Jolted or Joyful

“Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” John 16:20 [NIV]

Consider your planning for a great trip. You’ve mapped out your route. You’ve saved enough money to pay for it. You’ve even found a wonderful house sitter or dog sitter. After your first day of driving to reach this grand place of which you’ve dreamed, your car has a flat tire. When you go to change the tire, the engine hisses. When you find a mechanic and get to his garage, you learn your car needs a new radiator along with a new tire. One thing after another hits you as you contemplate your plans and what you are going to do. You did not plan on having difficulty and so didn’t save extra money. Now, you must use the rest of the money you saved for your trip to pay for your car repairs. Are your hopes dashed? Do you wonder what you should do, go home or go onward to your destination? How can you ever have joy on this great adventure you planned when it will cost you much more money than you saved? Life is like this. God knew what would happen before you even began your journey. He had a plan for you for that time.

The statement above by Jesus to His disciples in John 16:20 came after He began preparing them for what would happen to them when He fulfilled His purpose on earth. Jesus told them in the first eleven verses of John 16 that people would kill and persecute them thinking they were serving God. He told them these people would do this because they do not know the Father or Him. But, Jesus, because of His love for the disciples and their devotion to Him, warned them about these future dire circumstances to prepare them. After He told them He would go to the One who sent Him, He told them He recognized their grief because of these things He said. Because the disciples believed in Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, He said He would send an Advocate, His Holy Spirit. Jesus sends this Advocate to each person who believes in Him.

Jesus recognized His disciples could not bear anymore teaching about His last days on earth (His departure from them) and about their future persecution and death by people who don’t believe in Him. He told them the Spirit of truth would guide them in all truth. Jesus would not leave them without a guide and teacher, One who teaches what He hears from the Father and who will glorify Christ. This Spirit will tell the disciples what Jesus wants them to know.

Jesus began teaching in John 16 by preparing the disciples. He told them He would depart from them and return to the Father, and people would persecute and kill them because they were His disciples. Yet, Jesus would send an Advocate to teach them, the Spirit of truth Who comes from Him to guide them in all truth. He returned to telling the disciples, they would not see Him and then they would. The disciples questioned what Jesus meant. How can a person be seen then not seen, except by death? Even their understanding of death meant they would not see a person after he or she died. The disciples were confused. Jesus recognized their confusion and sought to give them clarity.

The death Jesus spoke of was His own. At His death, the non-believers would rejoice, while His disciples would mourn. Yet, from the day Jesus rose from the grave, the disciples would rejoice, and the people of the world would be confused. Some people would be angry and consult others in an attempt to understand how this could happen. Jesus told the disciples they would mourn for a little while then rejoice. They would understand that earthly mourning was just for a season, but joy lasts forever because Jesus lives for eternity. He conquered sin and death forever. Mourning and grief are a momentary part of time while joy is eternal for the people who are Jesus’ followers.

For the disciples to understand this better, Jesus used the analogy of a pregnant woman in labor. While the woman labored, her pain was great, and she found it hard to experience joy because of the depth of the pain. Yet, when she held the child in her arms, the joy of his/her birth would overshadow the anguish and pain of labor. Just so, Jesus said, their mourning of His death would be overshadowed by His resurrection, His victory over death forever. Because Jesus conquered sin and death, the disciples could know joy exists forever even when pain, anguish, and trials existed. Those times of pain, anguish, and trial would last for a moment, but the joy of victory over sin and death and the eternal hope it brings would last for eternity.

While the world rejoices at your difficulties and points their fingers at how they bested the one who follows Jesus, you can know your grief for the moment will turn to joy. You can have joy despite and in the midst of whatever your circumstances may be. Though people may persecute you and kill you, Christian, you have a joy that outlasts what humans can do to you.

Let’s take that thought one step further. To love Jesus means absolute (total) devotion to Him and His will. As we pray each day in our time with Him, we ask Him to use us and to make us like Himself. Often this thought comes habitually without really thinking about what the consequences might mean. If we do not truly mean these things and do not seek Him and desire to be completely devoted to Him, circumstances will surprise us. They never surprise God. He knows our heart, our inmost being. (Psalm 139) When we pray this prayer from habit, without depth of heart, we try to make ourselves like Jesus as if Jesus is the pattern or example of supreme goodness. What we need to realize is that we cannot make ourselves like Jesus. True followers of Jesus, believers in Jesus as the Messiah, recognize He makes us into His image through His power and by the guiding and teaching of the Holy Spirit. When we truly mean what we pray, “Make me like You, into Your image for Your service,” we understand Jesus is the One who makes us like Himself. Only when our prayer to be made like Him comes from the depth of our devotion and faithfulness to Him can we preparedly and joyfully face persecution trials, and death.

