Bullies

 

Bullies

Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Why anyone would pester Charlotte is beyond me. If the sweet, little face of this ten-year-old doesn't melt you, her cherubic voice will. But a bully tried to stir up some trouble one day. Intimidation tactics, pressure, names, threats – the pest tried them all. But Charlotte didn't fold. And in the end, it wasn’t her big brown eyes or infectious smile, but her faith that pulled her through. The older student warned Charlotte to prepare for battle. "Any day now I'm coming after you." But Charlotte didn't flinch or cry. She simply informed the perpetrator about the facts. "Do whatever you do," she explained rather nonchalantly. "But just know this: God is on my side." Word has it that the threats have ended.

School bullies may not await us any longer, but funeral homes do. Job transfers and fair-weather friends do. Challenges are the potholes of life. So, where do we find the energy to face them? God never promised an absence of distress, but he does promise the assuring presence of his Holy Spirit. And at first blush, a person might assume that the Holy Spirit is all about the spectacular and stupendous. We’ve all seen the television images of sweating preachers, fainting and falling audiences, and questionable miracle working, right? While no one would deny the astonishing nature of the Holy Spirit's work (like tongues of fire over the apostles' heads), a focus on the phenomenal usually causes us to miss the Spirit’s quieter, stabilizing work. The Holy Spirit invisibly, yet indispensably, serves as a rudder for the ship of our soul, keeping us afloat and on track. So, take heart. This isn’t a solo journey. The next time you feel as though it is, review some of the gifts the Spirit gives. For example, "you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance." (Eph. 1:13-14)

Interesting word choice. The verb “sealed” conjures up a variety of images. To protect a letter, you seal the envelope. To keep air out of a jar, you seal its mouth with a rubber-ringed lid. To keep oxygen out of wine, you seal the opening with a cork. To seal a deal, you might sign a contract or notarize a signature. Sealing declares ownership; it secures contents. The most famous New Testament "sealing" occurred with the tomb of Jesus. Roman soldiers rolled a rock over the entrance and "set a seal on the stone." (Matt. 27:66) Archaeologists envision two ribbons stretched in front of the entrance, glued together with hardened wax bearing the imprimatur of the Roman government. It was as if to say, "Stay away! The contents of this tomb belong to Rome." Their seal, of course, proved futile. But the seal of the Spirit proves forceful.

When you became a Christian, God sealed you with the Spirit. "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." (Eph. 1:13) So, when hell's angels come seeking to snatch you from God, the seal turns them away. He bought you, owns you and protects you. God paid too high a price to leave you unguarded. As Paul writes later, "Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." (Eph. 4:30)

Your Father has no intention of letting you fall. You can't see him, but he’s present. You are "shielded by God's power." (1 Pet. 1:5) He is "able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy." (Jude 24) Ponder that truth. God is able to keep you from falling. So, does he want you to live in fear? No. Just the opposite, actually. "The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, 'Father.' And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God's children." (Rom. 8:15-16) That’s a pretty intriguing thought.

Deep within you, God's Spirit confirms with your spirit that you belong to him. Beneath the vitals of the heart, God's Spirit whispers, "You’re mine. I bought you and sealed you, and no one can take you." The Spirit offers an inward, comforting witness. He’s like a father who walks hand in hand with his little boy. The child knows he belongs to his daddy, his small hand happily lost in dad’s. He feels no uncertainty about his father’s love whatsoever. But suddenly the dad, moved by some impulse, swings his boy up into the air and into his arms and says, "I love you, son." He puts a big kiss on that bubbly cheek, lowers the boy to the ground, and the two go on walking together. Now, has the relationship between the two changed? On one level, no. The father is no more a father than he was before his expression of love. But on a deeper level, yes. The dad drenched, showered and saturated the boy in love. God's Spirit does the same.

