by

A Long and Difficult Journey

The journey of life is often long and difficult.  There are many obstacles in our way that cause discouragement, grumbling, and questions. Our circumstances may leave us feeling like the Israelites as God led them to the promised land.  God had promised something better than the life they were leaving, but they faced many struggles along the way.

Exodus 13:17 says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.” Why not? The Israelites were finally free from slavery, and God was leading them to the Promised Land.  Why would He make them go the long way?  As we read on we see that travelling the  shortest route would result in being attacked by the Philistine army.  God knew if they faced a battle, they might turn and head back to Egypt. They simply were not ready. So He protected them from an immediate battle to prevent the Israelites from becoming discouraged and giving up. Ultimately, He knew what was best for them.

Eventually Pharaoh decided he had made a mistake and gathered his army to capture and bring home the Israelites. As they approached the Israelite camp to force them all to go back to Egypt, the people began to panic and cried out to God for help.  When trouble appears in our life, we often respond in the same way.  We panic and cry out to God to help us get through it.  Then they turned on Moses, complaining about his leadership, and wishing they had never left Egypt.  They feared the worst thinking they would surely die there in the desert.  They didn’t even wait for God to answer their cries for help before they began to fear the worst.  Satan uses fear to distract us from trusting God, and we begin to question why He is taking us down this path in life. In Exodus 14:13, Moses says, “Don’t be afraid be brave and you will see the Lord today.”  Moses had faith that God would be with them.

Then in Exodus 14:14, Moses says, “The Lord himself will fight for you.  You won’t have to lift a finger in your defense.”  Hmm…so if we encounter difficulty while travelling the path God planned, He will fight the battles for us!  He doesn’t even need our assistance or advice.  As long as it’s His plan for our lives, He will ensure that things don’t go awry.  There may be difficulties along the way, but ultimately God will protect us every step and nothing will happen that is out of His control.  What a comfort to know that whatever battles come our way, God has it under control!  All we need to do is be still and allow him to work.

At this point the Israelites appeared to be trapped between the wilderness and the sea as the Egyptians approached.  Then as God instructed, Moses held his staff over the water, and a pathway opened across the sea.  The Israelites walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground as water stood like a giant wall on both sides.  The waters closed up behind them and the Egyptians, their chariots, and horsemen were all swept into the sea. God had rescued them from what appeared to be an impossible situation.  There seemed to be no way to survive, but God not only protected them but also removed the threat completely!

Exodus 14:31 says, “And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”  They saw the lengths that God would go through on their behalf to achieve His will in their lives. They began to sing the following praises:  “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.”  (Exodus 15:2-3)

Our lives are like the Israelites journey to the promised land.  God has promised something better (heaven), but it’s often a long journey, and there are many difficulties along the way.  Difficult times help us to learn to trust Him, and our faith and relationship with Him will grow stronger.  Although we may grumble and get discouraged going through it, we can trust that He is with us, He has a plan, He will fight for us, and in the end we will see His power.

by

Debt Paid in Full

Have you ever been punished for something you didn’t actually do? Maybe you were rejected and punished even though you tried to do the right things. Maybe you willingly took the blame to prevent someone you cared about from suffering the consequences of their actions or choices.  We often stand up for ourselves refusing to take the blame, but there are times in which we willingly accept the blame to protect those we care about. Whether by choice or not, it’s not easy taking the blame or punishment for something you didn’t do.  But your love for those involved causes you to understand the consequences involved if the truth were known, so you accept their punishment.

That’s exactly what Jesus did for each of us.  “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquitites; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).  He took the punishment for all of our sins.  He suffered a cruel death on the cross even though He never sinned.   Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”   Through his death and resurrection we are healed and can accept the gift of eternal life.

Why would He be willing to endure the floggings, the crown of thorns, and the horrible crucifixion?  Love. An old hymn says sums it up perfectly: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!”  Jesus is the most caring and loyal friend we could ever find.   He could have chosen at any time not to accept the punishment we deserve, but He loved us so much that He became a voluntary substitute for each and every one of us.

Jesus took the blame and punishment for every sin anyone has ever committed or will commit.  He knew the consequences we deserve, but He loved us so much that He was willing to suffer for our sins.  Mine, yours, every single person ever born.  It’s difficult for us to take the blame for something we didn’t do, yet Jesus, who was perfectly holy and pure, Jesus who knew no sin, bore the sins of the entire world.  No matter what we’ve done,  He paid the price.

He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay.

 I needed someone to wash my sins away,

And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing grace all day long.

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay. – Author unknown

Related posts:  GPS for Life, Brag Book

by

God’s Unfailing Love

Psalms 13:1-6

1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.

4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

6 I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me.

Do you ever feel as though God has forgotten you?  Does it seem that He looks the other way as your life crumbles around you?  You’ve tried so hard to do the right things, yet your life is full of anguish. David was struggling with feeling deserted by God, sadness in his heart, and attacks of enemies. Yet he ends this Psalm with praise and thanksgiving for God’s goodness.  From the desperation in verses 1-4 to the shift of attitude in verse six, David’s situation did not change, but his perspective did.  Instead of focusing on the problem, he has turned his attention to God’s love and other times God rescued him.  His honesty displays a truth that sometimes we feel defeated even to the point of depression.

