The Shortcomings of Biblical Heroes

Between studying David and Bathsheba in my Bible class and studying it in a Campus Crusade Bible study, I've had this Bible story in my head a lot lately. It was rather strange to read in the secular Bible and Literature book I had for my class how, over the years, authors and artists attempted to portray Bathsheba as the evil, lost one and David as holy. The authors of this textbook mentioned how a comparison between David and Jesus had arisen, and how some compared the story to Jesus (David) rescuing and lost soul (Bathsheba) from the devil (Uriah). Obviously, it's easy to see how ridiculous such an idea is. David may have been a man after God's own heart, but I love that the Bible includes this less-than-perfect picture of him. Actually, "less-than-perfect" isn't much of a description; the story could be better named appalling. After all, David not only lusts after a married woman and commits adultery, but he also tries to cover it up until he finally murders Uriah.

The fact is, stories like this and others, such as Jacob deceiving his father and then taking two wives, letting them both suffer, or Peter's betrayal of Jesus, or Jonah's attempts at running from God's call, are all encouraging to me. They remind me that even the men and women in the Bible that we often name as Biblical heroes and people to look up to had shortcomings too. They sinned and made disastrous choices. They even committed adultery and murdered or deceived. Their poor decisions caused suffering for themselves and those around them. Yet still, when they turned to God, God was ready to forgive them, to still make their lives into something great, to still work through them so that they would be men and women we could respect, thousands of years later. Of course God doesn't expect perfect people. He just expects us to turn to Him, to give our lives to Him, and He will work through us.

Prayer

I'm not just thankful for the fact that I can go to God in prayer on my own, though that is a huge blessing in and of itself, obviously. Just having the ability to approach God at any time of day, to cry out for help, to seek His help or guidance, to thank and praise Him, to feel His love, is a beautiful gift. But in addition to the wonder of just being able to spend soothing moments alone with Him is the incredible blessing of being able to spend time with Him with friends.

I love that God has placed great Christians in my life, that His people are always encouraged and built up and renewed when they seek God together, and just fellowship with one another. Group prayer has become a much larger part in my life than it ever was before. Whether I'm just praying with one friend, or a whole circle of people, I can feel God's power and presence, sometimes even more strongly than I feel it when on my own. I guess there are just different dynamics to public and private worship: there are lovely, intimate times when you are alone with Him, and then there are glorious periods when you are with friends and His love fills you, overflowing from your heart and pouring out to others around you. Sometimes His love feels so much greater when you're not only seeking to love Him back, but love His children around you as well.

It's also a treasure to know that I have friends who have my back with prayer. My church family prays for me, my friends pray for me. Sometimes I know they're off remembering me in their private prayer time, other times I am able to sit with them as they pray for me and let their comforting words wash over me. It's also a great moment to feel God's love and express your love for a friend when you can sit down and pray for them yourself, too.

Some of my dearest worship moments have come when I've been with friends, when they are seeking and loving God with me. When we are loving each other. We pour out our hearts to God and to each other; we worship with tears or with off-key songs and we are not ashamed. We are together and yet we are alone with God. We pray and He is near to us, and we grow stronger together. Our bonds grow and we know that it is all because of God's love pulling us together, and our prayer time drawing us close in His Spirit. It's something I don't always spend enough time doing, but yes, I am so grateful for prayer.

God's Presence

In the good times and the bad, a taste of heaven is never far away if I just take the time to seek out to God. Just to soak in His presence, relishing who He is and how much He loves me, offers refreshing, healing moments in the midst of a crazy, trouble-ridden world. I can let go of fear, of worries, of pain, of doubt, and just embrace who He is.

Just to know that the God of the universe cares about me, if I actually take the time to think of it rather than just pass by the fact as a reminder of something I've taken for granted, is overwhelming. It fills me with joy, with peace, with love. In these moments, I have to wonder what heaven will be like. Probably a thousand times greater, but our bodies couldn't even contain that while we are here on earth.

So often I don't take the time to just enjoy Him. I come to Him because I have to, or because I have something to ask of Him. I read His Word almost like I read assigned reading for a class. I focus on myself and my life and all the busy, crazy moments of my days, and ignore the fact that He is with me. But when I finally stop and really spend time with Him, try to return His love in my feeble way, and rest in Him, I am full of thankfulness.

Christian Family

This past Sunday held a new experience for me: attending a Grace Brethren communion and foot washing service. At first, the idea of washing feet just plain weirded me out. For one, I'm not very comfortable with my own feet or with the idea of someone else being close to them, washing them. And two, I wasn't sure if the idea of washing someone else's feet really appealed to me either. Of course, the main reason for this was because I greatly feared that I would be doing this with strangers.

As the time approached, however, I warmed up to it a lot more. I found out that men and women would be separate (washing another woman's feet sounded a bit better to me, I guess), and then my friend informed me that our little group of friends could cluster together and wash one another's feet. No strangers involved.

I have to say, firstly, that there is definitely something humbling not just in washing someone's feet but even in having one's own feet washed. I didn't have many qualms about kneeling before a close friend of mine and splashing water over her feet or drying them with a towel; I guess it felt natural to show care for someone in that way. But it was a little stranger when the moment came for my feet to be washed. As I sat, my feet soaking in a tub of warm, clean water, my friend kneeling before me to splash and rub the water over my feet, I felt like I was being pampered. It was a moment in which I could see the love within the church family. After my friend washed and dried my feet carefully, we embraced and told each other how thankful we were for each other.

Even though I didn't know anyone outside my little circle, I quickly became interested in two women sitting across from me. I couldn't tell from the snippets of conversation I happened to hear when they first caught my attention just how well they knew each other. At first I was under the impression that perhaps they were more acquaintances than friends. Either way, though, I could see the connection between them as they sat and talked, as they washed one another's feet, as they embraced and prayed for one another at the end. All over the room, women and girls washed each other's feet in a sign of humility, love, and service, then hugged, prayed, and chatted.

I am thankful whenever I have experiences like this with other Christians. Even just watching this group of people that I didn't know reminds me how they are still part of my Christian family, that we all still share a common bond. The joy in connecting and fellowshipping with other Christians, with praying and serving one another, with witnessing the love amongst Christians, is a powerful thing. It is just a small reflection of God's love, but where would we be without it?

