Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
Distracted?
Like this gull who seems distracted from his beach foraging, most of us can relate to losing focus. We are often side tracked by extraneous thoughts, interruptions, or tasks which divert us from accomplishing our initial plans.
We have hearts hungry for meaning and purpose, but busy and demanding lives, the incessant bing of cell phones, and the lure of social media disrupt or delay our search. Bombarded with useless or inaccurate information, insipid influencers, appealing advertisements, diverse opinions, bitter politics, and the busyness of life, our more important priorities become skewed and relationships are preempted.
Despite the immense technological possibilities for making personal connections, we have become emotionally isolated. Since the advent of the iphone, being bodily present has nothing to do with being “present.” Looking “on line” for validation and instantaneous gratification, we lose the art of in-person interactions and more importantly the meaning of “end” goals. Intimacy and purpose lose out.
Scripture encourages one to live intentionally, to focus on and to pay attention to what is good for emotional and spiritual health with admonitions such as “Be sober,” or “Be viligant,” or “Consider,” or “Resist.” Christ taught his followers to pray daily for basic needs and to be kept from “temptation,” to be delivered “from evil,” and to ask for and give forgiveness. The Apostle Paul’s advice to the Ephesians reflected those concerns and ideals: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Undisciplined minds make us susceptible to forgetting what or who God intended us to be. Making the “best use of the time” in evil days is not just about productivity. We not only need clarity of thought and direction for daily activities but especially for our spiritual walk to be filled with wisdom from above, with corporate and personal worship, and with much gratitude: “…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( Ephesians 5:17-20). We are to regularly seek protection and deliverance.
Faithfully pondering God’s desire for our lives focuses our human story on its eternal dimensions. Adhering to His Word minimizes life’s distractions and allows Him to redeem and shepherd us. If we prioritize God as Jesus did, our souls will be nourished in green pastures and will walk beside still waters here and now; and someday, a dwelling place “ in the house of the Lord” will be ours “forever.” (Psalm 23)
That is worth paying attention to.
Never Failing!
Acadia Mountains, viewed from Hancock Pont
Spring is finally here! Nature’s consistency is wonderful! Every year we wobble our way around the sun. Seasons successively morph into each other but not by precise calendar dates. Dawn comes, and night falls but at different hours. Years come and go, but leap years happen, and the number of days in a year varies. The mountains remain on the horizon, but erosion gradually takes its toll. Tides flow to and fro on a shifting schedule. And lupine return every spring in assorted arrangements. So, within this constancy there are variations even if ever so slight and unnoticed. Scientists are discovering that predictable physical laws vary slightly in the way they function even though cosmic order persists. (That topic is way beyond my paygrade and is for those who understand quantum physics!)
Just as the world and the universe alter over time, so do our lives. We are physically fragile, our minds too eaily influenced, our emotions vulnerable, and unfortunately our wills are prone to the unholiness of selfishness, lousy attitudes, and bad behaviors. In contrast, Scripture reveals that God is eternally immutable and good.
God assured the Israelites of the pure balance of His love and justice even during their suffering for the consequences of their sinful idolatry, : “For I the Lord do not change…” (Malachi 3:6). James presents that same thought when he asserted that every good gift comes from God “with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). And when testifying of God’s divine perfection as revealed in Christ, the author of Hebrews proclaimed, ” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” ( Hebrews 13:8)
God deals with humanity with eternally perfect grace, mercy, love, faithfulness, morality, promises, authority, power, and justice. His omniscient mind and His holy, just, and good character are the basis for the Christian hope and beliefs which are regularly challenged by trials, diversions, doubts, and unsustainable fleshly pleasures foister by faulty and sometimes evil powers that run this broken world. However, one of His grand principles is that He “ is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9)
That divine love is why Jesus came to us. Such love is the most powerful, transformative force in our universe and the most compelling means for personal and societal change for good. Jesus came not to condemn or remove us, but to seek and rescue us, to stabilize us, to bring forgiveness, reconciliation, and divine power enabling us to overcome evil, to grow us into reflections of God’s character, and to show us how to live as we were meant to live—trusting and loving God and caring about and for one another.
We know our lives are in flux. So, we adjust to life situations, cultural changes, and aging challenges, but the truth of an old hymn resounds in the hearts of people of faith:
Earthly friends may prove untrue,
Doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you,
One who will not fail.
