My Help

Difficult times in our lives not only reveal who we are but also sets the stage for who we are becoming. I call these times the 'In Between Times'. The time between deliverance out of Egypt and arrival into the Promised Land. Usually during these times we allow ourselves to become bitter and resentful over the smallest things. One of the easiest places to develop these emotions is when dealing with loss. Whether it be the loss of a loved one to illness, the loss of a child to drugs, the loss of a job to someone younger but less experienced than you or the loss of a spouse to another man or woman. All of these losses affect your deepest emotions and it is easy to allow your heart to become hardened. We, of course, think that the decisions we are making now will only affect the present but I beg to differ. It is those decisions that shape who we are in the future. Take for example the loss of a spouse in a divorce. Often times there are court battles over who gets what...the house, the car, the children. Want to see the worse in somebody just sit in divorce court one day. People are fighting so hard to get even that they lose sight of God altogether. Think about the loss of a dear friend. Someone you have trusted with your innermost thoughts only to have them share them with someone else. Realizing that person can't be trusted. It is during these times that we must really rely on God to guard our hearts and our minds. To keep our tongue from harsh words. To keep our ears from ungodly advice. To keep our feet from evil. Yes, we all go through the necessary grieving stages but we cannot use that as an excuse to treat others wrong. This is actually the time you should spend dedicated to prayer and reading your Word. You should surround yourself with spiritual friends, those who will pray with you and pull you back in when you are out there on that ledge about to put something in concrete that should only be in the sand. One of the most valuable assets you can have are Godly friends. Those that will pray with you and for you.

Each and every time we go through a difficult season of life God is waiting to see if we are going to trust him. Will we stand still and see the salvation of the Lord? If we are going to hold our peace and let the Lord fight our battles? We are ensured victory when we trust Him. The thing that I have learned through my failure is that my attitude while riding through the storm helps to determine how long I have to spend in the situation and also how much repair work has to be done after it's all over. A while back I was watching TBN and the minister who was talking asked a question that is very relevant to the subject matter I am talking about today. 'Is is possible to possess a vital faith that prompts you to be at your best while passing through a season of profound disappointment, unnerving chaos, or deliberating pain? If you had asked me this question six or seven years ago I would say no. Six or seven years ago when I was going through what I thought was my worst wilderness experience yet, I didn't see many positives. In fact, I crumbled. I couldn't take it. I wasn't prepared to fight with Satan. I wasn't strong enough to hold on to God's unchanging hand. I locked myself up in my house and did nothing else. I had my own private pity party, shut everyone out of my life and just gave up. I still remember the exact moment God spoke to me and told me to get myself up, He had work for me to do. It took me a minute to move in obedience but eventually I did. My life hasn't been the same since. So why am I telling you all this because that experienced increased my faith.  It was a part of the preparation process.  God was getting me ready to be a witness for Him.  Now when difficult times arrive in my life they really aren't that unexpected.  In fact, I know that as long as I am striving to do what's right in God's eyes and following His commands, Satan is going to come up against me.  I will have struggles.  At times I will become overwhelmed.  Yet in the midst of all my suffering, I still have hope.  My experiences taught me that whatever God places within you, no one can take away.  There may be times that you do not use what God has given you.  Nevertheless, it is always available.    I

Don't be fooled and think that  my faith in God has just helped me blaze right on through my suffering.  It has not.  It has, however, helped me to know where my help comes from.  I know what my resources are.  I find them in reading my Bible and in continuous prayer with God.  That is what I believe maturing in this Christian walk is about.  You allow God to change the behaviors in you that are not like Him.  You allow Him to give you a clean heart and a new attitude on life. You take the valleys in stride knowing that God is always at work and He is there to meet your every need.  You simply have to trust Him.   He had to show me that I am not just the God of your mother and father but I am your God. The one who you can depend on. There is one verse that I believe sums all this up.   "I AM..." (Exodus 3:6)

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

God who sees and knows everything that is going on in my life right now. I confess that I am weak. The flesh keeps telling me to give up but I know that I can make it because I have You, O Lord living on the inside of me. I'm asking you today to guard my mind. Guard my heart. Forgive me of all my sins and remove anything within me that is not of You. Lord I am doing my best to hold on. Help me not to do permanent damage while in a temporary situation. I am leaning and depending on You. I know You will see me through. I thank you God because You are gracious and merciful towards me. I love you and I praise You. In Jesus' Wonderful Name Amen.