The God Who Sees

Today I'm thankful for the stories of women like Leah and Hagar, who both found themselves suffering in various ways, who felt invisible at times. Yet the Bible shows how God saw them. He never forgot them. He knew of their hurts when no one else on earth seemed to notice or care, and He reached out to bless them even in the midst of their pain.

I can't imagine how much Leah must have hurt, but even in her painful story, we see hope and blessings from God:

“And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.”

--Genesis 29:31

In verse 17 of Genesis 29, Leah and Rachel are first described: “Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.” Although the exact meaning of “tender eyed” is under debate, the overall idea of this verse is painfully clear: Leah was constantly being compared to her sister...and coming up short. When Jacob entered the scene and fell in love with Rachel, Laban’s younger, “well favored” daughter, Leah had undergone years of feeling less than adequate. She had watched her little sister grow up into a beautiful woman. Leah isn’t described as ugly, necessarily, but she probably felt as if she were. Invisible—that is what she was, always standing in the background while her sister received the adoration and attention. Forgotten—just the girl that everyone smiled and spoke to, but never really tried to get to know. As the elder daughter, she was, by tradition, supposed to marry first, but it was Rachel that caught every man’s eye, Rachel that they really wanted.

When Leah became the victim of her father’s scheming and was married off to Jacob in place of Rachel, maybe she felt a semblance of hope at first. Jacob clearly cared for Rachel, but maybe, once Leah was his wife, he would feel an obligation toward her. At the very least, he would have to notice her. She wouldn’t be invisible anymore. Her future was secured; she would have someone to provide for her, maybe—dare she hope it?—someone to look at her with the same adoring gaze that so often settled on Rachel.

But Leah was doomed to forever feel not good enough. Jacob refused to settle for her and her alone; he demanded that Laban give him Rachel in marriage too. Leah desperately wanted the man she had married to care for her, but he couldn’t see her, couldn’t notice her, not when Rachel was in the picture. Leah felt lonely and heartbroken and overlooked when she was alone, or when she watched Jacob and Rachel together; she spent so many nights crying herself to sleep, probably wondering what she had done to deserve this. But often she felt just as lonely, if not worse, when she spent time with Jacob. The look in his eyes always told her his thoughts were elsewhere: on anything but Leah. She knew he was thinking about Rachel, even when she wasn’t around, and that killed Leah inside. She was always overlooked, ignored, forgotten. Even her father hadn’t cared enough to consider the pain that might ensue if Leah married a man who didn’t love her, and especially if she married a man who had a second wife whom he adored.

Leah was the victim of an unrequited love that she could never move on from, get over, or ignore; she was the sufferer of a heartbreak that never ended. Even when she thought maybe, just maybe, she could earn the favor she craved from Jacob when she laid their firstborn son, then second, and even third, in his arms, she met with disappointment. Failure. Hurt.

She wasn’t beautiful enough. She wasn’t good enough. She wasn’t “well favoured.” She wasn’t loved. She was invisible. She was forgotten. But not by God.

"...The LORD saw..."

The same was the case for Hagar, when she ran from the mistreatment of her mistress Sarah. She felt like she was alone, like no one cared, no one saw. She felt used, after having been part of Sarah's plot to procure Abraham a son. She felt despised, because Sarah and Abraham no longer seemed to want her or care for her well-being. She felt desperate, because suddenly she was out on her own, pregnant and despairing, without the home and shelter she had known during her time as Sarah's maid. Where could she turn?

Then God spoke to her, encouraging her and blessing her. He reassured her that He knew of her struggles and hurts, that she was not on her own. He promised her that her unborn child would be blessed as well, not just a worthless outcast as she probably had feared.

What was she thankful for in that moment? The fact that Someone had finally noticed:

Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”

--Genesis 16:13

No matter what we are going through, good times or bad, God is always there. He is always ready to ease our suffering and bless even our difficult circumstances. No matter how alone we might feel, how much it seems others don't care or mistreat us, how often we feel forgotten, overlooked, or invisible, God sees and remembers us.

Peace in His Plans

After some uncertain, doubtful, stressful months, and then an even worse several weeks after that, I've finally begun to feel peace in my circumstances. For a while, I couldn't contemplate the future without feeling overwhelmed, confused, afraid. I didn't know where I would be in even a few months, or what steps I should be taking to plan and prepare now.

Then things seemed to just get even crazier. It felt as if everything was happening at once: the uncertainty didn't leave, and the fear, if anything, compounded. A general feeling of sickness and exhaustion was wearing me down. My moods seemed "off", but I mostly attributed that to stress. Once I was diagnosed with low potassium and hypothyroidism, things began to make sense, but I still needed answers. Learning that I would be on pills for life was, at first, depressing to me. I worried about possible side effects or what it would be like having to worry about a pill for the rest of my life. It probably didn't help that my fears for the future weren't really being eased and my "disorders" caused enough exhaustion and moodiness to let my spirits sink.

Pretty soon I let myself slip into a "low" state. Different things kept happening, giving me new stuff to think about and worry about and feel troubled over. I was tired, I was sad, I was afraid.

As I remembered that God was with me, planning out my future, I began to feel encouraged. I prayed and, even though my emotions might not always have let me feel convinced or assured, my head knew that God would bless my future. He would show me where I was supposed to be, what my purpose was. Sometimes I wasn't exactly sure why I was feeling low, unmotivated, and out of it. I guess life circumstances, being sick, being worn down from stress and busyness, and being uncertain about my future were all just eating at me.

Then, thing began to turn around. God started to let things "fall into place", showing me that, even if I didn't know the details of my future: where I was supposed to be, what exactly I would do, I was starting to see bits and pieces. He was giving me glimpses ahead into the immediate future, enough to encourage me to see that everything was going to be all right. Just as I had known, but hadn't always felt. I was able to speak with my doctor and receive answers to my confused questions. My friends prayed for me, and slowly, I began to feel better. Emotionally, I began to feel hopeful. God was reminding me that He would always provide. I didn't know exactly what His plans were, and there were circumstances in my life I wished were different, and questions and fears I still had about my future. But I knew He was there and that He knew what was best for me. All I can say is, even though there were times I still felt hurt, I felt peace.

