Category Archives: Challenges & Difficulty

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 6, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Patience & Perseverance, Sharing Our Faith

BACK IN THE SADDLE

10-21-14 saddle-cropWEBIn every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. [Titus 2:7 (NCV)]

Only a half day into a week-long horseback trek across the Continental Divide, I already regretted doing it. On the spur of the moment, we had joined a group of hearty souls for a “once in a lifetime” adventure. Well, “once in a lifetime” quickly began looking like once too often for me. I was unprepared and inexperienced, the terrain was rough, the mountains steep, and my horse was ornery; there was no way I could survive the challenges of the journey. When the woman in front of me hit her head on a low hanging branch and fell off her horse, my first thought was, “Thank God! She’ll quit now; they’ll take her back to town and I can go with her.” After getting up and dusting herself off, however, she climbed right back onto her mount! It was her example that kept me on my horse for the rest of the day and on the expedition for the rest of the week; if she could do it, so could I!

Paul calls us to be good examples in our lives; after all, a preacher of good works must also be a doer of good works. Christians want to present a wise, patient, loving, faith-filled life to the world. I wonder, however, if this nearly perfect façade sometimes discourages others in their faith journey. They may feel too soiled and marred in comparison to people who appear to be so strong in their faith.

Christians can be good examples by sharing their difficulties and weaknesses as well as their good works. We all have had occasions when we were knocked to the ground. Our response to those personal struggles, be it a troubled past, abuse or addiction, or times of adversity, doubt and despair, can motivate and encourage others. It’s inspiring when one sees how another has picked herself up, wiped off the dirt, and gotten back into the saddle to keep going on her journey!

I learned from the example of my father that the manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the thing that must be endured. [Dean Acheson]

But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. … We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God’s power. [2 Corinthians 6:4,6-7a (NCV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

October 24, 2014

Posted under

Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Peace of God, Trusting God

UNDER THE RAINBOW

DSCN5280WEBAnd there will be a covering over everyone for protection. It will be a shelter to protect the people from the heat of the sun and from all kinds of storms and rain. [Isaiah 4:5b-6 (ERV)]

During rainy season in Florida, we can count on rain nearly every day. Sometimes, it’s a real doozy with thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour; other times, it’s just a little drizzle. Fortunately, by the end of October, the rainy season will come to an end and the tropical storms will give way to milder weather.

I have some friends who seem to be in the rainy season of their lives only, instead of water raining down on them, it’s troubles. Some storms are bigger than others, a child’s mental illness trumps the cancer scare, but, nonetheless, some sort of challenge seems to drop from the sky nearly every day. What’s worse, they have no calendar that tells them that this difficult season will likely stop at the end of the month. Amazingly, although their troubles rain down on them nearly continuously, their misfortunes seem to run off them like water off a duck’s back. Challenges that would sink many have little effect on them; they just keep paddling along. What differentiates them from other people who drown in just a small downpour of trouble?

The difference, of course, is my friends’ deep and abiding faith in a loving God! They receive strength from Him daily and, while they pray this season will soon end, they know that God’s plans for them are good. Faith allows them to see the rainbow in the sky in the midst of the storm.

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging around, you’ll still stand firm if you stand on His love. [Charles Stanley]

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds. [Genesis 9:14 (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 24, 2014

Posted under

Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Word: The Bible, Nature

BRACE ROOTS

9-26-14corn-crop338-cropWEBOnce there was a man who went out to sow grain. … Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, beause the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. … The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it. But it does not sink deep into them, and they don’t last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once.  [Matthew 13:3,5-6,20-21 (GNT)]

We’ve had several storms with high winds and yet the corn stands strong and tall in the fields. With such a thin stalk, I wondered how it could grow so high without being bent and battered by the severe weather. Looking down at the base of the stalk, I noticed several little roots growing into the soil. Corn has two sets of roots that can reach as deep as six to seven feet in the ground. The little roots above the ground are called brace roots. Not only do they help take up water and nutrients from the soil but they also provide support for the seven-foot 9-26-14brace root-cropWEBplant. Lack of enough brace roots might not harm corn in absolutely perfect growing conditions, but the plant won’t survive adverse conditions such as drought or high winds without them.

