of many times of trials and set-backs in my life.  I often wonder why things happened the way they did and how (maybe) they could have been prevented or had a different outcome.  In every case, I can trace the problem back to not following God in a particular situation.  In every situation, I took it upon myself to do what I thought was right and not what God thought was right—and I suffered the consequences.  I learned the hard way that God’s Word is like a sheltering tree in our life.  If you stay under the umbrella of HIS magnificent grace, mercy, and strength, our lives are much more enjoyable.  Yet, when we stray out from under HIS protection, life becomes uncomfortable and unbearable sometimes.

Where are you in your life journey?  Are you underneath God’s sheltering arms, or do you simply see the tree off in the distance but are outside His protection doing your own thing?  The choice is always yours; however, life is much more enjoyable under His protective arms.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

[pt_view id=”760f7e8uyf”]

Deciding What To Do With Adversity in Our Lives

Encouragement

Let’s face it.  We all face adversity. Sometimes the adversity is with our health; sometimes the adversity is with our relationships; sometimes the adversity is with our careers; sometimes the adversity is with our finances.  Life is not always a bed of roses.  The important thing is not WHAT the adversity is, but HOW we react to the adversity.  Hopefully, what you allow me to share with you in this article will help you as you face the trials in your life.

None of us like adversity.  I know I don’t, and I’ve certainly had my share of it.  From Church splits to financial issues to career shortfalls, I’ve experienced almost everything. I would never attempt to judge what you may going through at this time, but I can tell you how I’ve coped with different situations and what I have learned from others who have gone through much more adversity than I could ever imagine.

There are two things that I always focus on when facing adversity, no matter what the adversity: (1) I always try to keep adversity in perspective and in balance with the rest of my life, and (2) I always try to remember that everything I do is in God’s Plan for my life, even when I don’t understand.  I’ll try to explain these points in more detail.

One of the more practical things I try to do when facing adversity is to place the adversity in perspective.  This is not easy to do, but is something that has helped me immensely.  What I have learned about trials, at least in my own life, is that it is the fear of the unknown that always causes the stress.  Not knowing the final outcome makes the situation seem worse.  I think we all struggle with the stress that comes from simply not knowing.

Obviously, none of us knows the outcome of any particular situation, so what do we do?  What works for me is to simply imagine the worst-case outcome.  I know this may be contrary to what some may think.  You might ask, “why think of the worst case scenario?” “Wouldn’t that make me worry more?” For me, at least, thinking of the worst thing that could possible happen helps me to keep the problem in perspective.  If I’m worrying about my career or loss of job, what’s the worst thing that can happen? I think we would all agree that being unemployed would be the worst thing. Suppose that does happen? I can tell you, again, from experience, that each and every time that I have worried about my job, or actually suffered a job loss that the new job or position I eventually got was better than the job I lost. I can’t tell you how many times that I found out later that the job I DIDN’T get was eventually abolished by the company, or the company itself went out of business. The position I did get, the position I didn’t really want, turned out to be a career milestone.  If the worst thing that can happen when worrying about a job is actually losing the job, have faith that the new job you eventually get will be even better.  If I’m worried about finances, what’s the worst thing that could possibly happen? Perhaps not being able to pay your bills? Perhaps losing everything?  Should those things happen, can you keep life in perspective and focus on the good in your life?  I know it’s hard.  I’ve been there.  But, when I can get up from bed each morning and have good health; when I am blessed with good friends and family; it becomes much easier to endure whatever financial situation I may be experiencing.  My point is that, for some reason, when I think of the worst case outcome and already “experience” that outcome in my own mind, the actual events of the trial don’t seem so overwhelming.  If I’m already mentally prepared for the worst-case scenario, than nothing going on in the meantime will surprise me.

The second thing I will try to do in any adverse situation is accept, in faith, that whatever I may be experiencing is in God’s Will and His Plan and is necessary for me at this time, even when I don’t understand. Talk about hard.  This is extremely hard for me to do because I always want to be in control of my own destiny.  Sometimes it just doesn’t matter how well we plan in life, there are some things we simply can’t control. I don’t like it one little bit when my organization and planning doesn’t make any difference in the outcome.  I simply have to check my ego at the door and realize that God is really in control, not me.  I’ve learned the hard way many times that if I will just “get out of the way” and let God have His Will in my life, rather than my own will, I’ll be a lot better off in the long run.  When I get myself out of the way and allow Him to work, I always learn something new and things always turn out better than I had planned.

