How not to become directionless in the storm.

PART 3 KEEP RUNNING A STRAIGHT LINE THROUGH THE STORM.

ISAIAH 30:21

AND YOUR EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND YOU SAYING, 

"THIS IS THE WAY WALK IN IT" 

WHEN YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT OR WHEN YOU TURN TO THE LEFT.

 It's been an incomprehensible undeserved privilege to lead worship at mission conferences over the years, especially with quality musicians, singers and worshippers from so many cultures full of praise for what Christ has done and is doing. It has taught me so much about perspective for life being "bigger" and richer under His grace. It's not ever just about me. Gathering the nations together under Christ in one room / one church however small, is a window and foretaste of heaven. It is a visible (tangible) display in miniature of His ultimate purpose of bringing many nations together in rainbow grace.  This is yet to be seen and we live by faith. But let the foretaste not be misunderstood, nothing is monochrome or mono dimensional about our God, He is altogether glorious and the spectrum of His work of grace is wider than any human eye can see. Singing with thousands on this fallen planet has not yet done this justice, but it is a majestic overture to the song which will repeat in heaven. 

One thing has consistently bothered me though in the preparation of such worship... song selection. Why are there so few good songs in the mission book repertoire? So few songs sung about the great day of song to come when every people group and epoch of salvation will sing with an eternal smile ?

One of the songs I've appreciated was ...

"great is the darkness that covers the earth" particularly the last verse...

Great celebrations on that final day

When out of the heavens you come

Darkness will vanish

All sorrows will end

And rulers will bow at your throne

Our great commission complete

Then face to face we shall meet.

There's profound beauty in the simplicity, not least because I understand that having a clear view of the day to come is critical for living in the day of complex trouble, storm and missional challenge today. Paul asks the Galatians "You were running well... what hindered you ? Gal 5:7. A significant part of their distraction and derailment on the journey as disciples was losing sight that the finish line is around the corner and will inevitably come. Surely this connects with the thoughts in verse 5 "For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness". Keeping sight of the end, helps us persevere with perspective and priority. 

The Holy Spirit leads us with a steady hand on the rudder when we listen to His way, the same way of our pacesetter Christ. Waiting for the day and heading for it in a straight line is still possible in the storm even though this world buffets us in all sorts of directions and tries to send us well off course. He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world.

1) Listen to The Spirit's call to hunger for heaven not build heaven here and now. ROMANS 8:26-27.

2) Listen to The Spirit's call to lead sinners to repentance, to lose yourself in self forgetfulness and walk in His perspective and bigger purpose of so many who need Christ. MATTHEW 6:33, GALATIANS 5:16, 

3) Daily remind yourself that you are one step nearer glory or His return. Like waiting for Christmas there are not too many sleeps to go, and one less every time our head hits the pillow. The finish tape is in sight, it will happen and you will end a race well run by His help. You are weak but He is strong, the forerunner Christ is already home by the same strength and plan. He is preparing our place, so don't get distracted by the storm, the sin of others, the temptation to settle into security  or comfort... eternity has more of than you can imagine, so press on now. Run harder dear friend. Push on to see more in His Choir singing His Song, for there is day coming when adding new members to the choir won't be possible,  the choir will be completely assembled and that really is not that far away. 

PART 2 : The right response in the middle of the storm Psalm 4

Guarding the line between frustration amidst circumstance caused the effects of sin of others and appropriate gentleness and caution which commends the character of God is an ongoing challenge for those called to live in the world and not act like the world in fallen instinct. 

God silences the roaring of the seas (Psalm 65:7) for the believer, but sometimes the “roaring of the waves” happens within us, the tumult is internal and his people as we fight against and see so much that is wrong around us and the pain being caused. 

What does the bible direct of us ?

Psalm 4:4 

Be angry, and do not sin: 

ponder in your own hearts on your beds and be silent. 

