Hardman Road – Page 16

Christmas Memories: Music

Christmas Memories

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Luke 2: 13-14 ESV

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” – Luke 1:46-55

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” – Luke 1:68-79

Music is a big part of our Christmas. I have a hard time getting Kathy to NOT play Christmas music until after Thanksgiving! Going Christmas caroling was a part of our Christmas tradition growing up – we hadn’t been caroling in ages until last weekend when a few of us went out to UGA Family/Graduate Housing. We used to sing a lot more of the Christmas songs and hymns in church, too – we miss that.

From the angels song, to Mary and Zechariah’s praises, music has and is a part of Christmas. I was reading a devotion here recently that was discussing Mary’s “Magnificat” and how a simple, young girl reacted to the angel’s message to her. She burst forth into praise, song, and prophecy! How? Why?

And Zechariah first words after being mute for several months was song of praise and prophecy? Why?

I believe that when we – finite, mortal beings – come into the presence and wonder of the eternal God and are touched by Him, we naturally overflow with the knowledge of Him and from Him. We cannot help but praise, prophecy and express our love for Him. I believe this is why music is not only a part of Christmas but is a part of the Revelation saga and will be a part of our eternity with Jesus.

I don’t care if you can’t “carry a tune in a bucket” – if you truly believe that God is who He says He is and He is in you (as He is once you say “Yes” to Him), you should be making a “joyful noise unto the Lord”. This is not putting a fake smile on your face and falsely saying that everything is good, but it is an overflow of the joy that the gift of His grace and mercy should place in our hearts.

This Christmas, look at the words of the Christmas carols and hymns, hear them as if this is the first time. Open your hearts to the wonder of the story. And let the praise overflow from your heart and pour out from your lips.

Be well,
Steve Pierce

Christmas Memories: Lights

Christmas Memories

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. – Isaiah 9:2 ESV

I will make You as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth. – Isaiah 49:6b ESV

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16 ESV

I have always loved the lights of Christmas. Even though I have mostly outgrown the need to wake up early on Christmas morning, I still love getting up and just watching the lights on the tree in the stillness of the morning. Each year, Kathy and I find several occasions to go out and look for places to see Christmas lights.

One of my Christmas memories is of Dad loading all four kids into the car to look at lights and to search for Santa. Of course, this gave Mom a chance to finish wrapping presents :-). But we enjoyed the ride and the search. We always made it back home in time to be in bed well before Santa made his arrival.

It is again a season of lights. Not just for those who celebrate Christmas but for Jews who celebrate Hanukkah, with the candles of the menorah, and for Hindus who celebrate Tihar, the festival of lights. The Jews celebrate the power of God to do miracles in saving His people and the Hindus seek to call a goddess to bring wealth into the new year.

For followers of Jesus, the season is not so much the past or the future as it is about the now. Scripture shows us a contrast between the darkness and the Light and it is about His work in our NOW. We have seen Him and light shines on us. We seek Him and we find Him, the Light that fills the dark empty places of our lives. He was, and is and always shall be. He is the Miracle of our past and He is the One who brings true, eternal wealth into each of our years.

And He came for ALL – Jesus is the Light for the Nations! The task has been left to us to take the story of His salvation to the ends of the earth, completing Isaiah’s prophecy. As Christians, “little Christs”, we are to be lights that shine int the darkness wherever we are.

May the Light shine in your lives this Christmas and always!

Be well,
Steve Pierce

Excel in Kindness and Generousity

Kindness and Generousity

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you —see that you excel in this act of grace also. – 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

As Corinth excels in faith, speech, and knowledge, Paul asks that they excel in another display of kindness. Paul has been working with the churches of Macedonia. The churches there have experienced great suffering and they endure deep poverty. Even so, they were generous in giving above their means to be a helping service to the ministry. We are familiar with passing the plate at church. There is surely a Biblical defense for it. This is not a message on tithing. This is about priority.

The churches in Macedonia received the message of Christ knowing the hardship it would bring. Receiving Christ’s message often made you an outcast, to the point of genuine despair. Even so, they wanted to help Paul and the apostles move the message forward. Macedonia’s giving was not just about payroll. The apostles distributed to those who were being persecuted. Some new believers had to relocate or hide for extended periods for survival sake. Sacrificial giving in that time meant someone else’s survival.

It can be just as dramatic in our time. We are enjoying incredible wealth relative to other societies. Other areas are under deep persecution. Even in Europe, radical Islamists are attacking Christians. In many places it’s illegal to follow Christ. Still, there are those daring, obedient believers who find a way in by His leading. They need support. Move forward men, finding those areas of influence that the Father reveals and contribute. Give generously in resources, time, effort… however the Father’s Spirit leads.

