Category Archives: Challenges & Difficulty

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June 12, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, God's Grace & Love, Knowing Him, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin, Wisdom & Guidance

BEEN HERE BUT DIDN’T DO THAT!

The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried – our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. [Isaiah 53:2-4a (MSG)]

Writing yesterday’s message reminded me of another common teen complaint: “But you just don’t understand!” My teenagers were positive that I’d never experienced any of the challenges, temptations and angst they were having. I’m sure my grandchildren are equally sure their parents have no idea what their life is like. We may not have had all of the gadgets and technology of today’s teens; we didn’t have Facebook, smart phones, texting, and the Internet. We did, however, struggle with many of the same issues: mean people, SATs, crushes, insecurity, rejection, being grounded, alcohol and parties when the parents were gone.

Sometimes we’re not much different than teenagers when we talk to God. “You just don’t understand!” we protest. But, He really does. Jesus actually experienced life and all of its adversities and struggles during his thirty-three years as a man. Granted, He experienced them in a dramatically different setting and time. The First Century didn’t have the bells and whistles of today, but the temptations and challenges were much the same: sexual immorality, pride, pain, abuse, anger, doubt, desire, envy, deceit, sorrow, injustice. Not everyone liked Him, not everyone listened to Him, and not everyone believed or respected Him. He truly knows what it means to be human; He certainly knows what it is to suffer.

When we talk with God, He truly does understand. He’s been here and he was sorely tempted by Satan; the only difference is that He never sinned.

Now that we know what we have – Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God – let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. [Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG)]

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June 5, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Joy, Prayer, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Worry

IN THE DARKNESS

Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy! [Philippians 4:4 (NLV)]

Hear my prayer, O Lord! Let my cry for help come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble. Turn Your ear to me. Hurry to answer me in the day when I call. For my days go up in smoke. And my bones are burned as with fire. My heart is crushed and dried like grass. And I forget to eat my food. I am nothing but skin and bones because of my loud cries. I am like a pelican in the desert. I am like an owl of the waste places. I lie awake. And I feel like a bird alone on the roof. [Psalm 102:1-7 (NLV)]

moon-ACLwebI woke at 2:00 AM and limped to the bathroom for some Advil for my aching foot. Returning to bed, I knew my foot would feel better, if not that night then surely in the near future. God willing, I’ll be back to power walking within a few months. But, as I lay there, I wondered how many people were also awake and hurting that night, but hurting in a way that couldn’t be helped by a few ibuprofen. How many people see no end in sight for their pain and anguish?

Why such dark thoughts in the middle of the night? At Bible study earlier that evening, several people had asked for prayers for loved ones suffering from depression and, as often happens when serious depression is discussed, the topic of suicide also arose. While we’ve all been sad, depression is far more than just a bad case of the blues. Depression is when that sadness becomes so persistent that it interferes with everyday activities and adversely affects someone’s life. A complex illness, it has many contributing factors including grief, genetics, medications, illness, a history of being abused, and personal problems. I’ve watched family and friends suffer from serious depression and mental illness, some to the point of hospitalization, and I imagine they might describe it as a living hell.

Since we’re told to live lives of praise and joy, I don’t think God wants us to live a life of despair and agony. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and both mental and physical afflictions are part of it. We may not find the word “depression” in the Bible but anguish and despair can be found throughout its pages. I think Job was depressed and, at some time or another, so were David, Hannah, Jeremiah, and Elijah. Their depression didn’t mean they’d lost their faith any more than having cancer or diabetes means we’ve lost ours. Accepting Christ doesn’t mean we get a vaccination making us immune to any illness, least of all depression.

Lying in bed that night, I knew there is little any of us can do to alleviate the anguish of the mentally ill. We can, however, support Christian mental health services, be compassionate and supportive to both the ill and their families, and offer our heartfelt prayers.

Father in Heaven, I cannot begin to fathom the agony suffered by the mentally ill and the distress their illness brings to their loved ones. Protect them from the pitfalls, like addiction or homelessness, that so often accompany mental illness. Reassure them of your presence, lift their hearts, and guide them to healers so they can get the support and treatment they so desperately need. Give them the gift of hope and peace and restore them to health. Fill the hearts of their families with love, empathy, patience and understanding and help them to trust in your power and might.