Tho’ the sky be dark and drear,
Fierce and strong the gale;
Just remember He is near,
And He will not fail.
In life’s dark and bitter hour
Love will still prevail;
Trust His everlasting pow’r
Jesus will not fail.
Refrain:
Jesus never fails,
Jesus never fails;
Heav’n and earth may pass away,
But Jesus never fails.
That song is full of complete confidence in Jesus, who promised to hold those of faith eternally in the palm of his hand. Thankfully, he is totally reliable and never fails (John 10:28).
Sticking with It…
There is something inspiring about sea vegetation and trees which grow and flourish in severe, hostile terrain. Tree roots intertwine and go deep between barnacled rocks where sea weed tenaciously anchor. So, when gales blow, these plants stand strong and the algae hold fast; they don’t tumble down or wash away in stormy seas.
Some people are like that. They remain steady in life’s challenges. Seeing beyond the storms, they take each day as a gift and live with joy in spite of suffering or persecution. Other people are overcome with crippling anxiety in the uncertainties of economic, physical, emotional, or spiritual stress.
Spiritual endurance is a virtue which is not always an easy choice, but it is a choice, a determination to stay the course, to finish the race, to believe in God’s goodness and in some cases to cling to Truth in spite of crazy distortions, blatant untruths, or unrelenting difficulties when doubts, delusions, or bitterness creep in.
Trusting in God’s redemptive plan and being obedient to divine spiritual directives are as essential for healthy spiritual lives today as they were thousands of years ago. Scripture’s solution for weak, powerless faith is encapsulated in several distinctive, historical God-given directives conveyed to the Israelites on multiple occasions to keep them focused on following His divine plan as they moved into the Promised Land: “Do not turn to right or left” and “Remember” and “Be strong and courageous.”
Although God has never promised believers a stress free, trauma free life in this confused and broken world, He has always promised that His providential plans are good, that He is present and protective during adversity, that there is meaning and purpose even to suffering and persecution, and that there is eternal reward for faith (Isaiah 43:2;Romans 8: 28-29;John 3:16; Hebrews 11:6).
The Biblical heroes mentioned in Hebrews 11 faced severe faith challenges including loss, deprivation, fear, grief, doubt, torture, persecution, and even death. In the bleakest of possible outcomes, their faith held firm because they believed God. They rested in His love, goodness, and redeeming power, and submitted to the values and ways that He instructed even when there was no way to assess future outcomes apart from God’s promises. Their end goals were eternal in nature….
Just as God gave enough manna each day to the Israelities in the wilderness, He promises enough strength and courage to deal with difficulties of each of our days. Hear wisdom from the Biblical book of Proverbs: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths.(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Christ showed us the way through the whole gamut of life’s broken experiences: setbacks, adversity, misunderstanding, belittlement, grief, loss, betrayal, temptation, suffering, and death. He willingly and joyfully endured because he submitted to the divine goodness, authority, and will of his Father whom he trusted to give sufficient courage, strength, and ability to meet the challenges of one day at a time. He taught us to pray for daily needs, to be delivered from evil, to be forgiven for our transgressions, and to not be anxious about life’s tomorrows. He said that if one prioritized and sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things ( life’s necessities) will be added to you (Matthew 6).
The Apostle Paul learned that truth as he struggled with God over his “ thorn in the flesh” which was never healed. He discovered that reliance upon God’s promises and power kept Him humble and honored God. In his weakness He lived with divine strength. God’s “grace was sufficient” and His power was made perfect in Paul’s weakness. That is the strength found in “abiding” in Christ.
During a difficult time, our six year old son taught me that “abiding” lesson. While in the hospital recovering from complications of leukemia treatment, he decided to send a tape recorded message to his primary school class. In a sweet, child-like voice, he sang this (at that time) contemporary chorus: “One step more… One step more… Give me faith for one step more…One step more my Savior, One step more… only one step more…When the way is weary and the night is dark and dreary, never fear; He is near. Dark and Drear may be the way, but I hear my savior say, “Follow me, follow me.” One step more… One step more… give me faith for one step more…One step more my Savior, One step more… only One step more…
There it was! The answer! Spiritual endurance means following Christ along the difficult path of trusting, obeying, and resting in God’s goodness, steadfast love and faithfulness one day, one step, at a time.
