tough times

Running to Her Father’s Arms

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The children’s choir was singing in church that morning, as they do once a month. The kids all look their best on that day. Girls are in their Sunday dresses and boys are wearing their shirts tucked in their pants. They look sharp. And they sound great as they sing with the worship team. They practice every Sunday after church, and they learn a new song for the next month.

But it was after the children’s choir was finished that the next scene took place. The kids came down off the stage and went to sit with their parents. Then I saw the girl who had stood on the back row of the risers run into her father’s arms. She was wearing a white hat with a blue floral ribbon that matched her pretty dress. She looked very stylish. But something had happened sometime during the morning. I’m not sure if it was while the kids were seated waiting to sing. Or was it while they were singing? Or when they moved off the risers? I’m not sure. I just know that in that moment this young girl was very upset.

As she lunged at her father’s lap, he wrapped his muscular arms around her. She clung to him with all her might and leaned against his strong chest. He held her close as she cried her pain into his ear. He gently rubbed her back as he listened attentively and whispered fatherly advice. He loved his daughter and he was willing to listen to her cries and pleas while seated in a a church full of fellow believers. He wanted the best for his girl, and it was obvious that he would change the events that caused her tears if he could. But he couldn’t. So he held her close and showed her the love and attention of a caring father. And he wasn’t ashamed to show tenderness in front of those sitting nearby.

In that moment, there is no doubt that this ten year old girl felt loved. She knew she could count on her father’s arms of love wrapped around her soothing her cries. She didn’t doubt at all that he would welcome her with open arms. He was sitting in the pew waiting for her to come sit beside him when he noticed her wounded heart. And he tended to her wounds in the way any loving father would do.

The following Sunday, I saw her sitting with her family. But this Sunday was different. When she saw her friend run to sit with a new girl in church, this same girl who was being held by her father the week before jumped up and ran to sit with this new friend, as well. All was right in her world again.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

I wonder. How many times when we’re hurting and our ego is bruised or our world has been turned upside down do we just sit alone nursing our hurts? Do we even stop to run into our heavenly Father’s arms with our needs and concerns? Don’t we who have been following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior know that he’s waiting for us? He wants to hear us tell him the fears we’re facing. He wants to hear us say that we’re uncertain about something in our lives. That we don’t know which way to turn. Or how to handle a situation. We need someone who is always available to be there for us. And do we ever stop to remember that our heavenly Father is there waiting for us to come to him?

Maybe it’s time to stop and ask ourselves who is the first person we run to when we’re in trouble? If it isn’t God, why not?

One of the great themes of the Bible is that God is our protector. He never stumbles and falls. He never trips over his words or thoughts. He is strong yet gentle. He is jealous yet loving. He is just yet forgiving. He is exact yet comforting. He is perfect yet understanding. He’s the Creator of the universe yet he’s the lover of your soul.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Oh. I know. It’s easy to try to handle all our problems in our own way and timing. It’s easy to think that our spouse or our circle of friends are the only ones we can really trust with our big issues. But unlike that little girl’s father who didn’t know her problem until she told him, our heavenly Father already knows our problems. He’s waiting for us to run to him and fling ourselves into his waiting open arms so we can spill our guts to him. He’s always available to listen and surround us with his love.

We have to know that even though we believe in the protecting hand of God, we will still face trials of every kind. We are not exempt from evil or destruction or disease. We may face unending persecution or financial ruin or deep heartache. We may be rejected by those who once professed love. Yet we can still abide in the sweet presence of our God. He will not leave us or forsake us.

When a parent protects their child who has run into their safe embrace, the child may not feel the tremors of unease in their parent. That small child may not hear the heart’s groaning of their parent as they plead with God to save their child from the serious diagnosis or the trial they’re facing. The child will rest easy in the safety of their parent’s love, knowing that they will do all they can to ease the worries of their child. So, too, as we’re being held tight in the arms of our loving Savior, he is holding us steady against the ever increasing waves of evil penetrating our culture and world. He is sheltering us from an eternal destiny of destruction as we rest in his saving and forgiving grace. Regardless of the trials and troubles we’re facing, we can rest assured our salvation is in him.

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

~Keith and Kristyn Getty

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord ! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Getting Your House in Order

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I’ve never lived alone until I moved almost three months ago.  And the only reason I’m living alone now is because my husband is still working in our former city. He comes home as often as he can, and he’ll be here full-time in a few months.  So I’m learning what it’s like to be alone more often than I’m with others.  Oh.  I get out often enough. That’s not the problem.

Here’s the problem.  I’ve run into more issues living on my own these past three months than is necessary, in my humble opinion. Take for example, the plumber was here twice in the first month to repair a leak in the kitchen. Then we learned that some of the ductwork in our crawlspace was not connected to the vents.

