Blinded by the dark_2 Corinthians 4:18

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen."

I am afraid of the dark. Even when I sleep, I have to leave on the light on my dresser, so when I open my eyes I can still see what surrounds me. When I’m in a hotel, I keep the door of the bathroom slightly ajar with the light on, “just in case”. This is why I couldn’t bring myself to watch the Netflix movie “Bird Box”. Just thinking about having to move around in a blindfold to evade monsters that can kill me if I see them is terrifying me!

But God’s word tells me that NOT seeing is better!  “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) 

I am told to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our human nature, however, insists on looking for proof or evidence that something is indeed there. Even one of his apostles, who walked intimately with Jesus, heard everything Jesus said, and witnessed all the miracles of Jesus had done, had a hard time believing that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.   Thomas only believed when He appeared before him to show him his wounds.

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

 But if something cannot be seen, does it mean it’s not there or it’s not happening?

This is what faith in Jesus is all about -- believing that His hand is moving, even when you do not see it…yet.  Though I do not see Him, I believe He sees me. How comforting to know that I don't need to SEE to BELIEVE!

Lord God, I really prefer being able to see what’s happening. But at this time, I know that, in your great wisdom, You are teaching me to trust that Your hand is moving, and to know that You are watching over me, to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to fix my eyes on You, even though I cannot see. Let me find strength in the words in Psalm 121:7, 8, “The Lord will keep you from all harm — he watches over your life;  the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Joy in Hard Places_Habakkuk 3:18

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."

Have you already Konmari-ed your house? Have you cleared out things that “don’t spark joy”? Many people who take Marie Kondo’s method literally feel they’d be left with nothing in their homes if they threw out everything that didn’t “spark joy”. A meme even showed a woman throwing out her husband! Boy! I laughed out loud with that! But I think they’re missing a vital point here on how we must view what we have around us, and what brings us true “joy”, not simply satisfaction, or pride in possession.

Spark joy is a loose translation of the ‘tokimeku” literally “to flutter” among other things. Cathy Hiran who translated the book of Marie Kondo to English considered several possibilities like “bring pleasure” and “brighter you world”. My favourite? “Speaks to your heart”.

The prophet at that time was anticipating the impending invasion of the Babylonians, yet he expressed a kind of joy that goes beyond the terrifying circumstances surrounding him. Early in the first chapter he cries out “How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen?” But by chapter 3 verses 17 & 18, he resolutely proclaims —

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines; though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be IN GOD, my Saviour."

Lord Father in Heaven, how many times have I cried in despair over things that caused me to worry and fear, forgetting all the times You have overwhelmed me with Your unfailing love? I know I shouldn't look at the circumstances around me but only look to You. It is IN YOU, my Saviour, I find true JOY.  Speak to my heart, O God!

Image credit: Gerri Gibbons

Fear and Discouragement_Deuteronomy 31: 8

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

In water, I am highly skilled in what I call “drownability”.  Once my head goes underwater, I panic.  My children, who all swim like fish, reprimand me, “Mom, just calmly move your arms and legs to stay afloat."  I try to do this and, slowly but surely, sink.

Fear does this to us.  When we are faced with a looming problem to which we have no solution, or when we are faced with the unknown, we panic and sink. In the story, Joshua was tasked by Moses to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land and divide the land according to their inheritance. But first he needed to defeat those who were occupying the land, and then face the formidable task of dividing it among the Israelites who have proven themselves to be rebellious and contentious. Not an easy task for sure!  I can already imagine Joshua slowly sinking.

It’s easy to tell someone “do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” But Moses prefaced his encouragement with these powerful words: 

 “The Lord Himself [in all His power and majesty] 

goes before you [He is preparing the way!] 

and will be with you [He will guide you and protect you!] 

But wait! There’s more! He adds — 

“He will never leave you nor forsake you.” [He’s got your back and even when you fail, He will be there for you.]

Lord, I feel like I’m sinking as panic sets in. Please forgive me for forgetting, not only how great and mighty You are, but also forgetting how much You love me. Today, I claim the promise that Moses gave to Joshua — that You, Mighty Father in heaven, go before me and are with me; You will always have my back and never leave me alone. Because of Your great love for me, I don’t have to be afraid or discouraged.