We cannot make ourselves like Jesus by our power.

Only Jesus can make us like Him by His power.

God is not surprised by the depth of humanity’s sinfulness and rebellion against Him. He is not surprised people will persecute His followers and kill them. Jesus told His disciples this in John 16. He told His disciples and tells us today through the Bible and His Holy Spirit that we can have joy during life’s hard times. Why? Because Jesus overwhelmingly conquered sin and death. He lives forevermore. Humanity threw its best to defeat Him; they crucified Jesus. Yet, God’s best is greater than humanity’s best. He has power over all things, life and death. Because Jesus is victorious, we can be victorious and have joy while walking with Jesus through difficult times. Imagine having joy while grieving, and relief while being homeless or jobless. Imagine knowing without doubt something greater exists than this life and nothing in your present moment will have eternal significance. God is powerful, loving, and great. He is not surprised by what happens. He is greater than anything that occurs in your life and in the world. God loves you.

Consider what the psalmist said in Psalm 139 after stating to what depths God knew him. He said in verses seven through twelve,

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. (Psalm 139:7-12 [NIV])

Whether we try to hide from God or evil tries to hide us from God, God is greater. Even in those supposedly hidden places and in darkness, God’s hand will guide you and support you. Nothing can separate you from God. Paul spoke about this victory from evil for us in Romans 8:36-39. He wrote,

Just as it is written “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [NASB]

Hard times will come. People will hurt us. Some people may kill Christians. We recognize these things are true. They are part of human history, our present time, and humanity’s future, but we don’t have to linger and quiver in our minds and lament. Because Jesus is our Lord and by His power, He changes us and makes us more like Himself daily, we have hope beyond this current difficult time. This moment will not last, but eternal life with God in His kingdom will last forever. We are more than conquerors, more than victors, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. Yes, pain will come and is with us now, but we have an eternal, unquenchable joy found only through Jesus Christ. For now, we may have grief, but we can hold onto the joy Jesus gives to each of His followers. We will see Jesus; we believe right now and at the times we face difficulties, always, He is with us. Nothing and no one can take this joy from us.

Jesus gives us eternal, unquenchable joy.

Consider that great adventure you planned, and the expensive car repairs you didn’t plan for on the way to your destination. Will you allow the difficulty to steal your joy about the adventure? Will you seek God and His will, walking in the power He will give you for this situation? God has a plan. That plan includes His love for you and your spiritual growth. What will you do, focus on the problem or on God, who knows what is happening and has a plan to walk with you through the difficulty? These problems are fleeting, but God is eternal and your salvation through Him is eternal. Let the joy He gives you be greater than the burden of the problems. One is eternal and the other momentary.

Problems are fleeting, but God and His salvation to you are eternal.

What grief or what difficulty has come upon you and is causing you to lose sight of Jesus. Are you working through your difficulties with just a human perspective? Keep your eyes and heart on Jesus. Keep looking at Him. His joy, the joy He gives to you, is greater and longer lasting than your grief and pain. Let your momentary difficulties bring glory to Jesus Christ. The song writer, Helen Howarth, reminds us of this in her hymn called Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

(https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/645)

Let your momentary difficulties bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, so often I get caught up in my troubles and I lose sight of you as I try to figure out why the problem has happened and what I can do to get out of it. Lord, forgive me for living in my own strength. Forgive me for losing perspective and seeing life from an earthly standpoint. Forgive me for not seeking You, looking to You, and allowing You to be the conqueror of my situation. Lord, truly, I am to be made like You by Your power, not my own. I don’t want to make myself in Your pattern, but for You to make me like You. Help me to grow, to be more devoted to You, and to love You with my whole being. Help me to trust You completely and have the joy You give because You are the Conqueror. This current difficulty is a moment in time, but Your power and joy are eternal. Thank you for loving me, for saving me, and for giving me hope and joy amidst pain, trials, and death. Amen.

