“O” is for “O, give thanks unto the Lord.”

by BetsyFaithPosted on No Comments

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.” –Psalm 118:1

Why do we thank God? This verse tells us simply, “for He is good.” The Bible doesn’t tell us to thank Him when things are going well or the way we expect. There are several verses that direct us to thank Him regardless of the circumstances. There are also many verses and songs about the goodness of God. The difficulties arise when the awful circumstances arrive in our lives. Clinging to the fact that God is good when everything seems to be falling apart is no simple undertaking. People often ask questions like, “How can a good God allow this?” or “Why would this happen if God is truly good?” 

There’s never a hard and fast response in such situations; the many intricacies of life are all working together in ways that we typically will never see, let alone comprehend. Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Even when it seems that God is doing nothing in these circumstances, we know that He isn’t a God who stands by doing nothing; He is always at work, even when we can’t see it. No one likes to be caught up in the folds of discouragement or grief or loss; these aspects of life are merely a matter of when, not if. Eventually, we all face these hard scenarios, and then we learn about faith. We are driven into the arms of our Savior. 

Often in the midst of betrayal or tragedy or other life-altering events, the only safe place is in a refuge–a place where we can express all of our pain and disappointment and hopelessness. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” What is a refuge? It is a place that provides shelter or protection from danger or distress. We have to choose to enter a refuge, to seek shelter, and God will do what He says–even when the storms of life roll in relentlessly. The following verses in Psalm 46 say, “So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge.” 

Life will throw us into challenges we don’t want to face–crumbling mountains, roaring oceans, quaking ground. Like the man who built his house on the rock, we defer to our foundation, our refuge who is always with us and for us and working behind the scenes for our good, even when life doesn’t look good. Because He is always good. 

“N” is for “Now is Christ risen from the dead…”

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It’s been about eight months since I last wrote–much has taken place in this time. When I look back at the last post I’d written in June of last year, I am particularly smitten by the remarks regarding the potter and the clay–how sometimes the potter has to crush the clay because of some flaw and rework it from scratch. Little did I know of the crushing that was about to take place.

I struggle to secure the right words to adequately express what I need to say–I typically resort to analogies and the like, but I’m at a significant loss this time. The unexpected loss of my sweet infant granddaughter has left an indelible mark on me, and I’m still wending my way along life’s path. As a parent, and specifically a mother, I have always strived to fix things in my child’s life. When fixing is not an option, I spiral into places that have no visible exit sign, and all I can do is fall down in expectant silence before God. 

It’s been about eight months since I last wrote–much has taken place in this time. When I look back at the last post I’d written in June of last year, I am particularly smitten by the remarks regarding the potter and the clay–how sometimes the potter has to crush the clay because of some flaw and rework it from scratch. Little did I know of the crushing that was about to take place.

When I look back over these last eight months, I see God’s transforming power revealed in my son’s life. I’ve prayed, somewhat hesitantly, over the years that He will do whatever He must to draw my child closer to Him. I think every parent who has prayed this prayer does so with reservation because we know that it may require circumstances that we don’t want to see in our children’s lives, but nevertheless are necessary to the revelation of God’s will. 

I’ve seen a miraculous alteration in my son since this ordeal last summer. He has chosen to embrace his faith rather than bitterness at the loss of his infant daughter. I can’t even type these words without choking back the tears. God has taken ahold of my son’s life in ways I couldn’t even have imagined. My heart has broken for his pain and his wife’s pain and all of the hopes and desires tied into the entrance of a newborn life into this world only to have it wrenched abruptly away. 

I held my sweet baby granddaughter only once, the night before she went into the arms of Jesus at just two weeks old. When I think about those precious moments, I can’t articulate the emotions that flood over my soul. I still keenly feel the pain, and I know my children must deal with it daily, and likely every moment of every day. There’s a powerlessness that overwhelms me, leaving no option but to continue to fall down at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to continue to carry them (and me) forward. 

