Be still and know that I am God
April 30, 2008 | Comments Off
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God (I Samuel 30:6)
It was early Monday morning. I woke up scared. Life seemed painfully uncertain. Of all things to literally rattle the mid-west–an earthquake. Tornados are one thing, but come on, an earthquake? I personally did not feel the quake, but just 20 miles to the north of us and 20 miles to the south there were reports of rattling dishes and shaking houses. There was no mistake. It was an earthquake.
As I lay awake in the early morning hours, my mind became paralyzed with fear. I tried to counter and parry every move that an earthquake could throw at me, but it was no good. I was helpless. It always had the upper hand. It always had the element of surprise. What if I was in the car with my wife and children, and stuck helplessly on the Paseo Bridge? What if my wife…? What if my children…? What if, what if, what if? There is no other way to say it. I was in a panic, a fear frenzy.
David found himself in a situation that could rattle even the sturdiest of saints. He and his men returned to Ziklag and found that their wives and children had been kidnapped. Overtaken by grief, David’s men considered stoning him right then and there. Instead of panicking, the Word says that David “strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
Thankfully that morning the Holy Spirit began convicting me of my fearful, panicking spirit. I knew it wasn’t right. I couldn’t keep on like this. It was fruitless. In all my fear I was leaving out the one and only constant in the equation, namely, Yahweh himself.
Psalm 46 clearly states that because God is a very present help in trouble (vs 1); because He is with us (vs7); and because He has absolute control of desolation and peace in the earth (vs 8-9); we ought not to be characterized by a spirit of fear for these very reasons.
It is interesting that the Psalmist describes an earthquake to illustrate a very bleak, helpless, and unsettling experience. Yet, the exhortation still stands, “Be still and know that I am God…”
Rain, Rain, Go Away
April 8, 2008 | Comments Off
The rain threw everything off today. Things have been progressing rather nicely on the rebuilding of our home, but I have been very eager to be re-settled in a permanent home. So even though the project has been moving relatively quickly, it still feels like it is taking forever. Today a lot was scheduled to be done, but the key word is “scheduled”. The rained delayed everything. Some people are probably more disposed towards grumbling and murmuring, but everyone does it more than they think. As I heard the rain beat against the house last night and woke to drenching rains, I knew my hopes for progress this day were all being washed away - literally. I think I said “stupid rain” several times.
“And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.” (ESV Numbers 11:1)
I knew what I was really doing. I wasn’t cursing the rain, I was angry with God because He is the one who controls the rain. And I also remembered that God doesn’t take such complaining lightly. Ultimately, the complainer says, “Lord, I don’t like how you rule the world…” Shockingly arrogant isn’t it? It is helpful to be reminded that a Personal, loving, and good God orders the affairs of our life. The most appropriate response to a day like this is a cheerful submission. I hope you learn a lesson from me today. I had to learn it again from ancient Israel.
Uncomfortably Good
April 1, 2008 | 1 Comment
I sat down this morning and finally opened my latest issue of Voice of the Martyrs magazine. I think subconsciously I had been putting it off. Sometimes there are things you would rather not think about. As I suspected, my life and even my very existence were challenged. Whether it was the Christian’s home in Egypt burned, or the new believer in Morocco who was thrown out of his father’s home, or the pastor’s front door welded shut (with his family still inside!) in China, all of them make me feel uncomfortable. But it is a good uncomfortable. They remind me that this world is not my home. They show me that Christ is wondrously precious. The Bible commands believers to remember those who are persecuted for their faith (see Hebrews 13:3). The hard part is feeling so inadequate. Offering help seems like an attempt to water the Sahara Desert. It is impossible to address all the suffering and pain of the persecuted church. But we cannot become paralyzed. I hope you will take time to read about the persecuted church today. There are several organizations devoted to this kind of ministry. I personally recommend to you Voice of the Martyrs. You can visit them online at www.persecution.com . I encourage you to subscribe to their periodical also. I may forget to get online, but that white envelope keeps coming. I would also encourage you to consider supporting your persecuted family abroad. I give regularly to VOM. I hope you would consider it as well.