There is appropriate frustration in a broken world, and there is appropriate desire for judgement and justice. Many of our friends who work on the frontline of mission see the very worst of humanity which can be so distorted and perverted that it appears subhuman. Mankind has an incredible capacity to be inhumane to fellow man. As the bible asserts… our hearts are deceitful and wicked beyond our understanding. What then do we do when we see sin causing pain to untold people, when children are used and abused, when people are trafficked or controlled and forced to using their bodies  and daily losing any dignity they have left for income, when those who pretend to be spiritual carers act only in their own best interest and not for the welfare of those they are called to serve ? Then there are the many other subtle issues of people getting what they want and causing untold pain to many others in doing so. 

Note the instruction of Psalm 4 to reflect and not just continue in hyper activity.

Some of us go to our beds routinely replaying the day so that we always win the rerun, thinking of what we should’ve done or said to make things go our way. Part of our mortal finiteness is that we have a limit to human created capacity in a way which God does not. We go to bed, but He never slumbers or sleeps. We can leave the big problems to the one who covers them 24/7 and for all eternity past present and future with His sovereign wisdom and understanding, but that should not be escapism, it should be submission in a cry for purity and more of His character outworked in us. Notice the emphasis of Psalm 4 to look to our situation (our hearts, our beds and our expressions) and deal with ourselves before we look to others. It echoes what Jesus said (Matthew 7:3-5)

When our saviour left the morally spotless and impenetrably Holy environment of glory, where God, his character and all he stands for / is working for is adored… he saw the same things but in searing clarity and colossal magnitude. He did it in a considered manner. How then should we respond ? How would God have us respond in a way out of consideration of His character which honours Christ and commends the character of God in a broken world?

28 generations before Christ (Matthew 1:17), David lived with the same tensions and pointed us to the need of Christ, one who would come as Servant King, pay for the sin of humanity and be exalted to rule and judge on the basis of His perfect character. 

It is amazing how many psalms live in the tension of a broken world worthy of frustration, but yet to be resolved in judgment. 

Psalm 37:11

But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

JESUS Matthew 5:5-9

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of GOD.

Instincts are normal, but also can be cultivated.

As I sat to write this I stubbed my toe on the office chair. Was it normal to yelp in pain? Absolutely. Should I be so Holy that such a reaction is deemed inappropriate? Should I be in a white cassock and silent at such events and concentrate on making nice smelling lavender candles in a monastery or is that just another form of non-humanity / escapism from real life ? 

It appears to me that David, and even more so Christ were 100% normal men. In fact Christ is the ultra human one we are copies of (Colossians 1:15 ) and although his normality has been twisted by our sin, and His makers hallmark sometimes is hard to see in us, we still have the DNA instincts of flesh made in the image of GOD. A broken world causes pain and the reaction internally is natural. Christ's response to death is tears, (John 11;45 ) because of all the brokenness that a sin saturated world brings human beings. He cries for the relational pain and separation it causes, not because he couldn’t do anything about it, for He alone had the power to victoriously beat death to death. Sometimes however our reactions are not so pure, or Christlike and come from an entirely different motive , driven more by our own desires than His, by a passion to be on the global throne of governance ourselves.

How then are our communicated responses and considered responses cultivated in appropriateness? 

Guarding our hearts so that we maintain the distinct line between appropriate response in frustration to Sin, and wanting to react in vengeance or inappropriate anger is so important. There is a line between us and the Holy one which is appropriate to keep the spotlight on. (Matthew 25:31-32). Daily reading of scripture and repentance are disciplines which intensify this spotlight for us giving an appropriately small perspective of our role in His eternal role as other. Yes we have been given Christ’s imputed Holiness by grace, yes even more remarkably he will include us in the process of putting all wrongs right (1 Cor 6:3) as a corrective to the governance we messed up (Gen 1:26 ) as his vice regent governors…. But vengeance is the LORD'S and we are His servants... not master. As if we could tell Him what to do? ( Isa 40:13ff, Job 21:22, 36:23-25)

There are inappropriate and appropriate instincts for the child of God.

We need to acknowledge that we are not naturally mature in responding to sin in others when we first come to Christ. Something needs to be learned in communion with His Spirit. Treasuring the overwhelming grace of Christ is such a great start, and this is so clear when we come to Him, especially the first time for forgiveness, but also the countless times we come in repentance thereafter. Our perspective as forgiven (Luke 7:47) is so foundational to many correct perspectives and wisdom for life (Prov 9:10).   "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is insight."