"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Rom. 5:5) Note the preposition, “of.” The Holy Spirit pours the love “of” God in our hearts, not the love “for” God. It’s like God hands a bucket of love to the Spirit and says, "Drench their hearts with my love." Has it been a while since you were drenched with the Spirit? If so, then tell him. He's listening to you – and he's speaking for you. “In the same way, the Spirit comes to the aid of our weaknesses. We do not even know how we ought to pray, but through our inarticulate groans the Spirit himself is pleading for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means, because he pleads for God's own people in God's own way.” (Rom. 8:26-27)

The Spirit comes to the aid of our weaknesses. That’s a verse worthy of a highlighter because who doesn’t need that kind of reminder? Weak bodies. Weak wills. Weakened resolves. We've known them all. The word “weakness” can refer to physical infirmities, as with the invalid who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years (John 5:5), or spiritual impotence, as with the spiritually "helpless" of Romans 5:6. Whether we are feeble of soul or body, or both, how good is it to know that it's not up to us but that "the Spirit himself is pleading for us."

Many years ago, there was a White House briefing on the AIDS crisis. While most of the attendees represented relief organizations, a few ministers were invited. The agenda of the day included a Q & A with a White House staffer charged with partial oversight of several billion dollars earmarked for AIDS prevention and treatment. There were lots of questions. How does one qualify? How much can an organization hope to receive? What are the requirements, if any, for using the money? Most of the questions came from organizations. But one came from a minister who had a heart for AIDS victims.

"One of my friends in Miami is dying from AIDS. He spends two thousand dollars a month on medication. With insurance balking at coverage, I'm wondering if I might find him some assistance." The White House policy staffer was surprised, but polite. "Uh, sure. After the meeting I'll put you in touch with the right person." Determined to bring the problem to the top of the food chain, the minister remained standing. He held up a few sheets of stapled paper and said, "I brought his documents with me. If more is needed, I can run them down." The staffer remained polite. "Absolutely. After the meeting." The staffer then fielded another question or two from those assembled when he noticed the minister had raised his hand again. This time the preacher went to the bottom line. "I'm still thinking of my friend," he explained. "Who signs the checks?" "Excuse me?" "Who signs the checks? I just want to talk to the person who makes the decisions. So, I want to know, who signs the checks?" Does the bedridden friend in Florida have any idea that his cause is being presented just a few hundred feet from the Oval Office? And do you have any idea that your needs are being described in heaven, even now?

The Holy Spirit "prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will." (Rom. 8:26-27) The AIDS-infected man had no voice, no power and no influence. But he had a friend. And his friend spoke on his behalf. The impoverished orphan of Ethiopia, the distraught widow, the aging saint in the convalescent home – they all may think they have no voice, no power, no influence. But they have a friend – the Spirit of God who speaks the language of heaven.

It's not up to you to pray your prayers. None of us pray as much as we should, but all of us pray more than we think, because the Holy Spirit turns our sighs into petitions and our tears into pleadings. He speaks for you and protects you. He makes sure you get heard. He makes sure you get home. Now, suppose a person never hears this, never learns about the sealing and intercession of the Spirit. This individual thinks that salvation security resides in self, not God, and that prayer power depends on the person, not the Spirit. What kind of life do you think that person will lead? A parched and prayerless one. Fighting to stay spiritually afloat drains him. Thinking she stands alone before God discourages her. So, they live in a spiritual desert.

But what about the one who believes in the work of the Spirit? Really believes. Suppose a person drinks from that fountain? Better yet, suppose you do. Suppose you let the Spirit saturate you with assurance. After all, "we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" (Rom. 5:5) Will you be different as a result? You can bet your Sunday on it. Your shoulders will lift as you lower the buckling weight of self-salvation. Your knees will straighten as you discover the buoyant power of the praying Spirit. Higher walk. Deeper prayers. And, most of all, the quiet confidence that comes from knowing it's not up to you because you’re not alone. Then you, like Charlotte, can tell the bullies of the world, "Do whatever you need to do. But just know this: God is on my side."