I am thankful for God's peace. There are many times from my past that I can look back on and see how God helped me through difficult situations. He was there to comfort me during hurt and to listen to my prayers for guidance, for help. Always, He is in control. I am so thankful that He can bless us with a comforting assurance that, even when we don't know how things will work out or improve, everything is going to be OK. I still don't have all the answers about my future (and of course, who does?). I still don't always like the changes that are taking place (I guess I'm afraid of this "transition" in life and all the things I might lose). I still fear that dreams I have will not materialize. I still hurt over past problems, current struggles, future worries. But God has everything in His hands, and I know, as He has shown me in times past, that He will work even bad circumstances into something good for His children. I'm thankful for this truth, this knowledge, and for the peace that comes with it, if we let it.

Being Respected

I recently had an experience that struck me deeply, so deeply that it has been lingering in my mind for days and weeks now, sinking still more deeply into my heart. I've pondered it, wondered at it, and learned from it. It's left me with a strong sense of gratitude as well as a sense that I still have much to learn, much to change about myself.

I guess I haven't had the best experiences with guys in the past. For years I stuck with my good girl friends, trusting and leaning on them and looking at guys that weren't related to me with...well, maybe uncertainty. More recently, that uncertainty grew into suspicion and discomfort. Guys had made me feel like I was invisible, like I was nothing more than an object, like I was flawed, not good enough, even worthless. I felt more and more like I had to be on the defensive around them and keep my guard up. I tended to expect to be disrespected or emotionally hurt by them. Any insecurities I'd wrestled with had been compounded by them--OK, maybe it's more accurate to say that I allowed my insecurities to multiply because of guys.

The experiences I had made me realize how much I valued respect, and when I finally began to befriend guys my age that truly did care for and respect me, that actually treated me as a human being and a friend, I couldn't get over how amazing it felt. Over and over my heart overflowed with thankfulness that God had brought good Christian brothers into my life, men that could help me move past my less-than-ideal experiences and renew my respect and appreciation for guys outside of my family.

But the sad thing was that it took them to point out that I wasn't expecting the respect I deserved from others. I was touched whenever I heard them become angry when they felt either I or other of our female friends weren't receiving the respect they deserved from other men. But I also felt rebuked when I realized that sometimes the fault lay partially with me. I had settled into a passive attitude, expecting non Christian men to just say and do things I wouldn't appreciate. I would try to avoid them, roll my eyes, ignore them. Maybe take it jokingly and laugh, thinking it wasn't a big deal. But in doing so, I was letting myself accept less respect.

I felt incredibly thankful--even amazed--that the Christian guys in my life believed that I deserved to be honored. That even a simple joke they found edging on distasteful wasn't acceptable because it compromised the respect that they wanted to show toward me and wanted others to show toward me.

It's hard to put into words how this situation made me feel, or just how grateful I am that God did bring these men into my life. It's hard to tell people things like this without sounding corny. And it's difficult to go into the past, to bring up some of the old hurts and scars and insecurities, in order to describe the impact just a few simple words or gestures can make toward recovery. But yes, I am very thankful for these men: thankful that they are constantly showing me that there are good guys out there, showing me that I deserve respect, showing me that I'm not just an "object", showing me that I can feel safe in a friendship of mutual respect and care. They are such a huge blessing. Deep down I think I always knew that there were godly men out there and they weren't "all jerks", and deep down I always knew that God valued me and that because of that I should value myself. But I haven't always lived it out; my heart hasn't always fully grasped what my head knows. Thank God for brothers that show me in their day-to-day conduct what I should never forget.

Opportunities for Service

Lately on Facebook I've noticed some people posting statuses each day for 30 days: 30 days of thankfulness for the month in which we celebrate Thanksgiving. Obviously, I kind of got the memo a little late, and decided there was no point. But I figured I could still list things I was thankful for, and then, I decided to take it a little further. Instead of just listing 30 things, why not blog about them? Even though November is halfway through, thankfulness isn't confined to one month...and December with the Christmas season is certainly a good time to focus on the things I am grateful for too. So I'm going to write 30 blogs (and hopefully do it within 30 days) about 30 things I would like to thank God for.

So, for day number one, I figured I would write about something that has been on my mind lately: helping others. In our lives, especially in our contemporary, self-centered society, it is so easy to only focus on ourselves. We are all busy, stressing about our jobs, worrying about money, hurting over loss or pain or old emotional scars, wondering about the future, racing to meet deadlines, and trying to beat or at least keep up with the clock. Whenever we do have free time, we want to focus on ourselves, and we want others to do the same for us. The thing is, we're often missing out on the biggest blessing we could receive. The blessing of giving to others in some way.

I can't say I am an expert at this at all, but I can say that when I have tried, I have always reaped blessings. What can match that feeling of purpose and joy that literally warms you inside when you see the face of someone you've helped in some way? How can you focus on all of your troubles, worries, and hurts when you are instead putting your energy into easing or comforting someone else?

I tried something new one night not that long ago. For various reasons, I was just having a bad night emotionally; I felt sad, battling old struggles that so often found ways to creep up on me. My instinct was to send a text to some of my girls asking for prayer, but I paused. I'll admit that my hesitancy was probably rooted more in pride than anything else. Why let them see that I felt weak when I could just hide my problems away and deal with them myself? Why would they want to hear about my struggles? I resisted the urge, but followed a new idea instead: I'd been trying to keep up with a prayer journal and take prayer requests from my friends frequently so I could remember to pray for them...why didn't I ask them if they had any new requests or updates now? Forcing myself to forget about my troubles and start praying for all of theirs pulled me away from myself. I began to feel better after just a few minutes because I had something new to concentrate on, and I felt like I was actually doing something useful with my time, something that made a difference.

There are other times when we're almost forced to help others out. For instance, I've had to sit in on a freshman writing composition class and help the freshmen with their writing each week for one of my own classes. I can still recall how battered and beaten down I felt one week as I sat in that classroom. The ache was physical, but the fact that I was forced to act normal and sweep aside my pain started to bring a semblance of normalcy to my day. Then I was assigned to a small group of freshmen to listen to their rough drafts and offer advice for improvement. As I sat there, eagerly contemplating ways in which they could transform their "rough" pieces into successful academic arguments, I began to feel like myself. By the time I'd given out my feedback to a couple of the students and listened to them thank me and see the way in which they drank up my advice, I was feeling genuinely happy. All of a sudden, I wasn't left with my thoughts; I had something new to throw myself into. But, far more than that, it was work that helped those around me. I didn't even know these freshmen, but I felt highly privileged to make their acquaintances, to have the chance to help them with some of the first college essays they'd ever written, to encourage them and give them confidence. I felt fulfilled, like I was doing something I was meant to do.

