Don’t Fear the Shadows

I wanted to share just a few thoughts that have been rattling around in my head over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, most of it has been very scrambled of late and I can’t seem to untangle the mess that is my brain!

Anyway, recently, we took a short road trip with the girls. We were all in need of a nice long drive, out of town, maybe down a dirt road or two, just to get away for a while.

After being in lockdown and lockout for a couple of weeks, we were feeling like the stress of the past year was all too much and we just needed to get away, feel the wind blow through our hair, the sun on our face and the road passing by swiftly underneath us as we enjoyed God’s beautiful creation.

And so, we took a trip down to Alice and back, and off the beaten track a little. Not very far, but enough that we could fit it in a few days and be back in time for work commitments etc.

Okay, so now onto the thoughts rattling around in my head.

Going on a road trip, I thought, would be so nice and so destressing and fun. But while we were away, I felt as if a shadow was hanging overhead the whole time. There always seemed to be little snippets of fear because of the current situation we find our world in today in relation to the Covid 19 pandemic and all it’s baggage.

Now, I’m not interested in going into an opinionated piece of writing on this subject. I just want to share a few thoughts.

While I was trying to enjoy the time away with the family, and the excitement of a new adventure, I kept finding myself underneath a shadow, trepidation, worry and fear. The what ifs kept whispering in my head. The worries about passing through towns and checking in and exposure sites and Covid tests and being put into isolation or being fined just wouldn’t go away. As fast as I tried to push the thoughts away, there they were, back again, as I opened up my news feed to check details and make sure we weren’t going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Now, don’t get me wrong, we did enjoy our time away and we did have an adventure. (fossicking for hours in the hot sun during a heatwave, driving late into the night in an epic lightning storm, enjoying an awesome sunrise at the Devils Marbles etc).

The problem was my outlook. The problem was my thoughts. I was letting fear control me. I was letting the shadow overwhelm me.

When I got home, I began to evaluate the situation, and the feelings I had experienced. I realised that if I had just told fear to stay away, trusted in the Lord and focused on the beauty around me, I would have come home feeling a lot more rested.

This made me think of another shadow. The shadow of the cross. The Lord Jesus lived his life here on this earth with the shadow of the cross above him every day. He knew, being fully man and fully God, that death was to come to him in the form of a cruel cross. His hands and feet would be pierced, he would be beaten and spat on and mocked, and yet, he continued to do his Father’s will.

The shadow of the cross did not stop him from doing what God would have him do here on earth. He continued to preach, to teach, to heal, to love, to care, to share, to forgive. He didn’t let the shadow of death stop him from his life’s work.

He knew what was to come, and yet, he stayed the course. He was perfect in every way and obeyed his Father submissively and wholly.

Are we not to be followers of Christ and seek to do his will and obey in word and deed? Are we not to follow Christ’s example and try to become more and more like him as we grow in our spiritual walk?

Then why is it that we let the shadows in our life overwhelm us and stop us from doing his will? Why do we fear the darkness and let the shadows keep us from obeying?

Yes, the days are dark at present and there are shadows all around us and above us and sometimes we fear the light will be quenched at any moment, but God is still good, and he is still in control. We don’t need to live in fear. We can keep working while the light is dim. We can keep trusting, keep obeying and keep sharing the good news of the gospel with the lost world.

My fear of the shadow made what could have been a beautiful, relaxing time, turn into something not so lovely and so it is with our lives. If we let the shadows overwhelm us and if we let them stop our work for the Lord because we are fearful, then how will the lost world hear the good news? We are to be lights in this dark world.

Yes, it’s hard right now, with all the restrictions and mandates, but we shouldn’t let it stop us from our God-given ministries. We are to keep on until God tells us to stop. If God has called you to something, then stick with it. God will make a way. You may have to rearrange the way you do things, you may have to become more creative and get a new perspective, but God will bless your efforts if you just stay faithful to him.