They are now expecting another baby girl. I long to feel the exhilaration of expectancy and anticipation of last year at this time, but it’s tainted, of course. I can’t articulate an analogy to what I feel because there’s nothing parallel to which to compare these mixed emotions. I am resolved to embrace the excitement of a new life joining us once again, however, consciously choosing to be elated rather than wallowing in worry. I must accept that God’s love is constant regardless of the circumstances of this life, and observing how my son has so dramatically changed through this time fuels my faith to keep moving forward. So I’m continuing to write to my expected granddaughter; she will need to know about her family’s faith amidst the most devastating events in life. 

I’d left off at “N” in the children’s book of Bible verses. 1 Corinthians 15:20 says, “(Now) Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” This verse expresses the basics of our faith–all of it depends on the fact that Christ rose from the dead. The second half of this verse refers to those who have already “fallen asleep.” Because God raised Jesus from the dead, He has paved the way for us to join Him in Heaven forever. I know I will see my precious Ariella again when I step over Heaven’s threshold one day, and I look forward with the greatest anticipation of meeting my next grandbaby in a few months.

“M” is for “My sheep hear my voice”

by BetsyFaithPosted on 2 Comments

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” –John 10:27

I raised sheep for about ten years. Whenever I would approach the barn, I’d call out their names, and they would come running and bleating toward me. Sometimes I’d be singing or talking to myself as I approached, and they would still come running and bleating. They knew my voice. They would follow me if I was walking across the pasture or along the fence or into the barn, whether I was there to feed them or not.

It’s challenging for me to think about this verse from the speaker’s perspective. I have a tendency to get distracted by what it is I’m listening to or whom I am following. That is why I find it helpful to revisit what I’d learned from raising sheep. Those animals would hear me and follow, no questions asked–that is, of course, if they could ask. Throughout the Bible, we are often compared to sheep, and often it is not for flattering reasons. But when I think of how this verse is phrased, it is more about our role as followers of Christ and our relationship with Him. 

There are times I feel like I’m struggling to figure out what I’m supposed to do, what path to take, what decision to make–I’m struggling to hear His voice. I’m in a season like that right now. I’ve often tried to decipher the big picture, to understand the purpose of what is happening. Most of the time I have no resolution, and I have to continue forward in faith that God is the master of my journey in this world though I’m stumbling along blindly. I’ve allowed my mind to descend into the depths of discouragement and heard my own voice taunting me with accusations that I’ve made irrevocable mistakes, and anything I believed was the goodness of God was really only a coincidence.  It’s truly exhausting.

The concept of hearing His voice and knowing Him used to seem so straightforward to me, but I’ve allowed myself to become jaded on many levels. I’ve struggled with bitterness. I’ve come to the end of myself, which is where He is able to make the most progress in my life. When a potter molds clay, he applies significant pressure. Jeremiah 18:4 says, “But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.” Some versions use the phrase that the jar “developed a flaw” or was “spoiled” in the hands of the potter. Whatever the cause, the idea of being crushed to be reshaped cannot be without a significant level of discomfort. 

I tend to operate on the premise that everything has to be status quo in order for me to move forward. I’ve been stuck in a state of limbo for so long now, I don’t recall what the old status quo looked like. People often say enjoy the journey and don’t let circumstances dictate your contentment or lack thereof. Of course, it’s easier said than done. Though a resolution isn’t in sight and I’m nearing the end of myself, I have no choice but to cast all of the cares, anxiety, disappointment, and whatever else is in the pile on the Lord. This is faith; sometimes the testing really pushes me to acknowledge the basics of my faith. I have to believe it’s for a purpose and walk on even when I can’t hear His voice, following Him because He loves me, He knows me, and He is my shepherd.

“L” is for “Look to Me…”

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“Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” –Isaiah 45:22

I have just come through yet another time of transition in my life–for nearly three months I have been “homeless” as I’ve had to rely on the generosity of friends and family for the roof over my head. After conceding to the fact that my renovated home was not ready when my apartment lease ran out, I initially approached this time with energy and optimism thinking that I’d be in my house in a couple of weeks…but as the weeks wore on, my momentum wore out. If I’d known in the beginning that I still wouldn’t be settled three months later, I don’t know how I would have survived. Sometimes it’s better not to know what lies ahead.