This is why I thank God that He gives us so many opportunities to serve those around us. As Christians, this is such an important aspect of our walk that we so easily forget. The thing is, we can serve people in so many ways, if we just stop concentrating on ourselves and take a moment to be thoughtful and considerate. Even when we are "forced" to help others, if we really begin to focus on them instead of ourselves, we will find enjoyment in the work. Even when it's work we don't particularly enjoy. Just knowing that we are lifting burdens off others is such a blessing. Sometimes, an act of service is simply giving up our time to stay or listen to someone, to give advice, to give them a hug or a smile when they need it, to go out of our ways to offer help to a stranger struggling with extra baggage or trying to pick up dropped items. In a culture that expects everyone to act as if the universe revolves around themselves, we can do so much to uplift those around us by giving of ourselves, even in small ways. Even when we feel so downtrodden or stressed ourselves, we don't think we have much to give.

It's a lesson that I need to work on...but I'm thankful that God is showing this to me. As we bless and help others, we are blessed abundantly in return. Our lives feel like they have so much more purpose when we are helping others. I'm very grateful for that.

Purpose in Pain

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

We've all been there. Some sort of trial or hurt impacts our lives. We all have bruised and scarred hearts, tattered and worn from the trials and aches of life. No matter how "little" some struggles may seem, if they leave us emotionally hurt, or have been a burden of stress, sorrow, fear, or pain--these struggles have carved their marks into our hearts. We all have our battles, our insecurities, our past wounds that still ache from time to time or leave us guarded or hardened in some way.

Then someone else is handed a similar situation or pain, and our hearts ache with sympathy. We can taste even the smallest portion of their hurt because we remember those dark days when we faced it ourselves. Maybe it wasn't that long ago, maybe we're still dealing with it now, or maybe the memory has faded so that we have a dim memory of the suffering. Either way, we know enough to want to reach out and encourage that person or just be there for them. We remember what comforted or strengthened us and we try to build our friend up through that knowledge. We remember how we wrestled through the problem and came out on the other side, even though it seemed like a battle that would never end, and we remind them that life will get better. They will heal.

Most importantly, we can turn to how God comforted us. We remember how He held us through the dark days or pain, strengthened us when we were weak, guided us when we were lost, encouraged us when we were afraid, and loved us when we were alone. We remember the hope. When we offer help to our friends, our words have deeper meaning and strength because they know that we have been victorious over this situation they are now trudging through.

It's such a blessing and encouragement to know that not only does God comfort us when we are hurting, but that He also equips us to comfort and encourage those around us in the process. Even if we can't understand why we are facing what we are facing, there is one sure, immediate purpose to our pain. To comfort others is to comfort ourselves, too, as our focus shifts from our own trials to others'. What a privilege to be the loving arms, the encouraging words, the friendly smile, or the listening ear to someone when that person needs it most.

Surrounded

We have constant reminders in the Bible telling us that God is always with us, but I think it's easy to forget or overlook that. So often we struggle to live in our own strength. We succumb to feelings of loneliness and wonder why God lets us feel so alone. We face pain and wonder why it seems like we're left to carry our troubles by ourselves. Despite the support of family and friends, at the end of the day, maybe we feel like we are totally alone. They can offer us help, prayer, and encouragement, but in the end, whatever we face in life, we feel like we are facing by ourselves. Friends can't literally take the pain away from us. Family members can't lift the struggles or stress off our shoulders. People can't be with us at every moment; they can't give us the best advice. In the end, they will fail us as much as we will fail them.

But God is there. We can't physically feel Him or see Him, and so we tend to overlook that. We tell ourselves He is in us but sometimes we are so overcome with our sense of being alone or our personal struggles that we can't feel Him there. We can't see Him at work.

Maybe that's why I find this verse encouraging:

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever."

--Psalm 125:2

Yes, we know as believers that God is always with us, always in us. But to picture Him surrounding us, hemming us in on every side, is comforting. After all, mountains are solid. They aren't easily moved or climbed. No, our God is like a constant, immovable, impenetrable shield always surrounding His people. He's not just with us--He totally encircles us.

He's all about us, all the time, in every aspect of our lives. There isn't a portion of our life that can be hidden away from Him; a place in our hearts that is so walled off and guarded that He cannot totally fill it. The "sides" of our lives--those problems that maybe we bury deep within ourselves so that others can't even see if they try--are acknowledged by God. He sees everything, and He is there for us through it all. He doesn't overlook, forget, or misunderstand a single aspect of our lives. That's because every part of our lives is important to Him. He embraces every part of you.

He Rejoices

"The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

-Zephaniah 3:17

Can you imagine God rejoicing over you to the point that He breaks out in song?

So often we attribute such "strong" and "fatherly" characteristics to God that it's almost like we think it is unlike His character to show such a wild display of love for us. We agree that He is our Father, that He shelters us, provides for us, watches over us, plans a great future for us, hold us in His arms in love, corrects us when we stray, and always forgives and welcomes us with a loving embrace. We see Jesus teaching and reaching out to the poor, the sinners, the broken, the sick. He has compassion on us and even cries. But how many times do we close our eyes and imagine God singing?

Maybe I'm the only one, but I don't really picture God singing over anyone. He spoke Creation into existence with authority; He spoke and demons trembled and fled from His presence. Yet somehow to try to begin to comprehend what it would be like to hear and see Him sing seems overwhelming to me. Perhaps that's because I can only think of God's voice and song to be the most beautiful thing we will ever hear, the most wonderful sight we will ever see. And to think that we are the reason for His song of rejoicing--that we cause such a powerful expression of joy...well, that's something that gives greater encouragement, more comfort, deeper peace, and stronger joy than anything else.

We spend our worship singing praises to Him, or listening to praise songs. Whether we can sing or not, we lift up our voices when we hurt and when we rejoice in order to bask in His presence and show our devotion to Him. I don't know about everyone else, but I'd never imagined Him singing back to us. When we sing, when we laugh, when we cry, when we turn to Him for answers or just to thank Him for who He is, what words of love is He singing over us?

