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Life Sucks, But Hope is Strong

Life sucks sometimes.

There is no getting around it. Nor should we try. This is not our ultimate destination. This is not our forever home. We are made for more. And we should want more… the more that is found with God. If we were content here, we may never strive for the more waiting for us in heaven.

Knowing that doesn’t always make it any easier when we are personally struggling or our friends and family members are. Watching a loved one in the hospital, handling a difficult diagnosis, knowing that the plans we have made may be interrupted or even destroyed by something we cannot control is HARD and painful and it can take us down. But one thing is for certain. The pain, the struggle, the hardship is temporary. It is of this life, not the next. And you are not alone. Everyone struggles. Everyone has pain. Everyone has hardship. And they have for thousands of years. Despite thousands of years of innovations and technology, we all still struggle and suffer and cry. And through the struggles we grow. Through the suffering we persevere. And through the tears we hope. For God has a greater plan than all of this. He knows how to strengthen us, our resolve and our faith, so that we can persevere, endure and hope for the future He has planned for us.

Two thousand years ago, James wrote:

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.

James 1:2-6

It is hard to see a trial as a joy when we are going through it. But if we can turn it over to God, ask Him who can do all things, for the wisdom, for the strength, for the faith, for whatever we need, we can rest in the assurance that He will provide what we need (even though it may not be in the way or the timing that we might want). We can persevere and our faith and our perseverance can grow. As much as we may not want to admit it, if we want more than this world, more than this life, we do not want a life of ease, a life without struggles and suffering. As Paul says, we want to boast of our afflictions, and the endurance, character and hope that they produce:

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

God is all around us. Even on our darkest day, He is there holding our hand when we walk, wrapping His arms around us when we sit, and sitting beside us stroking our face when we sleep. He knows, even when we do not, that we can (and will) persevere and endure, and although at times, we may fall, he will catch us, pick us back up, wipe the dirt and tears away and take our hand again (if we let Him). We just have to hand it to Him, with faith and trust. God has never promised us a perfect life here on earth. Jesus said:

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33

Our perfect world is coming. And while I selfishly hope and pray that that perfect world is no time soon for my loved ones and friends, I trust in God’s timing, God’s plan and God’s love. I have courage and hope because of Him.

Lord,

Watch over my family and my friends. Give them the strength to endure the trials before them, the faith to persevere and the hope that comes from being in your presence. In Jesus name, I ask that you drive out any demons that may surround them. And Lord, if it is your will, I ask that you heal them. I trust in you and your plan. Help them to know your love and have courage to rest in their faith in you.

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Tearing Off The Plastic!

I save.  My husband says I hoard.  But I know too well the rainy day and so I save.  Primarily gifts.  I don’t think I have ever thrown away a gift I have received because they are too precious and priceless in my eyes.  But I also rarely use them for fear of ruining or tarnishing them.

When I was in grade school, Nerf came out with a soccer ball.  It was all I wanted for Christmas.  When I was lucky enough to receive it, I kept it wrapped in the plastic it came in …  for years.  I didn’t want to ruin this gift that I had been given, I didn’t want it to lose the panels as I had seen happen to others, to slowly have its material chipped away so it looked like a cratered moon, to become less than what it was, because I knew I could not afford to replace it.  And so, this gift that I wanted more than anything, remained in plastic.  I did not use it. I certainly did not share it.   I kept it for later. My joy was knowing I had it… but I lost the purpose, the value and the joy of using it and sharing it with others.

Last night I realized I was doing the same with the gifts God gives us.  I keep them under wraps.  I am afraid to use them, lest they get ruined, lest others try to chip away at them, or are too rough.  I want to save them for another day when I can truly enjoy and savor them without fear of interruption or destruction, like they were a finite resource.  I hide the love of God afraid that someone will wreck my joy or tear it away from me.  I suddenly feel like the little kid holding on to a Nerf soccer ball still wrapped in plastic.

I know that God’s love is infinite.  No one can destroy it or chip it away.  Only we can prevent our own self from enjoying it, from experiencing the joy that comes from Him, from sharing it with others.  Nothing we or anyone else does can destroy His love or take it away from us.

As Paul told the Romans:

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,  nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

I know this and yet I still try to save it.

Jesus tells us in multiple ways throughout the Bible to use the gifts that we have been given,  to share God’s love and God’s light with others:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 5:13-16

God’s love is infinite, but my opportunity to share it is not. I outgrew the soccer ball before the plastic ever came off. I do not want that to happen with the gifts God has given me.

