Help in Troubled Times

Habakkuk 1: ⁷ The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him

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 Sitting on the edge of my bed, I worried about my “future.” What would it be like? How will I make it with the debt I was carrying? I ignored those who spoke about all that “GOD” stuff and went on my way.  I mean they don’t seem any better off. In fact, I have seen some people who spoke about “GOD” who were even more in debt than I was!

• There were times that I worried about “my future.”
• There were times when I did the math and my future looked bleak!
• There were times when life did not seem to provide enough money so I thought everything was bad.

“Trust in the dollar with all your thoughts and all your future plans and all your ways” was my way of thinking. I would talk about where I was with others and they would put on a pity face with me. There seemed to be no way out! BUT GOD said something different!

• GOD said to me “Put your total trust in ME and all will be well with you.”
• GOD said to me “Seek ME in times of trouble and you will find refuge.”
• GOD said to me “Give me your worries, fears and doubts and I will make your paths straight.”

I had reached the end of my rope, or so I thought. I went to a small church and the preacher asked “Is there anyone here who wants to give their life back to GOD?” Something inside me said, “Get up!” so I did. As I walked down the aisle, I could hear clapping and cheering. Tear flowed down my face as I reached a group who prayed for me and with me. I finally felt at peace!

• Are you troubled?
• Do you think there is no way out?
• Can you place your trust in GOD today?
• Will you give HIM your fears, worries and doubts?
• Can you place your total trust in GOD and stop looking at the past and the future?

Simple Praise takes Awareness

Psalm 52: ⁸ But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
⁹ For what you have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
    for your name is good.

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“Something” made me desire to plant an avocado tree in my house from an avocado pit. I followed the instructions meticulously. It took weeks for the first sprouts to appear and in about three months I had a twiggy looking plant. Not quite the plant I had hoped for. I nurtured it over the winter and it survived but only produced a few leaves.

I sat the plant outside in the summer. The very first day a huge thunderstorm came through. I watched the poor little twig blow around in the gale. The next day searing heat seemed to bake the pit from which the twig protruded. I stopped looking. It seemed harsh. Weeks later I noticed the plant had huge leaves and more on the way.

• Sometimes it’s hard to see why I am in the storm.
• Sometimes it seems like I barely growing and the wind is beating me up.
• Sometimes I feel like the searing heat of life is burning too much.

“For what you have done” are the words that caught my attention. This requires that I remember the things GOD has done which necessitates that I notice what GOD is doing. The difficult times are not there to break me because of my horrible failure of being human rather they are there to grow me. Each tempest that comes against me strengthens my weak dexterity. 

• GOD wants me to know HE loves me so HE takes me through the storm rather than around it.
• GOD knows exactly what it takes to grow me so HE places me in the position to squirm.
• GOD sends searing heat to burn off the things that are childish and the items that don’t belong.

It will take ten years for my avocado tree to reach maturity, but I notice the tree is flourishing. Only GOD can grow a tree. Only GOD can grow me. I will remember to praise GOD for the things HE is “doing” because I now notice them.

• Do you see GOD daily?
• Can you recognize that GOD is growing you because you asked to be taken to the next level?
• Will you let GOD blow the winds of life against you to mature you and bless you?
• Will you sing praise to GOD for choosing to grow you, HIS way?

It Takes Time

1 Chronicles 4: ¹⁸ All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze could not be calculated.

¹⁹ Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:

the golden altar;

the tables on which was the bread of the Presence;

²⁰ the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

²¹ the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold);

²² the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.

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Staring out the window I longed to be outside.  Why do I have to fill out this multiplication sheet for homework? It seems so repetitious! Can’t this just be done?! Can’t school just be done?

• Some things seem to take forever to me when I want them to be done.
• Some lessons seem to drag on and on to me when I want to be finished.
• Some parts of life seem to so slow when I want it to be fast.

It seems like the lessons I don’t enjoy take the longest and I this applies to more than education. I mean can’t GOD just hurry up and give me patience? I get so focused on where I think I should be that I can’t sit and wait on GOD’s pace for HIS deliverance. Oh, I believe HE can deliver, but why does HE take so long?