Grace,

Randy

Like a Hand in a Glove

 

Like a Hand in a Glove

Like a Hand in a Glove - Audio/Visual 

“Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them – living and breathing God! But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells – even though you still experience all the limitations of sin – you yourself experience life on God's terms.”
(Rom. 8:5, 9-10)

I was so proud of the new work gloves I’d just purchased. My old set was worn and had holes – completely defenseless from the bite that yard work can take out of your hands. So, I went to the local hardware store and shopped until I found just the right pair. I must have examined half a dozen; probably tried on just as many. After all, what good are gloves if you don't like them, and they don't fit? And then I found them – with the help of the clerk who did me a favor. She reached under the counter and produced a set still in its packaging. “Just what I was looking for,” I thought. And at that, I cheerfully paid the purchase price, walked out the door and drove the short ride home to test them out.

So, there I was – standing in my yard with my brand-new gloves like a kid in the outfield with his brand-new mitt. I plunged my hands into the smooth, leather-grained cowhide and . . . nothing. My hands stopped mid-way into the gloves. Seems I couldn’t get my fingers into the fingers. The five entryways were all stitched closed. Mistake at the factory? Probably. Oversight of the store? Perhaps – maybe that’s why the clerk found them under the counter. Who knows? But one thing was certain: my fingers wouldn’t fill the glove. A closed fist could, but an extended hand wouldn’t. “No problem,” I thought, “I’ll just make do” because who has the time to go back to the hardware store to return work gloves when there’s lots of work to be done?

So, I fisted my way into the palm and parked it there, my fingers folded, the glove fingers flopping in the wind. Not exactly what I had in mind, but, hey, when it comes to looks and utility, I couldn’t complain because my fingers were safe. Rose thorns were no longer a threat. Function, however, was a bit of a problem. Have you ever tried to pick up a shovel with your fingers folded inside a glove? It’s not easy. Neither is mowing the lawn or trimming the roses. Your hands feel like horses hoofs. And forget grabbing some shears, or those little plastic whips you use for the weed-whacker. Simply put, I had things to do. I wanted extended fingers, stretched and strong, because I had a lawn to mow, edges to trim and weeds to pull. The same is  true for God; he’s got things to do, too.

Babies need hugs. Children need good-night tucks in bed. AIDS orphans need homes. Stressed-out executives need hope. God has work to do, and he uses our hands to do it. What the hand is to the glove, the Spirit is to the Christian. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him." (Rev. 3:20) God gets into us. At times, imperceptibly. Other times, disruptively. God gets his fingers into our lives, inch by inch, reclaiming the territory that is rightfully his own.

Take your tongue, for example. He claims it for his message. And your feet? He requisitions them for his purpose. Your mind? He made it and intends to use it for his glory. And what about your eyes, face and hands? Through them he will weep, smile and touch. As a glove responds to the strength of the hand, so you will respond to the leading of Christ to the point where, like the Apostle Paul, you can eventually say, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal. 2:20) But the process isn’t always immediate; sometimes it takes a while.

Receiving the unseen is not easy. Most Christians find the cross of Christ easier to accept than the Spirit of Christ. Good Friday makes a whole lot more sense than Pentecost. Christ, our substitute; Jesus taking our place; the Savior paying for our sins. These are astounding, yet embraceable concepts. They fall in the area of transaction and substitution – familiar territory for most of us. But Holy Spirit discussions lead us into the realm of the supernatural and the unseen, subjects about which we quickly grow quiet and cautious, fearing what we can't see or explain.