We can’t just drop our tools and lay down in defeat, knowing that the Lord’s return is imminent. The disciples thought the end of the world was coming in their time, and yet they faithfully preached the word and kept on.

God expects us to keep being faithful. He wants us to keep preaching the word, sharing with others, teaching our Bible studies, running our Youth Groups and Sunday Schools, doing what he has called us to do, until he calls us home.

The race is not finished until the trumpet sounds, and we are caught up with him in the air!

So, don’t let the shadows keep you from being a light. Let the shadows encourage you to let your light shine brighter and brighter. Fan the flames and light up every corner of your world and your sphere of influence, so that those around you will be drawn to the Saviour through your testimony.

Let them see a fearless warrior that is not afraid of the storm or the darkness. Draw them out of the shadows and into the light. The glorious light of the gospel.

Don’t faint in the shadows. Keep on. Hold your head up, look to the Lord for help and trust him as you shine your light for others to see.

 

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing:

 for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

 

Don’t wait for a more convenient time.

 Now is the time!

Has reading your Bible and spending time in prayer and study on a daily basis become just too inconvenient?

“I just don’t feel like it today. I’m too tired to focus on anything right now. I’m too stressed. My brain is too overloaded with other matters. I’m just too busy. I haven’t even had 5 minutes to myself today.”

Do any of these excuses ring a bell? Have you ever found yourself having these thoughts or speaking them aloud to a friend? No? Well, I’m so happy for you and also somewhat amazed!

But for the rest of us, I’m ashamed to say, it happens more often than it should.

We have days where everything goes to plan. We wake early, before the children (if that’s the season of life you currently find yourself in), we spend time in God’s Word and in prayer, seeking his wisdom for the day. Then off we head into the busyness of our schedules, running here and there, crossing our little to-do lists off with great enthusiasm, then excitedly climbing into bed after a long day, we spend some time in prayer once again and drift off into a contented sleep and full of optimism for the day ahead being run just as smoothly as the one we just had.

Ok. Wake up! Stop daydreaming. Life is hard and the struggle is real. How often do our days go as planned?

I think that if you’re anything like me, you have days where you neglect that time spent in prayer, you skip reading your Bible as you have too much to do and feel as though the day ahead is too full to fit in even a mere 5 minutes of study. Then day follows day and before long the disconnection from God begins to slide down a slippery slope and the snowball grows and grows until the good habits you once had are all but dead and gone.

Rough patches in our lives are real. Busyness and overfilled schedules are a reality. Distractions stare us in the face every minute of every day and we begin to push God into the corner for a more convenient time. And over time, it begins to take a toll on our spirit, and our souls cry out for refreshing and renewal.

I’m so glad that our apathy toward God and the things of God does not affect his love for us. His love for us is not dependent upon our love for him. When we return to him, he is there waiting for us. He has not given up and left the room.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The Bible clearly tells us that if we return to the Lord, he will have mercy. He will turn unto us. He will be there for us.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

We are so full of excuses and if we just spoke them aloud and really listened to what we were saying, we’d be ashamed of their patheticness.

One of the excuses I’m ashamed to say that I used many times in the past, was that I didn’t have ‘quiet’.

As the girls were growing up, life was anything but quiet! As the sun peeked over the horizon, the day started with a triumphant shout and straight away the cares of the day began to press in. A baby needing to be fed, a toddler crying, dishes to wash, baking to be done, and pretty soon that much needed time alone with God was pushed aside as the distractions of life took over. There just wasn’t a convenient time.

I was always searching for that elusive 'piece of quiet' to sit and calmly take in what God wanted to say to me for that day.

But, over the years I have come to realise that it is God that supplies the quiet, we just need to supply the time. Let me say that again.

It is God that supplies the quiet, we just need to supply the time.

God doesn't expect us to come to Him with a quiet spirit in order to have a quiet time. He knows the kind of life we lead. He knows which season we’re in. He knows how busy we are.