Lord,

I am ready to unwrap the plastic.  I am ready to move the light that you gave me out from under the bushel basket.  I am ready to shout from the mountain tops about your love.  Help me to use the gifts that you have given me in the manner in which you have intended.  Help me to follow your will and to glorify you in all that I do. Help me to start right now. Not tomorrow. Not the next day. Not when I have time. Not when I get around to it. Now.

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Second Chances

We all need second chances. We rise. We fall. We hopefully rise again.

Today is the ultimate day of second chances. Although we are sinful, Jesus died on the cross for us, to redeem us and give us a second chance:

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25

How many times do I let the insult, misstep, or even simple misunderstanding of someone else drive a wedge between us? Or worse, result in me returning the insult or misdeed. Turning the other cheek is hard. Forgiveness is even harder. But, oh how I want that forgiveness when I misstep! Oh, how I want that second chance, that do-over, that mulligan for my own failings.

Jesus endured betrayal and rejection from his friends. He endured being arrested and bound. He endured the rejection of the crowd (and “public opinion”). He endured their shouts to crucify him. He endured being scourged. He endured the soldiers mocking him, stripping him of his clothes and human dignity. He endured them spitting on him. He endured thorns piercing into his scalp and the soldiers striking his head. And he endured hours on the cross, nails driven through his flesh, hanging there to die, while others continued to taunt and mock. All for you. All for me. All to give us a second chance. To repair the damage that our sin caused. To ransom us, redeem us and return us to the One who created us, the One who loves us so much, that He sent his only Son — so that we would know Him and willingly return to Him.

It is a day for second chances.

Lord,

Forgive me for my sins. Forgive me for turning away from you, for focusing on things of this world more than the next. I am truly sorry. I am sorry that things I have done and things I have failed to do, hurt you and hurt others whom you love. Thank you for giving me a second chance (and a third, fourth, fifth and sixth….). I desire to do better. I desire to sin no more. I desire not to go astray. Please forgive me. Please continue to lead me. I love you, Lord. I am thankful, grateful and humbled by your sacrifice and love for me. Help me to serve you and your world better. Help me to forgive others who hurt me. Help me help others always know the second chance that you provide.

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We Thirst (and no drug, or porn or AI will fill it)

The mental health of our country is terrible. Too many are turning to drugs (prescribed and unprescribed), food, porn or other addictions to try to feel better.  And it doesn’t look like we are doing anything to improve it.  Instead, AI is continuing to deplete our individual wisdom, our thought, and our human interaction.  Our devices take away our quiet and our ability to sit in silence, and think and, more importantly, listen.

We are all filled with an aching hole.  A hole that cannot be filled by anything in this world. No food, drug or sex will fill it. All of the things that the world markets to us on TV, on our devices, on the billboards, are useless, to what we truly ache for.

And the ache is not new to this world. Roughly 3,000 years ago, this Psalm was written:

As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

Psalm 42:2-3

Even Jesus knew the ache, as He hung on the cross, 2000 years ago, among His final words, He said: “I thirst.” John 19:28

We are made by God, for God. He formed us in the womb.  The aching hole is our ache and longing for God. Our soul, our being, longs to connect to God, our Father, our Creator, the one who loves us, the one who loves you and me, individually and fully. The one who loves us so much that he sent His Son to die for us so that we might live — that we might believe — that we might turn to Him and fill our aching hole.

God is missing in our lives.  He is missing in our hearts.  He is missing in our thoughts.  Missing… and yet… He is right there.  Right beside us.  He is whispering to us, “I love you, I am here.  Turn to me.”  But sometimes (and maybe most of the time) we are too busy, too consumed by the media, devices and distractions of the day, to listen, to hear Him, to feel His presence.

Jesus told us: “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.” John 7:37

We all thirst! Jesus also thirsts, He thirsts for us. He longs to share His love with us.

Stop what you are doing right now. Put down your phone. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes for just a moment and say: “God, I thirst for you. Jesus, I thirst for you.” Sit in His arms. And breathe Him in. Tell Him you long for His waters, His love, to wash over you, to clean you and to fill you.

O God, you are my God—it is you I seek! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, In a land parched, lifeless, and without water. I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory. For your love is better than life; my lips shall ever praise you!