Isaiah 45:22–This verse reminds me of when Moses erected the bronze snake on the pole in Numbers 21. The Israelites had been murmuring against the Lord, and consequently had been smitten with a plague of poisonous serpents. They eventually confessed their sin and begged Moses to intercede with the Lord on their behalf. “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live” (Numbers 21:8-9). The Lord is righteous; He demands justice for sin. He also is merciful; He provides a way through the consequences of sin–but we first have to repent.

This Old Testament event must have been momentous to say the least. Imagine a plague of snakes overtaking society as we know it, with no reprieve, and knowing that we had brought it on ourselves…hmmm–could that happen in modern times? Maybe not snakes, but contemplate the metaphor. Back to the point I’m trying to make: we often do not see a problem transformed instantaneously like this moment when God provided a means of remedy for the horrible situation; it is enough to know that He can. Most of the time, we are plagued by problems that drag on for days, weeks, months, or even years. If there is no bronze snake to look to, how do we cope? How do we wake up every morning and press on?

This question brings me to the principle upon which I have been meditating over the past three months. “Give us this day our daily bread” has been on the lips of my mind nearly every day. I am reminded of how God provided manna for His people in the wilderness–just enough for the day at hand (Exodus 16:11-21). This concept has been difficult for me to accept as I’m sure it is for many others. I want to be prepared for the future; I want to know what to expect and not to be surprised by unanticipated problems. Yet, for 40 years the Lord provided for His people on a daily basis, and they came to expect His provision. I would hope that I wouldn’t take 40 years to learn to trust, but as I’m approaching 50, I realize that there are plenty of lessons with which I’m still wrestling. I’m still persevering to “Look to [the Lord]” as the verse states, and how not only to survive on His daily “manna,” but also how to hunger for it and thrive on it.

“K” is for “Keep your tongue…”

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“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” –Psalm 34:13

Words are powerful. When people wield these weapons, they can use words to tear others apart or build them up to do great things. When I was a child, I remember hearing others say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This is probably one of the most blatant misconceptions in existence. Words can leave some of the deepest scars known to mankind.

Predictably, it is the people we love the most who wield the most power when it comes to words. If someone we don’t know says something hateful to us, it’s much easier to ignore or overlook the comment rather than take it to heart. What do they know anyway? People who spew toxicity from their mouths obviously have much deeper wounds themselves that they are evading. On the other hand, when someone we care about deeply berates us or otherwise tears us down verbally, they inflict intense pain that can’t be easily remedied, and the receiver’s heart becomes an open wound. Conversely, a kind word or sincere encouragement can propel a person to a place of stability, peace, or even confidence to achieve the most in life.

Withstanding verbal abuse, particularly for children, is not easy; it is often coupled with emotional and mental abuse, and in very toxic situations, various levels of physical abuse. Speaking evil is connected to what is in our hearts. Matthew 15:18 states, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.” Another saying is, “Hurt people hurt people.” In other words, those who have been hurt tend to inflict hurt on others. This corresponds with the sentiment that “Misery loves company.” People often lash out verbally as a defense mechanism to protect themselves or to hurt someone else before someone else can hurt them. Sin begets sin; the hurt lives on and multiplies. 

In order to “Keep your tongue from evil,” whether generated from someone else’s words or your own thoughts, you may have to address a deep-rooted problem in your life. Maybe you have been able to suppress those hateful words from escaping your lips, but you are inundated with the corresponding thoughts. I tend to reflect on the origin of such thoughts, like “Why is this making me so upset?” or “Why does this person’s comment have such power over me?” Focusing on the truth of the Word of God is the only foundation for finding not necessarily answers, but peace. 

Please don’t mistake my meaning; I am not saying I’m exempt from this vice. I have wielded my own broken, hurtful shards at others on occasion throughout my life. In the process, however, I’ve learned I don’t ever want others to feel that pain if I can help it, and definitely not at my hand. I can’t protect all the people I care about from ever experiencing hateful words, but I endeavor to do all I can in adhering to this verse.

“J”–”Jesus Christ the same…”

by BetsyFaithPosted on One Comment

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” –Hebrews 13:8

An ancient Greek philosopher named Heraclitus is credited with saying, “The only constant in life is change,” and no one who has ever lived on earth and is of sound mind would disagree. Change can be a good thing; for example, we have the option to change how we approach anything in life, like focusing on blessings rather than problems. More often than not, however, changes (particularly major ones) in our lives are the impetus behind most of the stress we face. Because change is inevitable, it’s especially comforting to know that Jesus does not change.