We come to him with our cup overflowing with confusion, worries, troubles, disappointments, and He graciously and lovingly pours it out and fills our cup with His peace and love and joy. He knows that life is busy and sometimes we're overwhelmed with our to-do list. But if we would just stop for a moment, give God some of our precious time, He would bring the quiet that is needed into our hearts.

He longs for us to come alone into His presence and bring our cares to Him. The quietness comes from our relationship with Him and coming to Him as we let Him rearrange our thought processes. He calms the inner storms and brings His peace. The peace that only He can give.

2 Chronicles 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

Sometimes we only have 5 minutes to give to Him, we pour out our cares and He pours in His peace. Other times, we have an hour to give to God and these times can be so refreshing.

When it all boils down, it really is a heart issue. Having a heart for God. Having a desire to spend time with him. Bringing our hearts in tune with God. Waiting on Him. Having an attitude of humbleness and meekness. In the middle of all the clamour, calling out to Him to bring His peace.

Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

As long as I desire to return to the Lord and to give him my time and my devotion, he will give me a heart for him.

I don’t always get my priorities in order. I don’t always let God plan my days. Sometimes I stubbornly go my own way, but God is always there when I return, as I humbly seek his forgiveness and ask him to give me a heart to know him.

And I find that the more time I spend with him, the more I get to know him and the more time I long to spend with him. The “I don’t feel like it moments”, become “I long to spend time with him moments”.

The more I get to know him, the more I love him, and the more time I want to spend in his Word, studying, learning, praying, meditating. It becomes something my soul craves and can’t do without. The day just feels all wrong when I don’t make that time.

So, I encourage you, young mother, busy working wife, happy grandmother keeping up with precious little ones, anyone in any season of life, make time for God. Pick up where you left off. Start again. Begin today. Just open your Bible and let God speak to you.

Don’t make excuses and push God into a corner for a more ‘convenient’ time. He longs for you to return to him. He wants you to desire time with him. Don’t get discouraged that you don’t have hours to read and study, be content if you only have 5 minutes, but make that 5 minutes count!

Make a conscious effort to make time for God, set aside a portion of your day to get alone with him, and he will bring the quiet. You will be blessed beyond measure when you put him first.

 

Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

James 4:8b Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Hair or a Beautiful Heart?

The world has enough women who know how to do their hair. It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things. Anne Voskamp

I read this quote a while ago, but as I saved it to my phone, I am constantly reminded of it. I would like to elaborate on it some more.

In our world today, there is so much pressure on women to make themselves more beautiful on the outside. You Tube and Instagram scream at us through thousands of videos, to promote ourselves, to use their products in order that we can look more attractive. And there are countless hair and make-up tutorials.

Now, I’m not saying that you can’t or shouldn’t watch them, as sometimes they can be helpful for information on which products to use or how to style your particular hair length or texture.

What I want to say is that the heart is so much more important.

And as the quote says, we have enough women telling us how to do our hair, but what about some women who know how to separate from the world, walk and talk a Godly lifestyle, glorify God with their testimony and lead others to Christ through their Godly witness as they show God’s love?

The world tries to tell us that they will love us if we are beautiful. But you are beautiful because you are already loved. You were made in God’s image.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

We don’t need the world to tell us who we are and how we should look. We need women who are willing to stand up for what is right. We need women who are happy with how God made them. We need women willing to sit at Jesus feet, as Mary did, and learn of him.

We don’t need more women telling us how to look more attractive, we need more women telling us how to live our lives glorifying to God. We need women who are not afraid to dig into the Word of God and find Godly examples to follow and then share what they learn with others.

We need women who are walking closely with the Lord, showing by their testimony, what God can do and has done and will do.

1 Samuel 16:7b …for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

The world looks at the outside and judges by what it sees there, but God is looking for women with strength of character, borne out of hardship and trial and a life spent trusting the Lord. He looks right through and into the heart. He sees beyond our immaculate hairstyles and flawless make up. He sees the beauty or the ugliness within.