Get off the sideline. Give like you believe what He says. Give like it’s you who needs it, since we are one body.

Vance Durrance

Ambassador for Christ

ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. What was old has passed away, and the new is worth exclaiming over. This newness is from God who reconciled us through Christ Jesus. The entire world is now reconciled and our sins are forgiven.

Paul calls himself an ambassador for Christ, as we are also, pleading with those who will hear us to be reconciled to God. The price has been paid to come to the Father. Through His sacrifice we have become the righteousness of God. That should be stirring some excitement in you brother.

For an entire people group, reconciliation was a deep multi generational desire, and for others, adoption was a dream come true. Paul answers those hopes here, for all people for all time. Christ made a way, where there seemed to be no way. The message failed to be carried out of Jerusalem.

But God, rich in His mercy, already knew and had prepared
a way. We have tickets, free tickets, to draw near to the greatest showman ever. There is no entity who is more wondrous, powerful, creative, and thankfully, merciful. This is not a backstage pass, this is adoption: a rags to riches story like no other. We were once dirt, brought to life, we failed and transgressed, we lost our place, but God in His mercy showered us with Grace. He picks us up, dusts off our sins and clothes us with His glory from the inside out.

This is the greatest, most loving and sacrificial romance story ever told. The people of God were adulterous. You and I were stiff-necked and denied Him, still He pursued us to the grave to save us from ourselves. MOVE FORWARD MEN, as ambassadors of the greatest story ever lived out. The most consequential pursuit of a wandering loved one, and the sweetest of all romances. It is also the greatest fight scene ever.

The Son of God wore our sins, fought the grave and won. He WON! He won an unworthy prize in us, and gave us His worth, His name, His identity, clothing us in His righteousness. Exclaim it ambassadors!!

Vance Durrance

Mighty Men of God

Mighty Men The Bible tells of many men that were surrendered to God and that He used in mighty ways for His purposes. Do we see those same type of men today? Do we know what they look like when we do? Are there any ‘in development’ now? The answer to all is or can be ‘Yes’.

In the Old Testament we read about David and his Mighty Men. David himself killed the lion, the bear, and Goliath (I Samuel 17). David killed his ‘tens of thousands’ yet David did not stand alone. He was instead surrounded by 37 great men (2 Samuel 23:8-39). His mightiest fighting men included Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah and their recorded efforts against the enemies of God’s people seem supernatural. In the New Testament, filled with the Holy Spirit Peter and the apostles saw 3000 saved in a day (Acts 2:41). Filled with the Spirit, Stephen testified before the Jews and prayed for their forgiveness as they stoned him (Acts 6-7). His strength, commitment and love demonstrated in death inspired those of the first Christian church. Paul took the message of gentile salvation before the Jews, Romans, and the known civilized world at that time, through many obstacles including prison, shipwreck, and snakebite. John saw and delivered the revelation of the end times. Jesus, the man, walked on water, fed 5000, called Lazarus up from the grave, made the lame to walk, healed the sick, died on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God and sacrifice for our sins, and then defeated Hell and the Grave. No man does any of these supernatural things in his own power. Only in the power of the Holy Spirit and only through great faith in and favor of the Father.

These things and greater are still possible today. Jesus, after promising the Holy Spirit, said you will do greater things than these (John 14:12). What did the mighty men of the Old and New Testament do that made them different? What do we need to do today to be used mightily today?

Surrender fully to God and acknowledge Him and the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Mighty men acknowledge, accept, and surrender to the authority of God. Jesus chose to serve His Father (Philippians 2:6-8). Paul surrender to the Lord and made himself a bond-servant of Christ. Peter said, ‘To whom else shall I go?” David said, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and praised God until he died (2 Samuel 7).
Have confidence in Christ. Mighty men aren’t in their first rodeo. They have tried Him and found Him faithful and powerful. They have seen God’s favor. They have seen God’s protection. They know that God’s promises are true in Christ Jesus and they know that His power is provided today through the Holy Spirit. Consider David’s statement in I Samuel 17: 37, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Dismiss fear. Replace it with faith. Empowered by their confidence in Christ, God’s mighty men move forward in full faith instead of cowering or delaying in fear. Step out on faith. Then stand in faith. Jesus is faithful and He promises to provide all that is needed to bring glory to His Father (John 14:12). If you try Him, you will literally marvel at the results.
Continue to gain experience. God’s mighty men are so because they are tested, i.e. they have made their ‘stand’. They have faced the spirits of depression, hopelessness, suicide, fatigue, distraction, alcohol or drugs, cancer, injury, fear, inadequacy, self and doubt. They have faced these crushing spirits and pushed through. They have helped others push through. They may be scarred and wounded, but they have seen the power of the Lord in action. They have survived and the joy of the Lord is their continued strength. Their experiences become the basis for their great faith and their great story.
Work to ‘see’ the spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12-13 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Gain discernment regarding what you are really battling and understand the tools that you have at your disposal and the promises of God that you can rely on.
Circle up with a group of like-minded Christian men. While you must make your individual decisions and individual stand for God, you do not have to stand alone. As David stood with other 37 great men, there are other tried and proven Christian men in this country. Find them, mentor them, or grow together, and circle up and make your collective stand.