Sacrificing Isaac

How did Abraham feel as he walked up the mountain, holding that knife in his hand? His young son walked beside him bearing the very wood that Abraham was supposed to burn him on. To say Abraham was afraid is probably an understatement. After all, he had just been given the most traumatic struggle of his life. Nothing before or after this pain could likely compare to this—this choice he had to make. Every step would have felt like trying to move legs of lead. The knife was icy cold in his trembling hand. When Isaac, his dear son, turned to him with his inquiring, innocent face and asked where the sacrifice was, Abraham felt like the knife could have been buried in his own heart. How many times did he question himself, question God? More times than he or we could count.

How many times have we climbed this mountain in our own lives? Trials weigh us down, impossible choices lie before us, and we ask God why we are facing this struggle. We question everything. Maybe all we do is ask a simple, “Why?” Why is my grandma fighting stage three cancer? Why does my brother have to hurt so much, and why can’t I do anything about it? Why do I have to face my worst fears? Why am I sick and weak when I need to be strong? Why did You bring this person into my life, God, only to take them away from me? Why did You let this happen?

It is during these times that we have to make a choice. Our “Isaac” is whatever is dear to us, whatever it feels as if God is ripping away from us. Sometimes we trust Him. We painstakingly offer up our hearts, our lives, our dearest wishes and hopes and dreams. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we have any choice in the matter anyway; God has asked us to do it, and either we run from Him and face the pain, or face it with Him. We choose whether to have faith, or whether to doubt, to be angry, to grow bitter.

Did Abraham consider running down that mountain? Countless times, just like everyone does. Some people do, and find that “Isaac” must still be sacrificed. Would Abraham rather have run that knife into his own heart than ever touch his son? Of course, but he had seen God grant him impossible promises before. Isaac himself was a miracle from God, granted when Abraham and Sarah were far too old to have a child. He knew if he trusted God, he would be blessed. God had promised him as many descendants as there were stars in the sky, and Isaac was a confirmation of that promise. Abraham didn’t know what pain would come about as a result of trusting God, or how God was going to get him out of this new tragedy in his life. He didn’t understand why God was even asking this of him. But he had faith to climb the mountain and offer up the greatest treasure of his heart.

I Can Do All Things

Sometimes life just gets rough. It hits you in the face and then kicks you once it's knocked you to the ground. Even the little things can feel like big things when they're piled on top of each other, one after the other. Or it could be a "big thing" you're facing--or more than one--that feels insurmountable, unbearable. You wonder if you have the strength to face it. You look for friends, but you realize, whether you have friends around you that are able to support you or not, you are, in the end...alone.

Well, not completely alone. It's in those moments that God sometimes seems to show Himself to us the most clearly or powerfully. You might not feel as if you can make it through on your own strength, but you can make it in God's.

That's why Paul's verse, Philippians 4:13, is such a great reminder. He states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Not certain things, under certain conditions. Christ's strength is limitless and it's always there for His children to draw on. The sad thing is that so often we try to handle life's problems, big and small, with our own strength. We think, "That's great you're here, God, but I've got this one," or maybe we just get so wrapped up in our difficulties we forget to hand them to Him. We spend all our energy wrestling and fretting over the struggles rather than resting in Him.

Of course this verse doesn't mean that life won't ever drain our energy or get difficult. It is a reminder, though, that perhaps, after all, we are strongest when all of our strength is drained. That is when we rely on Jesus' strength even more to help us through the difficulties we are facing. It's when, if we let Him, He wraps us in His loving embrace and carries us through the night until, once again, we're standing under the light of a new morning, full of hope and peace and joy we thought we wouldn't feel again.

More Thoughts on 1 Corinthians

I'm just a few chapters behind, so I think I'll go through chapter by chapter, mentioning the major points that stuck out to me.

Chapter 2:

1. Paul explains in this chapter how he didn't come to the Corinthians preaching with the skill of a great orator. He was full of the power of God. It was the simple power of the message of Christ and His crucifixion that converted the Corinthians, not human talent or persuasion. God doesn't need our great talents; He works through us and uses His power to get the job done.

2. Paul then expounds on the mystery of the Holy Spirit. It reveals the wisdom of God to believers, allowing them to experience the glory of God. Unbelievers cannot understand the power or working of the Holy Spirit. A person has to have it inside himself in order to really feel it work. It is "foolishness" to the world!

Chapter 3:

1. Once again, Paul rebukes the Christians for their divisions and bickering. He basically calls them "baby Christians" who can't yet handle "solid food", or more complicated or deeper teachings of Christianity. They still live very much according to their sinful nature and have much maturing to do. He goes on to remind them that he and Apollos are equal in status--both are working together in God. The Corinthians' division over who converted whom is meaningless. They are God's work. They now need to build on their foundation of Jesus Christ worthily and care for their bodies as the temples of God. In other words, Paul is telling them it's time for them to get their acts together and live for the glory of God both in their actions and in how they take care of and keep their own bodies pure. It's time to mature.

2. Finally, he reminds them not to glory in themselves. Only God is worth glorying in because human wisdom is nothing compared to godly wisdom. In Jesus, they have all; in themselves, nothing.

Chapter 4:

Paul describes the sufferings he and other apostles have undergone for Jesus. He mentions being beaten, homeless, hungry, thirsty, and slandered. Every one of their human needs and desires has suffered for the cause of Christ. Yet not only do they continue preaching Jesus--they also bless those who hurt them and endure their persecution. That is love for Jesus and for others, even enemies!

Chapter 5:

Here Paul reminds believers not to associate with immoral Christians because of the bad influence they will have on them. Evil deeds rub off more easily than good ones. Paul knows the dangers of associating with sin. Christians should not place themselves so needlessly within temptation.

Chapter 6:

1. Apparently the Corinthians were taking disputes over legal matters among themselves to unbelievers. He says that these issues should be dealt with within the church. Christians should be able to love one another and settle their own human issues without the impute of a non-Christian, who does not know the love of God. They can't offer the Godly advice that Christians need to hear; not to mention, bringing petty human troubles to non-Christians can be damaging to a Christian's testimony.

2. God reminds the believers again that they are God's temple and were "bought with a price", so they should remain pure for God's honor. It's a powerful reminder to be told that we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit!

Chapter 7:

In this chapter, Paul tells unmarried believers that singleness is a blessing. It allows more focus on God, since the Christian is not distracted by a spouse. Instead the focus is on God and serving Him. I don't see Paul saying that he is against marriage; he knows that to each man or woman comes a different calling.