1 Peter 3:3-4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

I recently listened to a series of lessons on having a meek and quiet spirit and what a conviction it was to my heart. It’s definitely not something that comes naturally. Meekness and quietness. No, it’s something that has to be worked on every day of our lives.

We all take some time, whether a lot or a little, to do our hair each morning. We make ourselves look presentable, whether it means straightening or curling or washing, or in my case, putting it in a ponytail and covering it up with a cap in a matter of seconds.

It doesn’t matter and I am not here to judge either way. But I do want to remind you that God is looking deeper than the surface. In order for our lives to count for something, we have to have a desire to grow spiritually and give God all the glory for what he does in our lives.

That means we need to spend time in God’s Word. We need to spend time in prayer. We need to spend time encouraging a sister in the Lord, coming alongside and being a friend and a help. We may need to give up some things that are drawing us away from what is Godly and holy. We may need to separate from some things. We may need to take less time on our outward appearance so that we can make more time to focus on our heart condition.

It's not easy making time in our busy schedules to read and pray. It takes time to write that text or make that phone call to encourage a friend in need. It often means we have to neglect something that we may have thought important. But, if it has eternal value, then it is all worth it. If it means we don’t look as ‘together’ as we usually do, but God is pleased and glorified by our actions, then so be it. We have to do hard things at times to bring glory to God, but it is to be our all-consuming goal in life. Giving glory to God.

The beauty on the outside fades with time, but Godly character gets more and more beautiful as it matures and grows and blossoms into something God can use.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So, if I can encourage you in any thing, please remind yourself of the way God looks at you. He’s looking on the inside. Don’t neglect your physical appearance, but don’t let it become your focus.

Let’s join together and become women of God, who are willing to do hard and holy things. Let’s encourage each other and support each other as we live our lives and strive to bring glory to God, the giver of all good things. He loves you unconditionally, and a bad hair day is not going to change that!

God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Grateful Heart

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

 

Can I write a little about something that is on my heart this morning? It’s gratefulness. Thankfulness. Contentment.

Looking around our world today there is so much discontentment. There is so much sadness, despair and hurt. I fear we have lost our song. It’s not just the world that is feeling down, it’s Christians too. I feel like we’ve lost the thankful spirit that we should have as followers of Christ.

I read this passage in 1 Chronicles this morning and the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me of his goodness. This passage tells the story of King David preparing a place for the ark of God to reside. After 20 long years, the ark was finally coming home, and David is seen offering sacrifices to God in thankfulness for its return.

David was excited and rejoicing. He was so filled with gratefulness, that he appointed singers and players to worship God in song as the ark was brought home.

1 Chronicles 15:16 - And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

The Bible tells us that on that day, David lifted up a Psalm of joy unto the Lord. I think it’s important to read it in its entirety as it is so full of praise and worship and no detail is left out of his song of praise. So, please, if you want to be blessed by reading the song of praise that was sung that day, make sure to look it up and read it through.

1 Chronicles 16:36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

What a beautiful Psalm and what a beautiful song. I would have loved to have been there and heard it sung and played. What tears of joy must have flowed from the eyes of the people of God as they witnessed such a momentous occasion.

Now to my Sunday morning musings.

How often do I find myself grumbling and complaining about the small calamities that I face each day? How often do my lips pour forth words of discontentment? How often does my tone of voice and the words I say reflect what is in my heart?

Matthew 12:34b …………..for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

I was reading a devotional this week that had this very convicting question.

What if everything I complained about was taken away?

Think about that for a moment.

What if all those things you grumble about, all those moments that annoy, the wait in traffic, the shoes left inconveniently in the hallway, the dishes in the sink, the slow internet, the busy work schedule, the fridge that needs cleaning out, the washing that needs folding? What if it was taken away?

Now, you might look at this list and think, great! I would love for these things to be gone! But stop. Wait. Think.

The wait in traffic, means that you have a mode of transport, other than walking. The shoes in the hall mean you have people in your life that you care about. The dishes in the sink mean you have food to eat. The work schedule shows that you have a job and a means to provide for your family. The fridge that needs cleaning out means that you have more food than some of the poorer peoples of the world.