Seeing the corn’s brace roots reminded me of Jesus’ farming parable in Matthew. I thought about the seed that was unable to develop deep roots. Without deep roots, the seed couldn’t survive harsh conditions. It’s easy to be like that seed: we attend church more or less regularly and read a few devotions, but we don’t dig deep into God’s word to take in His strength. We’re fine as long as everything goes smoothly and the conditions are ideal. When adversity comes (and we all know it eventually will), we lose faith; there will be nothing to harvest because survival is impossible without strong roots. It’s not enough for us to simply hear God’s word; we need to absorb it into our lives and use it for spiritual nourishment and support. When we do that, like the corn, we’ll develop brace roots that will keep us standing tall and strong during the droughts and storms of life.

Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving. [Colossians 2:6-7 (GNT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 14, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Peace of God, Prayer

GET SOME REST

9-15-14 REST53-cropWEBCrowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.” [Mark 6:31(NCV)]

I read the above verse and walked over to my laptop; I had the perfect meditation to write. Then a voice told me, “Stop! Read the verse again!” As I did, I realized the verse was meant for me at that very moment. It wasn’t time to start writing; it was time to stop and spend time with Him. It was time to rest in His presence and so I did. Instead of writing, I took a much needed break. I took a long walk along a remote country road and savored His presence. Sometimes, we need to halt what we’re so busy doing and take the time to be taught and healed, loved and blessed, rested and restored.

Father, help us be diligent in our work for you but stop us when, instead of being productive, we are simply busy. Never let us forget the most important thing is to spend time with you.

Guide us in our daily life and remind us when it’s time to restrain our activities so we can spend quiet time resting at your side.

I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares the Almighty Lord. [Ezekiel 34:15 (NCV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 7, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Joy, Peace of God

DON’T WORRY; BE HAPPY!

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! … Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:4,6-7 (NLT)]

“Rejoice!” Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. He wrote these joyful words while awaiting trial in a Roman prison. Rather than feeling defeated during his captivity, Paul used his imprisonment as an opportunity to continue to preach the gospel and spread the joy of God’s word. Instead of being depressed by his situation, he knew how to be satisfied regardless of his situation. In fact, Paul thanked God for his difficult circumstances.

We don’t need to be in prison to be depressed, angry or resentful. There are many times in our lives when things go terribly wrong: a child becomes addicted, a parent suffers a debilitating disease, a friend gets cancer, a job is lost, a business goes bankrupt, the stock market crashes, a marriage fails, or a lawsuit is filed. We need to learn from Paul to “always be full of joy in the Lord” regardless of our circumstances.

Where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surrounding and circumstances are of comparatively little account. [Hannah Whitall Smith]

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. [Philippians 4:8 (MSG)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 30, 2014

Posted under

Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, Fear & Doubt, Trusting God

TAKE THE PLUNGE!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. [Exodus 14:15-16 (NLT)]

With Pharaoh’s army fast approaching, the Israelites were trapped between the mountains and the sea. They immediately panicked and blamed Moses for their predicament. He was no longer regarded as the man who freed them from years of suffering slavery; he was now the fool who’d led them to certain death in the wilderness. Looking back at the soldiers, the Israelites refused to go forward. Moses assured them that the Lord would fight for them. “Stand still,” he said, “The Lord will rescue you.” The Lord, however, had other plans. He told Moses to stop praying and to get moving; they could walk through the sea on dry land!

Have you ever felt like the Israelites, like you’re between a “rock and a hard place” with no place to go? When that happens, we usually do the same thing the Israelites did; panic, find someone to blame, lose heart and want to quit. Eventually, we may pray but then we hesitate to take action. It’s easier to do nothing than to take a plunge into the unknown. Sometimes, God will fight our battles for us but, other times, he wants us to get moving and to trust that He will make a path for us.

Never give up; if God parted the waters for the Israelites, he can part them for us. We, however, will still have to do the walking!

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! [Exodus 14:21-22 (NLT)]