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I plan what to do in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will those who hate me rise above me? … But I have trusted in Your loving-kindness. My heart will be full of joy because You will save me. I will sing to the Lord, because He has been good to me. [Psalm 13:1-2,5-6 (NLV)]

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May 21, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Today: Make it Count

TRAIL MAGIC

You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit. Your words have put stumbling people on their feet, put fresh hope in people about to collapse. [Job 4:3-4 (MSG)]

5-15-15-hiking to RosenlauiawebWhile reading about one man’s trek along the Appalachian Trail, I came upon a new term: “trail magic.” A tradition along the Appalachian Trail and other long distance trails, trail magic is an unexpected act of kindness and can take many forms: snacks handed out at a trail crossing, cold drinks left in a stream, rides to or from nearby towns, a night’s stay at a home, a cook-out at a shelter, packages of ibuprofen or even an impromptu concert along the trail. Trail magic seems to serendipitously occur when a hiker needs it most: when his spirits are lowest, his legs weariest, or his supplies nearly depleted! There is also another kind of trail magic of which many hikers are unaware. Trail magic occurs when volunteers clear fallen trees and branches from the trail, paint blazes on trees, repair shelters or cut back poison ivy. Those who offer trail magic usually have hiked the trail themselves and know how strenuous it can be; they are known as “trail angels.”

I don’t live near any long distance trails and, while I love to hike, long distance hiking is not on my bucket list. Nevertheless, I can be a trail angel and so can you. A through hike on the Appalachian Trail is about 2,200 miles; it is grueling, challenging and lasts several months. Our walk through life can also be grueling, challenging and can last several decades. We have opportunities every day to be trail angels to those we encounter on our journey.

A friend, another church photographer, recently shared a “trail angel” moment and she didn’t even know she’d been an angel until it was over. We both love zooming in on the face of one of our church singers. She is absolutely beautiful, not only because of her features (although she is lovely), but because of the joy she radiates as she sings her praises to the Lord. We both try to capture her radiance but it seems to elude our cameras; that radiance, however, enhances the worship experience of all who see her. Recently, after church, my friend approached this woman to tell her how much she appreciates her singing and the way she shares her love of the Lord with us all. To my friend’s surprise, this beautiful woman got misty and shed a tear. It had been a difficult week for her. She’d been running on empty and needed encouragement and kind words. My friend’s message gave her a spiritual recharge just when she required it most! Those few words were trail magic for her spirit and fortified her for the challenging days ahead.

What little kindnesses can we leave along the trail of life for God’s children? Are there ways we can make that trek easier for our fellow travelers; are there obstacles we can clear or ways we can help them find their way? How can we lift their spirits or brighten their day’s walk? We don’t need to be hikers or find a long distance trail to be trail angels; we have that opportunity every day right where we are. What gift can we leave for those who might pass our way?

Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love. [St. Therese de Lisieux]

Gracious speech is like clover honey—good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body. [Proverbs 16:24 (MSG)]

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May 12, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Fear & Doubt, Holy Spirit, Peace of God

OUR SHIELD

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. [Psalm 18: 30 (NLT)]

5-8-15-Castle of Spiez-cropwebEach month, I share prayer requests with a group of people. As I look through the appeals, it becomes obvious that Christians, even Christians of deep faith, are not shielded from the challenges and difficulties of everyday life. Like everyone else, we have marriage problems, unemployment, financial issues, uncertainty, poor health, depression and chronic pain. Our family members are no different from anyone else’s either; they have addictions, cancer, lack of faith, legal difficulties, and emotional problems. Our needs are the same as anyone’s: wisdom, balance, healing, guidance and strength. If God is our shield, shouldn’t people of faith be impervious to the slings and arrows of everyday life? Shouldn’t we be protected and sheltered from the storms that plague unbelievers?