The Ducklings Speak…
These ducklings speak a visual parable of divine providence. They highlight a truth which King David vividly and beautifully captured in the lyrics of the 139th Psalm. God’s children are constantly “hemmed in behind and before” by God’s omniscience, presence, care, and protection.
Hear David sing the song:
“Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down. and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning. and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:1-10).
This wonderful Psalm overflows with encouragement by offering assurance, comfort, and ultimate hope in the awesome, ever-present God, who guides and cares for His trusting children.
Centuries after this Psalm was written, its truths were wonderfully revealed in a person. Christ’s life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection were lovingly and joyfully endured for our redemption, the ultimate statement of God’s love and care and promised hope.
Passing Ships
In his “Theologians Tales,” Henry W. Longfellow used darkness as a metaphor to highlight the difficulty we have connecting with each other and to emphasize the personal isolation prevalent in this vastly populated world:
“Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,
Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.
Although we live in families, neighborhoods, and communities and associate with one another in schools, workplaces, organizations, synagogues, and churches and are connected as citizens of this world to the larger community of nations, our relationships are predominately casual. And we are lonely! We have become Longfellow’s “Ships that pass in the night.”
There is a strange incongruity in being innately relational beings who long for connection but fear deep intimacy. We possess the ability to love deeply and sacrificially, to be understanding and compassionate and generous, to support and help each other, to know right and wrong, to expect justice but also practice forgiveness, to show mercy and grace, but we fall short! We try, but we fail. The reasons are multifactorial.
The realities of time and space bring fleeting relationships and incidental encounters. Social status, ethnicity, race, individuality, quirky personalities, lifestyles, opinions, values, politics and religions create distance. Dual incomes, busy lives, attention demanding iPhones, and social media complicate and distract from relationships. Experiences drive us to build protective emotional and physical boundaries. Distrust, “fear of man”, and insecurities keep us awkward and guarded. However, there is a deeper underlying challenge. Centuries ago, God revealed an undeniable truth about a real and basic problem. “Every intention of the thoughts of (man’s) heart is only evil continually” and “The intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 6:5;8:21).
We have a heart issue. We are incapable of perfection and achieving self redemption and are separated by our brokenness. Our spirits are willful and disordered, our minds filled with impure attitudes and motives. Self centeredness and lack of grace and humility bring disorder and darkness to our world. Unfortunately, performing rituals, attending church or synagogue, praying, being generous, helping our neighbors, and giving to the poor, or even taking religious practices to the point of radical actions do not cleanse our deceitful hearts or inspire a favorable standing in God’s sight. We may be unlike in many ways, but we all share the humbling need for redemption. Our souls need the touch of divine love.
Scripture’s great message is that the Creator loves His fallen creation, has done all that is necessary to redeem it through Christ, and at some point will restore it to its original glory. We cannot make God love us more than He already does! Salvation is not earned but is a divine provision. “It is not by works that we have done but by his mercy he saves us” (Titus 3:5). Christ’s redemptive work on our behalf proved the amazing perfection of God’s unimaginable love. The cross is where mercy and justice meet to provide salvation for all who seek him.
New England poet and Quaker, John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), wrote a poem from which some of the verses became the hymn “Dear Lord and Father of mankind.” The song addresses our common need for repentance, trusting belief in, submission to, and quiet waiting on the Lord, and the first verse speaks to those needs.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
in purer lives Thy service find,
in deeper rev’rence, praise.
We share life together. Understanding and trusting what Christ has done should give new meaning, purpose, grace, and spirit to relationships. Hostilities, barriers, and divisions have been abolished by divine grace, mercy, and love. If Whittier’s prayerful song becomes ours and we walk as Jesus did, there will be fewer of Longfellow’s ships passing in the night.
A Good Book
The Good Book
If you enjoy reading, you undoubtedly prefer a “good” read, not necessarily a best seller but one engaging or informative enough to finish and to share with a friend or interesting enough to search for other books by the same author.
The Bible “fits that bill.” Even though it is a compilation of books and letters filled with history, poetry, stories, parables, and theology and was written by 40 different authors over many centuries, it follows an amazingly cohesive, central theme of God’s love, justice, and providential interaction with mankind. Its ancient yet astonishing contemporary message is applicable to all people and societies of all times because it addresses humanity’s triumphs, failures and spiritual needs. Adhering to its profound wisdom leads to healthy, productive living. It’s Good News is powerful enough to bring redemption and confidence in an eternal life to all who will receive it.