We are sinners who deserve His wrath, why then do we have an instinct to smite the earth or extinguish those who do evil, and what do we do with such instincts ?

1. We don’t write off our own sinful response or culpability by saying it is appropriate due to the sin of others being so great. The problem of Eden (Gen 3:8-13) was the blame game, falsely assuming that because the sin of another was of greater magnitude that it in someway released us from judgment. Judgement came on both, and the enemy of God (3:14-19)  because Sin is missing the mark, and it doesn’t matter whether you missed by a millimetre, a mile or a millennial light year - Christ still had to pay for sin. Sin should grieve us and not just make us angry. Sin must be covered. Sin has always caused God greater pain than us. Our mature response to sin is to always see in the perspective our Fathers eyes the tears and sacrifice of the one who loves us and gave Himself for us. 

2.  God will deal with the sin of others, and the timing is up to Him not us. Our confidence is in Him and not ourselves (Romans 6). God’s plan to deal with sin is so much more glorious than ours. He deals with it all in perfection and all human history at the pivotal work of the cross. He has dealt with the record of Sin in entirety, and one day the effects of Sin and the presence of sin will will be shown also to be dealt with in His finished work and plan of salvation. Those who don’t treasure His grace in His covering will stand to defend themselves - that will be way more unbearable than any judgement you or I could inappropriately muster. 

3. Do what you have been called to do and leave the rest to Him. There is much we can do in our world to constructively deal with brokenness. Those who work in refuges for the abused, open hostels and teaching programs for street children, feed the oppressed, treasure the abandoned, give generously to those who have nothing are those who commend Christ (Matt 10:42, 25:34-36 ) and do it seen by Christ. “You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward” (Good news translation) . Even in cultures of systemic abuse or where societal abuse is the norm there are things that can be put in place for safeguarding to act in protection and care. To do nothing in such circumstances is wrong. To turn a blind eye to suffering is not Christlike but sinful, wanting to protect our comfort by seeing others suffer.  

James 4:17

So whoever know the right thing to do and fails to do it, is guilty of sin. 

Doing the right thing may cause you much further pain, but ambassadors of Christ are not unused to that, it is part of our discipleship trajectory that we have signed up for. 

However, there are limits to what we can do and what we have been called to do. We are not the Messiah or The King over all things. The arrogance that says we must be everyones hero or saviour is equally sinful and detestable and full of pride. 

4. Say thank you to the God who sees such sin in you but has loved you and paid for it anyway. 

Hebrews 10:10-12 

And by that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…. When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, 

he sat down at the right hand of God”

Isaiah 53:5

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our inequities;

Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.

We worship the Lion who became the Lamb, and we look to His world through His eyes from His vantage point not ours.

5. Worship in the beauty of His Holiness, and focus on what is commending and demonstrating His character to a broken world. 

Look at humanity through the spectacles of grace of what God is doing and can do , not just what perverted humanity and the work of the enemy is doing. 

When Paul commends us to find in others (Phil 4:8) whatsoever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, etc it is not because that is easy to see, sometimes the record of wrong far outweighs such… but here we have a man walking in the power of The Spirit who leads us and others through us to redemption and sanctification. When Paul says our gentleness (Phil 4:5) should be evident to all as church leaders it is not because that comes naturally to us or because everyone around is being gentle / the circumstances are easy (reread the context of Philippi). Such gentleness comes  supernaturally who walk with God and go to bed each day with short account before God. It is a work of God and a public view into his beauty to deal in gentleness when everyone around you is frustrating. This is a priestly ministry. Some leaders are yet to learn it, others have been honed and purified in the furnace of many frustrations and prayers of intercessory sacrifice. 

6. Guard your heart by weeping over your own sin, interceding for others in their temptation and spiritual battles, and paying the emotional cost whilst remaining silent . You and I don’t have to say anything to put all things right, God will do that and use our internal desires / prayers as part of the process. His word is final and unavoidable. His offer is for us to go His way with Him. 