There are the car problems I had within the first month after moving. And the resulting purchase of a new car. Then there’s the leaky roof a couple of weeks ago after a heavy rain.  The next day when the hvac repairman were here to install new ductwork, they discovered water in the crawlspace. The man of the house who was in another state came home two days early to clear out the water. When the repairman returned the following week, they couldn’t finish the work because they didn’t have enough of the materials.  I’m still waiting for them to return.

Now onto issues of this week.   One evening while sitting on the couch, I heard something fall somewhere in the house.  I searched high and low in the entire house and garage but found nothing out of place. It was just very odd. At three thirty the next morning, I was awakened  by a very loud noise in my house.  I though for sure the furnace, which is twenty three years old, was dying.  And I assumed that the water I heard sloshing around was from my dog taking a very long drink of water. But no. The dog was asleep on the bedroom floor, and the furnace wasn’t running.  After walking down the hall, I discovered that the washing machine had somehow turned on and was running. In the middle of the night. Apparently washers are very loud when they are running without dirty laundry in them. And it is a very startling and disconcerting feeling to wake up to this situation. Especially when the washer isn’t a smart machine and can’t be programmed. And this is a brand new washer. I must say.  It took a while before I was able to get back to sleep. I was never so glad to see daylight that morning. After doing some research on this brand of appliances, I learned that this is a common problem. Yikes.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

And when I stepped out of the shower the next day, I noticed the ceiling around the shower head looked odd, so I reached up to touch it.  It was wet. There’s a leak somewhere. So much for taking showers in that bathroom at present.

Oh. And our senior dog was recently diagnosed with a disease that causes her to want to eat and drink a lot. This means she has to take frequent trips outdoors at all hours of the day and night. Now I’m getting up with her and going out once or twice a night. Every night. I can’t even get a good night’s sleep and can’t even think of sleeping in. We’re up between 5:30 and 6:00 most every morning. 

As I type this, only a couple hours ago, while sitting on the couch I saw a mouse in the living room. Now I don’t feel safe sitting on the floor. And my sick dog is very needy and wants me to lay with her multiple times a day when she isn’t feeling well. I’m no longer comfortable slipping my feet into shoes because a mouse could be in there. And I’m not comfortable moving around the house in the dark not knowing if a mouse will scurry across my path. I just wonder. How many mice are in this house? Don’t worry. I’m taking steps to rid my house of those rodents.

What is my life coming to? I know. I know. First world problems. These are minor inconveniences in an otherwise quiet and easy life.  But man. Can this type of fun just stop? I’m ok with boring. I write all this as if these are the only problems of the day. They’re not. They’re momentary distractions that can be fixed.

In saying all this, I’m not meaning to complain. I’m just stating facts and trying to keep a positive attitude. My life’s circumstances could be very difficult, and I’m thankful for my home and all of life’s blessings. We felt God guiding us every step of the way in orchestrating this move, and we know we are very blessed.  Life has its ups and downs. I’m living in a home that wasn’t well maintained for many years by previous owners, and I’m the recipient of the consequences.  

Similar problems can happen in our spiritual lives if we don’t build and maintain a close relationship with God.  We need to confess our sins and root out all the bad habits, ungodly attitudes, selfish desires and lustful thoughts. We must keep our spiritual house clean and in a state of constant readiness for Jesus’ return. Otherwise, we’ll be in a heap of trouble on the day he does return unannounced, and we’ll miss the eternity of a lifetime with him. 

If we don’t keep a close relationship with Christ, we’ll find ourselves in situations we never expected.  We may find ourselves compromising our morals and ethics in life-altering way. We’ll be constantly cleaning up messes and emotions that are out of control when we don’t put our faith in God as our first priority. And we’ll wonder why our life is so messed up. It doesn’t have to be that way. Deliberately sacrificing our will to Christ on a daily basis will keep us walking the path of freedom and grace. Our lives won’t be perfect, but we’ll live forgiven.

We must pray because our days are uncertain. We must live as if today is our last day. We must keep our spiritual house in order. Our world could change in the blink of an eye. And who is ready for that?

So let’s pledge to keep a clean spiritual house. Let’s read our Bible and pray on a daily basis. Let’s meet and fellowship with like-minded believers. Let’s live obediently to Christ’s commands. And then let’s all meet in heaven someday where we will feast and celebrate for eternity. 

When God Ordains Hard Things

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We know that bad things happen to good people. And good things happen to bad people. Bad things happen to bad people. And good things happen to good people. All these happenings are fore-ordained. They’re known ahead of time by God Almighty. He allows all things. All circumstances. All the time.

Matthew 5:45 tells us that our Father in heaven gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. This means that everyone on this earth can plan to have some good days and some bad days. There’s no way around it.

What does it mean that God ordains all things? You ask. What does it mean that he ordains our days?