Psalm 63:1-4

Lord, open our ears and our hearts.  Help those who are desperately trying to find joy in drugs and porn and other vices or addiction to hear you, to turn to you.  Help me to turn to you.  To choose you over my devices.  To spend time in the quiet and listen for you. God, I thirst for you. Jesus, I thirst for you. I long for your waters, your love, to wash over me. To wipe me clean of the distractions and the evil around me, to fill my aching hole and my emptiness. Let me drink from your fountain of love, and I will be satisfied.

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Forgiveness

Forgive. How do we forgive someone who has hurt us? I have said “I forgive” before, but I don’t know if my heart is always in it. I am also not sure I know what forgiveness really looks like. Are words enough?

Last week I was threatened. Someone I don’t know that well threatened to kill me. The police were called. Security was hired. My life was disrupted. But, thankfully, no physical harm occurred. I felt rattled and helpless. But then I prayed. In my prayer, I said I forgive this person, as I have for others over the years, but then rather than just moving on to my needs, I began to pray for this individual. I prayed for forgiveness and prayed that the Lord would enter her life, heal her of her anger and any mental health issue that might be plaguing her. I prayed that she would know God. And as I prayed, I realized that my heart was fully in it. I want this individual — who has threatened me, who has disrupted my life and caused anguish for me and those around me — I want this individual to have peace. I want her to know God. Is it forgiveness? I don’t know. But I realized that I wanted what was good for her (and that if she received what was good for her — if she received God — that would be good for me too).

Jesus said:

When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.

Mark 11:25

I have struggled with this verse most of my life. I know I need to forgive (and I have plenty I need to be forgiven for), but I have struggled with how to do it. Just saying the words did not seem to change how I felt about the individual or the pain they had caused me. I have heard that when you forgive you should want the good for the other, and I could never bring myself to truly want good for them — but I think I thought about it as material good, and I got trapped by my anger, my pride and my selfishness into thinking that was not fair. This week I realized that the good they need, is the good we all need — God! And why wouldn’t we want that for everyone, especially those who have hurt us and have the potential to continue to hurt us. I don’t know if it is forgiveness, but I know this individual has no power over my heart. I know I do not feel trapped in anger. I know I feel released. And I know I do want God to come into her life and help her.

Lord,

You are all knowing, all powerful and all present. You know what we need and there is no limit to your goodness. There is no need to be jealous over your love. The more people who know you the better all of us are. Lord, I pray for those who have hurt me. I pray for those who have trespassed against me. Heal them of their hurt. Send your Holy Spirit to them. I pray that they come to know you better. Lord, forgive me of my trespasses against you and against those you have created in your image. Heal me of my hurt. Send your Holy Spirit to me. I want to know you better. I want to repent. I want to return to you.

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The Still Small Voice in Snow

It has been a weekend! There is so much going on – personally, locally, nationally. In the weather, in the news, in sports. Nine inches of snow, meant we had to shovel three times to clear our driveway, but we were blessed with no power outages.

Today I sat for a few minutes, after the third pass at shoveling and marveled at the blanket of snow glistening in the sun. Still perfect, not a footprint, hoof print or other animal track upon it. A breath of fresh air. A vision of purity. All of the mud, dirt and weeds that typically make up our yard, covered with light, soft and sparkling clean, white snow.

Tonight, I realized that I missed the moment to listen. I was too busy marveling and enjoying the view to thank God and listen. I felt a nudge and read part of the first book of Kings:

Then the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound [a still small voice].

When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah?

1 Kings 19:11-13

There is so much in this. First, what a blessing to stand before the Lord, but my knees are shaking just thinking about it. Second, the recognition that so much happens around us — a strong, violent wind, an earthquake, a fire — it is not hard to see the parallels in our daily life. But waiting for us through it all is God — a still small voice, a light silent sound. He is not making a big noise, He is not smacking us across the face, He is not forcing us to pay attention to Him, but He is there, waiting for us to listen. Waiting for us to choose Him. I have heard the phrase “a still small voice” before, but not sure I had ever paid attention to the passage that it came from. And now I really just want to soak it all in.

But before I can do that, what struck me even more was the next verse: Why are you here? That really is the question, isn’t it? I really need to sit and listen a bit more, but WOW, I feel like my heart has just been washed clean with its own blanket of snow, its own fresh canvas, waiting for me to make new tracks.

Lord,

Thank you for the beautiful, cleansing and purifying snowfall. Thank you for being there through the strong violent winds, the earthquakes and the fires, always waiting for us. Thank you for the guidance you provide when we listen.

