Simplifying… me

One thing I love about the Bible is that it really brings out the “human-ness” of the characters that fill its pages. It is refreshing to know that these men and women that I admire so much were human and struggled with many of the same issues that I struggle with today. How many times does the Bible speak about the issue of fear? More than I can count. God’s word is packed with scriptures that encourage us to “fear not”, “do not be afraid”, “do not worry”, “be strong and courageous”.

“Be strong and courageous.” That simple, yet very powerful, statement is found four times in the first chapter of Joshua. It makes me think that perhaps Joshua might have felt a tad bit overwhelmed as he looked upon his current situation. The fears, doubts and insecurities he must have been dealing with internally were enough for God to encourage him over and over, “be strong and courageous.” God also knew the challenges that lay before Joshua, and knew that Joshua needed absolute confirmation of God’s presence in his life.

Verse 9 says: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God wasn’t only giving Joshua an encouraging word, but he was also commanding Joshua to be strong and courageous. Regardless of how big the obstacles ahead may have appeared or impossible the situation, God wanted Joshua’s confidence to come from an unwavering faith and assurance that God would be with him wherever he went.

I believe God wants us to walk ahead through our own circumstances, fears and challenges with that same confidence, peace and assurance. “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” With God with us we can look at that mountain that seems impossible to conquer, and we can tell that mountain, with absolute confidence, security and power, to MOVE. Whatever your mountain is, know that God is with you WHEREVER YOU GO, and He has commanded us to BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! Trust in the Lord. He will never leave you nor forsake you!

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Recently I had the privilege of speaking to a group of women on “The Woman At the Well”. I had four months to prepare. During those four months I prayed, researched, meditated, fasted and wrote incessantly on the Samaritan Woman – I was completely immersed in all things “Woman At The Well”! Every time I sat down to work on my message I found myself crying as so many points in her story echoed my own life.

With three young children (ages 5, 4 and 2), I have found that the only way for me to have uninterrupted time to pray is by waking up at 5:30am. During the four months of preparation I found myself eager to get up every morning to spend quiet time with the Lord. I couldn’t open my Bible without some passage of scripture jumping out at me, or a new light being shone on one I’ve read dozens of times. It was like I had this private audience with God on a consistent basis. He was speaking to me in everything, and I was soaking it up as much as I possibly could. Amazing.

The day finally came when I was to share my message. I gave it my all. I had come to a point, before I spoke, that regardless of how much or how little feedback I may receive, I knew that God had given me a word to share. I was humbled, truly, by the overwhelmingly positive response I got from women of all ages. I have to say that the words of affirmation touched me deeply. God was faithful that morning.

Then 5:30am the next day rolled around, and the morning after that…and the morning after that…and the morning after that – still meeting with God. However, something was different. There were no bright lights and bursts of enlightenment. Getting up to meet with God was becoming more and more difficult – almost tedious (and I hate to admit that). Why? Simple, because my prayers and meditations seemed to be falling on deaf ears, and I was left with no response. Rather than God speaking to me I found myself sitting in God’s silence. My quiet time was too quiet.

Today I was thinking about this. I threw the question “out there” (“Where are you God – why are you being so quiet? I’m not feeling the love!”) figuring I would get no answer. Then something crossed my mind – a simple thought, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Hmmm…be still and know.

Lamentations 3:25-27 (The Message)
“God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times.”

It’s not about feeling. It’s not about the enlightenment and thrill of the experience. It is all about the search, the stillness, the quiet moments, the waiting, the persevering and the hope in God. I love those seasons when God seems to be “heard” not in whispered tones but almost audibly. However, my faith and my ability to truly KNOW God will only grow during these silent seasons. True faith – mature faith – is believing and trusting that God is here with me even when there is darkness all around and His voice is in the shadows. While I wait, I will seek, and while I seek, I will hope. God is still there. He’s still completing the work He began in me. He is still speaking to me however, at this time God is speaking in the silence.

As I am still I will know that He is God, and if I am quiet enough I might just hear Him whisper something new and fresh deep within my soul.