• GOD knows the plans HE has for me, plans to prosper me.
• GOD knows the exact day and time HE wants me to execute HIS plan.
• GOD knows the sin and times I truly worship HIM and HE has factored all of it in HIS great plan for me.

Looking back on times where things moved too fast, I realized I wish they hadn’t. When I got to the position or place, I wasn’t ready. All eyes were on me and I was making mistake after mistake. GOD knows when I am “ready” and HE takes HIS time preparing me daily. HE calms my anxieties and tells me to take one step at a time each day.

• Are you looking for “success” with anxiety?
• Do you think life will be so much better if “this thing” would happen?
• Can you stop looking at the future and enjoy where GOD has you today?
• Will you look at the training GOD is giving you today as an opportunity for HIM to make you great?
• Can you praise HIM for taking HIS time?

Why am I surprised?

1 Peter 4: ¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

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Ever had one of those mornings? I mean this day was important because it would determine my future.  I had overslept because my alarm clock took a day off and buzzed softly that day, but I could still make it. I jumped in the car and it wouldn’t start. There was no way I was going to make it to the interview because it was clear across campus. “Why is this happening to me” I thought to myself!

• When difficult situations arise I throw a pity party and ask why me.
• When I feel a slightly discomforted I look around to change the environment and when I can’t I ask why me.
• When I am not getting my way and it seems like things are breaking I throw up my hands and ask why me.

“Why me” is my question to GOD when I don’t like what’s going on.  I mean “Aren’t I serving YOU well” is my question to HIM.  Then my bargaining comparisons appear by saying “Look at those other people who don’t serve you…they seem to be getting away with everything” as if to say “GOD YOU don’t know what YOU are doing.”

• GOD’s plan for me includes the difficulty that I go through.
• GOD’s plan for me includes a season of pain that I must endure.
• GOD’s plan for me includes some turbulent times that I have to persevere.

I don’t like tough circumstances, but every time I have gone through them I actually feel stronger and a bit wiser. I really shouldn’t be surprised when a situation arises. I actually should know by now that what I’m facing will grow me in ways I never would have grown had I now gone through the situation. GOD’s plan is a great one for me and I should always know that.

• Are you going through some difficult situation?
• Are you facing tough circumstances?
• Can you face your situation as a growth opportunity?
• Will you seek GOD in the middle of this storm and feel HIS comfort?

Why is following GOD so hard?

John 13: ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

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Crying was my way of saying “I am not getting my way.” I cried when I didn’t get my favorite toy. I cried when I couldn’t go over someone’s house to cure my boredom. I cried when I was told to finish my work before going out to play. “Why do my parents have so many rules? Can’t they just loosen up?”

• When Satan chose to stop following GOD he pouted and was thrown out of heaven.
• When Satan chose to stop following GOD he no longer wanted to have rules or structure.
• When Satan chose to stop following GOD he wanted total control over his life and wanted to ruin what GOD made.

GOD cursed galaxies and the Earth because Satan caused humans to sin. Every human born has the deadly disease of sin that can only be cured by pure blood. JESUS provided that pure blood by becoming a human, dying for my sins and being raised from the dead to rule over everything. But life seems tough.

• Life is difficult so GOD wants me to love people through the tough times.
• Life is tough so GOD wants me to love people to show HE still cares.
• Life is troublesome so GOD wants me to love others which not only helps them but gives me purpose.

When I get troubled it usually is caused by me focusing in on me. When I love someone as GOD wants me to then my trouble doesn’t feel like trouble. In fact my trouble seems to be an obstacle to completing my mission which is to serve those whom GOD has delivered to me.

GOD has given me a purpose in life namely to “love” as HE has loved. When I act blind and deaf to this purpose then I get troubled. When I love, I hear GOD clearly!

