Standing on God's Promises

“When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the fire the flames will not set you ablaze.” Is 43:2

      I’ve found myself in the middle of tumultuous waters these past six months. As one wave passes and the atmosphere calms, another begins cresting in the distance mounting with what seems to be supernatural force. This unrelenting pattern has played out week after week as I’ve attempted to plant my feet on the rock and claim this promise – that God is with me and I won’t be drowned. But the daily challenge is learning to face down feelings which are diametrically opposed to what God says about my situation. I’m discovering that there’s no place for middle ground in this battle. I’m either trusting in God’s promises and fighting the lies, or lying on the ground having been beaten up by them.
      As Joshua was looking over the horizon at the stormy waters that awaited the Israelites in Canaan, God commanded him, “Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.” Jos 1:9. In the past, I’ve prayed this passage with a pleading request that God wouldn’t allow me to feel terrified or discouraged – that he’d either anesthetize my feelings or, better yet, take them away. Throughout whatever trial I was in I’d repeat the verse over and over -- often with intense frustration as I continued to experience terrifying feelings.
      When I entered this storm, I looked with dread at this verse which hadn't seemed to work for me. But something happened as I was re-reading the passage, and I saw for the first time a two letter word I’d never noticed before – be. God’s encouragement to Joshua was not to be terrified or discouraged or rather not to live like and act like a person who is ruled by these feelings. Why? Because of the certain fact that the mighty God of the universe was with him.
      In the same way, he was saying to me that because of who he is, what he’s done for me, and my secure position in Christ, I’m not to walk, talk and live like one who is ruled by fear. I, like Joshua, am forever united to God through Christ, with the Holy Spirit indwelling me and God’s angels surrounding me to minister to my needs. I’m not alone. I’m “more than a conqueror through him.” I may feel like anything but that – isolated, overwhelmed or discouraged. But these waves of feelings don’t change the certainty that I belong to God and am forever in his care. My security is a fact that cannot be moved or removed no matter how great the trouble I’m facing.
      I’ve allowed my feelings many times to dictate my actions thinking that it’s natural to do so. But God says that where my feelings run contrary to his Word I can relax and know that they are not the measure of what’s real in my life. With this insight, I began praying through this verse in a different way, giving freedom to my emotions at certain points to peak and crest with the trial, but resolving that in Christ I am NOT one who is terrified or discouraged.
      Corrie Ten Boom gives a great example of how feelings eventually change once we’ve taken steps of obedience. She uses the illustration of a steeple bell which when pulled a few times, continues chiming, even after the rope has been released. Though it takes time for the ringing to cease, eventually the bell will stop and follow the action which has been taken. The same is true, she argues, for us as we learn to walk by faith and not by our feelings with regard to everything from forgiveness to other trials in life. If we wait until we feel like it to trust and obey God’s Word we may remain in our state of fear and indecision. Likewise, if we allow our feelings to define the power and efficacy of God’s Word, we’ll often be deceived into thinking that his promises are impotent.
       God promises his presence in our lives. Not only that, but he goes ahead of us into future trials and uncertainties. The enemies that threaten to defeat us have already been destroyed by him at the cross, and the battle that’s waging has already been won. As his sons and daughters, our value and significance are immeasurable, and God guarantees that nothing, not even tumultuous storms or emotions, will ever be able to come between us and his love. He assures us that his power is mightily at work in us to “will and to act according to his good pleasure” even when we don’t see it, sense it or feel it. And ultimately we have the promise that he’s working every trial and hardship for our good and his glory. We have this certain victory in Christ, and by faith we can rest upon it.

“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God--
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”

Martin Luther

Forgiveness

     We’ve been talking about forgiveness in my sophomore English class this week. As we’ve muddled through such issues as forgiving repeat offenses and releasing  others from our anger, I’ve unfortunately come to the realization that there are people in my life right now I haven’t forgiven. I’m learning that it’s one thing to teach and talk about forgiving and quite another to put into practice.

     My mom shared a similar sentiment over Skype this week. She’s been studying a book about forgiveness in her Sunday school class for “who knows how long” she said. We talked about how satisfying it is to study forgiveness, to analyze and dissect it, but when it comes to taking the step of faith to release someone from our grip of anger many of us are at a stalemate!

     Thankfully, God’s relentless pursuit of holiness has kept me from escaping into my insistence for retaliation, or worse yet, denial. As I’ve hidden out in quiet corners hoping to veil my anger from his gaze the Spirit’s presence has become almost unbearable.  I’ve been faced with a choice -- the same one that I so boldly laid before my students.  Either I can forgive as I’ve been forgiven, and release my anger and vengeance to the Lord. Or I can hold onto it with gripped fists, demanding retribution and blocking the joy God so graciously wants me to experience.

     Like most people I’ve been hurt beyond my own ability to forgive. With life and love come offenses that have left me feeling anything but whole – cutting words, forgotten promises and blatant lies. From the lesser to the greater they’ve done their work on my heart, leaving me feeling vulnerable and afraid to trust again. Somehow I convince myself that by holding onto the bitterness I’m getting adequate payback for what someone’s done. But reality has it that I’m the main casualty in my decision to grasp onto anger.

     Forgiveness is costly. It’s costing me my pride and my right to get even. As God’s child I’m commanded to step out in faith and release my anger and bitterness, entrusting my offenders to God’s gracious, yet perfect, discipline.  This involves trusting that he knows exactly what he’s doing and that he’ll be faithful to deal with those who’ve hurt me in a way that is loving and just.  Choosing to forgive is risky, no doubt, but the alternative is deadly and certain.  I’m reminded of this verse on many occasions when I think I have the right to cling to bitterness and withhold forgiveness. Ouch!

“If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”  1 John 4:20