Faith comes easy when things are going well, but the true test of our faith is determined by the trials that seem to tear us limb from limb. In those moments, when it seems there is no hope, remember these tips:

1.  God loves you and His compassion never fails. Remind yourself of this truth daily, or hourly if needed.

2. Reflect on God’s deliverance in the past.  From what situations has he delivered you previously?

3.  Talk to God.  Pray often and be honest about your feelings and questions.

4.  Talk to a trusted, christian friend or pastor. You don’t have to suffer alone.

David reminds us in this Psalm that even when we struggle through the sorrows that come in life there is one thing of which we can be sure.  God’s love! It never fails.  He has rescued you in the past and will rescue you again.  Keep singing and praising His name in the midst of your trouble.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Related articles

by

Wait for the Lord

With my own children and even the students in my classroom, I’ve realized that children often interpret the answer “maybe” to mean “yes”.  They don’t consider the possibility that “maybe” could result in a negative answer. They often start anticipating the event or object for which they have asked even though they haven’t actually had that request confirmed.

Unlike children who assume “maybe” means “yes”, Christians usually interpret God’s “wait” answer to mean “no”. When things don’t happen as quickly as we would like, we get antsy and decide to take matters into our own hands. Such is the case with Sarah, the wife of Abraham. She had waited many years for a child, and finally assumed that God’s answer was “no”.  Afterall, she was well beyond child-bearing years. Like so many of us, Sarah devised a plan to create the family she wanted so badly. She convinced Abraham that they could have children through her maidservant, Hagar.  Things did not go as smoothly as she hoped, and Hagar began to despise Sarah.  The family she desired did not happen as Sarah had planned, and the situation actually lead to much turmoil for all.

Like Sarah, we have a tendency to take matters into our own hands when we don’t get answers as quickly as we would like.  What Sarah perceived as a “no” from God was actually a “wait” answer.  Later, God announced to Abraham that he would finally have a son by Sarah.  Genesis 17:17 says, ”Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’” They were old and had waited so long that it was difficult to believe. Sarah also laughed when she heard the news and questioned how this could happen when her body was old and worn out.  God responded in Genesis 18:14 with, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”  God doesn’t need our help! Regardless of how complicated things may seem, nothing is impossible for Him!

Genesis 21:2 says, “Sarah became pregnant, and she gave a son to Abraham in his old age.  It all happened at the time God said it would”.  Regardless of their age, Sarah gave birth to Isaac at the age of ninety. She had waited a long time, but what she perceived as impossible happened just as God had promised. It’s hard to be patient and understand when we aren’t getting the answers we want, but we must remember that God loves us and wants the best for us.  What we think we need or want isn’t always the best thing for us, and we may get a definite “no” answer.  But in some cases we just have to wait for the right time.  God has his own timeline, and He knows the perfect answer to every prayer as well as the perfect timing for those answers to be granted.

Are you waiting for God to answer your prayers?  Don’t give up, start to doubt, or take matters into your own hands.  Remember Sarah and the blessing she received at the exact  time God intended.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalms 27:14

Related articles
by

Mailbox Mercy

residential mailbox, United States
Image via Wikipedia

Today, I have a new mailbox.  A mailbox which represents grace and forgiveness.  Last weekend a few boys found entertainment in destroying mailboxes with baseball bats.  Not just a few, but over sixty mailboxes were destroyed that night.   The police became involved and reality quickly hit the boys and their families.  The next morning the boys went to each household to offer their apologies. Some people were angry and felt they should be punished.  Others laughed it off as teenage mischief. A little teenage mischief turned into a federal offense which could result in jail time.  These boys’ parents have made them apologize, sell their vehicles to pay for damages, and today installed new mail boxes.  Does this excuse the mistake they made?  Do they deserve further punishment? Some may say its the beginning of a life of crime.  But then again, maybe they’ve learned a lesson and will turn away from similar actions in the future.

Matthew 6:12 says, ”Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us” (NLT).  It was difficult to look into the eyes of these boys and their families and say they deserve to go to prison for destroying my mailbox.  I don’t agree with their actions, but I believe we have been called to forgive them just as we have been forgiven. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,” Matthew 7:12(NIV).   Most of us desire grace and forgiveness for our children and even for ourselves when mistakes are made. The least we can do is to offer that same gift to others.   Its true these boys should have followed this Golden Rule to begin with, but imagine how receiving forgiveness from so many could affect their lives.  How much differently could their lives be if the people in those sixty homes remained angry and refused forgiveness?

Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (NIV).  Most things in life are more difficult to forgive than a busted up mailbox. Whether we are hurt financially, physically, or emotionally, forgiveness is never easy. But because of His mercy and love for us, we must find a way. “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you,” Psalms 86:5 (NIV). If we ask, our heavenly Father is gracious enough to forgive each and every sin we commit each day. He will not deny His love just because we messed up again. “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love,” Psalms 145:8 (NIV).

Related articles