Downhilling Days

Aging and ending are oft avoided stories

The pain, the loss of independence

The fear of future always present

Confrontive nature replacing meek and calm.

Onlookers see, but do not really know that

Beloved child tries to help, is rebuffed

Offers of aid not given off the cuff

Great love enters thought with every assist.

Mornings awaken with great possibility

Fresh air, birds’ calls, gentle breezes blow

Deep breaths, twinkling eyes, promises sow

Before talking between family members.

First word, bite or balm, the silence broken

Confused thought, intention mixed, gasping

Spoken word a dart, wound fresh, hurt lasts

Then silence comes as confusion takes its place.

Time slips on, sun downhills, bright eyes dim

Sluggish and tired, weight of years, head sags

Feet plod forward, shoulders droop, heart lags

Though body weary, mind asks where went the day.

Time shifts forward, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Crisp was the day, how children did play

Mem’ries so vivid, leaves, blossoms, gone gray

Sadness conflicts with gaiety of life’s Spring.

Puzzled, broken, aging, life’s tokens of time

Questions in eyes beam as tears glisten

Unasked thoughts, fears, endless wondering

Until last night’s breath and thought gently caress.

The soft touch, the caress of time’s gentle kiss

Leaves faint shadows of life’s mem’ries made

Echo they down fam’ly’s hist’ry laid

As quilt pieces of lives lived out and replayed.

Lives go on in the memories of those who survive. At times, faint whispers and others laughter, but echo, they do. Those memories show love for the one so dear. They show respect for that one though confused, worn, dimmed, and aged. We must make sure love and respect flow toward this one so dear while he, she, is with us within heart’s beat within breath’s whisper he can hear. Whether in youth’s gaiety or life’s sun-downhilling days, love that one before his, her, sunset draws near.

“Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6 [NLT])

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God.  I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32 [NLT])

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22 [NLT])

“Therefore, we do not lose heart,; but indeed if our outward man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 [NASB])

Ego and Glory

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 [NLT])

Many people look at these two verses and read, “God is faithful and won’t give you more than you can handle.” That is all they recall. I believe that is what Satan wants them to recall. But there is more to this passage. We must begin at the beginning of the chapter to understand fully what God wrote through Paul.

In the first eleven verses of this chapter, Paul reminded the Corinthians of the Israelites’ history. He reminded them how God had guided them by a cloud and how He had parted the sea so they could walk on dry ground to escape Pharaoh’s army. Paul recalled for them how the Israelites ate and drank the food and water God sent for them each day. Then he explained anew how these same people whom God rescued displeased God. The Israelites worshipped idols, complained about food and drink, celebrated with feasting and drinking and pagan revelry that included sexual immorality. God responded to these people with faithfulness and disciplined them and removed the ones who led others astray. He sent snakes to bite the sinners and the angel of death to remove them from among the Israelites.

The point Paul made with this recollection of the history of Israel is they put God to the test. He told the Corinthians they should not put Christ to the test. They should not test God’s patience and faithfulness to us just as those who died from snakebites did. What God did to the Israelites for discipline purposes were examples to the Corinthians and us so we would not challenge God with our rebellion. Paul said in verse eleven, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”

Of what does this warn us? Paul explained this in the rest of the chapter, but he gives the how in verses twelve and thirteen. In verses fourteen through thirty, he said not to give offense to others who possibly are weaker in the faith or who are not Christians by your actions. Don’t create temptations for yourself by the freedom Christ gave you and so put your guard down when you eat things that you knew people offered as sacrifices to idols. And don’t anger God by your freedom by saying “all things are permissible.” (vs. 23) Paul warned the Corinthians and us of this. You notice in these three things, each action would affect a relationship - yours with others, yours with yourself, and yours with God.

With this understanding, Paul told them how to withstand temptation. Before we understand that, we need to understand human ego. Most people think they are strong enough to stand against temptation, but if that were so, all the addicts over the history of time and wouldn’t be addicts, whether addicts of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, porn, abuse, food, shopping, or whatever. Yet, if we truly look at human history and ourselves, we recognize, we are not strong enough to stand against all temptations. We are not Christ who stood strong against Satan’s temptations in the desert. Humans eventually collapse when faced with certain temptations in their lives. We each have weaknesses. Our egos tell us we are strong enough and can do this or that without failing, and sometimes we can. Most of the times, though, we cannot.