So, try considering the Spirit's work from a different angle. Think about what Jesus did in Galilee as being similar to what the Holy Spirit does in us. Jesus lived among the people, teaching, comforting and convicting. The Holy Spirit lives within us, teaching, comforting and convicting. The New Testament word for this promise is oikeo, which means to "live, or dwell." And Oikeo comes from the Greek noun oikos, which means "house." In other words, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer in the same way a homeowner indwells a house. “Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them – living and breathing God! But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells – even though you still experience all the limitations of sin – you yourself experience life on God's terms.” (Rom. 8:5, 9-10)

Did you see the phrases of permanence in that passage? “God's Spirit is in them;” “God himself has taken up residence in your life;” and you are the person “in whom he dwells.” To Timothy, Paul urged, "You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you." (2 Tim. 1:14) And later on, could the apostle's words have been any clearer than when he said, "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16) All believers have God in their heart. But not all believers have given their whole heart to God. Remember, the question is not, “How can I have more of the Spirit?” but rather, “How can the Spirit have more of me?” A palm and a few fingers just won’t do.

So, take an inventory. As you look around your life, do you see any resistant pockets? Any stitched-up fingers? Go down the list. Your tongue, for example. Do you stretch the truth? Puff up the facts? How about your language? Is your speech a sewer of profanities and foul talk? And grudges? Do you harbor resentments like boats at the dock? And while we’re at it, are you unproductive and lazy? Do you live off the system, assuming that the church or the country should take care of you? Sorry if you find these questions a little offensive, but those aren’t my words, they’re Paul’s – he wrote the checklist.

“So put away all falsehood and tell your neighbor the truth because we belong to each other. And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.”
(Eph. 4:25-31)

Do your actions interrupt the flow of the Spirit in your life? Harbored sin interferes with Spirit circulation. Confessed sin, however, repairs the heart and restores the power. But it could take time, so don't give up. Don't let stumbles stop you. Come and keep coming. Ask and keep asking. "Your heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask him!" (Luke 11:13) It reminds me of a fly I encountered in an airplane one time. On a flight some time ago, a fly was buzzing around the cabin. “That’s odd,” I thought. “A fly flying inside a flying plane. Why would a fly fly during a flight? Does he think he’s helping the plane? Doing his part to keep the aircraft aloft?” Why did the fly in the plane fly in the plane? Why didn’t the fly just light for a moment and enjoy the flight? Maybe he thought the airplane needed him. And just like that, he flew to the front of the plane.

Moments later, however, he returned, this time looking far less confident than before. Fear flickered in his tiny, bug eyes. "I don't think I can keep it up,” he said. "Keep what up?" I said. "The plane! I don't think I can keep the plane up. I'm flying as furiously as I can. But my wings are getting tired. I don't know how long I can do this." “But don't you know it's not up to you? Look! You’re surrounded by strength and we’re airborne by a power that isn’t your own. So, stop flying. It's not up to you to get this plane home." Insulted, he buzzed off. Granted, I don’t make a habit of speaking to flies, although I have had a few choice words for them. But we all fly furiously back and forth, ever busy, always thinking that the success of this journey is up to us. And we fear letting up, don’t we? Well then, stop for a moment and look out the window. God's wings sustain you. His engines empower you. You can flap like a fly and not accelerate the flight. It's your job to rest and receive.

Accept his power. You be the glove and let him get his hand deep down into your life. Surrender to his plan. And then keep at it. Unceasingly seek God's Spirit. Accept. Surrender. Keep at it. “A-S-K.” Ask. Seek. Knock. A-S-K. "Your Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13) So, let God put his Spirit deep into the fingers of the glove that’s your life. Then you’ll truly be able to experience the hand-in-glove relationship that he died to give you.

