This weeks topic is definitely apropos. Fear is perhaps the strongest tool in the devil’s arsenal; and the current circumstances under which we are living give us plenty to "fear". The word “fear” appears over 500 times in the King James Version; and the phrase “fear not” is the most uttered command in the scriptures (http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/07/fear-not-365-days-a-year/). It's certainly natural to be afraid - even under normal circumstance. We contend daily with finances, emotional and physical trauma, concerns about our future and the future of our loved ones. Just to name few. The current Coronavirus pandemic can easily magnify these fears. But where faith begins fear must end. Christ tells us in Matthew 6:25-34, "do not worry". Why? Because worry doesn’t rid us of our lemons; it only robs us of our joy.
Let us consider the example we find in Numbers 13. Here we find Moses and the children of Israel preparing to enter the Promised Land. Before they enter, Moses sent out twelve spies among whom were Joshua and Caleb. Ten spies brought back a negative report causing the children of Israel to become fearful and desirous to go back to Egypt. But, Joshua and Caleb didn’t see the vast armies of the enemy; they didn’t see the giants of the land. They saw the promises and the power of God! We must all recognize that power in our lives.
Paul reminds us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”(II Timothy 1:7). God, our originator, our creator who made us in His own image has given you and me a spirit of power! By placing our trust in God and His son Jesus, we choose courage over cowardice. We might not understand what God has in store for us or understand the suffering all around us. But, we have a God who is never afraid. We have a God who is never worried.
Over the next several weeks I will be taking the opportunity to post short blogs based on a book I'm writing. The very title of my blog is taken from a post: When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Dig More Wells. The original post was written a number of years ago for a previous blog but I decide to re-post it a few months ago. I invite you to read that post as well, but for now, let's start at the beginning.
From Ancestry to MyHeritage to Geni, the search for one’s genealogy has become a billion dollar industry. Yes, that’s BILLION. While our dot com society has greatly increased access to such information, the desire to understand our origins is not unique to this modern era. Genealogies were once utilized only by royalty or elite ruling classes. Now the everyday man can gain access to tens of thousands of records. What served as a method for establishing pedigree has transformed into a means of determining personal identity. But, how much of who we really are is dependent upon our physical ancestors?
The inspired writers of God's word catalog several family trees. And, the gospel writers Matthew and Luke establish Christ’s royal bloodline through genealogical means. Most of us have heard the phrase “from good stock”. It’s an indication that a person comes from a socially acceptable family tree. If, however, we pause a moment and consider Christ’s family tree, it’s chock full of all kinds of undesirable elements: liars, thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, etc. From Tamar and Judah to Rahab to David and Bathsheba, God takes the broken, the sinners, the downcast; He accomplishes His will through the most unlikely individuals. Christ didn’t come from “good stock”. He was a carpenters’ son from an insignificant town called Nazareth. Born in a stable and laid in a manager, He didn’t enter this world through pomp and circumstance. There was no silver spoon in his mouth. The prophet Isaiah tells us that Christ was not beautiful to behold and that He was despised and rejected. The King of kings had no place to rest His head and was crowned only with thorns.
Satan works against us day by day seeking to separate us from God. But, Paul writes in Romans, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (8:28). Not that all things are good, but that God can take our pains, our sufferings, our lemons and accomplish His will in our lives. When we consider this trend in genealogical research, we must remember that the only identity that matters is the one that comes from being a child of God. Our origins are not tied up in fleshly bloodlines, but in the Spirit of our Almighty creator.
C.S Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Pain is a undeniable consequence of living in a fallen world. Pain tells us that something is wrong - physically, emotionally, spiritually. And, it is a stranger to none. Still, in the words of Helen Keller, "Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."
While different types of pain require different healing approaches, one that I'm quite familiar with is physical therapy. I've just begun a treatment regimen for some neck, shoulder and hip pain. A couple of my joints are hypomobile. In other words, my body has gotten "stuck". Hey, life happens. I find myself pushing exercise to the side, repeating poor movement patterns and compensating for old injuries. This can be true spiritually as well. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to become spiritually "stuck".
1. We may find ourselves zoning out during worship, simply going through the motions. There are times when we must grant ourselves grace. When my children were younger, I spent a good deal of time keeping them from being disruptive. Often, I couldn't tell you what my husband preached on that morning. However, as they grew able to sit for longer periods, it was my responsibility to then ensure that I focused on my worship to God. If I wish for my children to have healthy spiritual habits, I must develop and exemplify them in my life.
2. Sometimes, we might avoid developing close relationships with fellow Christians because of past hurts we've experienced. This is understandable. One expects to find only love and kindness among other believers. Still, the Church is made of fallible humans. I've been hurt; but, I've hurt others as well. When you experience a physical injury, your body has ways of protecting itself - scar tissue, tight muscles, stiff joints. Our hearts protect themselves as well. Jesus, in His eternal wisdom, tells us to forgive seventy times seven knowing a bitter heart can easily turn to stone.
3. So too, prayer and bible study easily fall to the wayside of our already overcrowded schedules. Between my online teaching, homeschooling and house work, I know this is an area that can always be improved upon. You see, Satan doesn't have to tempt us to live openly sinful lives. He just has to make it hard for us to put God first.
With physical therapy, it's not enough for me to simply attend my weekly appointments. These sessions are important for me to begin my journey of rehabilitation. But, they're just one part of a bigger picture. There are exercises I'm responsible for completing at home. And, I'll need to continue exercising and correcting old movement patterns to create good habits. This is no less true in our spiritual lives. Faith doesn't happen by accident. We must exercise our hearts, minds and souls through dedicated worship, prayer and bible study. It is also important for us to develop a support system within the body of Christ. As Paul tells us, "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . ."(I Corinthians 12:26).
Changing the way our bodies move and function for the better doesn't happen overnight. It's a process of making the right choices day in and day out. Spiritual rehab takes time and effort as well. Moving forward, choosing Christ everyday. Remember: You can't complain about the results you don't get from the work you won't do.