Image credits: brandonsteiner.com

ASAP _ Proverbs 16:9

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Just the other day, I sent a message to my friend to request for the  vital information I needed to complete an article I was writing.  The item had been on my To-Do List for about a week already and I was impatient to tick it off my list. She told me she’d follow it up with another person, who in turn needed to follow up with another.  Waiting is hard, right? Especially if you’re someone whose favourite acronym is ASAP.

It’s difficult at times to “be still and wait upon the Lord” when urgent needs are knocking at your door.  Our human nature — our fears, our doubts, our anxiety, our expectations — compels us to act, usually impulsively, because we want to see results ASAP. Many times though the Lord, through His word, has convicted my worrying heart. He pushes the ‘pause’ button and gently pulls me back. "Trust me," He gently whispers, “I know what I’m doing because I created you and love you. I gave my Son to die for you remember?”

In the book by Jon Bloom, “Not by Sight”, he wrote, “He does not always answer with the speed we desire, nor is His answer always the deliverance we hope for.  But He will always send the help that is needed.  His grace will always be sufficient for those who trust Him. The hope we taste in the promises we trust will often be the sweetest thing we experience in this age. And the reward of God’s fulfilment of these promises will be glorious beyond our imagination.” 

Lord, forgive me for carrying the banner of ASAP instead of patiently waiting for You.  Let me cling in faith, that even though I do not see Your hand, I know it is moving! Let me walk the steps You've determined for me BY FAITH, and not by sight. 

Image credit: Aquila Style

Blocking out the Noise_1 Kings 19:12

"After the fire came a gentle whisper."

There's a construction behind our house that's been going on for more than a year. Every morning, as early as 7, the workers start hammering and grinding away, making a racket. I get annoyed and think, "Now how can I have my quiet time with God with all this noise!" So instead of being at peace, I'm upset!

I know that I need to exercise patience with the laborers in the next lot but noise pollution is a widespread problem for sure. But "noise" can also come from other sources that can distract me from having this quiet time, like the ping of a new message on my phone, a notification flashing on my laptop screen and wayward thoughts when I think of my Things-to-do List. All these draw my focus from simply being still to hear God's gentle whisper.

He wants me to be still; he longs for me to sit long enough for Him to tell me of His love. This is why the Good Shepherd "makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me to quiet waters; he restores my soul." What an overwhelming thought to know that Jesus, my Savior and King wants to spend time with me!

While I cannot block the noise from outside my window, I can exert all my efforts to remove the things that will distract my heart and my mind from coming into His loving presence.

Lord, forgive me for all the times when I allow the noise to pollute my holy time with You. I want to lean into You, and press my ear to Your heart and listen. May I always be present to hear when You whisper.

Worry_2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I woke up at 3:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep.  Worry took a seat in my mind and refused to leave.  To try to feel drowsy again, I decided to read "40 Unstoppable Women" by one of my favorite authors, Harold Sala, and began reading his account on Gracia Burnham.

She and her husband, Martin, were missionaries.  One day they, along with a Filipina nurse, Ediborah Yap, were kidnapped by the Abu Sayaff and held captive for more than a year in the extreme conditions of the jungles in Mindanao. At the end, just as they were being rescued by the military, her husband and the nurse were killed.

In her book "In the Presence of My Enemies", Gracia wrote that in the middle of this horrifying ordeal, she told her husband that she had not given up her faith, but she just has chosen "not to believe the part about God loving me.  Because God's not coming through."

I feel this way nowadays. I cry out to the Lord, pray through His promises in the Bible, yet He hasn't come through.  This is why I am awake in the middle of the night conversing with Worry.

Then Gracia writes, "I knew I had a choice.  I could give in to my resentment and allow it to dig me into a deeper and deeper hole both psychologically and emotionally or I could CHOOSE TO BELIEVE what God says to be true whether I felt it was or not."

Lord, forgive me for allowing Worry keep me company. Take away the chair I've allowed Worry to rest on, and instead sit with me. Please give me the strength of faith to choose to believe Your Truth over my feelings of fear, doubt and insecurities.
Image Credit: www.tqhcl.com