You and I however have many logs in our own eyes before looking for wood in others whether a speck or anything else. If you are unsure of what the appropriate thing to say is… keep silent before others but cry to Him in private. 

God expects us to be honest with Him, and in doing so like many of the psalms you may end up in very different place for communing with Him and His character, a different person getting up off your knees then when you slumped to the ground in frustration. Many times I go to pray about other issues, only for God to reveal my sin to me in greater degree, and this is an act of grace. 

Taking things to God is always good for us, this is intrinsic to the purpose we were made. 

When we take things to God we are healthy, it is good for every dimension of our lives. 

Psalm 16:8

 I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken,

Psalm 18:2

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge.

Psalm 107:28 

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

(Note there is a difference between being delivered from the distress and delivered from a broken world and being in a sinless world which is yet to come). 

Psalm 37:7

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him:

Fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices.

Psalm 23:2-3

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul.

Psalm 62:5

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men, how long shall my honour be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

Be angry, and do not sin;
    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety

PSALM 4.

 

Encouragement in tumultuous times

 PART 1: SETTING YOUR ANCHOR WHERE IT CANNOT BE MOVED.

What a crazy world we live in. When you never know what the leaders of the world will do next, what todays surprise headline will be, what flip flop will happen in the world socio-political and socio-economic perspective, we become attuned to thinking that such instability is normal. We live in extraordinary times, where those dictators who hate democracy are commended by agents of the "free world".  The truth is that in a broken world uncertainty will always be our lot. Things we take as firm foundations disappear in a flash. Those who have the perfect gym body can still be sideswiped and floored by the unexpected illness. Those who have lived in neat  and peaceful family can meet circumstances that rip relational beauty apart. Those who thought they lived in a peaceful country can suddenly find themselves preparing for war or in the middle of a massacre. 

God's people are not immune from uncertainty. The veneer deep brand of prosperity, bright light, stage perfect, POPUCHURCH will tell you that you will always be "#blessed" (as long as you click like and subscribe), but this is fantasy not reality. My friends reading this in hospital with myeloma, the teen who follows Christ as they recover after surgery from the tumour, those preparing their funerals with friends today, those recently kidnapped or now in prison for Christ ....would not be subscribers to the idea that life for the believer is without surprises. 

Volatile times reveal the security of our anchor.

Rembrandt's "The Storm on the sea of Galilee"
A great painting representing greater truth,
 which was interestingly, unexpectedly and surprisingly stolen
by two guys pretending to be police officers" 

 

Don't put your security in people: 

Sadly I've been round the Christian block enough to know that putting our faith in other believers is not always our wisest choice for security. I'm speaking from the standpoint of finding my anchor in ultimate security, and joy in the one who will never let me down,  not with any sense of bitterness with others or God.  The truth is people (even those who trust in Christ) can be volatile and vulnerable, and although should display the fruit of self control and discipline can also become unstable in their ways in troubled times or even turn out to not be the people they pretended to be. 

Don't put your security in spiritual leaders who command you to look to them: 

Then there are those who build up their own sycophantic reputation as "godly" who encourage you to look to their wisdom, portray themselves as a higher brand of unique believer, impenetrable teflon coated Christians, but for years have lived the double life of a safeguarding teams worst nightmare, or live a double life for selfish ends. Far too many of those lives have come to light recently, far too many "surprises" have been left unobserved, scrutinised early enough, or dealt with soon enough by the church. There is an appropriate humility from those who walk with Christ. Those who live in Him, always point to Him and away from themselves in genuine deference, tell you to follow Him and not them. Those who have an inflated view of themselves sadly do not and love to be first, or the focus. 

1 COR 10:12

Don't look to spiritual leadership for categorical security without also acknowledging that it is possible some such may also be doing the enemies work for him, (however unwittingly they cooperated or regretful they turn out be).  Even the best of leaders are like the disciples, vulnerable in the boat they need Him, just as much as you and me. 

