Podcast 40 - Life gets messy when we don't trust God

Life gets messy when we don't trust God

A little story .... this week I have been reminded once again of what it means to do life 'in your own strength.'  Those times when you are pushing through, but doing it the hard way, often with a really bad attitude - resentment being a key factor. 

Over the past couple of years I have become more involved in our business, which has been great for me, Ken and the business. But not always great for our children especially when school holidays come around. 

During the school holidays resentment can creep in as I have a strong desire to complete the day's work jobs well, but also have a strong desire to actually have some fun with our children as they are out of the normal school routine. One moment I am resenting the work, but then God reminds me this is the means by which we have a warm, dry home and food to eat. The next moment I am resenting the children being at home, but then God reminds me that they are a blessing from Him and how different my life would be without them!

This morning I realised that the source of that resentment is actually a lack of trust in God.  That is, I'm not trusting that God will give me enough time in my day to do the things that He wants me to do (not the things I think I need to do).  But rather I am trying to work out myself how to fit it all in (ie doing it in my own strength), and getting very impatient and frustrated with everyone around me. 

The funny thing is, yesterday morning I expected that I would have to work all day to get various tasks done before we closed for the Christmas holiday period. The stress levels had risen by 8am when the children started waking up and my time of non-interrupted work suddenly became 10 minutes slots of concentration in among children's requests.  

Then I went to a 10am appointment, only to find that the appointment was for today! So there was 45 minutes wasted. 

Home again to work on some financial reporting, which turned out to be a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be. Finished! I looked at the clock on my computer - midday. Not the 6pm that I thought it was going to be. I felt pretty stupid. I had caused angst to myself and my children for nothing - other than for me to be reminded that it is always better to walk with God through the day, rather than try to run my own race and cause havoc in the process. 

A simple matter of getting up in the morning, taking a deep breath, giving all the tasks I think I need to do to God, and saying, 'Please show me which ones I need to do, and how and when to do them.'  And then waiting to hear what He says, and be guided by Him. Not charging off on my own agenda - doing it in my own strength.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways." says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV

Thankfully God is gracious and merciful, and there was a time of restoration with the children in the afternoon as I switched off from work and we watched some Christmas movies together.

My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9 TPT 

Hopefully when we re-open the business in January I will remember this lesson and trust that God has it all sorted!  

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions, with all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Proverbs 3:5 TPT

Podcast 39 - Be strong and of good courage

Be strong and of good courage

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NKJV

There is a song, "Take Courage" by Bethel Music, here are some of its lyrics,

'Hold on to your hope as your triumph unfolds'

Oh that can be so hard to do, hold on; press in; stand. But sometimes there is no other choice. We have to believe that our triumph will unfold. And that we can learn to worship God in the waiting, something that I believe we only truly learn in those deep dark moments.

I remember a milestone moment in my constant journey of learning how to trust God more, and more, and more, and more. It relates to our daughter Victoria, and happened  about 4.5 years when we had just found out that the tumour had started to grow for the third time.

There was a choice to be made - continue to live in fear that the tumour would continue to grow, or choose to live each day to the full - trusting God that no matter what happens He would get us through this. God helped us with making that choice by taking us to a Camp Quality camp where His Word - John 10:10 was displayed on posters in the dining hall.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

That visual message was the starting point for helping me to change my hopeless thinking. I say starting point, because although God had given me that clear sign with the posters, those feelings of hopelessness didn't just go away overnight. They had to be attended to, and over-time they got quieter and quieter and God's truth got louder and louder in my head.  

Here is a bit of what that process required ...

An Awareness of what my focus was on - diagnosis vs declaration of faith (John 10:10)

Action to replace those thoughts of hopelessness and fear with God's truth

Acknowledging that I couldn't do that replacement in my own strength.

Asking God daily to help me take that action.

Allowing God to do that work in me - not resisting, but instead surrendering. And only then I could ....

Authentically worship God, despite the circumstances because He was restoring my hope in Him.

Pressing into Him in the waiting season, learning to trust that not only would He get us through, but that His triumph would unfold - no matter what - here or in Heaven, has been a huge journey - and it continues now only in different spheres of our lives. 

But it is a journey that despite the pain, I would not swap because it has grown a greater hope, a stronger faith and a deeper understanding of God's love for us.

So today, as you face the circumstances in your life, why not take a deep breath and say to God, 

Okay God, I'm trusting You with this, please help me to grow in hope, faith and love through this situation. I choose to worship You. Thank you that you are with us wherever we go and that will get us through this day. Thank you that our triumph will unfold because of Who you are and what you have done. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Lord, I will worship you with extended hands as my whole heart explodes with praise! I will tell everyone about your wonderful works and how your marvellous miracles exceed expectations! I will jump for joy and shout in triumph as I sing your song and make music for the Most High God. Psalm 9:1-2 TPT

Podcast 38 - Don't give up on God - Press in and trust

Don't give up on God - press in and trust

How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord;
within their hearts are the highways of holiness!
Even when their paths wind through the dark valley of tears,
they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others only find pain.
Psalm 84:5-6 TPT

Over the past few weeks I've had plenty of opportunities to marvel at God's grace and mercy both in our own family, and with our friend's families. He has shown time and time again that He grace is sufficient and His mercies are new every morning. He is a God of restoration and breakthrough. 

And exactly as this scripture says, when we walk with Him and find our strength in Him, we can, in those really difficult times, dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others only find pain.

That pleasant pool is an overwhelming sense of His presence and a trusting that He's got this. He's got you. He's got your future. This is truth ....

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

I implore you - Do not give up on God. The answers to your prayers may not come immediately, they may not come in the short term and they may not come as you expect them to. But He is there, He is at work and His end goal is always to spend eternity with you.

Right now it may feel as if you are alone and abandoned. But the truth is that you are not alone or abandoned. God is with you. 

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

Lift your head and look for things to be thankful for because those things are a tangible reminder that God is with you.

Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God's perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 TPT

I implore you again - Do not give up on God. Ask him to help you with areas of unbelief. Declare His promises until you see them come to pass. No one or no thing can deliver anything as good as our God can. Do not give up on God. Cry out. Press in and press on. The victory is ours in Jesus Name.

Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything. 

So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God's love. I'm convinced that his love will triumph over death, life's troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us - no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God's passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Romans 8:37-39 TPT

With God you can find that pleasant pool in the midst of darkness. Dive in today.