At this point is where Paul’s statement in verses twelve and thirteen come to play. He said, “If you think you are standing strong,” when often we are not standing strong. Paul knew humanity’s weaknesses because he recognized his own weaknesses. He had been a self-righteous Pharisee. “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” Paul knew at some point each person succumbs to temptation and warns them not to think too highly of themselves and their capabilities. Again, with verse thirteen, he reminded them that the failures of others we see around us, their weaknesses and falling to temptations, could be us, too. We are like every other person who walked the earth. We are weak and cannot stand up to every temptation.

Paul didn’t stop at that point and cause the Corinthians or us to despair. He reminded us about God and His characteristics. Paul continued, “God is faithful. He will not allow temptation to be more than you can stand.” Notice, God is the One who is all-knowing, always faithful, and all-powerful. Paul reminded the readers of this letter they are no stronger than any other person who’s lived, but God is stronger, is strongest, is faithful, and loves us. Because of God’s faithfulness, love, and knowledge of each of us, “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” Don’t stop at that point, though. If you do, you will interpret this passage as many secular Christians and non-Christians do, with an off-the-cuff faith. It’s like the saying you hear from people, “God’s got my back.” It requires no faith in God is required to say that. That saying doesn’t give you the strength to walk through a situation. It’s just a saying, like when people say, “God won’t allow me to experience more than I can handle.” With those statements by people, no faith or covenant with God is required to say it. Paul reminds us instead that God’s wisdom, strength, faithfulness, and love, His covenant with us as His children, that sees us through the situation.

Paul completed his thoughts on this with, “When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” God is the One who makes a way. He won’t give you more than you can handle, and He will show you the way out so you can endure. The ability to withstand temptation is all about God. Paul made sure we understood that. He showed the frailties and weaknesses of humanity in verse twelve. We bring nothing to the table by which we can go through difficulties other than our faith in God, our covenant relationship with Him. God brings everything to the table for us to get through these times. He brings His knowledge, power, wisdom, love, and faithfulness that gets us through hard times. God is faithful to His covenant with His children. He will show us how to get through situations in our lives. What we bring to the table in these situations is our faith in Him and our obedience to His direction. We have no power and wisdom to get us through every trial.

God’s covenant with His children and their covenant with Him affects their relationship, and it affects their relationships with the people around them, and their relationship with themselves. Paul made sure the Corinthians and later readers understood this. When we stand strong because of God and give Him the glory, it strengthens our resolve and grows us to be more like Christ. It affects the people around us who see our trials and watch how we walk through them. When you testify and live a life of testimony to God, others grow, too. Our relationship with that person grows. This is the overarching learning point for the Corinthian Christians. Their lives should be a living testimony to the people watching them. This is what Paul meant when he said in verses thirty-one and thirty-two, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.” Live a life of testimony giving God the glory for everything you do and all that He does in your life and it will affect other believers, non-believers, and your own life.

Paul ended this chapter with, “I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.” (vs. 33b) Satan wants to make us think we are unable to do things or that we can face things without God’s help. Satan lies.

Be faithful to God. Be true to your covenant with Him. He is always faithful to you. He will not allow a temptation to be more than you can stand and will always show you a way out so you can endure.

Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

If you are not yet a child of Yahweh God, you can be by believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Admit you are a sinner. Believe in Jesus Christ. Confess your sins to Him. God loves you and wants to save you from your sins and death. He wants to have an eternal relationship with you.

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9 [NLT])

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9 [NLT])

Lord, so often I just push through a difficulty in my own strength and forget to ask You for Your wisdom and help. I think, “I’ve got this!” In that thinking, I have rebelled against You. Please forgive me for thinking better of myself than I am. Help me remember, You are the reason I live and am saved from sin and death. Not of my own strength, intellect, or reasoning have I survived, but only because of You. Help me to seek You and then to give You all the glory. Help me to remain totaled devoted to You. Use me to share about Your love and faithfulness to people around me. Amen.

Dispelling Darkness

In the shroud of winter’s darkest night, before the first peek of sun’s light filters through the drape of day, hope seems to have been washed out and uncertainty appears to blanket wishful dreams. Fears and nightmares assault the mind causing body to tighten with anticipation of what it cannot fathom. Yet nothing is new under sun or moon when life’s final embers crackle, fizzle, and scar. The last grasping at what once was, the last scrabbling for lost life, gives way to submission and abandon as reality assaults the senses. Time nears its end; mortality awaits all men. A hush falls upon the whole self, a sense of unreality and disbelief.

