Thursday, December 17, 2009

Ramblings about Discouragement

Sitting here at my desk with my work currently caught up, I decided to scribble down a few thoughts and observations. I got some music playing in one ear and phone agents yapping in the background. I have just given a nickname to another coworker and I am only two days away from my Christmas vacation. Hopefully I can share some insight that’s remotely valuable. But definitely no guarantees. Haha

1) Messed up stuff can happen to anyone

Don’t think just because you’re a Christian (either new, experienced or somewhere between) that you are immune from crazy stuff happening. The wide spectrum of good through bad can happen to any one of us, though only God has the authority to remove the hedge of protection away from a Christian faithfully serving the Lord (Job 1:6-12). Think of God’s hedge of protection like an umbrella. If its raining outside as long as I submit myself to staying under the cover of the umbrella, the rain is diverted away from me. If I willfully sin, it’s the equivalent of setting the umbrella down and standing in a downpour. The umbrella was still capable of keeping me dry, but I’ve made a conscience choice to forfeit its safety and shelter.

So what if I’m that faithful Christian who’s standing under the umbrella of protection? The rain can still sometimes get you wet. Having lived in Mississippi and Alabama, I’ve seen some crazy downpours. I’ve seen rain pour down, come down in sheets, even seemingly move sideways with strong winds. The point being, if God allows the rain to pour down sideways with strong winds, you’re going to get soaked whether you’re under that umbrella or not. The primary difference between the Christian and lost, is not whether you get wet or not (Matthew 5:45), but that the Christian can always lean on God to help them through the trial. We are assured that trial will not be more than what you can bear (2 Corinthians 10:13). (side note: It might also be worth reading my blogs on weathering the storms too)

2) Leaning on God

“Leaning on God” – its not a phrase we hear very often but certainly anyone who has gone through a trial could eloquently describe what the term means to them. Unfortunately, since they’re not here to talk it over with you, you’ll have to tolerate my two cents on the topic. It seems to me that leaning on God is composed of several things. Leaning on the structural strength of a God that’s unchanging, is using His strength as a method of upholding your step (Psalms 17:5, 18:36, 73:2). Perhaps you’ve seen a frail person reach out for the hand of another person while going down steps or getting out of vehicle. They are relying on the strength of another to support and stabilize them as they move. Similarly, we can lean on the strength of God.

If you’ve ever seen me racing through the surrounding areas of my town on guest visitation, you might have spotted me glancing at a map or at my GPS screen. One of the most significant realizations a person can arrive at when travelling through an unfamiliar area is that I can’t “wing it” with any hope of actually reaching my destination. I need to rely on the confirmed directions that only an accurate map can provide. Relying solely on the documented experience of another traveler really comes down a pride issue. If you’re too proud to admit you need help getting through an unfamiliar route, you’ll never consult a map. When travelling through a new, unfamiliar area of crisis or trial, I’m not too proud to acknowledge the need for direction (Psalms 37:23, 119:133, Prov 3:5-6). Whether it be through prayer or the Word of God, truly we can lean on the guidance of God.

In my opinion, one of the kindest gestures a person can show to me in times of personal discouragement or sickness other than pray for me, is bring me a bowl of good potato soup. I am convinced that tasty potato soup is good for the soul. Someone should write a book about that. hehe All joking aside, why would I be goofy enough to make a statement like that? For two reasons. Firstly, I really like potato soup. Secondly, it’s a true, ground-level action of showing care for my well-being. Especially since I can’t cook. I don’t think that the prophet Elijah could cook either because God sent ravens to daily bring bread and meat to him at the brook Cherith. After that, God sent him to the home of a widow who cooked for him as well.

So let me get serious for a moment and talk about God’s provision. In I Kings 17, we see numerous examples of God’s provision. After Elijah declared to King Ahab that there would be a drought in the land, God instructed Elijah to go to a precise place to receive provision, brook Cherith. Then when the brook dried up and that provision ended, God immediately sent him to the next provision, the widow of Zarephath. Then God instructed Elijah that the very day that the widow’s meal and oil failed, would be the same day that God would provide the next provision (by breaking the drought with rain). Folks, God doesn’t starve His people out! He takes care of His people’s needs (Psalms 37:25, 84:4-7, Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-31). As His children, we need to learn to lean on the provision of God.

Earlier, I mentioned the example of Job, which spoke of God’s hedge of protection. Partner that with the many examples of deliverance throughout the scriptures and we learn we can lean on the protection of God.

3) Encouraging yourself in the Lord

I Samuel 30:6 and its surrounding verses describe a profound concept that we as Christians need to understand. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. When everything around him went haywire and there was no home crowd to cheer him on, David cried his guts out until there were no more tears to cry. His city was burned, laying in ruins. All women and children had been carried off captive. His world had come crumbling down and scriptures said that, “David was greatly distressed”. I can’t imagine all the things what went through his mind that day, but I do know what I would have done.

Firstly, I’d remember the promises of the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:20, 2 Peter 3:9). People may let you down, disappoint you or even betray you, but God is unchanging in His character and integrity (Hebrews 6:13, 13:8). If God declares a promise, it is ultimately backed by the integrity of his character and the strength of His power (Deuteronomy 32:4, Matthew 28:18). If God says He will do something, He will not allow His promise to fail as it would violate the perfection of His character and make Him a liar. Will He provide us with a cookie-cutter solution? Probably not, but He will always ensure the fulfillment of His promises.

Secondly, I would remember what God has done in my life. Take a few minutes and scribble down all of the God interventions that you can think of, big and small alike (Psalms 77:11, 105:5). These memories might bring a smile to your face, tears to your eyes, or any range of emotions but by remembering all the times when God has intervened, you are acknowledging God in your life. Then when the pen stops and all the memories are out of the table, call out to God and remind Him of His interventions. God, do you remember when you healed my body when I was a child? I need your healing touch in my life again today. I know without a doubt that you healed me back then, so I know you can heal me today! I remember when you walked with me through that trial last year; I need you to walk with me through my trial today. What God did yesterday, He can do again today!

Ultimately, these simple steps (among which there may be more) address a core Biblical concept: faith! By remembering His promises and recalling His interventions you are confirming to your mind and spirit that God is still capable of intervening in your trial. When you don’t have enough power to change the situation, God’s promises can release the power of the heavenlies. God’s promises are quite simply a method of action by which God has established to interact with humanity. God’s promises are the blueprints to future miracles. The promise, when joined with God’s power, builds a supernatural event in a person’s life – a God moment. By remembering what God has already done in your life, you are acknowledging that God has already created precedence for a future intervention. These recollections are the proof that God is already willing to intervene in your life, family, need, etc and they build your faith that God can, and will, intervene in your life again (Romans 10:17).

Wellllllll, I probably should get back to “corporate America” land. Not the land of promise or the land of milk and honey, but of the land of emails and paperwork. The land of computers and secured networks.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Be strong. Be encouraged. Be victorious!

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