The mighty men of God are forged in the spiritual battle. Trust in the Lord. See the power of the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus over these elements and your faith will be enlarged and your vision will be enhanced. The God of Israel is all powerful and all-knowing. His Holy Spirit is the power of God in you. Surrender, trust, and obey and see the power of the Lord in your life and in those around you. You will marvel at His development plan for your life when you look back on it. Who could have known? You will marvel at his protection when your enemies surround you. How can it be so? You will marvel at the victories that He wins for you ‘in a day’ that you could not have manufactured in a lifetime. You will marvel at His favor. And you will ‘see’ the spiritual battle behind the physical, and ‘hear’ the Lord clearly.

Derek Dougherty

‘Love’ in Today’s World — Part 2

Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7.⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is not rude or self-serving. It is not easily angered or resentful. I don’t know if any place tells on us more than the highway. I recall as a young boy riding with my grandparents. Grandma did most of the driving, and in her time, if your headlight beam reached the bumper of the car in front of you, you were crowding. If you crowded her you can bet there was an incremental response. She started respectfully giving room to pass, but if you didn’t get the hint she might just stop right there in the road and make you pass. Today it’s hard to fit a Bible between bumpers. We’ve forgotten our respect for each other. We are incredibly rude as long as our faces are hidden behind our monitor screens or tinted windows. We push and push, because we are so important of course. We anger at anything opposing or hindering our personal initiative and resent anyone or thing that challenges our view of self. I’m guilty too. Seldom do I need to hurry as I do. We seem to be scared of wasting a second in some environments but then waste hours scrolling social media. Move forward brothers, demonstrating love and forgiveness for each other regardless of the environment or circumstances. Imagine if Christ hadn’t been inclined to spare a few seconds for troubling people. Respect each other as co-heirs. Stop driving your life like your Dominic Toretto in some teenage car chase scene. Everyone else in this world has the same value in God as you and I. Let go of resentment. People fail us, because people are fallible. We have failed people also. Forgive as we have been forgiven.

Love is not glad about injustices, but rejoices in the truth. At the time of Jesus’s trial and subsequent crucifixion, many who had refused to believe in Him were happy about His arrest and flogging. The blood loss from the flogging by itself would have been life threatening, especially in a time without antibiotics. Jesus was beaten unrecognizable. There was no real evidence of corruption. The charge of blasphemy if proven legitimate might have been punishable by stoning, but the misery Christ endured was wildly unjust. Still, people cheered. Pilate, the governor, just before washing his hands of the matter conversed with Jesus and the question was asked; “What is truth?” This is one of the most profound and important question anyone can ask for themselves. Truth must be defined in its root before asking what is true of a circumstance. Truth is made of facts, but facts are too incomplete to be truth. Truth ascends beyond details, or agreed upon rules and formulas. Truth resides in permanence as the straight line by which all other lines are gauged to be straight or not. When we are glad about some injustice, what then is true about ourselves? “Means to an end” is not a justifiable position from truth. Move forward men. Pursue truth like your life depends upon it, for it most certainly does. Pursue truth, and follow the evidence. If we each commit to this, we will find each other at the end of our journey at the same feet, where justice meets mercy and Grace becomes manifest. What is true in the highest? Jesus paid a price by love that was unjust so we could choose to know…Truth.

Vance Durrance

‘Love’ in Today’s World — Part 1

Love

Paul has said that love is the ingredient that brings value to the Spiritual gifts we are given. Perhaps you are like me, in that, tenderness is not your specific gift. Thankfully for those like us, Paul defines love by its attributes. So, let’s take it in doses. Love is patient and kind, but not envious. Patience is a tool few of us share in our instant gratification culture. Kindness has now often given way to self-service. Acts of decency once common and expected often become viral video today as they increase in rarity. Envious is the one term of these three that does define our “I want” generation. We’ve largely abandoned love in favor of entitlement. We are a nation divided by politics, corporate branding, preference, class, wealth brackets, and ideology. The church is failing because we the people have failed in love for each other as co-heirs, sharing together the image of God. It is not the presidents fault, or the past administrations fault, nor is it whomever you and I view as an opponent. The responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves lands squarely upon our own shoulders. Jesus illustrated for us all how to love the unlovable. Move forward men, with patience and kindness. Take the time to love people. Give others the time to grow. Help one another in kindness. Smile, laugh with someone, hold a door. Be pleasant. These things make us more approachable. May love for one another begin here, and may God gain an increase from it. We may even find ourselves blessed by our own acts of decency among each other.