The fighting and feinting from recent past years now ends as understanding and forlornness rise to reign in whole being. The grudging acceptance of inevitable passing of time, of heartbeat, of breath reveals the new reality. The dust of this one’s future began its last steps, its last breaths, its last thoughts.

Around the corner lies the creeping certain ceaseless canceling of creation – corporeal collapse.

The mental assault of its reality never more real than in the darkest moment of winter’s night. The hope of last sun’s rays rupturing the drapes of life soon drifts dizzily down when mind assaults that hope with the certainty of eternality’s nearness. With sudden gasp, this new and imminent reality rears its intention and nothingness makes its inevitability understood; this one’s time soon ends. Grasping and scrabbling ends. Acceptance begins to dawn within.

Still, silently biding its time comes a knowledge beyond all knowledge, beyond all reason. An understanding hard to acknowledge and accept by many until this time of nebulous in-between-ness becomes the inevitability. This oft pushed-aside reality, knowledge, and belief eases itself forward from the recesses of memory. This memory reminds of power, knowingness, and ever-presence. As it advances forward from mind’s recessive memory, a glimmer of hope, a glimpse of future, a gasping of possibility captures the remnants of corporeal body’s spirit and brightly shines hope, anticipation, and expectation. “Oh, what was that?” this one so near to winter’s eternal darkness asks? “What was that news told to me during Spring’s bright and hope-filled dawning?”

The grinding of old, unoiled wheels turns recalling from memory what someone said. The feeling of possibility springs forward giving last glimpses of hope before life’s final dawn fades away. “What was that news?” the spirit begs mind to recall. Picking through worthless words, actions, and thoughts, “There, move that detritus; I see a glorious shining!” Scrambling through stacks of senseless moments and memories, the unheard, unheeded, and unknown shines brighter until that Word is revealed in the bank of life’s detritus. The one Hope disregarded in the dizzying dance of life still shone dazzlingly even amidst forgotten goals, games, and gambits. Gazing upon this unheeded memory, this long-forgotten message, hope springs, heart sings, head soars with the light of possibility of new dawn.

This Hope, this Message, this Word unheeded still, but recognized as the One not to be missed parts the winter’s darkness giving glimpses at possible eternal gazing upon the Light during the non-time of eternity. Grasping, listening, learning, accepting, hope eternal rises as the sun of summer in the heart. Belief beats breath-takingly as winter’s dark night fades into gray as the Light of the world breaks into the midst of time’s sway bringing brilliance and wondrous joy.

Where once inevitable ending reigned in heart, mind, and body, now hope and life unending spring forth bringing bounteous joy and eternal life with the One Who is beyond all constraints, Who loves unrestrainedly, and gives life eternally because of His faithful love.

Who wants the misery and despair of winter’s shroud? Who chooses that option when Hope and Light from the eternal Spring is available? Hear the message. Believe the Truth. Walk in the way. Accept the gift of love given so that all who believe can have eternal life. No winter’s dark night ever casts its shroud upon it. No nothingness ever penetrates this glorious eternal kingdom of God. Hear. Believe. Be saved from the darkness of eternal death.

Come see and believe in the hope of the Gentiles.

Come believe and receive the God of hope.

Then in that day, the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to Him, and the land where He lives will be a glorious place. (Isaiah 11:10 [NLT])

Isaiah said, ‘The heir to David’s throne will come, and He will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on Him.’ I pray that the God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13 [NLT])

Craving You

There's a craving in my soul,

A cry comes out from me

To meet You in this day

To connect deep to deep.

This yearning deep within

Assuaged it cannot be

By trifling songs and mere deeds,

By thoughts without You I see.

This desire within my soul

Bubbles, gushes uncontained

As praise and worship I sing

For only You worship should aim.

This overflowing fountain,

This ecstasy within me

Draws me ever closer

To the Savior of whom I sing.

No force can pull me away 

From God's love that draws me in.

No sin can separate me

From His presence in which I live.

Though death, pain, persecution

Try to draw me away from Him,

God's strong arms, Jesus' love, 

No, nothing, can take me from Him.