Ordain: To order or decree by virtue of superior authority. To issue an order. To order or command.

He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts of the Apostles 17:24-28

If you’ve read the story of Job, you know that he lived through one very difficult time. According to the Bible, he had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. Read Job 1:2-3. The Bible doesn’t say specifically how long his troubles lasted, but in the course of one day he lost everything. Literally. His donkeys and oxen were stolen and some of his farmhands were killed. Only one escaped to tell the story. All of his sheep and shepherds were burned in a fire. Only one shepherd escaped to share the news. All of his camels were stolen by raiders, who killed the servants. Only one servant escaped to give a report. Then a powerful storm blew down the house where his children were partying, where they and all the servants died. Only one servant survived to give an account to their parents.

And just when Job was wallowing in grief, he was hit with boils all over his body. He was miserable. He wanted to die. He asked God why he had even been allowed to be born. And his wife suggested that he curse God and die. But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. Job 2:10

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him–though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27

How do parents respond when they lose a young child? Because we know that it’s not in the course of natural events for a parent to outlive their child. The heartbreak and disappointment can be crushing. The grief and pain of loss is devastating.

These past two years have brought many deaths and disabilities from a new virus. The pain and suffering have been immense. No population on the earth has been left untouched. How are we to process this event? What does normal even look like anymore? Can we adjust to a new normal that is full of roadblocks?

There are Christians in other lands who are hunted, imprisoned, tortured and killed for their faith. They’re living for God, but they’re in the minority in their land. And those hunting them are determined to rid their world of anything godly.

Consider the police officer who accidentally killed someone when she pulled her gun instead of her taser. And then there’s the cop who killed a child when his bullet ricocheted off a wall. These are hard times for these two individuals and their families. And also for the families who lost loved ones. No one is a winner here. The lives of all of these people are changed forever.

Then there are women and girls being trafficked for sex by ungodly people. They’re sold for their bodies to be used against their will. They have no say in the matter. They can’t escape the abuse on their own. They’re held prisoner by unlawful people.

We may wonder why God allows such evil to happen. After all, he is a loving God. Why do bad things happen? We can question God, but he doesn’t always provide the answers we long to hear. We don’t always learn the reason of the whys that we ask. We may never know.

We’ve been given the ability to choose how we live our lives. We can decide to do good or evil. We can chose to treat others with respect or not. We can choose to hurt others and ourselves. We can choose to deny that God exists. We also can choose to walk in step with Him.

If we choose to walk our own path, then our life will reflect those choices and consequences. And we live that life on our own. We live that life without the comfort or strength that only God can give.

If we choose to walk with God, He walks with us through the valleys and mountaintop experiences. He never leaves us. He will give us strength to face each new day, whether that day brings rejoicing or sorrow. Even when days are hard, and there will be hard days, God is with us.

For some, the suffering and struggles may be lifelong. Even if we are Christ followers, we may live hard lives. We aren’t promised an easy, rose colored life.

Oh. We can grovel and complain and moan and groan. We can question God and curse him. We can cry and destroy ourselves. All in the name of suffering. But suppose we stopped and quieted ourselves. Suppose we listened for the still small voice of God. Suppose we reached out to Him at the darkest moments of our lives. And just suppose He brought peace in the midst of suffering. Because it is possible.

Some of the things that you’ve lost in your life, God is not going to bring them back in the exact same way.

Havilah Cunnington

To experience joy in our struggles and difficulties, we must first acknowledge who God is. Everything but God is secondary in our lives. Everything else is secondary. Yes. That’s right. It’s tough to hear, but God must be the priority. Even during times of intense suffering and grief. If we focus on God, we will see that He is supreme. His love is never ending. His compassion knows no boundaries. His mercy is new every morning. His grace is all sufficient. His power is all encompassing. He is the alpha. The omega. The beginning and the end.

So when the thing we have always feared happens to us, we can have peace and quiet and perfect rest in God our Maker and Redeemer.

Peace in Tough Times

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

These days are tough times for many people.  Some are afraid to leave their homes.  Others are now homeschooling their kids. People have lost their jobs.  Numbers are going up. Numbers are going down. Patience is running thin. Some are wondering when this craziness will ever end.

Someone in my family was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery is being scheduled. Another family member has family members who were impacted by the explosion in Beirut. They are safe for the moment, but daily provisions are uncertain. Another family member is recovering from major surgery and doing well with her daily physical therapy.  And she’s seven years old.

There are people who are coping with this pandemic crisis by drinking daily. When that wasn’t a normal thing for them. They’re trying to cope with the unexpected changes in life. Because life isn’t going so well this year.

There are businesses that had great plans for the future but now find themselves in bankruptcy.  There are families who find they can no longer meet their monthly payments.  There are people who qualified for unemployment benefits but haven’t received a check. 