A little more on the attributes of love. Love does not brag, nor is it puffed up. We often miss the mark here. With so much of our lives turned inside out on social media today, we brag about everything from a new purchase to our dinner plates. We’ve surrendered privacy in favor of projecting a reality star persona. We’ve managed to create software to help us inflate our view of our self. Filters, autofocus, and programs aid in shading and lighting help us with the perfect selfie or picture to convince the world we’re on top. We’ve ascended to a degree of puffed up as a culture where we are seeing the consequences of our delusions. When reality and truth strikes like lightning upon our house of cards we see the collapse of reason and judgement. Our culture has puffed to the level of entitlement, and when expectations aren’t met the response is often violent, irrational, and even deadly. There is good reason to present all glory to God. God is the source of all good, the perfect example to follow, a lion of a leader, and a lamb of sacrificial love. When we get glory we are in danger of increasing arrogance. We lose focus on the mission and look at ourselves. When God gets the glory He showers us with love. If we boast, let’s boast of what we have in Him. Move forward men, with far less ego, and much more humility as a people of God. We are not here on earth to bring things into our nests. We aren’t here to build bigger nests. We’re here to point to the One who is shelter, refuge, and peace in troubled times.

Vance Durrance

The Named and Unnamed Storms of Life

hurricane-michael The named storms of this life can gain notoriety status. Hurricane Michael struck the people of Western Florida and S. AL and GA this week, with relatively little warning as storms go, and with a vengeance rarely encountered on the Gulf Coast. On Saturday prior, the threat was almost unknown. On Wednesday afternoon the Cat 4 storm slammed Panama City with winds near 155 mph causing massive damage. Michael will not soon be forgotten by those that lost their home or business in the region. Similarly, Hurricane Florence that struck the east coast in September 2018 will be a named storm that many in Eastern NC will remember for the flooding destruction for decades to come. Hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017 will have similar reputation. Collectively we remember the named storms.

But what about the unnamed personal storms? In my life I will always remember the personal financial crisis that impacted my family in 1998. Similarly, I will remember the business crunch crisis that we faced in 2001 after the attack of 9/11 brought the private sector to a halt for a time. I will never forget the land condemnation of 2007. I remember the personal questions of purpose and further and final surrender to the Lord in 2008 and the clarity and joy that followed. I remember the vicious attack of brain cancer that took my father-in-law in less than 3 months in 2016. I will always remember the quick and passing storm of depression that attacked my family in February of 2018, coming for a three week period with no warning but leaving as quick as it came once fully recognized. Life is full of attacks and storms. The stealth and the speed and even the source of the attack will surprise us many times, but the existence of the attack should never surprise us.

In John 16:33, Jesus said clearly, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” This Truth gives us great comfort as we face the named and unnamed storms. And, the worst storms of life do have their positive result. In James 1:2-4, the Bible says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Sometimes the storms seem more than we can bear, but it is times such as this that Jesus can stand up in our boat. Mark 8:24-27 reads, “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” If you find yourself in a storm, named or unnamed today, take heart, for even today, He is still capable of calling down the winds and waves in your life.

Derek Dougherty

Revelations from the Book of Nehemiah

We have been studying the Book of Nehemiah in our Sunday School class for the last quarter. Derek, my son, suggested that I write down some of the things we learned in this study. The first thing we learned about the book of Nehemiah is that it is not really about Nehemiah. It is about God using a benchmark person to reveal Himself to those that have been given an unction to seek Him. The following are a few of the characteristics of God that are revealed in the Book of Nehemiah:

God can bring judgment on nations, even His chosen nation, for disobeying His law and following their own law (rebelling).
God does take care of his chosen no matter where they are; Nehemiah was exiled to Babylon. God’s hand was on him.
God does present opportunities to serve Him (hear, see, draw near, obey) even when we have been exiled due to our sins.
God does give vision of what needs to be done to bring Him glory and honor. We must have the faith to act on the visions He provides.
Hearing His words when we have been in a rebellious state can and should bring sorrow of heart when they cause us to see our sins and His holiness.
Understanding and turning (obeying) to God’s Word brings strength to our souls. The joy of the Lord is my strength!
Joy of hearing His Word and seeing His Works is worthy of celebration and making sure all outside are invited to experience the joy and share in the celebration.