Don't try to find your security in Church, the routine or packaging of Christianised  culture: 

I've been alarmed returning from unreached fields and pioneering ministries to discover how many in the West treat the church (their flavour of church) and the superstructure of cultural Christianity as their security blanket. Partly what shocks me is the way they treasure something so inauthentic, so missionally undynamic, and static. It seems such a fake inferior version of what beautiful church can be compared to that as outlined by Christ. I suppose this shouldn't be a surprise to us in volatile times, people reset to what they know, and culturally in the West this is sadly what some have only known,  but humbly I want to say it  does feel like it displays a lack of biblical wisdom and depth in the Western church, that we haven't grasped how great God is, yet somehow want "our" church (Christian brand, denomination, collaborative) to be greater and seen as inconquerable. 

Staying out of the storm and building our own security is not His way. 

Referencing Rembrandt's view,  it appears to me that sometimes we see a church that sits in dry dock trying to look good, trying to escape the reality of a broken stormy world, as we stick to our rowing practice as others drown around us. At least true disciples should get into the sea with Jesus shouldn't they?  There is a prospect that in the storm we might get a drop of water splash spoiling our neat appearance. We might not look that good doing what He has told us to do and going where He has told us to go. A quiet Christian life is not our goal and should not be our idol. Admiration is not our goal. If this is our passion we show we know nothing of the greatness of our God and the magnitude and power of His plan of grace. Our God delights to rescue messed up, splashing about, hopeless, helpless people like me. He is all the glory. 

 A Church family can be as simple as a collective of those who love Christ and have found Christ in the miracle of new birth seeking to make Him known together in sacrificial and mutual service. Yes there are biblical directives we must follow as He establishes His church and the pattern of His sovereign way is key to this as outlined in ACTS, but like ACTS In frontier contexts this is beautifully simple, stunningly attractive and productive. 

For those who follow His way and heart It is never however without storms, in fact those who live by faith have constant needs of Christ in the daily routines of all the enemy can throw at them. This is why they walk so strong. He is bigger than the storm. He is our boldness. Get out of dry dock - you may be surprised how He can equip you for every circumstance, how rich and rainbow colourful our walk with Him can be. We are not just robots obeying directives, we are disciples following His way and path to victory in His company.

Things get even more unsettling in the storm when we are focussed on the wrong things. 

Many of the things which we deem as "essential church" or are treasured in  Western Christian culture do more and more sadly appear to me to be simply constructs of human comfort, ways of trying to solidify our monochromatic consumeristic desire for make church in our image, for church to be our stability or ghetto of non change in a volatile world. We have come from a place of comfort, little persecution of note. We have lost the essence of authenticity in some regard by by building towers to our age. We love our programs, our committees, our savings, our budgets, our websites, our youth and children's programs, our conferences, our bookstalls, our media and worship teams. I'm not having a dig at any of the above which remain a great blessing to me in many places and many ways, but ultimately I do not look to find my joy or security in them, I can happily live without them, because I do not see these being given the significance in the bible that many give them, or see them being of ultimate interest to The LIVING GOD on the final day of evaluation.

 I also want to go further and do wonder if this idol of our time is one of the main barriers to our fruitfulness in God and for His mission. The complexity adds to the confusion and storm, we wonder what our foundations are because they are hard to see.  In other words I wonder if we have made our own storm in the Western Church, (and areas across the globe where Christian megastructure has emerged) ? We are here to serve Christ not ourselves, His mission is our Goal, his simple priorities our focus. Is the reason so many have fallen out of love with Church that there is so little of the presence of God to be found there and so much of ourselves and what we want overcrowding that space ? Are we listening to His voice or that of peer expectation ? Have we lost the timeless gospel by hanging on to it so many trappings of our era and culture. Do we want precious friends who are going to eternity without Christ to fall in love with our youth program or guest welcome pack, or with Him? Do we boast in the stability of our mission program, training diploma or church, or boast in HIM and His extraordinary grace for ordinary sinners ?

Where do we go then in volatile times for our security ?

Psalm 46 has and will remain a huge help to me to keep the main thing the main thing.

