When Words Fail

"I ran in to a couple that lost their baby. The husband was broken. We cried together and then prayed and talked. I was a mess."

These few messy sentences summarize so much pain and emotion. I didn't have any words of wisdom for this couple that lost their child. Words failed me. I had tears, prayers and eventually some encouragements. I don't think an immediate response of anything other than that would have even been appropriate. 

Many people are just like this couple. Tragedy has hit and there are no words to comfort or settle them. We see it every day. Pain and trials are the norm. 

Recently in our nation we have seen loss and tragedy on many levels. In our social and political structures we are divided. Racially we are heading down the wrong path. In the natural realm disaster has struck and devastated lives. With our national relationships abroad the word 'tense' seems to understate the current norm. 

People are looking for answers. All these things impact people personally. Even without the things that have happened in our nation we see people living amidst personal trials. While the Christian life is not easy I can't imagine doing life any other way. How do people make it without God? 

The only hope we have in the midst of tragedy is that God is good. Some scoff and some don't believe in the goodness of God. I can't see any other option. Without it I am without hope. God's goodness is the only thing that assures me that the suffering and pain we endure in this life will be worth it all in the end. 

God is near to the brokenhearted and collects our tears as His treasures. That in itself is mind blowing. But when you think of a God who cries with us, Who listens to our prayers and Who speaks words of comfort and wisdom to us there can be no other conclusion than that God is good. He loves us and love never fails. His words are eternal and when words fail us His word stands strong. 

If you're experiencing pain or tragedy know that God is with you in your pain. He loves you and hasn't left. Your emotions are normal and it's okay to experience anger, confusion, sadness and to have questions. But when you settle in to the reality that God is good it will help you to go through the trial and the pain. 

God doesn't sleep

From the Word: Esther 6:1 “That night the king could not sleep…”

"Not when there is injustice. The King of Glory never sleeps nor does He slumber. He will bring justice swiftly for those who love Him. The devil is plotting and we are not unaware of his devices. Even more so the all knowing God. Will He not arise and carry out His good plan according to His mercies? Will He not see us in the court, dressed and ready for Him and extend his scepter to us? Will he not hang the devil on the gallows he meant to hang us on? Will He not bring us to His banqueting table and hang His banner of love over us?"

It is Easter weekend as I write this. So many thoughts and emotions come with this time of year. Beauty is all around as flowers are in bloom and for a few weeks in California we get to see green hills instead of brown ones. 

Even with all the beauty we are constantly reminded of the fallen world we live in. Just last week the headlines were "Shooting at an Elementary school." Sin and the devil are at work. They don't take a day off. We read that after Jesus overcame the temptation in the wilderness that the devil went away looking for an opportune time to trip him up. 

The good news is that God doesn't sleep either. In fact Jesus said that He and His Father were working from the beginning. God doesn't change and Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! Jesus is alive and working on the earth. 

Jesus told a parable of a widow who went to an unjust judge to get deliverance. Eventually she did because the unjust judge didn't want to be wearied with her coming anymore. In the explanation of the parable Jesus tells us that we shouldn't give up either. God is not unjust! He hasn't forgotten you. Jesus ended his statements by saying that God would bring justice swiftly. 

Don't give up or give in. When you see the devil taking lives and sin destroying people press in to God. He isn't off taking a nap or an extended vacation. He is intimately involved in the events of the earth bringing justice, comfort, peace, healing and especially the good news of the gospel that Jesus took our sin on the cross and defeated death and the devil when he raised again to life! 

God loves you so much. Easter shows us that. The beauty of spring shouts that there is a resurrection and we can be made alive with Christ. I would encourage you to take some time to meditate on the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Get into a Bible believing church and experience the wonderful presence of God. Tell God how thankful you are for His love and love on Him right back. Finally, take some time to pray for those who are bound by sin and the devil, that they would be delivered and experience the salvation and love of Jesus this Easter weekend as well. 

Day 336 - Let it Rain

"A rainy day at last. It feels like ages since we have had a full day of rain."

Living in Southern California we don't get much rain. I remember as a child we had a huge storm where it rained for three days straight. At the end of the storm we went outside to play and found a huge puddle. We splashed and played for what seemed like hours. My dad even came and played in the puddle with us. He would take his foot and kick the water at us making waves that towered over our heads. We ended our play time with a hot shower to warm back up since we were wet and cold. 

The past few years we have been in drought. A few years ago the trees never dropped their leaves and last year the strawberries never stopped producing fruit. While I enjoyed having fresh year round strawberries I am hating the water restrictions we currently have now. I would much rather have a rainy season. 

Dry seasons in life can be tough. I have experienced times where I was spiritually dried up. Many of you reading know that feeling. You feel like you are in a dark place and wish you could hear God's voice or experience His presence. 

For a year I interned at a church in the San Diego area. I was spending time on the road, money on gas and energy on ministry. The problem was I only gave out and never filled back up. After my savings dried up, my time was all spent and I was spiritually dry I knew something had to change. I found a church service on a Sunday night and sat in the back. The moment the guy on the guitar strummed the first note I was in tears. God ministered to me through those songs and moments with him by myself in the back of that church for a few months while I finished my internship. 

If you are in a dry season then it is time to identify the factors that have dried you up. Mine was from doing ministry but not being ministered to. Receiving was (and is) as important as giving. Maybe for you it is something different. Pray and ask the Holy Soirit what it is and how you can deal with it. It could be forgiving an offense, getting back to church, spending time with God in prayer and study of His word or something else that God reveals to you. Whatever it is be diligent with it and as you do expect God to send the rain! 

Have you ever experienced a dry season in your life? How did you come out of it? 

Day 272 - Ignoring God

"From Spurgeon: “A wife may when her husband is upon a journey, abide many days without holding converse with him, but she could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in one of the chambers of her own house.”

This struck me because of how often we ignore the presence of God in our lives. We should be with the Lord as we are with family and friends. Ever aware and wanting to be with Him."

There are verses in the Bible that can easily be overlooked and misunderstood. One of them is "Pray without ceasing". If all we did was pray then we would never fulfill the commission to go and make disciples. Obviously to pray without ceasing means something other than don't do anything other than pray. What it really means is to keep the lines of communication open. We should always be in constant contact and aware of the presence of God. 

How different would life be if we lived more aware of God's presence? Would we speak to others the same way? What would we watch or not watch? Where would our attitudes or opinions change? 

I believe that this is how God wants us to live. He desires to be 'our God' and we 'His people'. He wants to 'dwell' with us. God's intent is that we live in His presence behind the veil. You see, in the temple there was a thick veil that separated man from God. No one could enter except the High Priest and he could only enter once a year on the day of atonement. That was the day that the sacrifice for sins was made. After the priest did his duty he had to leave the presence of God. 

The good news is that we are not living in those times any more. The way has been opened for us. Jesus has made the way for us to live in God's Presence behind the veil God now lives in our hearts. He has given us His Spirit! We have constant access to Him. 

We should never ignore God. He should be our first and last and everything in-between. Remind yourself that the Lover of your soul is always with you and desires your company. How awesome is that?! The Creator and King of the universe wants to be with you! 

Pray without ceasing...

What are some ways to remind ourselves of God's presence? How different is life when we live with the reality of His presence?