Nehemiah is just one book of the Bible that reveals Gods manifold character to his special creation (all men). In fact, there are 22 books in the Old Testament and 16 in the New Testament named after men and two in the Old Testament named after women. These books are not about any of the people they are named after but instead they are all about using their lives as benchmarks for revealing Himself, His ways, and His plans for us. Our lives are to be benchmarks to help others hear and see Jesus. What does your life’s story tell about the character of God? Watch with Him, talk with Him and lift Him up everyday by showing and sharing His love, His mercy, His grace to all we encounter on whatever path He takes us along.

Phil Dougherty

Do You See Him? – Part 2

Do You See Him?“Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him). Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.” -Luke 24:13-17

Have you ever wondered, “Why were their eyes kept from seeing Jesus?” It does seem rather intentional on God’s part, and I think, like with all that God does, there are multiple purposes in it. However, let’s focus on one.

Keep in mind, this is not a physical blindness, but a spiritual one. The disciples had yet to see Jesus as He truly was. Sure, they had seen His physical form for several years and spent much time looking into His face. But they were constantly perplexed by the things He did and the things He said. And at this point in the narrative, they are all in deep sadness, and they remain there despite all the evidence that Jesus actually did what He said He was going to do—die and rise again on the third day (Mat 16:21; 17:9; 20:19). Apparently, there was the important element of suffering that was missing from their equation (Luke 24:25); and thus, when Jesus appears to them in a more glorified state, (Luke 24:21), they missed Him entirely.

Suffering is often the missing element from our own equation that leaves us reeling in sadness and often feeling as if we are walking alone. I often hear people say that God doesn’t really give us answers to why we suffer and cite the book of Job as evidence of this. Yet, I believe Job tells us the opposite. God does give us answers (Job 33:14; 36:10, 15), for we are His “friends” if we seek to obey Him (John 15:15-14). And He has promised to be by our side (Lev. 26:12; Mat. 1:23; 28:20). Perhaps the reason we do not perceive that He is giving answers is because we are listening to another god (Ezek. 14:4) … a false image of Him, an idol in our heart that cannot answer (Isa. 115:3-5). In our suffering, perhaps the reason we are so often saddened by circumstances and feel God has abandoned us, that we are walking alone, is because we are looking for another messiah. The true Jesus is present with us, but we perceive Him not.

Joni Erickson Tada, in an old interview with James Dobson (“God’s Purpose in Tragedy I”, Family Talk, July 5, 2018) spoke of her own suffering. She had many questions those first few years after the accident that left her paralyzed. She was filled with questions longed for answers from God but got none. BUT, she said, “Once I came to the point of accepting my disability fully and entirely,” things started to change. “My trust in God did not depend on my ability or inability to perceive His plan or figure out His mind. My trust in God simply rested on His nature and His character… THEN I began to piece together some of the insights and reasons behind my disability.”

God is sovereign, and He does as He pleases (Isa. 115:3). He will not cater to our demands for immediate answers, nor should He (Job 35:9-15). Nor will He be manipulated and controlled by our assumptions and false images (1Sam. 15:23). He is the great I AM, and it is WE who need to bend our will, not Him. Because, He is that GREAT.

Yet God is also incredibly good, promising us gracious love (Exo. 34:6), abundant blessings (Isa. 78:15; John 10:10; Eph. 1:3; 2Pet. 1:3), and ultimate good (Rom. 8:28; Jer. 29:11) through circumstances and men’s wicked intentions (Gen. 50:20). In addition, even though a single sin is worthy of death, we go on living day after day breathing in His mercy. Even though we rebelled and became His enemy (Rom. 5:10), He pursued us and rescued us from our bondage to sin. Because He is that GOOD.

Therefore, as we go through this life, may we remember that suffering is a part of God’s redemptive work in a fallen, sinful world. Our Lord and Messiah HAD to suffer (Luke 17:25; John 1:29; Acts 2:23; Heb. 10:10; etc.). And since a servant is not greater than his master (John 13:16; 2Tim. 2:3), so as His servants we participate in His suffering so as to participate also in His resurrection power (1Pet. 4:13; Col 1:24; Phil. 3:10; 2Cor. 1:5). If we stay focused on Jesus as He is truly revealed in His Word, trusting in His character (His sovereignty and goodness and the necessity of suffering), then we will indeed see His presence walking with us, and in due time hear the answers we long to understand.

Billy Neal