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,

though the mountains be moved 

into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling

Note some basics:

1. Trouble is assumed
2. The type of trouble we face is a disappearing or rolling foundation, a roaring storm which seems to have no pattern, even though we can  view it, feel it and be fearful of it from a variety of vantage points.
3. The patterns of our world and its broken state will remain a variety of circumstantial trouble feeling like everything at the core of  life is uncertain and unsettled... until we are with Him forever.
4. THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE FOR THE TROUBLED TO FIND AN ANCHOR OF CERTAINTY, and UNCHANGING SECURITY / ENABLING CAPABILITY.

GOD is where we need to GO and get to:

Whatever the cards, wherever we land on the journey around the monopoly board of life there is one place we must go... WE NEED HIM ! 

As a kid I dreaded the  card which sent me to JAIL and told me not to go to go. True prison is when we cannot live and we are stuck in a place unproductively, there is no hope. This is the nature of a troubled life without a close communion with the living God. Hope comes alone from knowing He is with us and has a purpose for us in the storm. 

But life is not a chance card, our days are appointed by the sovereign one who reigns over all time and space. THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE has been exalted to the highest place following his victory over Sin, Death and Satan, and HE IS WITH US. This is our joy, our fruitfullness and purpose.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.⁶  

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

  The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

We need to be reminded of two great truths:

1) GOD IS OUR GREATEST AND ONLY UNCHANGEABLE TREASURE:

Heaven is heaven because of GOD. God is not circumstantial, he is the beginning and the end, the unchangeable Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever. We hear many things about heaven in church; friends talk of seeing loved ones again, new bodies, no more pain or suffering, but the main thing about heaven which outshines all things is that WE ARE WITH CHRIST FOREVER, that He is our GOD and we are his people. This is security and joy. He is our security and joy. Knowing Him, being close to Him outshines all circumstance as we contemplate His presence will never leave us or forsake us. When we have this perspective (even now in trouble) we have enough joy and enabling for the day.

2) THOSE WHO LIVE FOR THE PLEASURE OF GOD, THROUGH THE MISSION OF GOD KNOW HIS INDESTRUCTIBLE, ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, OUTSHINING PRESENCE EVEN IN THE RAGING BATTLE.

Some will look for security in dead church life, a secure pattern going through the same old routine, living in the same place, seeing the same congregation as each die off one by one.  The end game for some is that they reach the end while their local church is preserved each week for them to keep them happy till they go, Some will view this as Christian JOY. There will be others however who delight in so much more, soo much more in God that they want to tell of him by going to the ends of the earth, plant churches where there are non, preach His glory where other gods fail the millions. Will this be a life of quiet joy? No, the enemy will throw all he has at you, many things which others find security in may either be taken away from you or sacrificed to travel light on the journey.... BUT...

OUR GOD WILL NEVER BE TAKEN FROM US 

AND HE IS WITH US NOW IN THE BATTLE

AND FOR ALL ETERNITY. OUR INHERITANCE IS SECURE.

The words to Joshua to be strong and courageous were not a shout of discipline from Heaven, but a calm confident, firm, whisper in the ear from the victorious commander who stood with Him and had already won the battle. Our saviour has won ! He is with us ! He whispers His peace as the storm rages. He who commands the waves is with us in the boat. Even more so this side of an empty tomb we know this peace.  HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL (1 THES 5:18-24).

Nothing will break his purposes, and His purposes will break everything that is not of Him. Our joy is in Him. It is possible not only to face trouble with Him, but to be so aware of Him and His presence with us that there is even joy through the trouble. The storm will be for a time, but the voice of God brings all things to an end.

Come, behold the works of the LORD

how he has brought desolations on the earth.

  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the chariots with fire.

  “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

  The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Whatever your trouble today, my earnest prayer for you as you read, ponder and reflect is that your joy might be full in Him in the context of a troubled world. Hear the still steady voice of the one who spoke everything into being and calms all troubled waters. His people will stand, because He stands victorious. Circumstances change but He will never. Peace and ability for the battle comes from stopping the search in all other places and putting our focus and trust 100% in Him, listening to His voice. As you do that and become again reliant on His granite grip of grace to keep you regardless of all other things that rage around you, you will find your security. As we hunger and thirst for Him we will be satisfied. As we place all our weakness in Him, we are made strong for He is with us, and HE is all we need.