So, if what you complained about was taken away, then all those blessings that go with the miniscule grievances would also be gone. Food for thought.

Even if you don’t have everything you want, and, spoiler alert, you NEVER will, even if you don’t get your dream list filled, you still have so much to be thankful for. You can find, in each and every day, at least ONE thing to thank God for.

Stop right now and do it. Think of one thing to thank God for. And then get past thinking and begin praising. Verbally lift your voice unto God and thank him for his goodness. Everything we have comes from him. He doesn’t owe us anything. We don’t deserve any good thing, and yet, his abundant love and mercy showers us with blessings every minute of every day, we are just too blind to see it.

Just as the Israelites memories were clouded by their cravings for the things they had in Egypt, we too can be blind to what we ought to be thankful for. The Israelites forgot all the evil that was done to them in Egypt because they were too busy being discontent over what they didn’t have. It caused them to forget all that God HAD done for them.

Numbers 11:5-6

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

God miraculously gave them food in the desert and all they could think of was fish, garlic and leeks. He brought them through the Red Sea and yet, they dreamed of cucumbers and melons.

But let’s not be too hard on them. How about us? Yes, now I’m stepping on some toes. Mine included.

There are days I complain about the long hours and hot days and hard labour, or the dishes in the sink and the never-ending washing. But God has given me the health and strength to be able to rise out of bed each morning and work a long day, and the ability to cook a beautiful meal for my family, and a washing machine that washes at the touch of a button.

What a lot I have to be thankful for.

Does your negativity overshadow your positivity? Is your conversation full of complaining instead of contentment? Does your attitude spill over with ingratitude instead of gratitude?

I want the words of the Psalmist, David, to be my song.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

I want to be seen as grateful. I want to shout aloud to all who hear, God’s goodness. I want to talk of all his wondrous works. I want to make known God’s mercy and love. I want to sing to him, songs of praise and give him thanks.

When people see me and talk to me, I want my conversation to be uplifting and encouraging and full of thankfulness to God. I want others to walk away feeling happier and joyful, because I took the time to be content and verbally praise God and share his love.

I want to turn all discontentment on its head. I want to flip the switch on negativity. Turn the frown upside down and let it smile. Look at life from a different view.

I want my light to shine. I don’t want to be content to be a flickering candle. I want my attitude to be confronting. And not in a bad way. I want to be able to shine so brightly and radiate such an attitude of gratefulness that others are left wondering why I am joyful during trials and content during hard times. I want to be able to share what God has done for me and give them a reason for my joy. We need to shine as lights in the world!

Philippians 2:14-15

 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Lord, you know I have a long way to go in this area of gratefulness. Help me to see your goodness in every situation. Let thankfulness flow from my lips and open my eyes to see the blessings you so abundantly give. Give me the courage to shine so brightly that others may see my light and ask for a reason of the hope that lies within me.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 

Resting in Isolation

 

Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Right now, here in our little town of Katherine, we are in the middle of a complete lockdown. Now, I know a lot of you reading have experienced this many times and maybe you’re well and truly over it. But for me, at this moment, I’m finding it a time of rest. I don’t want to downplay anyone’s situation as I know my little period of time at home is minimal compared to so many others. But, isolation can be a great opportunity to catch your breath and rest.

How well do you handle solitude? Do you feel like a bird in a cage? Trapped. Beating your wings wildly against your prison bars, dreaming of the days you soared high above the clouds, catching the updrafts and feeling the freedom of flight.

I have been so busy for the past couple of years that I feel like I haven’t had time to catch my breath at all and the times of rest were few and far between. God calls us to rest and stresses the importance of it in the scriptures. We are commanded to take time out to rest. To refresh, renew, revive.

And yet, often, when the time comes, and God enforces rest upon us, we struggle and fight against it.