When I was young, I listened to several tapes with stories and songs that helped shape my childlike faith. One song I remember with clarity included this line: “Change your thoughts, and you can change your world.” The capacity to change is an aspect of our God-given free will. We don’t have to live as victims or wallow in self-pity or blame others for our terrible situations; we can choose to live victoriously and face our problems and love from a place of strength in Christ.

Life isn’t kind to anyone, and we all have our crosses to bear. I’m preaching to the choir here; part of the reason I have continued to revisit that song in my head over the decades is to point myself back to the truth of the Bible when I feel helpless or hopeless or overwhelmed. I find wisdom and direction in verses like Romans 12:2:  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Also, James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” 

Our heavenly Father has always been the same; everything and everyone else changes. People often struggle with accepting this aspect of His character because we are so accustomed to this changeable world. The Lord may work in a variety of ways to bring about His will, but all of what He does and allows is ultimately for our good (Romans 8:28), and that does not change. 

“I” is for “If you ask anything…”

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“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” –John 14:14

This verse has always seemed so simplistic, yet the most complex to understand. God is not a genie in a lamp granting wishes; there are heavily interwoven factors regarding His will and purpose, as well as the direction and intention of my desires. The bottom line is this: prayer is powerful. When we go to God with our struggles and corresponding requests, we don’t typically see an instant response from Him, but regardless of what we “see,” He is always working toward an end–bringing about an objective. 

I am struggling as I write this week; I am facing challenges mentally, physically, financially, and relationally. Under the weight of these circumstances, I am prone to start listening to the lies of the evil one, but I won’t give credence to those lies by even acknowledging them in words here. I feel like Peter when he was walking on the water and took his eyes off of Jesus (Matthew 14:29-31). “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’” Matthew doesn’t record Peter’s response, if he gave one. For myself, my response comes back to those lies I referenced. At least, Peter instantly turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, save me!” For some reason, I revert to trying to fix problems myself and don’t always turn to Him as a first response.

More times than I care to revisit, I can relate to floundering about, struggling to keep my head above water–by myself, though Jesus is standing right there. Lately, I’ve faced many “winds” that leave me off-balance and unable to stand with stability…on my own. I can’t see how any of these issues are going to be resolved, and that has always been difficult for me to accept; I want answers. I want to know the plan. I don’t even know what words to pray, but I can take a cue from Peter and pray, “Lord, save me,” and allude to John 14:14, “in Your name.” 

“H” is for “He leads me…”

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“He lets me lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside still waters.” –Psalm 23:2

As a child I had learned the song, “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,” and one of the verses included the line, “I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart.” It was a fun line to sing when I was little, but I really had no concept of what it meant till much later. There’s a peace that surpasses our human capacity to describe; I have since experienced this many times over the years. It is analogous to the tranquility of lying in a lush green meadow beside a quiet lake, as this week’s verse describes. Referring back to my shepherding days again, I picture the sheep lying contentedly in the field complacently chewing whatever it was they’d chew for days, and their heavy eyelids falling drowsily as they relaxed in utter peace. 

God made us different from the animals, however. I can imitate sheep and lie peacefully in a field, but in reality, I may be subtly stressed out in my mind, pondering the events of the day or worrying about the possibilities of the next. Giving these thoughts over to God is a life-long learning process. I have mentioned before that I have handed problems over to Him on many occasions only to immediately take them back into my own hands. It usually depends on what I consider to be the severity of the issue; surely, something that is my responsibility requires my attention to worry, or at least, that’s what my mind tries to convince me. God doesn’t need to be bothered with my every dilemma; He holds the entire world, the universe, in His hands, so why should I expect Him to pay attention to my often petty and irrelevant concerns? Because He loves us so very much–how do I know? Well, to quote another childhood song, “The Bible tells me so.”