However, it is a great reminder just to be told that singleness is good. Our culture is so relationship/romance-obsessed, it can be difficult to remember that being single doesn't mean that there is "something wrong with you." The stereotype of old maid or "cat lady" might still exist, but how do cultural or human standards compare with what pleases God, anyway? Singleness gives the opportunity to draw close to God, whether the singleness is a permanent state, or just a temporary phase before God blesses someone in marriage. Either way, it is a time that should be taken advantage of by being grateful about it and growing in God. Married people or those in relationships can still grow in God, of course...but single years are a gift in that there are fewer distractions. Perhaps the times we are lonely and want a greater human connection are when we need God the most!

Chapter 8:

Although Paul talks specifically about food offered to idols here, this could be a "fill-in-the-blank" topic. He tells Christians that they are free to do those things that are not sinful as long as their consciences are clear. In other words, to some, one particular action could place them within temptation even though the action isn't sinful in itself; in this case, that action is sin to that believer. Their consciences convict them about the action and they know that they shouldn't partake in it. For those whose consciences do not convict them of the same thing, it is not sin, but should be avoided while Christians who can stumble by it are present. We should respect their convictions, and also remember never to do anything we are uncertain or uncomfortable about--it could be our own personal stumbling block.

A Few Reminders

It was nice to pick up my Bible, flip to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, and, even though I'd just read through it not long ago, be able to go back through it and find some excellent reminders.

Three things really stuck out to me in this chapter:

1. Paul starts off by mentioning in verse 4 that he "thanks[s] my God always concerning you..." I realized that this must have been encouraging to the Corinthians. Paul said here that his fellow-believers were a blessing to him, and he wanted them to know that. It made me think about the Christians in my life that have built me up, prayed for me, and stayed by my side--whether it's been over a period of years or months, I greatly appreciate them. Believers share a special bond. It's something that maybe we can start to take for granted or overlook when we let our human sides get in the way so that we begin to bicker and fight and grow bitter toward one another. Fellow Christians are a blessing that is worth thanking God for! And we should let them know how much they mean to us. Who knows just how encouraging that could be!

2. Next, Paul asked the believers not to be divided. This plays a bit into what I was already talking about, how it's easy for us to let our sinful selves get in the way and ruin some great Christian relationships. Paul wanted the Corinthians to remember that who told them about the gospel or which preacher or apostle they followed didn't matter. They were all followers in Christ: an identity that creates unity, and, therefore, strength. Christians are always going to have differing backgrounds, but if we focus on what unites us--faith in Jesus--we can all be one unified family. When our focus is on Christ instead of ourselves or other humans, we can move past division and disagreement.

3. Lastly, Paul talked about how the gospel is "foolishness" to unbelievers. This is so evident in modern times, in which the educated and intelligent of the world are always trying to use "science" and "reason" to explain God away. But Paul says God's true wisdom will put the wise to shame, as He chooses the less educated, intelligent, popular, etc., to proclaim His Word and follow Him. This way, humans can't take God's glory for themselves--not when He chooses the least of people to do His greatest works.

This reminds me, first off, that human nature hasn't changed and that the struggles that come from being ridiculed and attacked by the intellectuals of the world are not unique to our time. Christianity was under attack back then from the people who thought that it was "foolish", just as it is the world is attempting to discount it now. Second, it's also great to remember that God chooses "the little people" to do His great works. We don't have to be extremely talented or wise or strong or charismatic. We just have to be ourselves, and God will make that MORE than enough, in Him.

Thoughts on Acts and "Radical Christianity"

I've been reading through the Bible with a friend, and we (somewhat) recently finished Acts. This book has really been sticking with me. Perhaps it is because it is a view into the early Christians' lives after Jesus left and so the incidents are perhaps easier to relate to than the story of David and Goliath or Moses. They apply to New Testament circumstances, in a more "contemporary" world, rather than Old Testament, ancient events. Acts also greatly impressed me because I kept reading through it, seeing the disciples' passion for God and the miracles they did, and thinking, "Why doesn't this happen today?"

Here are some things I noticed from just one chapter:

1. When the disciples performed miracles, they weren't ashamed or embarrassed.
Take the event in the very beginning of Acts 3, when Peter and John are going to the temple and encounter a lame man begging for money. Peter doesn't hesitate, or if he does, it must not have been for long, because it sure wasn't recorded. Peter doesn't think, "Never mind...I'll walk by this guy and pray for him later. What if Jesus doesn't heal him and then I look like a fool?" Or, "What if someone sees what I am doing and I am persecuted or mocked for Jesus?" He doesn't just stand and face him and pray silently, either. No, he orders the lame man to look right at him. He's going to make this event public, because he is not ashamed of Jesus or His power. He's not worried about what other people think.

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” --Acts 3:4

2. Peter didn't ask for anything less than the best.
The lame man was begging for money to survive. Some were walking up and thinking they were bestowing the best blessing they could give upon him when they handed him some coins. Peter and John could have thought along those lines too: "Oh, darn, I don't have any money. If I could just run home and grab some and bring it back, I'd be such a blessing to this man." Maybe sometimes when we're praying, we don't ask God for the full blessing.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. --Matthew 7:7.

...you do not have because you do not ask. --James 4:2b

Peter tells the man that he has no money, but that he will give the man what he does have: a much greater blessing from God. He doesn't ask for "something small." He trusts that God can completely heal this man, not give him a "band aid" for the problem.

3. Peter didn't ask. He commanded.
Notice what Peter says: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6b). He doesn't say, "Jesus, could you please, if it is Your will, heal this man?" Peter gives a direct command to the man. Not only that, but there is no hesitation, or any hint of going "halfway" this time either. He doesn't say, "Now, get up slowly," or "Maybe you should just try to move your foot a little." He not only tells the man to "rise up" but he also orders him to walk! The man that was just lame, and had been lame from birth, is going to walk, and Peter has no doubt about it. With confidence, he waits for the man to experience a miracle.

Think about the huge difference between just asking and commanding. By commanding, Peter displayed his confidence. Not confidence in himself, because he orders the man in Jesus' name. No, he has full confidence that Jesus can heal this man and he is not ashamed to show it. He doesn't "half believe" a miracle will take place. He doesn't wonder if God is listening to him. He knows Jesus is listening and will answer. He isn't timid; he is full of faith.