Psalm 19 is an inspiring segue into this amazing Book. In eleven verses, it espouses a worldview centered on God as humanity’s sovereign Creator and loving Redeemer and begins with recognition and praise for God’s greatness, His love, and His provision for our souls. It proclaims that God’s presence and power are gloriously evident everywhere in creation’s design, governing principles, and purpose. Every human community and heart language can see how wonderfully ordered and powerfully sustained life is and can be drawn to the awesomeness of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork…
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
The Psalmist notes that God governs the moral/spiritual world through divinely inspired principles which are pure, right, unchanging, and reliable and therefore innately good for us. This Psalm delights in the beauty and perfection of God’s powerful instructions. They are insightful, wholesome guides which “revive the soul,” “make wise the simple,” “bring joy to the heart” and “songs to the soul,” “enlighten the eyes,” and “endure forever.” These valued, convicting, encouraging, principles are to be desired above all else including “much fine gold.” They bring blessings to life and praise to one’s lips because they are “true” and “righteous.” Adhering to these principles keeps one from error, folly, and the domination of sinful living as the Psalmist expressed: “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!…Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression.”
Man’s word lacks omniscience and is tainted by bias, but God’s revealed Word is “like fire…and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29) The New Testament claims that it splits the hardest of hearts. It “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” and “is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)
Just as God’s words created the world and the creatures in it, they create His image in us when heeded. Scripture’s revelations have proven to be incredibly powerful, authoritative, and transformative. That is an exciting possibility for all of us because we all need the joyful changes that forgiveness, redemption, and hope bring to our souls.
Is it any wonder that this book is the best seller of all time, selling 19 to 20 million copies annually?
For anybody reading the Bible for the first time, the New Testament books of Mark and John are a great starting point because they focus on the person and teachings of Christ, who is Scripture’s central figure and the prototype for who we are created to be.
Has Easter Dawned?
The miracle of creation’s first light emerges every morning in a blend of beauty and mystery. The lifting mists slowly unveil the day’s reality. So it was on Resurrection morning for Jesus’ disciples. Comprehension of the enigma and meaning of the man who had died nailed to a Roman cross between two scoundrels slowly began to emerge as his followers pondered an empty tomb at dawn’s light.
Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection climaxed three exhausting years of trudging around Israel while teaching profound truths and performing endless miracles which demonstrated his power over nature, the spirit world, disease, and human brokenness. Yet, he had been judged and rejected by many because of his place of origin, heritage, lack of formal religious education, his socioeconomic status, his friends and associates, his countercultural beliefs, and the assumed threat he was to the religious rulers. Nevertheless, he had lived resolutely with divine love and purpose. No fault could be found in him despite having been tried and opposed by his own humanity, by Israel’s political-religious hierarchy, and by dark forces using all manner of evil against him –temptations, racism, bias, intolerance, misunderstanding, unbelief, treason, and jealousy over his power with the masses.
His inevitable crucifixion seemed a joyful victory for the opposition but a disastrous blow to his followers. Even so, he was not defeated. His true identity and purposes continued to unfold. Resurrection’s enlightening was just hours away from the darkness enshrouding his death. Those dark hours before resurrection day’s dawn were disorienting. His followers had been severely traumatized by the unjustifiable mockery, brutalization, humiliation, and murder of their dear friend, beloved leader, and mentor, the one they had confidently believed would be the salvation of Israel. His death dashed their personal dreams, their hopes for Israel, and put them in jeopardy. Imagine their shock, deep sadness, and despair! Fear, anger, anxiety, guilt and shame swirled through their conversations while that horrific drama played over and over in their heads. They mourned their friend. There was no way forward. There was no replacement for Jesus. No one had his power and vision. There would be no recovery. Their world was foreboding, pointless…
As they huddled together in fear and disbelief, their grieving minds were too fogged to remember or understand or perhaps even believe what Jesus had told them when he said “…you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. …” (John 16:19-24)
On Resurrection morning, bewilderment cautiously gave way with the angelic assurance that Jesus had risen “as he said he would.” Then they actually saw Jesus! Some at once. Some later. Joy kicked in. He was alive! They were getting some clarity. The amazing implications of Christ’s emergence from death’s cold, dark grip unveiled astonishing realities. The mist was indeed lifting! Death had been defeated! God’s Kingdom was not temporal but eternal! Humanity had hope! What a reversal a few hours made! Resurrection morning had come! He had risen from the dead! Truth was fully revealed.