I am ready to sit still. I am ready to shake off all of the troubles around me. I am ready to listen. Create in me a clean heart, wiped clean with the cold, refreshing, pure snow. Clear my previous tracks like you have with the snow, guide my new tracks in the right direction. Help me to always know, why I am here.

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I Choose My King

We have a history of looking to kings. We revere them, are fascinated by them, watch movies about royal romances. Even in countries like the U.S. that broke away from “kings” we still put individuals on pedestals, give them power, look for them to lead and defend us. Some may be politicians, some may be sports heroes, some may be movie stars. We revere them, are fascinated (if not sometimes obsessed with them) and watch movies, reality shows or 24-hour news about them. We look to them to lead us and influence our lives. We have a whole generation of individuals looking to be kings or “influencers.”

I started reading the first book of Samuel this morning. As Samuel was getting older, the people begged him to “Give us a king to rule us.” Samuel prayed and the Lord told him “You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king.” The Lord told Samuel to go ahead and give the people what they wanted but told him to warn them:

“The governance of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. He will appoint from among them his commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He will make them do his plowing and harvesting and produce his weapons of war and chariotry. He will use your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will tithe your crops and grape harvests to give to his officials* and his servants. He will take your male and female slaves, as well as your best oxen and donkeys, and use them to do his work. He will also tithe your flocks. As for you, you will become his slaves. On that day you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

1 Samuel 8:11-18

Despite the warning the people insisted they wanted a king to rule them, to lead them into warfare and to fight their battles. Not surprisingly, it didn’t work out as they had hoped.

I am not aware of any “king” whether royal or elected that has worked out how we might hope (regardless of political party or country). They fail, like we fail, when we fail to fear and serve the Lord, when we turn from Him, when we think that our power is greater than Him. We are reminded throughout the Bible:

If you fear and serve the LORD, if you listen to the voice of the LORD and do not rebel against the LORD’s command, if both you and the king, who rules over you, follow the LORD your God—well and good.

But if you do not listen to the voice of the LORD and if you rebel against the LORD’s command, the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.

Samuel 12:14-15

I do not subscribe to any king or any party. I know that I cannot control anyone else. I know that only God can truly lead me and that God should be my only influencer. I am in control of me. The Bible’s message is focused on me. If I fear and serve the Lord, if I listen to the voice of the Lord, if I don’t rebel against the Lord… I can choose what king I allow to rule over me or influence my heart. I choose who to revere, who to follow with my words, my deeds and my heart. I choose the only king who will not disappoint. I choose Jesus.

There are so many fake kings, fake idols, fake influencers and a constant battle in the media to crown more. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we spent as much time revering, following, talking about our true king?

Lord,

You are my King! You are the only leader of my heart. Help me reject the fake kings, fake idols and fake influencers of this world vying for my attention. Help me to keep my eyes, my ears and my focus on you!

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Seek Peace and Pursue It

I do not know anything about Greenland. I am not in the room for the discussions. I do not know what the right answer is. I do not know anything about Venezuela. I, thankfully, was not there. I do not know what the right answer is. I do not know anything about Minnesota. I was not there for the events flooding the media — whether it is the ICE events or the murder of children during mass. I do not know what the right answer is. I do not know what is going on in Congress, in the White House or in the Supreme Court. I am not there. I do not know what the right answer is

Most days, I barely know what the right answer is for the things I am there for — my own interactions and daily life challenges. But like many, I find myself commenting on things that I do not know. Tonight, on the day we remember Martin Luther King, I am called to a verse that he once used:

Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14-15

I don’t always know where the evil is… but I know where the good is. I don’t always know where the lies are — particularly in this new world of AI. But I know where the Truth is. When I am lost in this world, when this world deceives me, when I want to pursue peace, I must start, with the beginning of this same Psalm:

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the LORD; let the poor hear and be glad. Magnify the LORD with me; and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:2-4

I cannot focus on the world and expect to find peace. I need to focus on God. In this Psalm, it starts with us individually blessing the Lord at all times, keeping his praise ever in our mouth, but moves to US coming together and exalting his name together. We may disagree on many things — but we can start to come together when we praise God together. I find so much peace in the next verse:

I sought the LORD, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears. Look to him and be radiant, and your faces may not blush for shame.