• What troubles are you facing?
• Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
• Are you seeking pleasure on your own terms?
• Can you love people the way GOD wants you to love them?
• Will you love “that” person for the sole purpose of bringing them back to CHRIST?

I want to run away!

John 6: ⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

   ⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

 ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

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With a steely eyed glance my parents looked at me as I tried to lie my way out of the situation. I went to visit a young lady and as innocent as my plans were, I had not told them where I was going. We hung out most of the day and when I got home the heat from my parents could be felt at the North Pole. I just wanted to get away!

• Uncomfortable situations in which I am wrong makes me want to run away and hide.
• When the going gets tough I want to curl up and stay in bed.
• Lusts sometimes drive me into a feeling of “wanting to get away” from GOD just for a moment.

When JESUS laid out the path for HIS disciples, hundreds of people left because the path was too hard. They wanted JESUS to be an earthly king so they could be rich and have temporary peace here on earth.

JESUS remained the poorest person who ever lived on earth and only had HIS mind focused on the heavenly kingdom after this life. Many people left because they had a false expectation of what GOD would do and I am no different. Fortunately for me, HE won’t let me go.

• When times are tough and I want to run away, GOD shows me that I need to turn back to HIM.
• When the road is difficult and full of obstacles, GOD shows me that I need to turn back to HIM.
• When it seems like everything in life is broken, GOD shows me that I need to turn back to HIM.

Where would I go? What would I do without GOD? I don’t know but often I try things without HIM and they just don’t work. HE is the way, the truth and the life. All HE wants from me is to believe.

• What are you facing?
• Can you ask GOD to use HIS power to fill you up today?
• Will you request that HE fix the situation that’s making you tired?
• Do you hear the words “don’t give up” from HIM?

Remain "true to the faith" even when it's tough!

Acts 14:21They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

 

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When I feel nervous, upset, or the pressure is on, the first thing I drop is GOD. I don't know why I do that. I guess my instincts are to take over. I desire to control my life so much that I push GOD aside to make things happen.

 

I can easily hang out with GOD when times are easy, but when times are tough I have the tendency to drop GOD like a hot rock.

 

Here is what happens. I set a date or an expectation because I am a planner. I pray "at" GOD about my date or expectation and blame it on faith. I say "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen."

 

Then I wait impatiently. When that date or expectation isn't met, I get upset at GOD and ask "Why are you ignoring me?" Then I question GOD's sovereignty and I ask "Why do you let other people who don't worship you get away with all the stuff they get away with?"

 

Then I realize GOD is sovereign and knows what is "best" for me and HE has some wonderful plans for me.

• GOD loves me especially when times are tough.
• GOD loves me when I sin.
• GOD loves me when I serve.
• GOD loves me when I am nervous.
• GOD loves me when I am confident.
• GOD loves me so much that HE allowed HIS SON to die for me.

 

Satan tried to ruin the birth of JESUS by tempting the first humans. After their fall, all humans were doomed to Hell. GOD did a miraculous thing by allowing HIS volunteer SON to die in mankind's place. JESUS lived on this earth and faced every type of temptation, yet HE did not sin.

 

HE is now alive and is the only one who is WORTHY enough to judge all of creation. HE is building a place for you and I that is unimaginably wonderful.

 

Paul and Barnabas were excited about preaching this GREAT NEWS! They told many people and they believed, unfortunately the crowd was stirred up by the wealthy and powerful. They had Paul assassinated, but he got up from the stoning and kept on preaching.

• I have a choice to follow GOD's ways when times are tough.
• I have a choice to believe that GOD wants the best for me when I don't understand the plan.
• I have a choice to pray and let GOD change me while HE changes the circumstance.

Paul says "remain true to the faith." This means that I can expect GOD to do marvelous things, but usually not the way I expect them to happen. I can expect difficult times in my life, and I can expect GOD to take care of me through these times. I can expect to have opposition when I lovingly and humbly preach CHRIST.

  

• Are you losing your faith because of a prolonged problem?
• Have you given up on GOD?
• What other plan do you have?
• Can you control the circumstances? Can GOD?