Oh. These are troubled times. 

There are years that ask questions and years that answer.

Zora Neale Hurston

There is a presidential election in less than three months.  The results could send this country and the world into even more chaos. Regardless of who wins. It’s a wait and see kind of year. Everyone is holding their breath and can’t seem to exhale.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

These are indeed troubled times. 

Sports seasons have been canceled. School semesters have moved online. Church services are streaming live. High school seniors feel their senior year has been stolen from them.

People are searching like they have never searched before. But what are they looking for?

Peace. Freedom. Calm. Structure. Contentment. Understanding. Patience. Relief. Normal.

People want their lives to be normal again. But what does that even look like anymore? Are we looking at a new normal that we just keep fighting?

Have you found what you’re looking for yet? Are you looking in the right place? Do you that know peace can be found?

Did you know that peace is a gift from God? And he is the source of all peace.

What does the peace that comes from Christ even look like? What does that mean?

Imagine if we lived in a world where peace reigned instead of chaos and confusion. Imagine the life we could have. I have to ask myself. Does peace rule every one of my relationships? Do I think peace before striking the first blow of revenge? Or slinging the first word of accusation and judgment? Does the thought of peace guide my conversations and actions? Does peace rule my emotions?

Oh, troubled soul. Peace is a command that God speaks to us. We are called to live in peace with each other. Peace can only be commonplace if it comes from Christ. Nothing else gives lasting peace. Nothing. If we can’t find peace in these troubled days, then we’re looking for peace in all the wrong places.

Because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. Philippians 4:7

Yes. These are troubled times. But peace is possible in the midst of the storm. Spend time with God. Actually, open the Bible and read God’s word. Let it saturate your heart and mind. Trust God. Don’t just say you trust God. Actually let go of your need to control everything and let God do his job. Oh. It isn’t easy. But it is possible. God will give peace in difficult times. He may not do everything the way we want, but His will and ways are perfect. So let’s trust him. And dare to see what happens in our hearts. Even when life isn’t perfect.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Tough Times

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Tough times don’t last. But sometimes they do.  What happens then? Are you willing to tough it out? Or will you give up and run in the other direction? But what if God says stay put. You’re right where I want you. You have no reason to run. I’ve allowed for this season to fall on you. And I’ll lift it when the time comes. Until then, trust me.

I mean. Look at Job. His trials lasted for years. And he lost everything. Family. Home. Wealth. He had nothing but his wife and friends who gave him bad advice. Yet his faith in God never wavered. He never turned his back on God. Oh. He questioned why terrible things were happening. And he wondered when they would end. But he kept his eyes on God.

Do you actually trust God? Or do you trust yourself? Are your words always perfectly timed? Are your actions trustworthy? Are your motives pure? You aren’t God. And you know it. So stop acting as if you are.

The God who created the earth in seven days can soothe your aching heart. The God who closed the mouths of the lions can close the mouths of those who speak insults against you. The God who healed the blind man and the lame man can make you whole again. The God who opened barren wombs can heal your broken body. The God who removed the evil spirits from the beggar can heal your anxiety and fears. The God who has taken can also provide.

But what if he doesn’t? What if your enemies continue to speak falsely against you? What if your situation is never made whole? What if your broken body doesn’t mend? What if your anxious thoughts never calm? What if your ship never comes in? What if your tough time becomes a way of life?

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1-6

She has an upcoming medical procedure. Uncertainty looms. Outcome to be determined. Fear. Anxiety. What ifs. Unknowns. Life has been good. But now. What if it isn’t? Can her faith hold her through an uncertain future? Will God be enough for her if the diagnosis is disturbing?

Someone else has had a diagnosis. A diagnosis that’s unfamiliar. Yet vaguely relieving. So now she knows what she faces. But others may view her with uncertainty. If they knew. Now she must face a path of healing that will be hard. It will take hard consistent work to regain what was lost. Can she walk that path and do the work necessary to find freedom and wholeness? Can she trust God when at times it has felt that he was far away?

Is God enough if he is all you have? When life throws a curve ball. When authorities make decisions that change the course of your life. When there’s no turning back. Is God enough for you?

God isn’t an emergency room to visit only during a crisis. God is an everyday celebration. A giver of life and a taker of it. He rules the universe. We live at his command. Only thing is. Some people don’t bow down to him. They run or stumble through life on their own power, just to find at the end, they’re lost. They’ve lived lost and it’s too late to be found. It’s only too late once the last breath has been taken. And then eternity has begun and there’s no going back. No. Going. Back.

God is enough. Even during the tough times. Even when all hope seems lost. Even when life has permanently changed. When there’s no going back. When future plans are forever altered. God’s love is still true. God’s plan is still perfect. He will see you through.