My Mom was the best at this than anyone I’ve ever met.  Despite extreme medical adversities and conditions, she never lost faith in Him.  She could have easily blamed Him for her multiple back surgeries; her inability to work; her near blindness; her trouble breathing.  But, she never did. She never said “Why me, Lord?” She never let her physical difficulties rob her of what God had in store for her life. Instead, she focused on everything that was good in her life.  She focused on her strengths and not her weaknesses.  She had the keen ability and gift to be able to talk to anyone from any walk of life.  It didn’t matter whether it was the most educated executive, or the most uneducated person, she had a rare ability to converse on that person’s level.  She was sincere and she cared about others.  Rather than dwelling on the bad, she focused on the good.  She recognized His purpose in her life which was to demonstrate courage to others, despite physical adversity.  It was hard to look at your own problems and adversity and complain when you saw what she was experiencing.  I think that was God’s plan for her.  She recognized it. She allowed God to work His will through her, even with her limited physical resources.  You can do the same.  No matter what you may be experiencing in life, I can promise you that you have gifts and abilities that God can use.  In fact, you have unique gifts and talents that quite possibly can be used by only you for His Purposes.  Instead of dwelling on what isn’t working, dwell on the tremendous opportunities that await you when you are walking step in step with His Will in Your Life.

I don’t know what you may be facing, but I do know what you can do to help.  Always remember to keep your adversity and trial in perspective with the rest of your life.  Always remember that you are part of a  bigger picture and a bigger plan.

I marveled many times at how my Mom managed to do what she did with seemingly so little.  At the time of her death in 2006, we discovered the following poem in her Bible.  I don’t know where she found it.  I don’t know who the author is, but I can only assume that she read the Poem many times when the times in her life were the darkest.

It Didn’t Just Happen

Things just don’t happen to children of God,

They’re part of a wonderful plan;

The troubles, reversed, the sorrows, the rod,

Are strokes of the Great Sculptor’s hand.

When some dread accident strikes you a blow,

And you worry and fret and demand;

Why try so hard the mystery to know?

It’s not just an accident; it’s planned.

Have you been dropped from a place of power?

To you wonder and reprimand?

Don’t rebel, but look to Him in that hour;

This didn’t just happen; it’s planned.

Persecution, tribulation come down like a storm;

Friends, disappoint and withstand;

At last, all alone, bewildered, forlorn,

You look, and He smiles:  “This is planned.”

Do you wonder why God to affliction should call,

And why you must suffer and moan?

“No man should be moved by affliction” says Paul,

“For you know it is part of the plan.”

Did some dear one sicken and finally die?

Did your heart break with anguish and woe?

Did you question your Lord, and cry: “My God why?”

Don’t question—He planned it just so.

Things just don’t happen to children of God,

The blue print was made by His hand;

He designed all details to conform to His Son,

So all things that happen are planned.

No matter what happens to those called “His Own,”

Events that are awful or grand;

Every trial of your life He sends from His Throne;

Things just don’t happen; they’re planned.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

[pt_view id=”760f7e8uyf”]

Understanding the Puzzle of Faith

Encouragement

Faith is one of those concepts that has always been hard for me to grasp.  Not only that, but I would just get downright mad at others who would sometimes just tell me to “have faith.”  I already knew that I should have faith, but I spent many years wondering how?  I wanted someone to tell me how.  These well-meaning friends that were telling me to “just have faith” didn’t ever tell me HOW to have Faith or what exactly to do.  I know there isn’t some magic formula, but there had to be something to grab on to.  It was just an abstract concept to me and I struggled with how to attach some “meat” or a real meaning to this thing we call Faith.

I can tell you from personal experience, my discovery of Faith has come from the school of hard knocks.  It hasn’t come from some book I read (other than the Bible), or some message I’ve heard, just blood, sweat, and tears.  So, without further ado, here are my suggestions on how to make Faith real in your life.  I even used the letters F-A-I-T-H to make it easier to remember:

Follow what God has already directed in your life.  I remember many years ago when my daughter was struggling on her decision to become a missionary.  She prayed and agonized over the decision for years and could never come to peace with a decision.  She was totally miserable because she always felt called to be a missionary, but just couldn’t take that step of faith.  One day, she was talking and praying with my wife and mentioned that she just didn’t know what to do; she just couldn’t get God’s direction on what to do.  My wife, in her Godly wisdom, told my daughter that she believed God had already given her the direction and instruction she needed, but that my daughter wasn’t being obedient to follow that direction.  Once she heard that from my wife, it was as if a ton of bricks was lifted from her shoulder.  God’s will and direction for her life was there all along; she just wasn’t willing to accept it at the time.

