Secrets. What images does this word conjure up in your mind? I picture middle school girls whispering into eachother's ears about crushes, friends they don't like, and family secrets. These are not the secrets I am talking about here.
I'm talking about secrets of a darker, more clandestine nature; secrets of deeds done in secrecy, deception, rebellion and/or malice. It's funny how one secret of this nature leads to another, forming a complicated web of lies, becoming weighty and unbearable. The longer secrets of this nature are kept, the more difficult they are to bring into the light - for to expose one secret will ultimately unravel the rest and reveal all other secrets. If you are or have been in a situation like this, you may feel the overwhelming need to speak the truth. But what if bringing one truth to light will ultimately end up costing you personally? Is it worth it to bring light into the darkness and shed truth's brilliance on someone else's secret - a secret that has them on a path to harm and destruction? Is it worth it to speak the truth, even if it costs you dearly?
Sometimes bringing a situation into the open, bringing light and truth to darkness and secrecy, is a lot like cleaning out under the bed.
Your room may look clean and spotless, but underneath the bed lie piles of trash, clothes, and heaven only knows what else. To pull all that junk out from under the bed will throw your "clean" room into chaos, revealing a dirty, smelly, disgusting mess that may take days to clean up. But, once it has all been brought out into the light, then, and only then, can action be taken. The trash can be separated from the treasure, the dirty clothes can be washed, and all can be put back into its proper order. It is a long, grueling process, and the mess gets much worse before it gets better. When it is over, you will be exhausted, dirty, sweaty, and possibly overwhelmed. But your room is truly clean, not just in appearance, but in every corner. There is no need for perfume in the room, because what was rancid has been removed. There is no need for caution, because there is no mess for anyone to find.
So it is with secrets. The truth may make seem to make everything messy, but in reality, truth only reveals the mess that already existed. Truth is the agent by which change can occur, order can be restored, and healing can begin. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
God our Provider
There are those among us to whom faith seems to come so naturally, those blessed souls who find putting their whole trust in God to be second nature, those people who never need to remind themselves "Let go and let God," because they already have. To those of you out there - kudos. I hope to join your ranks someday. Admittedly, I am a bit of a control freak. Okay, maybe a lot. Before beginning anything, I like to have all the details lined up perfectly, backups prepared in the case of any possible contingency, have everything outlined into my planner, and safely worked into my 5-year-plan.
Therefore, when God asked me to pay for school on a monthly basis this year instead of taking out a loan, beginning with a whopping $12 in my savings account, my response was not exactly an enthusiastic "Okay God!!" How I wish. If I recall correctly, panic coursed through my body as I mentally calculated my hourly wage at my retail job, my monthly bills, and the cost of one year at Corban University. After recovering from the momentary paralysis, I said, "WHAT?!?!?!? Impossible!" But, if indeed God was truly asking me to take this leap of faith, I decided to jump in with both feet. And all the money came in immediately and I lived happily ever after. Juuuust kidding!
Through the entire summer, I have worked as many hours as possible at work, subjected myself to manual labor, housesitting, and NO shopping. By the end of July, I had enough money for one payment!! Out of 12. My "control freak" side began to take over as August began to creep by. I began to wonder if God didn't really want me to go to school this year. Wondering gave way to confusion, confusion gave way to panic, and panic gave way to an emotional breakdown. How was this all going to work out? If I did manage to raise enough money for August, what about September and all the months I am in school? After wisdom from my aunt (Thanks!!) :), I fell to my knees and laid all my worries out before God. I asked Him to provide and committed to working my hardest and entrusting the details to Him. In short, I handed over my Plan A and my contingency plan in return for His peace. Today, the money came in to cover my August payment, and I have a feeling God is going to take me right to the very end each month, stretching my faith and forcing me to live in a constant state of trust.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: rejoice!...Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which trancends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Phil 4:4,7
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~Matt 6:27,33-34)
There are so many people today, instead of worrying about paying for school, are worried about even more fundamental things: putting food on the table, finding a job to feed their family, finding enough money to fix the family car, etc. Some are worried about issues of a spiritual nature: friends and family who desperately need Jesus, an upcoming mission trip, God's plan for their life and guidance for the future. The truth is, in one way or another, every single one of us is currently facing a situation that requires us to trust God for what is unseen. Often times, God only gives us enough for today; often He only answers the questions for this moment. Just as the Israelites in the desert only received the manna they needed for one day and had to trust God to provide on a daily basis, so it is with us. Jesus prayed "Give us this day our daily bread" - provision for today, and faith for tomorrow.
God is faithful. He is God our Provider. Choosing to live by faith in uncertain circumstances is not comfortable by any means. But if you want to experience God's provision and grace on a daily basis, try taking that leap of faith. Let go of worry and fear, do what you can, and leave the details to God. I firmly believe that you will find, as I have time and time again, that you can sing the words to "Great is Thy Faithfulness" with renewed zeal and conviction.
"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou forever will be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"
Therefore, when God asked me to pay for school on a monthly basis this year instead of taking out a loan, beginning with a whopping $12 in my savings account, my response was not exactly an enthusiastic "Okay God!!" How I wish. If I recall correctly, panic coursed through my body as I mentally calculated my hourly wage at my retail job, my monthly bills, and the cost of one year at Corban University. After recovering from the momentary paralysis, I said, "WHAT?!?!?!? Impossible!" But, if indeed God was truly asking me to take this leap of faith, I decided to jump in with both feet. And all the money came in immediately and I lived happily ever after. Juuuust kidding!
Through the entire summer, I have worked as many hours as possible at work, subjected myself to manual labor, housesitting, and NO shopping. By the end of July, I had enough money for one payment!! Out of 12. My "control freak" side began to take over as August began to creep by. I began to wonder if God didn't really want me to go to school this year. Wondering gave way to confusion, confusion gave way to panic, and panic gave way to an emotional breakdown. How was this all going to work out? If I did manage to raise enough money for August, what about September and all the months I am in school? After wisdom from my aunt (Thanks!!) :), I fell to my knees and laid all my worries out before God. I asked Him to provide and committed to working my hardest and entrusting the details to Him. In short, I handed over my Plan A and my contingency plan in return for His peace. Today, the money came in to cover my August payment, and I have a feeling God is going to take me right to the very end each month, stretching my faith and forcing me to live in a constant state of trust.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: rejoice!...Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which trancends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Phil 4:4,7
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~Matt 6:27,33-34)
There are so many people today, instead of worrying about paying for school, are worried about even more fundamental things: putting food on the table, finding a job to feed their family, finding enough money to fix the family car, etc. Some are worried about issues of a spiritual nature: friends and family who desperately need Jesus, an upcoming mission trip, God's plan for their life and guidance for the future. The truth is, in one way or another, every single one of us is currently facing a situation that requires us to trust God for what is unseen. Often times, God only gives us enough for today; often He only answers the questions for this moment. Just as the Israelites in the desert only received the manna they needed for one day and had to trust God to provide on a daily basis, so it is with us. Jesus prayed "Give us this day our daily bread" - provision for today, and faith for tomorrow.
God is faithful. He is God our Provider. Choosing to live by faith in uncertain circumstances is not comfortable by any means. But if you want to experience God's provision and grace on a daily basis, try taking that leap of faith. Let go of worry and fear, do what you can, and leave the details to God. I firmly believe that you will find, as I have time and time again, that you can sing the words to "Great is Thy Faithfulness" with renewed zeal and conviction.
"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou forever will be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)