Neither height nor width nor breadth 

Can keep me away from God;

Neither demons, powers, no, nothing

Will quench my love, nothing at all.

This craving for His presence

To meet Him face to face

Ends not with Sunday service,

But continues day to day.

A keenly desired communion,

A humbling within my soul

To come before gracious God

The true lover of my soul.

No act or words can express

The depth of love o'erwhelming me.

No thoughts or exclamations

Make my love of Him plainly seen.

This life God has given me

Is all I can give to Him;

To Him I offer all I am 

For it's what means most to me.

This craving deep in my soul

To be with You each new day

Calls within as deep to deep

Beckoning me to stay.

Worshiping, praising, communing

As offering up to You,

Closer to You my heart yearns 

The utmost, I give my whole self, too.

Fin'ly the craving to draw near,

It's impulse to closer be,

Is fulfilled with greatest gift

My self to You - Deep to Deep.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and the participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. (Philippians 3:10 [NIV]) 

’Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:24 [NIV])

 ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plants to give you a hope and future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity.’” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 [NIV])

THE PAIN!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this but also, we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? But, if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:18-27 [NASB])

Those things that cause us pain now, pain in our hearts, minds, and/or bodies, are only a small blip in time. Yes, they hurt like nobody’s business, but when we get the mind of Christ, then we get His perspective. This present pain is for a little while, and so we understand we can have hope; we do have hope. Our hope rests in Jesus Christ as our resurrected Savior who gives us eternal life. We recall this hope as His Spirit lives in us and reminds us this present time is just a small dust-mote-size of time in the expanse of time and eternity. Not only does the Spirit remind us and so encourages us, He also prays for us when we are so tired, so sick, so bereft, so despairing that we do not know how to pray anymore. The Spirit prays exactly what needs to be prayed because He prays the heart of God for our lives. God has our best interests in His heart and so the Spirit prays for the best thing for us. What does that mean? The Spirit prays we grow closer to the Lord and bring God glory. When was the last time you were sick, and you prayed, “Not my will, God, but Yours be done even if that means I will not get well as soon as I would like”?

That is a very hard prayer to pray for a human. For that reason Jesus gave each of His believers, every Christian, His Spirit. There are things that are too hard for our mortal, earth-bound minds to pray. Paul said this when he said, “For creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” At the moment of salvation, when we confess Jesus as our Lord, we are set free from the power of sin and death. Yet, we are continually being sanctified, made holy as Christ is holy. Jesus set us free from sin and death, but still we must grow to be more like Christ and less like our old selves. This is how we have the glory of the children of God; we begin being more changed and having more and more the mind of Christ as Paul said in Philippians 2. Our hope is to become closer to God in heart, mind, and spirit so that nothing can cause us to do anything except praise God and bring Him glory. Being in God’s presence is our hope now while we live on in our mortal bodies and our hope for the future when God resurrects us to new life with Him.

These are our greatest hopes. Yes, we hope to be well. We hope to obtain a job and be able to buy food for our families. We hope to get into college so we can have a good life as an adult. We hope so many things, but most of them are just for this earthly plain. Yet, if we hope for what we do not see, God and eternity with Him, then we persevere and wait eagerly. Hope creates perseverance in us. This perseverance makes us stronger. These things now that afflict us, we remember with hope and eager expectation, are just small road-bumps in our earthly lives. Since God knows how many hairs are on our head at any point in our lives, He knows and cares about every speed-bump we hit. Since God loved us enough to send Jesus to die for us on the cross, He loves us enough to be with us, give us hope, and send His Spirit to live in us to pray in the exact way that most helps us. When we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit prays for us. He prays according to the will of God, the One who loves us more than we can ever think or imagine, the One who knows best what needs to be done in that moment of our life, in every moment of our life.

Those things that cause us pain now “are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Think upon the glory of God, the glory that reminds us of His intense love for us. Then remember God sent His Spirit to pray for us because we don’t know exactly how to pray. We are so overwhelmed with our pain and problem, that the exactness of how to pray eludes us. We can rest assured the best prayers to God are being made for us by the Spirit and we can trust, because of God’s great love for us, that those requests the Spirit makes for us, are the best prayer requests for us. We have hope and can hold on to hope with perseverance and eagerness because God knows, God hears, and God loves you. God is greater than your pain. Rest in His hands. Seek His heart. Hold on to hope in Him because He is mighty and will walk with you through your pain. God has the best plan for this time in your life; trust Him. Grow more Christlike and enjoy the freedom of the glory as the child of God.