Accept God’s timing.  I don’t have enough space in this article to tell you how many times God’s timing has been perfect in my life.  Now, I didn’t say HIS timing was what I wanted it to be, but it was always what I needed it to be.  There were jobs and promotions I thought I deserved and didn’t get, only to realize why many months later.  There were financial decisions that I needed to make that had I made them when I wanted to make them, would have turned out disastrous.  I could go on and on, but my point is that you have to accept and trust that God’s timing is perfect and there for a reason, even if you don’t understand it.

Ignore the naysayers and Invite wisdom from others.  Don’t spend your time listening to wisdom and advice from ungodly people or those that haven’t experienced what you’re experiencing.  Don’t listen to financial advice from someone working 3 jobs.  Don’t listen to your hair-dresser give you Stock market advice.  Instead, seek out wise and Godly counsel from those you trust and who are experts in the area you are needing advice, or at least experienced in the areas.

Turn toward HIM, not the problem.  This is probably the most difficult of all.  Whatever you’re going through, no matter how bleak, no matter how depressing or seemingly hopeless it is, Focus on HIM not the situation.  I don’t mean that you sit back and do nothing to help your situation.  What I do mean is that you pray and cry out to God and let HIM know that HE is the most important thing in your life.  Let HIM know that even though you don’t understand what’s going on, your accept that HE is in control and knows what’s best for you and your situation.  You’ll be amazed how turning toward HIM will strengthen and uplift you, even during the darkest times.

Humble yourself; we don’t deserve anything anyway.  At some point, we all have to realize that if we never received another thing in this world; if I never accomplished anything else in life; I am still victorious in Christ.  I am a sinner saved by Grace.  I don’t deserve anything but HE loved me so much that he died for me.  That alone, should be sufficient no matter what may happen in life itself.

I pray that whatever you may be experiencing right now that you’ll find new courage and strength in your daily walk of Faith.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

[pt_view id=”760f7e8uyf”]

Is Your Faith Pointing Upward or Outward

Faith

I’m one of those individuals that likes to “fix everything.”  I suppose it is simply part of my God-given DNA, but whenever there is a problem or situation, I want to try and bring order to the chaos.  I want to try and right whatever is wrong.  I want to take a certain situation and make every one live happily ever after.  I like to think that I am fairly confident in my God-given abilities and that if I work hard enough and long enough, things will all be “right.”

My life has had it’s share of difficulties and problems; too many to speak about here.  But, as I think back on some of those challenges, I can always remember trying to take control of each situation and trying to resolve everything myself.  After a few weeks or months of floundering around with my own futile efforts, I would come to the stark conclusion that I couldn’t fix this particular issue.  Talk about a blow to my ego and pride!!  How in the world could there be anything that I couldn’t make right, or at least know someone that could help me make it right?  Maybe you’ve had some of these revelations yourself?  Maybe you’re in one of those situations right now?  You’ve done everything you know to do and have no where else to turn.  Trust me; I’ve been there.

I learned that when I reached my darkest point, when I had no other place to turn, it was then that I gained my greatest strength.  I discovered that all this time, I was looking outwardly for worldly solutions to problems that the world couldn’t resolve.  It was at that moment, that I changed my Outward view to an Upward View.  And, oh, what a difference the View makes!!

As I began looking upward to Him, I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who created this Universe.  I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who sent his Son to Die for my sins.  I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who knows the number of hairs on my head.  I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who always was and always will be.  Suddenly, my problem doesn’t seem as over-whelming any longer. Now, I have tapped into the everlasting Upward strength of my Lord, and not the temporary outward “strength” of the World.

If you’re in one of those life moments at this time, I would encourage you to change the View.  Look Upward and not Outward and you’ll be amazed at the renewed strength you will receive.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

[pt_view id=”760f7e8uyf”]