This reminds me of Luke 17:6, when Jesus tells His disciples that through faith, they can command and be obeyed. So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

4. Peter and John were together.
It's a simple fact, but it's encouraging. Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. Now, after Jesus has ascended and the disciples are to continue being witnesses, they stick together. God knows that we are stronger together than we are apart. Even though Peter is the one doing all the talking, I think John's presence is important. Who knows what sort of moral support he gave Peter just by being there, standing beside him as Peter reached out in faith and took a public stand for Christ by healing this man? Maybe Peter wouldn't have been as confident or full of faith on his own. But with John, he has company, encouragement, a friend.

5. Peter was on fire for God.
Everyone knows the story of how Peter seriously messed up when Jesus was betrayed. Ashamed of Christ and afraid, he denied Him three times before a handful of people. Once Jesus resurrected and visited Peter again, their relationship was restored to its former strength (or, perhaps, I could venture to say it was even stronger than before) when Jesus had Peter affirm his love for Him three times. Jesus commanded Peter to feed His sheep. Now, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit and a new flame for God after being forgiven for his painful choice, is ready to obey Jesus' command. His sin is in the past. He's spoken to Jesus about it and he knows he has been forgiven. It's not weighing him down. He isn't about to fail God again and deny Him before men. He's seen Jesus perform great miracles and he's tasted His forgiveness.

Think of all the great experiences you have had with Jesus...and just imagine if we focused on those more. Imagine the fire we would have. Imagine the confidence we would have; imagine how unashamed we would be if we allowed ourselves to be filled with His love and grace instead of fear.

These are just thoughts on a few verses of Acts, but I think it greatly demonstrates how powerful the book is. It's encouraging to see the disciples trust in God and perform miracles. It's also encouraging to see the times they messed up and remember that they faced the same struggles and failures we do today.

What if we acted more like Peter and John or the other disciples in Acts? What if we lived like them? What if we let the Holy Spirit consume us? What could we do then?

Isaiah 41:13

"For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"

This verse is a promise, and more and more I've come to realize how true it is. The fact is, life isn't easy, never has been easy, and never will be easy. This fact doesn't change for you whether you believe in God or not. Life is life. Another fact is that no matter how hard we pray, how much we expect God to just magically make our lives perfect, He doesn't work that way. One, people have free will and He will never interfere with that. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to be stupid and make choices that not only affect themselves but also others around them. Two, there is always purpose we can't see, and if it weren't for hardship, the good times in life wouldn't be quite so sweet.

My best friend found this verse to be encouraging and happened to mention it to me back in January 2008, a few days before my grandma was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. When I first heard the news, I have to admit I got really angry and didn't see the point in talking to God or touching my Bible.

My grandma had been a nurse for years. Energetic, tough, brave, fun...someone I look up to and love very much. Trying to wrap my head around the idea that my dear grandma had cancer felt surreal. I couldn't understand why God would let something like that happen. I kept asking "Why?" as if I expected God to speak to me right there in my room and list His plans for the future. As if somehow I knew better than God, or I could understand His ways.

But God didn't let me just shove Him aside that easily. The Bible verse Julie had told me about and I'd pushed to the back of my mind suddenly came back, and I decided to open my Bible and read it again. I figured it couldn't hurt to check it out.

Fear not. He would help me and hold my hand. It made me think of a father holding his little toddler's hand, and protecting, comforting, and loving his child. And as I prayed, I could see God holding my hand, and most importantly, holding my grandma's hand as she walked through this dark period of her life.

He held us all the whole way through, no doubt about it. He was with my grandma through the chemotherapy, the raditation, the surgery, the tests, the waiting, the hurt...the chaos of emotions. He was with my family as we waited and waited, and we couldn't visit her for fear of bringing germs into her house when she was weak. He was with my grandparents as they prayed together at night, with my family as we sought healing for my grandma, with my grandma as she read the Bible and trusted that God was with her. He was with me as my silly heart asked, "Why?" of the God of the universe.

It never occurred to me that, in my lifetime, He would answer my angry, hurt question I repeated over and over that first night: "Why?" That fall my grandmother had to have surgery, and my mom ended up being the only family member who could donate blood for her. She went to Columbus to give blood, only to hear that she was so anemic her blood was "worthless" and she should schedule a doctor appointment right away.

After weeks of various appointments and tests trying to pinpoint the problem, the doctor suggested that my mom get a hysterectomy. It was nothing major; obviously it's an operation that occurs all the time these days. A doctor had suggested this to my mom a few years before and she'd decided to wait. Once again, it wasn't anything urgent. My mom considered it for a while before determining she might as well get it over with. She went through the surgery, and my family took turns visiting her in the hospital until she could come home.

It was rough seeing her lying, sick and exhausted, in a hospital bed. I remember the first time I visited her; she was so ill whatever drug they had her on at the time she could barely speak. Her hair was in a tousled mess behind her head because none of the nurses had bothered to do anything for her in that respect. It's weird seeing your mother in a condition like that. Something inside my gut twisted in pain to see her so miserable. I lifted her head and tried to brush her hair as best I could, so she could feel semi-human again.

After a couple days she was released to recover at home (her surgery had been more intense than most hysterectomies), and we put the surgery behind us as no big deal. Time passed and my mom visited the doctor so he could make sure the healing process was going all right and inform her how the surgery had gone.

When my mom came home that day, she gave me the strangest look before telling me to come downstairs so we could all talk as a family. I knew something was up. She seemed shaken and quiet as my dad explained to my brothers and me that the doctor had told my mom that she'd had cancer, a rare type that about 700 other women in the world had been diagnosed with up to that time. This type always started in the uterus before spreading throughout the body.

And they'd caught it just in time. Even my mom's surgeon had said it was a miracle.

But he didn't even know the half of it. It hit me with full force once I'd had time to digest this news. The surgery had removed all of my mom's cancer--the surgery she wouldn't have had...if my grandma had never been diagnosed with cancer. God took her suffering and my family's suffering, and gave us a miracle. Out of the worst of situations, He gave us something to rejoice over.

When my mom recovered, she began running, something she hadn't been able to do before. Anemia and frequent sickness had held her back. She signed up for a local 5K, and the woman who hadn't been able to run a mile without stopping not long before, won second place in her age group. My mother is a walking--no, a running :) --miracle.