Grace,

Randy

Don't Jump Ship

 

Don’t Jump Ship

Don't Jump Ship - Audio/Visual 

When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing. But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor’easter, struck. They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm. We came under the lee of the small island named Clauda and managed to get a lifeboat ready and reef the sails. But rocky shoals prevented us from getting close. We only managed to avoid them by throwing out drift anchors. Next day, out on the high seas again but now irreparably damaged by the storm, we dumped the cargo overboard. The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the tackle and provisions. It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. The wind and waves were battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue. (Acts 27:13-20)

It seems to me that there are, generally, three kinds of storms in life: storms that we bring on ourselves (like Samson); storms that God causes (like Lake Galilee); and storms that other people cause (as when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison). And when you’re the innocent party in a crisis, that last kind of storm is especially hard to take. God had put the apostle Paul, as a prisoner, on board a ship headed from Palestine to Rome. After the ship ventured through the Mediterranean Sea and docked at the island of Crete, God told Paul to advise the crew not to leave the harbor because there was an enormous storm brewing. But the sailors were impatient to get to a better harbor, so they ignored God. (Acts 27:9-12) Impatience often gets us into trouble. Impatient to get married; impatient to get a new job; impatient to move to the other side of town. These sailors didn’t take time to check things out with God, so they sailed right into the jaws of an awaiting nor’easter.

There are some pretty common reasons why we get ourselves into a mess, and the first is getting the wrong guidance from the so-called “experts.” The centurion who had charge over Paul ignored his plea and instead followed the advice given by both the captain and the owner of the ship. So, sometimes, the initial reason we get ourselves into trouble is that we listen to the wrong experts. Of course, the only truly reliable expert is God. But sometimes we get the wrong guidance from a vote. For instance, the majority of the crew on Paul’s ill-fated trip decided that the ship should sail on – they had hoped to reach Phoenix and its safe harbor on the other side of Crete. (Acts 27:12) But like those sailors, the fact of the matter is that the majority can be wrong. We can get ourselves into a real jam by following the prevailing opinion, or the most popular ideas. On the other hand, if we listen to God we’ll go in the right direction.

Then there are times we get wrong guidance from our circumstances. "When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so, they weighted anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete." (Acts 27:13) Ah, a gentle south wind – the sailors thought they’d gotten their wish because the circumstances looked favorable. But it’s foolish and unwise to ignore what God says, even if the circumstances are contradictory. Things may look good right now, but you may be sailing into the teeth of a storm. And we’ve all heard others who’ve said, “Well, this decision must be okay because I feel so good about it.” But the fact of the matter is that feelings can lie. Yet over and over again we hear about people who thought they’d obtained what they wanted but then went sailing right into a catastrophe, just as the sailors did in the book of Acts. They found themselves caught in “a wind of hurricane force." (Acts 27:14) Their ship — like those sailors – became caught in the storm and could not head into the wind. So, what do we do when a crisis blows our way?

Well, the first thing is we can’t let ourselves drift. When we’re caught in a crisis, we typically react in one of three ways and here, because the sailors couldn’t head into the wind, they “gave way to it and were driven along.” (Acts 27:15) The first thing that storms tend to do is to cause us to drift. We let go of our goals. We forget where we’re headed. We forget our values and we start drifting. Because they weren’t equipped with compasses and the stars were completely obscured by the storm, the sailors were in total darkness. And when we’re in a dark place, we can drift, too. The waves beat us back and forth, and we’re led to wherever they take us. Our problems seem to batter us back and forth.

The second thing is that we can’t afford to discard. “We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.” (Acts 27:18) When a crisis emerges, we first start drifting and then we start discarding things from our lives. With the sailors it was first the cargo, then the ship’s tackle, eventually their food (Acts 27:38) and finally themselves. (Acts 27:43-44) They all jumped overboard and started swimming to shore. Often, when we find ourselves in a life’s crisis we’re tempted to throw out the very things that are important to us because we’re under pressure and want to get rid of it all. We become impulsive. We give up on our dreams. We run out on relationships. We throw away values that we learned as kids. Don’t.

The third is we shouldn’t despair. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (Acts 27:20) In an extreme crisis we eventually get to the point of despair and the last thing we throw out is hope. Have you ever come to the point where you’ve thrown things out, and collapsed in despair? Remember the sailors: they gave up hope because they’d forgotten that God was in control. They forgot that God had a plan. They forgot that God could inject hope into an absolutely hopeless situation. The amazing part of this story is Paul’s reaction. Paul remained calm, cool and confident; he had courage in the crisis. Nothing fazed him.