The first passage that comes to mind is Luke 12:6-7, which reads in the NLT, ““What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” This idea of God’s omniscience, His complete sovereignty over everything, including individual birds, reveals a credence that is extremely difficult to grasp for us as human beings. Children seem to have an easier time accepting this attribute of God. If the Bible says, He knows how many hairs grow out of our heads, then who are we to question Him? Of course, the older we get, the more challenging it is for us to trust God with whatever we may be wrestling with. 

In 1 John 3:20, John wrote, “Even if our own hearts condemn us (with guilt), God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.” Allowing Him to dictate truth in the midst of our hardships when we are trying to control the situation in our own strength can be very difficult indeed; nevertheless, trusting Him and His Word over our feelings is what we are called to do. Again, it usually isn’t easy, but it is the way to this peace that passes understanding.

The entire passage of Psalm 23 is a beautiful picture of God as our Good Shepherd. From protecting us in “the valley of the shadow of death” to providing comfort with His “rod and staff,” the imagery produces a sense of peace and safety like nothing we can otherwise understand. Verse 3 begins with, “He restores my soul.” This verse reminds me again of Revelation 21:5 that says, “Behold, I make all things new.” When I can abide in the knowledge of the sovereign Creator Who loves, guides, and protects me, that is where I find the peace that I can’t put into words. Dear child, I pray that you will experience it early on as well.

“G”– “God is our refuge…”

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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”–Psalm 46:1

Sometimes, life deals blows that feel beyond hopeless that there’s any way to salvage some semblance of contentment ever again. It’s debilitating when our world falls apart. I can attest to this sense of hopelessness, helplessness, and vulnerability. In these times, it seems even more difficult to accept that God has everything under control, primarily because His plan isn’t necessarily obvious, and what I think makes sense is nonexistent. I have often struggled with trusting His sovereignty in these times despite what I know to be true.

One of the most challenging times in my life was when I found myself in a position that I’d never imagined I’d be in–raising a child by myself. I had placed my trust in a person who was not deserving of my trust, and once I began down that road, I couldn’t find a way to detour at all. That man stole from me, taking what didn’t belong to him without my permission, and rather than run the other way, I blamed myself for being in the predicament and accepted it as my fate. God intervened, however, and after even more painful experiences, I was finally free from him and focused on raising my son in peace, though I was very much alone. Unfortunately, there are always consequences for the decisions we make.

I know much of what I’m saying here may seem vague–what I want you to understand is that sometimes God allows the mountains in our lives so that we will believe when He moves them. I could not see how life could continue after the mess I’d made, and that wasn’t the only one I’d make, of course. It’s taken this much of my life to even begin trusting God as my refuge and relying on Him for my strength. He is present in the midst of our trouble. He never leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). Even when it seems He is unaware of our situation, we can trust that He is in the midst of it, working even our worst mistakes for our good. 

“F”–“For the wages of sin…”

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“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” –Romans 6:23

Wages–a payment, recompense, or reward. We usually think of a reward as something desirable or good, but in the context of this verse, the term is more synonymous with recompense, which has to do with paying a debt. This verse is my earliest recollection of learning the word, wages, and so for many years I only associated the term with paying for something I’d done wrong. The first clause in this verse is about as straightforward as can be; thankfully, it doesn’t end there. It really just states the reason why the second half is so critical–we’d have no hope were it not for the “gift of God” mentioned in part B.

A few chapters prior to this one in Romans (3:23), Paul wrote, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” This verse sets the stage for what Paul says here regarding the wages of sin. None of us are exempt from this consequence, and this is what makes our faith so relevant to everyone, though not everyone is willing to acknowledge the existence of sin or God or both. The premise that we are all sinful is blatantly obvious; just look anywhere in history and in current events, and most conspicuously, in our own hearts. We all are flawed; even the “best” person we know sins. 

So what about part B? What can we do about our dismal fate? WE can’t do anything ourselves, but God in His love for us provided a way out–a means of salvation. He gave His only Son to pay those wages we can’t pay. Jesus is the only one Who could pay this debt because He is sinless. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21(NLT), “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” The challenging part for many of us is the concept that it’s a gift; the only way to salvation is accepting that gift. I pray even before you are born, little one, that you will accept this gift in your younger years, when childlike faith can open your heart to the most precious gift you will ever receive.