Yesterday on Tuesday Tea Time With the Lord we discussed How to Be Anxious For Nothing!

I begin with a story! When I was a little girl we only had one t.v. Having to watch what my parents watch I remember before bed watching the news with my parents. Stories of  kidnappers, rapists and other news I would watch and listen to before bed. My mom would always get out the Bible to read with me before tucking me in. Unfortunately, as I lay there trying to go to sleep I didn’t recall he words of Jesus but the pictures in my mind of what I saw on t.v.

Just like that little girl afraid of what I saw has become reality to a lot of us today! Being a christian in today’s world can be quite overwhelming, challenging and have to decide which camp we are going to reside in as our truth! What do I mean? In Gods Word it says He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will never let go of us and promises to give us a hope and a future. Yet, in our world today we deal with covid 19, health problems , death of loved ones, losing jobs, houses and life as we know it to be. So in reality if we look at our day to day lives we do not feel or even see the promises He promised in our lives! We see damage, destruction, death, pain and lack.

How are we supposed to stand on our convictions, stand on Gods promises in these trying times? Even though there is no easy answer we will first look how the people in the Bible that were flawed like us have handled it as well as how I have been able to do it! We first look at David. David was a young boy when he was crowned King yet was sent back out to be a shepherd boy looking and taking care of the sheep. protecting them from the lion and bear.

How many of us after being crowned king would have gotten disheartened not seeing any movement? But it was the training he received in the menial tasks of the day that prepared him to fight Goliath! Saul tried to give him his armor but couldn’t even move in it. It was when he took off Saul’s armor and used what was taught to him with the stones and slingshot that he was able to defeat Goliath! 

Joseph was sold into slavery put in charge, but then got put in prison over something he didn’t even do! Even though he was in jail God was with him, showed him favor with the warden and used what he had in front of him to do what God was asking him to do. How many of us being wrongly accused and put in prison being forgotten for 13 years would have been faithful and not given up on Gods timing and plan?  Caleb was among the men who was sent out to spy in the land of milk and honey and sent back to report what was found by him.

All the other men came back speaking of how big and mighty the people in the land were and could not be defeated. Caleb came back speaking how big his God is and said they could defeat them with God’s help! Even Jesus, being fully God and fully man had to deal with persecution, opposition, being lied on, mocked and a brutal death on the cross. He never said we wouldn’t have trouble. in fact, He said we will have many of them, but to take heart He has overcome the world.

What I have learned in my whole 51 years is that is true what the bible says His ways are higher than our ways! What we see as Him forgetting us or leaving us is actuality Him using the hard things in life to mold us, make us stronger, cultivate and grow our faith and trust muscles. If we have had an easy life with no problems then covid comes?

We would have no personal reference as how He has been there for us before and would not be strong to face another one. In my life, dealing with my work injury I have many painful days that just trying to do easy things like laundry, dishes let alone grocery shopping has sent the pain level over the edge so much so that all I could do is cry out to the Lord. I could have so easily like Job’s wife suggests could have cursed God lay down and died but I refused!

I chose to be disciplined and listening to worship music constantly. Listening to the word to keep my mind on the Lord.  I often tell people I hate pain and am a baby. Dealing with arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, permanent muscle and nerve damage, bulging discs in my neck, shoulder and back as well as carpal tunnel for almost 4 years has not been easy and wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. At the same time, I would not want it any other way. Why do I say that? It was through all the pain ,turmoil and hard days that I leaned on the Lord! I got a level of intimacy and dependency on Him I would have never had if it weren’t for this trial. It was through my dark room of life He was able to use it to mold me and make me more like Him.

Taught me how to lean on, solely trust Him cultivating and building up my faith and trust muscles. If I would have gotten spared of life’s trials I would have never reached this level in God that I am right now! Does that mean I’m a close as I will ever be? of course not! As long as we have breathe in our lungs He wants to grow us and mature us in different levels. But, we must be a willing participant! What is it in our lives that we are not allowing God in to mold us and make us more like Him?

What trial and troubles in our lives if we look at it from God’s perspective is their for growth and maturity? What is it in our hands God is asking us to use in our lives to win the battles whether it is in our minds, bodies or any part of our lives?

When we pray, seek His face, seek His wisdom,discernment knowledge and understanding it is then we will be victorious in our corner of the world! It is then, that we can reach back to our brothers and sisters to help encourage and strengthen in our world today! It is then, we will be able to unite on one accord as one body in unison in this life! Are you willing to let God in? Willing to look at things from His perspective? Willing to stand on His convictions what He has promised and said to us?

My heartfelt prayer for us all is as we seek Him in prayer that we are willing to lay it all down to Him asking Him to truly lead, guide, direct, teach, mold and develop us. As He does as He is always Faithful. That we actually take heed ,listen , pivot, repent, turn away and allow Him to finish the work He began in us. God bless you!