Today, I have a grandma who is still cancer-free, back at work and preparing for retirement, and a mom who loves to run whenever she can. They are both miracles and I thank God that He healed them. How can I ever forget God's faithfulness when I have witnessed this? How is it that I am so forgetful as to fear the future or doubt God's love? He doesn't always give us the answers to our Whys, but there are reasons, whether we see them in this life or not. I couldn't begin to know all the reasons behind why my grandma battled cancer, anyway, but just knowing that God was there and seeing that He was working is enough.

God doesn't stop pain. But no matter what, we never need to fear, because He is always there, holding our hand, helping us through it all, whatever happens. Somehow, in the craziest of ways, He can even turn the bad into good. Isaiah 41:13 always reminds me of this, and how God has never broken that promise.

True Identity

In Esther chapter 1, King Ahasuerus literally attempts to put his wife on display during a feast. He was showing off his wealth and power, and apparently decided that his beautiful queen, like a trophy or prize to be flaunted, should also be brought forth. When she refused, he became furious, probably angry that someone, especially a woman, had dared to disobey him. It seems that in his eyes, she was merely another one of his possessions. Once she refused to do as he pleased, she was of no further use to him. As an example to his kingdom, he divorced her so that all women would hear of Vashti's punishment and remain under the rule of their husbands.

Today, we can still see instances in which men place mere aesthetic, shallow value on women. Sometimes it seems that men see women as just objects to be looked at. They are only bodies and faces, not given true, meaningful worth. How often do we see posters, commercials, and billboards that exploit a woman's sexuality or beauty in order to sell a product? How often do we hear of women struggling to be physically attractive in order to gain attention? Our society has become obsessed with outward appearances, but what about the true identity of a person?

Vashti had more respect for herself than to allow herself to be put on display. Chances are high that she didn't know the God of the universe or look to Him to give her true value, but she was able to grasp the fact that she was more than just "a pretty face." Christian women today should also see our worth as humans and daughters of God. We don't need to be "on display", and we shouldn't let ourselves become mere "objects." How we dress and how we behave can help, even if we cannot control the way others around us may see us.

We are not objects; we are women! God has shown us our worth. And godly men and women will be able to see our value too--the deep, true worth that goes far deeper than the shallow concerns of beauty and attractiveness. No matter what we look like, whether we struggle with the feeling of being "unpretty" or the sense that we are defined only by our beauty, our hearts and souls are precious to God. Our true identity is who we are. Most importantly, our true identity is who we are in Christ.

Why We Should Never Be Afraid

Fear.

We all are scared of certain things. We have our phobias, our biggest fears, and our old struggles and hurts from the past that rise to the surface and make us afraid. Fear can paralyze us, prevent us from doing what we know we should do, and steal away our joy. It crushes peace, mocks faith, and stains the Christian's testimony. How many things have we done out of fear? How many things have we not done because of fear?

I've realized that fear is one of our enemy's greatest weapons. Why else would God say time and again throughout the Bible: "Do not fear" or "Be courageous"? He knows what fear can do to us. And He knows how easily our human hearts tend toward fear. Courage comes from our faith in God; fear stems from doubt.

The reasons why we shouldn't be afraid are numerous. Maybe if we just stopped and thought about our fears logically for a moment, they would dissipate. Maybe if whenever we felt that wave of terror or doubt wash over us, we paused and looked to God instead of the blockades in our path or ourselves, we would be able to press on in confidence.

First, we know God is in control. He is the Creator and Master; He knows everything about us and works His will on Earth. Even when humans use their free will to cause suffering and destroy each other, God can still use bad for good and work His will through it all. He is the Great Healer and Physician, able to ease the wounds we are dealt in life. As long as He is in control, "...we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). We have nothing to fear because God is working for our best, just as a father or mother does all that he or she can for the benefit of a child.

Secondly, God has already won the victory. We know Jesus has conquered death, already became our sacrifice for sin, and therefore has made a pathway for us to freedom. All we have to do is accept it. In the end, no matter what battles we go through, as long as we are His, we win with Him. Nothing can change this. Nothing physical, nothing spiritual. God is in control; God is all-powerful. He can't not win. There's no point in fearing when the struggle is already won. It's just a matter of getting through it.

Thirdly, God loves us. This really is obvious and goes along with the other two reasons, but we tend to forget this.

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed.

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I hope in Him!"

Lamentations 3:22-24

God forgives us when we make mistakes and helps us get back on our feet and keep walking. He is not up there plotting ways to make His children miserable. He wants to shower blessings on us, to let us forget our past sins and failures as He forgets them, and to guide us on to be better, greater. To succeed! He is not our enemy, and we shouldn't let fear boggle us down. There is a difference between healthy fear of His power and authority, and a guilty terror that forgets His love and grace. He loves us and He is in this struggle with us. "For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" (Isaiah 41:13) He will walk every step of the way with us, right beside us, helping us face and conquer our fears and weaknesses and hurts.

Fourthly, we do not need to be plagued by doubt over anything. "The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1) If nature itself witnesses the Presence and power and glory of God, why should we ever doubt or fear? Just pausing to look up at the stars, feel the sun's warmth, smell the fresh air outside, or study one of God's creatures reminds us of the care He put into creating everything around us. Nature declares that there is a God: a powerful, loving one! The Bible declares it. Our own hearts declare it if we just stop and listen to the Holy Spirit. We need not feel that we are alone, or that God will leave us in the middle of trouble. As Jesus said, if God knows when just one sparrow falls to the ground, then how much more aware is He of His children when they hurt?

And finally, we have a great future. We may have to face fear and doubt and pain and confusion in this life, but we have something to hope for. We have something that can fill us with joy when we look to the future. Not only is there nothing to fear in life, but also there is nothing to fear in death when we are His. God will be beside us then as He has always been beside us in our lives. He covers all. The future is nothing to be intimidated by, because His plans are already laid out for us, great and small. All we have to do is trust Him.

Think of how much more powerful we could be, how much happier and how much more fruitful for God, if we just trusted Him. If we gave Him our fears when we felt them take over, and let Him fill us with His peace and courage and hope and joy. If we stopped focusing on ourselves and what we can't do, or the obstacles and what they could do, and instead focused on God and what He has done, is doing, and will do.

He's standing right next to us. He's even holding our hands, like a loving father holds his child's hand, cradling it gently as they step into the darkness the child is so afraid of. "It's going to be OK," he says. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

The child thinks, Daddy's not afraid of anything. He will fight off all the monsters. I'm safe!

And we are!