I guess what I’m trying to say to those who need to hear it is, make the most of your time of enforced isolation. Yes, the government may have made the law and forced you to stay home, but it was God that allowed it to happen. As always, God knows best and he is in control, even in this situation we find ourselves in.

It's easy to sit and mope and waste our time bemoaning life and complaining about our hardships, but how much better is it to face this time with joy and gladness and a heart that desires to see what God can do. How much better would it be to spend the time studying the Word of God more deeply, sharing truth with others through the wonders of technology, or catching up on all those chores you never thought you’d have time to do, learning something new, spending quality time with your family.

I love the example of Paul in the New Testament. He was a man who knew something about isolation and imprisonment. And he didn’t have the comforts of his own home to spend it in. No, he was a prisoner in a dark, smelly, dungeon. Deprived of any creature comforts. Yet, he praised God.

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

He spent his time in prison writing letters of encouragement to other believers. And he didn’t sign his letters, Paul, the prisoner of Festus, or Caesar. No, he firmly stated that he was a prisoner of the Lord.

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer

He saw the hand of the Lord in all of his imprisonments. His trials and his afflictions only made him praise God all the more. He turned prison into a new pulpit. A new ministry. He made the best of what seemed like a very bad situation. He just used it as a platform to launch a new ministry. Unlikely place, right? His days and months in captivity brought forth messages of hope and encouragement to other believers.

Often, when we are busy doing the Lord’s business and our days are full to overflowing, we withstand the pressure and the stresses and the workload, only to find ourselves breaking down and not coping when we are forced into inactivity and confinement.

Let me go back to the subject of rest again. It is God’s will that we rest, and I think it’s important to recognize when God is calling us to rest and not to ignore it. We need to be alert to his voice and his call.

The Bible tells us that God called the disciples to rest.

Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while

Isn’t it beautiful that he told them to come and rest? What a beautiful picture of God’s lovingkindness. He not only wants us to rest, but he goes with us to rest. He doesn’t say, go and rest, he says, come and rest. Come. I’ll go with you. We will rest together. I will bring the refreshing, the renewing, the reviving. He invites us to rest with him. It is his very presence that brings the rest we need. There is no refreshing without him present.

I’m seeing this time of enforced lockdown as a time where God is calling me to rest. Rest from work, yes, but also, a time to rest in him and refresh and renew spiritually. To grow and learn.

And so, in your isolation, take Jesus’ hand and rest with him. Use your time wisely. Ask him for wisdom in how to spend your days. Ask him if there is a way you can minister to others from afar.

Is there a letter or a text you can send a friend? Is there some words of encouragement or words of scripture you can speak into the life of someone that may be struggling? What is it you can do to help someone during this time? Who can you be a blessing to?

”For twelve long years Bunyan’s lips were silenced in Bedford jail. It was there that he did the greatest and best work of his life. There he wrote the book that has been read next to the Bible. He says, “I was at home in prison and I sat me down and wrote, and wrote, for joy did make me write.”

There are many who have gone before us that faced times of isolation and confinement and came through with shining colours. They had learnt the meaning of contentment and they trusted the Lord completely. How else could they live in captivity with such a song in their heart? Only Jesus. He is the reason they could do it.

And we are not any different to them. We can live in joy and not despair. We can learn to be content in any situation God puts us in. We can use the times of rest God gives us to be a blessing to others.

You never know how God will use those words of encouragement you give to someone else, during your difficult time, to speak to their heart and help bring them the peace that only God can give. He loves to use his children as instruments to help others and bring glory to his name.

Take time to rest in your isolation, but take time to serve and show God’s love.

Let Your Light Shine

 

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Is anyone troubled? Is anyone feeling distressed? Anyone feeling persecuted? How about cast down?

Looking around our world today, we are definitely troubled and perplexed and persecuted and there are days where we feel utterly cast down and beaten.

We are afflicted on every side and confused, mistreated and in a tight place. The restrictions our governments are putting on us are not logical and don’t seem to make any sense. But this is not the first time in our history that this has happened.

