Tag: Encouragement

Christian, Inspiration, Encouragement

The Lord is With You

Highlighting Hope

I love how the Word of God never grows old or how it never fails to teach and reveal something new. I love how God’s word continues to supply His people with unwavering hope and how it faithfully steadies our hearts and minds in an increasingly unsteady world. After several years of teaching my 4th grade students about the life of Joseph, I am truly amazed at the rich truths God continues to reveal every time I dive into this story with my students.

The life of Joseph is one that I would say that many of us are familiar with- He’s the guy with the colorful tunic, the one who is known to be his father’s favorite son, the one who is betrayed by his brothers when they throw him in a pit, and then out of the kindness of his brothers’ hearts, they decided to sell him off as a slave instead of killing and then portray him as dead to their father. When you think of Joseph, you probably think of a life full of trials, deep hurts, and a man longing for freedom.

But as we read about the life Joseph and all of the many trials he faced, the pivotal question for us to ask and answer is “what do we see and learn about God?”

In the middle of so many trials and tribulations, we see a sovereign and faithful God! Four times in Genesis chapter 39, we read the phrase “theLord was with Joseph.” The interesting thing about this phrase is when we first see it recorded. This phrase doesn’t show up in the text until the trial begins. It is first seen in Genesis 39:2, right after Joseph had been sold to Potipher. 

As we progress through that chapter so do Joseph’s hardships- Joseph was falsely accused by Potipher’s wife and as a result of this false accusation- we now see Joseph move from being a slave to now being a slave in prison.Alongside these progressive hardships we continue to see the phrase “the Lord was with him.”

I imagine that God was with Joseph prior to these major trials taking place, but one thing is undeniably clear, that God wanted us to know that when the hardships came- the Lord was Joseph’s ever-present help in his time of need.And in addition to God being with him, we also learn that God was also causing him to prosper. And when was God causing him to prosper? God was causing him to prosper him while he was still a slave and while he was still in a jail cell.

Thankfully, we serve a God who does not change! This account of Joseph’s life is thousands of years old but the truths contained in it still remain true. When the trials of life hit, we can rest confidently in knowing that “the Lord is also with us” We can trust that God is continuing to actively work in our lives, and that He will continue to prosper us even in the murkiest of circumstances because we know that God always works all things, even the hard things, for good and ultimately for His glory.

Christian

Seeing Storms In A New Light

Highlighting Hope

 It was a Monday evening, many years ago, and we got caught driving in a heavy downpour of rain. The rain was so heavy that we could barely see the road. As we made our way down the road, my daughter, who was two at the time, is in the backseat screaming, “Oh no Mom! It’s a “torvado”! It’s a “torvado”!” I understood her panic, because we had spent a lot of time at the beginning of that year hiding out in the bathroom from serval tornadoes that had hit the area we were living in in a very short period of time. It made quite the impression on her! Before the night was over, the heavy rain had turned into a full fledge thunderstorm.

I remember not sleeping well that night, and I was annoyed by the loud thunder and flashes of light that were constant. In my heart I was grumbling about this “storm” and how it inconvenienced me and prevented me from getting a good night’s sleep, but as I laid there wide awake, my thoughts and feelings about this storm began to quickly change. I realized that what I was complaining about was God’s way of providing for us. We all know how much we need rain, and even still, I know how quick I am to complain when the rain actually comes. (Even the lightning God uses for our benefit and I learned that it actually helps to provide the soil with nitrates, which is pretty cool!) As I laid there wide awake, I realized I looked at storms with the wrong perspective. I focused on how I felt inconvenienced and fearful of the possibility of something being struck by lightning or even losing power, but I realized that all of this happens for a reason, and ultimately it puts God’s glory on display.

“God is always working to produce a beautiful display of hope!”

As we face our storms in life, we often times we see the inconveniences, difficulties, pain, and reasons for fear, all the while missing the good that God is really doing.

That Monday night James 1:2-4, 12 took on a new meaning for me.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials (storms) of many kinds, because you Know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (vs. 2-4)

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (vs. 12)

As storms persist, God is at work. Nothing goes unused by our Heavenly Father, who loves us and is working all things for our good, but ultimately for His glory. In spite of any storm that may come our way, my prayer is that our hearts will dwell on God’s goodness, knowing He never leaves or forsakes us, and that our eyes would be unveiled to see the works of His hands. God always working to produce a beautiful display of hope!

lightning

Christian, Encouragement, Inspiration

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Highlighting Hope

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” This was a question that Jesus asked his disciples who were filled with fear when they found themselves in a shaky circumstance. Jesus frequently spoke to crowds of people, often times to critics, and to people who probably had little to no faith in Him at all, but he saved this question for his followers.

This question is still applicable to believers today. As I pondered this question asked by our Lord, three things came to mind:  Worship, Correction, and Love.

When we are faced with the question “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” it causes us to acknowledge who Jesus is and give Him all the worship He is due. We are caused to recognize that He is sovereign over all of our life circumstances and, that however great the circumstance that we face may be, Jesus is infinitely greater. We are faced with remembering that the presence of our circumstance is temporary, but Jesus’ presence in our lives is continuous. “Never will He leave you; never will He forsake you.” This promise is declared in Deuteronomy 31:6 to the Israelites as they were about to enter the Promised Land that God would give to them, and Moses knew that they would face circumstances that would cause them to fear. Therefore, Moses tells them, yes, it’s going to get scary for a bit, you’ll be tempted to give way to fear, but remember God is with you continuously. Paul references this same verse in Hebrews 13:6 to remind believers of God’s constant presence in our lives. Praise God that He is ever-present!

the presence of our circumstance is temporary, but Jesus’ presence in our lives is continuous.

As I read this question asked by Jesus, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” it immediately corrects my thinking about my circumstances. When I give way to fear, I begin to give more credit to my circumstance than to my Savior. When I begin to give way to fear, I am believing that my circumstance is greater than Jesus, and that my circumstance has the final say. When fear begins to arise within our hearts, we must rush to God’s word so that we can then be changed by the renewing of our minds with truth! (Romans 12:2) By taking in truth, we will find peace because our thoughts  are now fixed on Jesus who is the author and perfector of our faith. (Heb. 12:2)

And finally, as I read this question asked by Jesus, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” I am drawn to the love of our Savior. Jesus acknowledges that in our flesh, we will be tempted to succumb to fear, and then He offers Himself to be our solution. Jesus desires that we not live a life of fear but of power, of love and sound mind.  (2 Tim 1:7)

In the book Conversion by Michael Lawrence, he says“Faith is trust, and it’s only as good as the object of its trust. So the question isn’t “Did you believe? as Fanny Crosby implied. It’s ‘Who did you believe in?’”

So, “you of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Remember in whom we are placing our trust! The Lord, Jesus Christ is with you in every single moment of every single day as you walk through any and every circumstances, and He is ready and able to supply you with everything you need! Fear not!