Is Easter just a story? Has Easter dawned for us? Has it impacted us?
As an atheist, C. S. Lewis experienced what he called “willful blindness.” He had made no robust attempt to discover the truth about Christ. Often, this callous disregard or conscious avoidance of Christ occurs because Christianity is misunderstood. Christianity is all about God’s justice and Christ’s love and is not about people, institutions, or restrictions. Christ paid the price for our sins and offers to free us from the condemnation that we deserve because of our sinful natures. There is only one condition for that freedom! Belief. (Acts 16:31) (Romans 10:9-10)
Easter makes a mindboggling statement. It confirms the Gospel. Christ’s redemptive act at the cross is truly the necessary, gracious, merciful, remedy for mankind’s sinful nature, and his trumphant ressurection verifies his divinity and the eternal existence of man’s soul. Trusting Christ is not only God’s plan for spiritual renewal and purpose during this earthly journey but is our assurance that we will live with Him even when we die.
Could there be any more perfect or more hope-filled plan for when we exchange mortality for immortality?
A Safe Place
“Quietly Waiting for Spring“
When weariness or overwhelming urgencies chip away at joy, we need a “go to” plan, somewhere to pause the struggle, a temporary escape from busyness, stress, turbulent times, difficult relationships, or family chaos. Retreating to a good book, resting in a favorite chair, listening to special music, or just a finding a quiet space may help ease one’s mind and inner turmoil.
My “place” is a childhood memory of summer evenings when my four siblings were in bed drowsing off to sleep after an exhausting day of fun and play. While the house was quiet, I would sit by my small, open bedroom window listening to the the sounds of a waning summer day: leaves rustling in the silver oak tree as a light breeze whispered by, a hermit thrush’s sweet song interspersed with the twilight call of a whip-o-will in the pine grove, and a Bob-o-link bob-o-linking in the field between the house and the grove. The world was calm and ordered. I was at peace. Responsibility and worries were my parents’ problems and rarely touched me then. In those moments, a beautiful awareness of belonging stirred within me. Those remembrances of innocent moments still calm me to sleep many years later.
Some of us are plagued by stress filled or traumatizing experiences and have difficulty finding cherished moments to rest our minds, bodies, and souls. Moving beyond loss, abuse, victimization, anger, guilt, and shame takes time and hard soul searching work. The proper place for negative memories and hurts is where they no longer have control over emotions and behaviors. Sorting them out may require professional help, but scripture encourages us to look to the love and strength of Jesus, who invites us, “Come to me… learn from me…and you will find rest for your souls…” (Matt 11:28-29).
That is a credible offer. In spite of his stress filled life, Jesus humbly, willingly, and without complaint embraced loss, poverty, grief, temptation, hardship, betrayal, and injustice as he showed us how to live by the power and grace of God. The author of Hebrews exhorted his readers to “Consider (Jesus) who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12:2-3).” His unmitigated love for his Father and for humanity enabled him to overcome, persevere, and fulfill his redemptive work at the cross as the only blameless sacrifice and perfect payment for our sins.
One Old Testament name for God was Deliverer. The Psalmist sang, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust” (Psalm 18:2). Jesus carried that divine role into New Testament times. He declared, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). He changed the lives of the troubled and diseased, the disenfranchised, sinners, and even the dead. His ultimate show of power was a glorious resurrection by which he guaranteed eternal hope for those who would accept his redemptive gift with genuine repentance and trust.
The Psalmist also saw God’s deliverance as cause for celebration: “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance “ (Psalm 32:7). Christ is our divine Protector. If he loved us enough to enter humanity to deliver us from evil influences and spiritual oppressions by meeting our redemptive need, lifting our spiritual burdens, and showing us a better way, we can confidently cast our fears, inadequacies, guilt, shame, past indiscretions, and failures into a relationship with him. He seeks, loves and forgives without judgment or condemnation and has promised that his spirit would be with those who trust him. He is a refuge for all who heed and is worthy of “shouts of deliverance.”
His invitation to “rest” is really an invitation to “abide” in him, to reflect upon him, to center life around him, to draw strength from him, and to move forward with confidence in God’s goodness and protective love. He is a safe place.