It was happening in Paul’s day. Yes, even way back then, maybe not a pandemic, but there was persecution and distress and troubles. And yet, Paul encouraged himself in the Lord. He was able to say boldly, we are troubled, but not distressed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted, but not forsaken by the Lord, cast down, depressed, stressed and fearful, but not destroyed.

How could he say that and how can we? How can we have such faith and trust in the Lord that we can bear all these hard things with joy?

He was able to say it because he had God’s help. He believed in God and he had faith that God would deliver. And we can do it with God’s help. We can do it with God’s strength. There is no way we can do it on our own and we certainly can’t trust in our country and the laws made. Our only hope and salvation is in the Lord.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

God promises us, as believers, over and over in his Word, that he will be there for us. He will be our rock, our strength, our guide, our help. He promises to go before us and lead us and not forsake us. We need to have faith and trust that what he says he will do, he will do.

And then, as we go through these trials, we are to respond to the pressure the right way. These verses tell us something interesting and well worth noting. The reason for trials.

“….. that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

Why the trials? So that God can be seen in us. So that God’s glory will be made manifest, seen, made known, recognised and understood.

As God brings difficulties into our lives and the pressure bears down, we are crushed and broken in order that we can be purified and made more like him. As we surrender to his will and obey him, he is made manifest in us.

Often a vessel has to be broken in order for the treasure to be discovered and it is the same way with us. It is God’s will that we suffer in order to let our light shine all the more brightly. Often our times of growth are borne out of sorrow. The hard times draw us closer to him. They see us praying more often, reading the Word more fervently and listening more closely to his still, small voice.

We can gain the strength to be troubled, but not distressed. We may be confused and perplexed as we look around us, but we need not despair. God is in control and he is still God. The Almighty. The King of Kings.

We may feel cast down, discouraged and disheartened, but we can rise up and not be destroyed. We can choose to let the pressures crush us and render us useless, or we can choose to let them make us stronger. Like the folding of steel upon steel, over and over, cast into the fire multiple times, but coming out stronger and more useful than ever before.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We can be shining lights in a darkened world. Our world is definitely dark. There is evil on every side and it’s up to us to shine the light into the blinded eyes of the lost.

How will the world know of the hope we find in Christ, if we do not show them? We need to, through our testimony, through our unwavering trust in the Lord, show the lost world who Jesus is and what he can do for them.

If we can but respond to the trials we face, with joy and with the mindset of knowing God is in it and will work things for his good, we will see God work. The world is looking for answers. They are held in sin’s grip and they are walking blindly, groping in the dark. Give them some light to be drawn to. Radiate the love of Christ through your actions, your words, your attitude.

Face your fears head on. Face your trials with joy. Face your difficulties without distress, without despair. Trust in the Lord completely, no matter the circumstances. Daily talk with him in prayer, asking for wisdom for each and every decision you need to make. Soak your soul in his precious Word and claim the promises as your very own.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

And as the Lord blesses you for your faithfulness, be sure to share it with others. Don’t limit yourself to sharing only with other believers. Tell the lost of God’s goodness. Proclaim God’s love to everyone you meet. Ask God for opportunities to share and for boldness when that time comes.

If ever the world needed a message of hope, now is that time!

Yes, we’re troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down, but we don’t have to walk around living like we are. We can live victorious lives. We have an overcomer. We have a Saviour. The Devil may think he has the upper hand, but he is defeated already, he just wants to take as many with him as he can. Don’t let him think he’s winning. Shove the gospel down his throat and get out there and light your world.

Shine the light of the gospel into the darkness of the world. Rise up and praise God. Give God your fears and trust in him. Let go of your stress and worry and let the burdens roll away. God is big enough for you to cast your cares on him. You don’t have to carry them.

Let your light shine!

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

C.R.

 

 

They are His Billows

Psalm 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

I read this poem today, by Annie Johnson Flint, and it was so timely and beautiful, I needed to share it and some thoughts I had on Psalm 42.

