I have a confession to make.
Most of you know who actually does the typing on this blog ... I'm sure that's no surprise but what I'm about to tell you might make some of you surprised ... others maybe not. But here goes ...
I am a fearful person.
I worry about a lot of things. Each day I try to act in such a way as to prevent bad things from happening. I feel, at times, that I am always on heightened alert and I am not even close to being in the sort of profession that might warrant such characteristics. Some days are better than others. And sometimes I even forget to worry or anticipate a problem to arise.
Does this surprise you? Are any of you reading this right now and asking ... "How can this be?" This doesn't really make sense based on all that I have posted up until now, does it? Try not to misunderstand - I know it might seem confusing ... there is a constant battle within me between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. It is the fleshy part of me that worries, that becomes afraid, that thinks irrational thoughts about the unknown; however, the Spirit keeps me grounded and has prevented me thus far from acting out of my irrational thoughts and fears.
The main thing right now has been my thoughts about this mission trip ~ thoughts of this mission have nearly dominated my mind since February of this year and all sorts of fears have crept into my being. Satan really wants nothing more than to throw us off balance and he really is very good at what he does to try to achieve that.
In reality, though, I don't really have one good reason to be afraid. I don't have proper justification for the fears that I have felt. I don't have anything to substantiate my quandaries for future events. And I am ashamed ...
... because there are people who have reason to worry and substantial findings to fear the future. I know of one person in particular, ... a supporter of our mission trip, a prayer-warrior for our work in the LORD.
Oh, dear one, we did not realize that the situation had gotten as far as it is at now. You are in the midst of tribulation. We cannot imagine what you are feeling; I cannot imagine being in your shoes ... you have been living with a worsening situation completely out of your control ... And yet, you were one of our most recent contributors, ... in all that you are currently going through, you took the time to think of us, to pray for us, to send us a card with a generous contribution. You are truly walking in the Spirit and how grateful we are to have you on our team!
It's ridiculous, really, that I am afraid of something that hasn't happened; I fear things that may never be. I anxiously anticipate something that might never become a reality ... because I know that things happen. You know, there are some people that believe that Christians are protected, that God wouldn't let "those things" happen to His greatest followers, but they do. I know they do. I know that God allowed a wonderful Christian mother of four young, internationally adopted children, die while riding her bicycle. I know that God allowed a fine Christian man with two young sons and a lovely wife to get brain cancer that has now become untreatable. I know that God allowed His One and Only Son ... who was sinless, to receive the punishment for the sins of the entire world; He allowed Him to receive unspeakable torture and a death He did not deserve ... for a good reason. We are unworthy .... but that "Good Reason" was US.
We need to remember that God knew what He was doing. As unimaginable and unspeakable as it seems to us and seemed to all those at the time, the suffering and the death of Jesus served a meaningful and overwhelming purpose that could only be accomplished by Him. At the time, not many understood ... but when Jesus was resurrected, it all made sense and there was a great power in the knowledge of it all.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ~ Hebrews 11:1
Dear one, you are so brave. I say to myself that I do not know if I could be as brave if I were in the same situation but I know where your strength comes from and I know that the more we look to Him, the more we will see. The more we draw from Him, the more we will receive. The more we lean on Him, the more we will be held up.
When the Israelites had been oppressed by the Midianites for seven years and they cried out to the Lord for help, God chose Gideon, the least of his family and that of the weakest clan in Manasseh, to save the Israelites. Gideon doubted that the Lord, God, was even with them because of all the turmoil they were experiencing; he said that they had been abandoned by the Lord. But the Lord told Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” In the end, all Gideon had to do was trust in God and follow His commands and the entire Midianite army was defeated by God, with Gideon and 300 men as witnesses. (Judges 6-7)
"Go in the strength you have ... Am I not sending you?"
So, because of you, I will be brave. I will stand strong and hold firm to my faith, trusting the LORD with my life.
And when we are in Honduras, I will tell people about you, about your situation, and about the certainty that you have and the knowledge of your eternal future. Because of you, someone may come to know the LORD for the first time and become our sister or brother in the Lord, Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10, 13
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
13 For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Isaiah 43:1-4
But now, this is what the Lord says— ...
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; ...
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you, ...
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
No comments:
Post a Comment