Psalm 34:5-6

Lord,

Help me seek and pursue peace. Peace in my own heart. Peace in those around me. Peace in this world. You are my peace. You are where my soul rejoices and finds glory. Magnify in me. Let me exalt with others in your name. I know when I turn to you, I am delivered from all of my fears of all that is around me. Shower your radiance on me. Let me be unashamed of your glory. Let me stand tall in your Truth so that all can see and we may come together in you and your peace. You are my everything!

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Rouse One Another To Good

I am exhausted. Exhausted from the daily news. Exhausted from politics. Exhausted from social media. Exhausted from technology. Exhausted from processed food. Exhausted from work and general busyness. Exhausted! And yet I continue to turn to all of these things, even though none of it makes any sense.

It is new year resolution time and I long for Peace. Time. Quiet. I long to spend time with God, to sit quietly with God, to listen to His word. I know this is what I need, but it is halfway through January and I haven’t made any resolution or taken any action to do better.

I was blessed this week to spend some time sitting on a beach, but it left me feeling more tired than ever because my thoughts were still in the busyness of the world.

Better than a beach, I was blessed to spend time with a dear friend who I haven’t seen in a while. And she gave me the greatest gift — the gift of friendship, the gift of time, the gift of reminding me how important our faith is and most importantly how important it is to rouse each other. In Hebrews, we are reminded:

We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 10: 24-25

I have been roused. This is what I needed. We all know what is good, what is right. But the collective world spins in a different direction. It is critical that we rouse one another to love and good works, that we rouse one another to gather as God’s people and in His name, that we encourage one another to do good and to love.

Lord,

Thank you for making us in your image. Thank you for creating others in your image to assist us on this journey. Thank you for calling on us to rouse each other. Help me to continue to gather in your name, to rouse and encourage others as you have roused and encouraged me and to be receptive to your Word and encouragement. Thank you for providing us with another year. Help me to focus on your will and not my own. Help me to be a reflection of you to others. Thank you for sending so many good people, so many reflections of you, into my life!

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When the Son of Man Comes, Will He Find Faith on Earth?

Jesus asks this question after telling the parable of the persistent widow: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8.

I heard that this morning and immediately my heart cried out, “Oh I hope so!” And then “Oh I hope He finds it in me.”

Will he find faith on earth?  We can easily look lots of places and say no.  The world certainly seems to have lost faith.  And in many places it seems to actively reject faith.  The country is divided as we have political fights about faith. There is often a mockery of faith present in the media and even more so in social media. And everywhere you look it appears we are clinging to everything but God.   

But then there are other places where faith appears to be rebounding.  We are seeing revivals on college campuses, worship sessions that last for days, a top football team leading a Jesus revival. We see more shirts, apparel and other items referring to faith, Jesus and God.  And there seems to be a call for more.

Is that faith?

My heart rejoices when I see the stories of revival, when I hear God mentioned positively in the media, when I see a story of faith. I order t-shirts with Christian messages, I listen to Christian music, I look for movies with Christian messages. But I still feel myself pursuing things of this world. Looking for approval from this world. Shopping on Amazon for things I don’t need. Worried about security in this world. Is that faith? Is it faith when we are still clinging to worldly things?  Is it faith when we cling to schedules that don’t include time for God?  Is it faith when we cling to our iPhone our social media likes, our pursuit of wealth, power or control.  Is it faith when we have to be right in a political debate, when we are angry at those who seem to personify what we deem the loss of faith in the world? Is it faith when there is still dust on our own Bibles? Is it faith when we show up on Sunday morning for an hour, but return to our Netflix binge watch, our social media brags or our squabbles with each other by Sunday afternoon. 

I want the faith that puts God first. We, or I, allow God to compete among the many things that we create.  Netflix has over 5,000 shows for us to choose.  There are roughly 34 million TikTok videos posted every day for us to watch.  Amazon has over 350 million things for us to purchase.  We are surrounded by options and choices that are not God.  We have millions of idols around us that we choose over God time and time again.  Our schedules are filled with so much overload.  As much as think I want certain things in the world, I know I am happiest when I am spending time with God. And yet I still find myself distracted… constantly … by the things in the world.

Oh Lord, I want the faith that you want to find.  I want the faith that doesn’t rely on any possession, any social media like, any monetary value, any approval from those in the world. I want the faith that has me choosing you every day over everything else. It is easy for me to blame the world and condemn the world for its lack of faith. I want to increase my faith regardless of the world around me. Lord, I know I need you. Please send your Holy Spirit.  Fill me.  Overload me so there is not room for anything else. So that my words and actions reflect my faith and your love.