They are HIS billows, whether they go o’er us, 
Hiding His face in smothering spray and foam; 
Or smooth and sparkling, spread a path before us, 
And to our haven bear us safely home. 

They are HIS billows, whether for our succor 
He walks across them, stilling all our fear; 
Or to our cry there comes no aid nor answer, 
And in the lonely silence none is near. 

They are HIS billows, whether we are toiling 
Through tempest-driven waves that never cease, 
While deep to deep with clamor loud is calling; 
Or at His word they hush themselves in peace. 

They are HIS billows, whether He divides them, 
Making us walk dryshod where seas had flowed; 
Or lets tumultuous breakers surge about us, 
Rushing unchecked across our only road. 

They are HIS billows, and He brings us through them; 
So He has promised, so His love will do. 
Keeping and leading, guiding and upholding, 
To His sure harbor, He will bring us through. 
—Annie Johnson Flint

No matter what we go through, we have to remember that God sends the trials we need to help us grow. They are HIS billows. He knows that strength comes from trials. The tree that grows where the winds blow and the branches bend almost to breaking, is often stronger and has deeper roots than the tree that grows in a sheltered valley, away from the wind and storms. God can bring beauty from ashes, and he can grow character through hardship.

Look at Psalm 42 with me.

Psalm 42:1-11

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

I love that the Psalmist is so honest about his feelings, and he speaks aloud to God, pouring out his heart to him. He lets God know that he thirsts for him, but he also tells God all about his troubles and the doubts he has for his deliverance.

And then we find him talking to himself and rebuking himself for being cast down and disquieted. Sometimes, we just need to talk to ourselves and speak firmly. We need to give ourselves a little talking to. Ask ourselves why we’re depressed, stressed or whatever the case may be. Talk to God, pour out our hearts to him and let his love wash over our souls. And then we need to remind ourselves of God’s goodness.

Remembering past victories is a good way to do this.  Look back over your life and remember the times that God held you up and walked with you through a particular trial, staying beside you and strengthening you until you were out the other side and stronger for it. Remind yourself of the times where God’s amazing, miraculous grace, mercy and deliverance shone through and there was no doubt in your mind that God loved you.

In verse 6, the Psalmist remembered what God had done for him in the past and he verbally praised him. In verse 4 it says that he went into the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise. So, he encouraged himself by meeting with other believers and praised God together. Another important thing to do. Share with others the victories and God’s goodness to you and praise him.

We have to take time to instruct our soul and not let our circumstances dictate our thoughts. Easy to say, not so easy to do. But oh, so important.

God is our hope and although, at times, HIS billows threaten to overwhelm us, they are HIS billows, and they have a purpose. He will deliver us. But he may let us go through some hard times in order to strengthen us and deepen our faith and trust in him. We need to hold on, trust him, wait patiently, and hope in him.

God didn’t bring you through the storm only to abandon you, he wants to make something beautiful of your life. Trust His billows, he will deliver you and he will not leave you.

 

(If you are interested in reading Matthew Henry’s Commentary on this Psalm, I have posted it below).

 

 

Matthew Henry Commentary

42:6-11 The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies. David saw troubles coming from God's wrath, and that discouraged him. But if one trouble follows hard after another, if all seem to combine for our ruin, let us remember they are all appointed and overruled by the Lord. David regards the Divine favour as the fountain of all the good he looked for. In the Saviour's name let us hope and pray. One word from him will calm every storm, and turn midnight darkness into the light of noon, the bitterest complaints into joyful praises. Our believing expectation of mercy must quicken our prayers for it. At length, is faith came off conqueror, by encouraging him to trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay himself upon his God. He adds, And my God; this thought enabled him to triumph over all his griefs and fears. Let us never think that the God of our life, and the Rock of our salvation, has forgotten us, if we have made his mercy, truth, and power, our refuge. Thus, the psalmist strove against his despondency: at last his faith and hope obtained the victory. Let us learn to check all unbelieving doubts and fears. Apply the promise first to ourselves, and then plead it to God.