Deep faith, however, is no guarantee of a smooth ride and life will inflict its inevitable challenges and obstacles with unpredictability upon us all, faithful or not. God’s shield doesn’t make us like superman, invulnerable to everything but kryptonite; it doesn’t prevent us from being bombarded with trouble. God’s shield, however, makes an enormous difference when facing those troubles because it keeps us from being defeated by them. It is the armor that sustains us when we have to face challenges, strengthens us when we do battle with evil forces, revives us when we tire or lose heart, guides and comforts us with His word, and provides a refuge when we need a safe haven. God’s shield assures us that He is in control, that He loves us and will never abandon us. His shield also provides us with brothers and sisters in Christ who will gladly offer their prayers, support, advice and helping hands.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for being our shield and for the loving prayers of our Christian family.

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. [Psalm 3:3 (NLT)]

 

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April 22, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Peace of God, Prayer, Today: Make it Count

IT’S BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS!

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)]

4-22-15rupside down- CSS3257V-vertwebYesterday was a day of frustrations and I had difficulty keeping things in perspective. Starting at 5:00 AM, my perfectly planned day turned upside down. After discontinuing personally emailing my messages to sixty people and reassuring all of my readers they would continue to receive these daily devotions if they signed up to receive them directly from WordPress, they didn’t (at least not for several hours)! After waiting for an answer from “Help” and never getting one, I eventually figured out what to do. Needless to say, I was not a happy blogger!

While your project may not be writing a blog and you may not have encountered unexplained “technical difficulties,” we’ve all had those days when nothing, absolutely nothing, goes right. You read the directions three times and they still make no sense, you wait all day for the cable man who never shows up, you realize an essential ingredient for dinner is missing minutes before the guests arrive, the new sweater with the directions “lay flat to dry” gets tossed in the dryer, you fruitlessly search all day for the receipt you need for the accountant, you forget the 20% off coupon when shopping, you burn the brownies for that night’s meeting, you get stuck in traffic when you’re already late, there’s a plumbing disaster in the bathroom, mud gets tracked onto the new carpet, the tire is flat, your phone goes dead in the middle of an important call, you delete rather than save, or the traffic cop doesn’t believe in giving you “five miles over.” It’s days like these, filled with relatively small annoyances and frustrations, that can so easily rob of us peace and joy.

Paul was in chains in a Roman prison and facing the very real possibility of execution. That certainly makes for a bad day and he had every reason to be depressed and discouraged. Yet Paul told the church at Philippi to rejoice. Moreover, he seems downright contented, peaceful and filled with thanks. If Paul could find joy in the direst of circumstances, why should we allow the unimportant aggravations of everyday life ruin our day and rob us of peace?

I pray that today will not be another “one of those days” for you or me. If it is, however, I pray that we, like Paul, will find peace, serenity and strength in the power of Jesus Christ.

We think we know what will make us happy. Seldom do we readily accept that painful moments are often the price tags for peaceful, happy times. Nor do we appreciate that happiness lives within each of us; never is it intrinsic to the events we experience. [From “Each Day a New Beginning” by Karen Casey]

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)]

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April 9, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You

REBIRTH and RENEWAL

4-9-15 - fireWEB
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. [John 11:25-26a (NLT)]

Several years ago, I would pass by an art gallery while on my morning walk. In the window was a large photograph of a forest showing dark tree trunks in the foreground and new grass on the forest floor. One day, I stopped to look at the picture more closely and realized that the black trees were actually the charred tree trunks resulting from a forest fire. This beautiful photograph was actually of a fire-devastated forest! The viewer’s eye, however, was directed to the new grass rather than to the dead trees. Called “Cycle of Fire,” the photo, rather than being depressing, was filled with hope for the new life sprouting up from the fire’s damage.

What really struck me was that a year earlier, while on a trip through South Dakota and Wyoming, we drove through several areas that had seen forest fires. My focus, however, had been on the devastation of the forests and I hadn’t even noticed the new grass and fresh growth. Until I gave “Cycle of Fire” a closer look, it never even occurred to me to see the new beginnings that can come from loss. When I looked at my old photos, however, the hope for a new forest is, indeed, there. I just needed to look for it.

Renewal is a theme in the Bible. Just as that forest was born again, so are we. Christ died, but rose again. There is always hope.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” [John 3:3 (NLT)]