Waiting Confidently
Sitting alone on a beautiful beach in the fog might seem disheartening, particularly if one is on vacation hoping for winter warmth on a sunny, southern beach. Yet, there is hope! The weather forecast is confidently predicting that the fog will clear. It is a matter of patiently waiting. The sun will shine!
The dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Hope energizes and motivates! Even if it is fragile and wishful, life would lose meaning without it. However, “wishful hope” is conditional upon unreliable outcomes. Although it may lead to happiness and gratitude, it may also result in disappointment, lonliness, despair, despondency, being overwhelmed, giving up, and suicide. In the words of Scottish poet Robert Burns, “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men / Gang aft agley (often go awry).”
In contrast, biblical hope is different and substantive. It is a confidence, an assurance, a certainty based on God’s character, His promises, and His principles for living. This hope gives meaning to the present and a confident anticipation for an eternal future. The Apostle Paul addressed waiting expectantly and patiently when he wrote about the promises of redemption and the future restoration of creation: “For in this hope we were saved…we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25)
Faith empowers believers to deal optimistically, courageously, and with assurance that all life’s circumstances are purposeful regardless of how murky or mysterious or baffling they may be. For the Christian believer, there is a confident expectation of an eternal future. Thankfully, this hope rests in the person and work of Christ not in one’s personal goodness or good deeds which are inconsistent at best. His sacrificial death paid the price for humanity’s sinfulness and restores any person to God through their trust in his atoning mercy and grace. He promises his presence with us always, and his resurrection guarantees a future beyond the grave.
Those of faith may wait in difficult circumstances, but they can do so with the certainty that God is present and that the sun is already shining on their future.
Beneath the Threatening Clouds
The gathering clouds.overtaking this lone barn are reminders that we are vulnerable to unexpected physical, emotional, and spiritual storms which sweep through our lives overwhelming bright moments, tearing at our spirits, and darkening our souls. However, God has given us Jesus as an example to show the way through these troubles and to redeem them. “The Message, ” a Bible paraphrase, encourages us to
“Keep (our) eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it.”
The rest of that paraphrase explains how he did it. Jesus never lost sight of his Father’s purposes in spite of great opposition and hostility towards him; he moved beyond temptations and rejections and past the shameful humiliation and suffering of the cross to a glorious resurrection and exhilarating finish with God. He was able to tolerate everything along this journey because he trusted his Father. (Hebrews 12:2)
We experience many blessings but also significant, unwanted afflictions. Severe challenges may be brought to us through no fault of our own, but they are frequently caused by our indiscretions, weaknesses, imprudence, miscalculations, or lack of insight and foresight. Even so, believers in God are confident that He has a hand in all of life, that He can and will bring good from devastation, that He will provide peace and comfort and hope in moments of difficulties, that He has promised not to forsake His own and will not allow the fires and deep waters of life to consume or to drown them, that adversity will mature minds and spirits where there is willingness to learn, and that He gives purpose to life’s experiences
Jesus showed us the truth of that reality. He prayerfully sought His Father’s will and walked purposefully with determination and unwavering trust through exhausting emotional, physical, and spiritual trials. Since believers share similar life experiences as Jesus did, they are reminded that they are “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for (them) to do ( Ephesians 2:10). Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection give the confidences of faith: that God unquestionably loves all peoples, that life is more about God’s purposes for us than about ours, that Jesus’ sacrifice on humanity’s behalf paid our sin debt, that he is present, and that trusting in his redemptive power and provision restores us to God and eternal life with Him (John 3:16).
The following poem/ prayer expresses the need to keep Jesus at the center of our thinking and of doing life with God.
“When distant clouds threaten the lingering sun, what will the day have been when done? Bright with gladness? Or sad with brokenness and madness? If the storm descends, I will profess what You have deemed is best. Though my path be difficult and steep with unexpected waters dark and deep, Your hand reaches beyond what I can see while in loving goodness You teach what I should be. When rains and winds block the sun and Your sovereign brush paints colors from which I want to run, my hope is always Jesus, who brings your mercy, grace and love, Almighty, all- knowing God above.” (Anonymous)
Whether we are living beneath sunshine or clouds, God providentially works to redeem, heal, comfort, guide, transform, and draw us to Himself if we trust Him to do so.
Sweet Words from Maine 