The sailors’ reactions were the natural responses that we tend to have in a crisis, but they don’t have to be. One test of our Christianity is how we handle a crisis. It’s easier to live like a Christian when things are going great, when all of our prayers are being answered, when we are in good health and when our incomes are rising. But character is revealed in a crisis, not made in one. So, what should we do when things look as if they’re falling apart, and we’re being battered by big problems? Drop your anchor.

“Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.” (Acts 27:29) The safest thing to do when we get in a storm is to drop our anchors. Just stand still. Situations change, and the sands of time shift, but the Bible says that “those who put their trust in God are immovable like Mount Zion.” (Psalm 125:1) Often when people encounter a major problem, they want to change everything else in their lives at the same time because the situation feels overwhelming and they can’t stand still. A person will lose his or her spouse by death or divorce, and the typical reaction is, “I’m going to quit my job, sell everything I own, move to a new city and start over.” But that’s exactly what they don’t need — more change. What they need to do is put down some anchors and get some stability. So why then was Paul so confident? Because he was encouraged by three anchors of the soul. These three truths can anchor you on the rock of stability so that when the winds of crisis blow you back and forth, you’ll have confidence. These will stabilize you in the storm.

The first anchor in a crisis is the presence of God. Storms can never hide us from God. We may not see him, but he sees us. We may think God is a million miles away, but he’s with us and watching us. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) God is right there with us. We never go through anything by ourselves. No matter what situation you’re going through right now, God is with you.  God is the anchor that you can fully trust. In Acts 27:24, Paul quotes God’s angel who visited him in the night: “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” In other words, God told Paul, “I have a plan for your life.”

The second anchor in a crisis is God’s purpose. Every Christian ought to have a sense of destiny. You’re not here on earth to just take up space; God has a specific purpose and plan for your life. Storms are simply temporary setbacks on the road toward fulfilling that purpose. Absolutely nothing can change God’s ultimate purpose for your life unless you choose to disobey him. If you choose to reject his plan, he’ll certainly accommodate you but the Scriptures teach that no outside person can change God’s plan for your life. God leaves that up to you. No matter what happens on the outside, external forces cannot alter God’s purpose for your life as long as you say, “God, I want to do your will.” God’s purpose is greater than any situation you will ever experience. God has a plan beyond your problems. The point is this: it’s dangerous to focus on our problems more than on our purpose. Once you lose your goal, you’ll lose sight of the very meaning for which you exist, and you’ll become purposeless – like a cork in a storm. In Acts 27:25, Paul said, “Keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”

The third anchor is God’s promise. God keeps his promises without fail. Storms cannot hide our faces from God because God is always with us. Storms cannot change the purpose of God because his purpose is the ultimate. Storms cannot destroy the child of God because God’s promises are sure. And some of us may be going through devastating crises right now; our problems may seem overwhelming, and we think we’re going under for the last time. But God says this to you: You may lose the cargo; you may lose the tackle of the ship; you may lose the ship; you may even get wet — but you’re going to make it because of the promises of God.

That’s fine, but what should we do while we’re waiting for the storm to pass? The same thing the sailors did: “Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.” (Acts 27:29) Anchor yourself on the truths of God and pray. Because when you do, “Morning came! The sailors didn’t recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach where they decided to run the ship aground. All 276 people jumped overboard and got safely to land.” (Acts 27:39-44)

God says, “I am with you.” Let his truth stabilize your life and give you the confidence you need in every crisis you face. Storms cannot hide God from you or you from God. God has a purpose for your life. So, don’t jump ship. There’s a reason for it all, and you will make it to the safety and rest that he has promised for you and all of us who love God and have been called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

Grace,

Randy