When we acknowledge God has a perfect plan for meeting our needs and when we rely on Him with perseverance, eagerness, and hope, we can say what Paul said in Romans 8:28-30.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these who He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. [NASB]

When we persevere, rely on, and hold on to our hope in God, then we will be like Christ, who was glorified. This honor can only be given by God and He gives it to those who believe in Jesus Christ. Glorification is connected to the justification each believer receives from Jesus. Keep loving God. Keep answering His call for His purpose. Keep hoping knowing that God will not disappoint you because you are loved and justified. And you will be glorified in the last days.

You will have pain, but you have

the hope of glory to which to look forward.

Lord, I think I know what I need now, and I am praying it, but that situation does not seem to be getting better. I’m at the end of my rope. Today, I read Your word in Romans 8 and realize I’ve been demanding what I think I need and not letting Your Spirit intercede for me. I’ve seen my situation and have lost perspective of You. I have allowed my troubles to consume me and decrease my perspective that You are almighty and all-knowing. Nothing that affects me can lessen Your power or escape Your knowledge. Lord, please hear me; listen to the words I can’t seem to find that expresses my despair and anguish in my situation. Lord, hear the prayers of Your Spirit and intervene in my life and situation where You know is best. I’ve given up and realize You alone know the best way to remedy this. You, Lord, are worthy to be praised now because I realize You have the answer for me now; that gives me hope. You have given me hope for my eternal future. By You, I exist. Through Your Son, I am saved and have eternal life. Thank you for reminding me of the hope You’ve given me. Help me to persevere and grow stronger and more like You. Thank you for what You’ve done, what You are doing, and what You will do. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Bursting Bubbles

Bubbles-innocuous, light, breezy, and safe;

No harm from bubbles, just gladness and glee.

Yet, when we consider life’s encounters again,

We know bubbles, safe bubbles, leave a film few can see.

Intentions run high and emotions explode;

Feelings burst forth with harsh actions and words.

Like bubbles need air to gain release from soap,

So, emotions need intentions to cause one to hurt.

Emotions burst forth with expelling of air,

With action they cause harm to a person unaware.

Intentions inflate emotions aimed to cause harm;

They touch upon the person near like a storm.

Yes, bubbles are soft, light, and breezy we see,

But when touched, their pop leaves a sticky ring.

It remains until washed, a reminder of fun,

But sticky, emotion-bubbles, we don’t want that sting.

Those emotion-bubbles, unsought and avoided

Leave a film of pain on the body, heart, and mind.

What should have been fun, a relationship of trust,

Turned into emotions bursting sore and maligned.

Fear, pain, distrust, questions arise with each breath.

Heart broken, now unknowing, what else is there?

Lingering onward and uncertainty rising,

Will emotions erupt, bursting, showing no care?

Fear takes over, heartbeat quickens wond’ring

Where’s the love and do I risk myself daring?

Bubbles-light, airy, free, and endless fun

Unless bubbles spring from emotions unbound.

Still, like all bubbles, their film can be washed off.

With water, the film from the wound is expunged.

For emotion-bubbles, the water comes from eternal springs;

It brings with it cleansing from pain, fear, and grief.

The Washer is from Whom all life gets its being

And by Whom film-pain from sin is removed, is cleaned.

The waters for cleansing flow from His mercy seat;

Flowing endless, downward for all in great need.

These waters, offered in love, flow pure and free

As a gift of His compassion, love, and mercy.

God’s waters bring life, health, and healing;

They bring together the hearts for Him who seek.

By His waters, lives, hearts, are joined richly together

Protecting, encouraging, and richly nurt'ring.

From water, bubbles are made with intent of people,

Adding breath and intention to form floating air-balls.

From water comes healing, health, and connection,

A mercy from the Father Who created us all.

Consider anew each bubble you create;

Will it float light, breezy, playful, and safe?

Or will you form your emotion-bubble

And cause darkness, fear, heartbreak, and pain?

God wants each relationship to blossom and thrive,

So, He sends His eternal waters to wash sins away.

Redemption, cleansing, new and abundant life

Comes from accepting His grace and by Him being saved.

 “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 [NASB])

“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming form the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2 [NASB])