Tag: Character of God

Panic, Prayer, Praise, Peace!

Philippians 4:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&version=NIV

I hope that today will be filled with peace, joy, and blessing for anyone reading this. But I know that today will bring bad news for some, pain for others, and hardship for many. Life is filled with struggle, disappointment, failures, and loss. Our first reaction is often to worry, which can lead to more worry, and a sense of urgency, even panic. In many cases, we have neither the resources nor the wisdom to overcome our struggles–even sustained effort or a “lucky break” may leave us without much hope. And the more we worry, the less we accomplish. But telling ourselves (or others) to simply “stop worrying” doesn’t banish worry; sometimes it increases it! Now we worry about worrying too much, or we find new things to worry about.

But there is a time-honored and proven pattern that can help. Jesus spoke of it in His “Sermon on the Mount.” In Matthew 6, He gives us this advice:

“So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul expanded on this in his letter to the Philippian believers. He told them to be anxious for nothing–that regardless of our situation or circumstances, we should not panic, but pray (seek God’s grace, righteousness, wisdom, and help). But more than that, we should present all of our prayers, petitions, and requests with thanksgiving and praise!

This is not the same as pretending that our struggles don’t exist, or that they are not important, or that we are glad about the pain, uncertainty, or hardship that they bring. Instead it is lifting our eyes to Heaven and finding that God is bigger than it all; that His grace, His strength, His wisdom is sufficient for the next step– for today’s worries–for today’s battles and burdens.

This doesn’t happen naturally or automatically–we must seek, pray, pursue righteousness, ask for help, and continue to stand firm. There are some who point to the words of Jesus, or of Paul as a kind of “magic formula.” If we repeat a few promises from the Bible, or if we pray certain prayers, or convince ourselves and others that we have “enough” faith, God is obligated to change our circumstances and give us the resolution or relief we want. God is not primarily interested in our relief– He is interested in our redemption, our renewal, and our eternal reality. In following this pattern of turning our panic into prayer, and our prayer into praise, He promises that we will experience His peace. Our panic will be transformed–even if our situation stays the same; even if it gets worse before it gets better!

So how do we practice this pattern; how do we train for this transformation?

Here are a couple of suggestions:

  • Start by seeking God with abandon–pursue Him with your whole heart– thank Him for who He is, and for all He has done. It can be helpful to review some of the names of God–I AM, Almighty, Creator, Lord, King of Kings.. Or read a Psalm or find a song that reminds you of God’s character and power. Think of the times when God has been faithful in your own past.
  • Find something about your situation for which you can be thankful– genuinely thankful. Years ago, when I was young and single, I was laid off from my first full-time job after nine months. Was I worried? Yes! Where would I find another job? How would I pay my bills? But I resolved to start being thankful about all I had learned on the job– I had met new people, learned new skills, purchased a car…God knew my needs for the future, and even though I had to wait another eight months before I found a full-time job, I was able to find temporary work and interview for other jobs in the meantime. And I had friends and family who offered good advice and encouragement along the way. I know some situations are more painful and perplexing than the loss of a job. When I my father died, nothing made the pain less, but I could thank God for Dad’s life and the time we had with him. This is NOT easy, nor is it meant to be…It may not happen for days, or weeks–don’t give up!
  • Cry out to God– in praise, but also in petition, pain, confusion, confession, and raw emotion. God wants a real relationship with us, and that includes walking with us in the “valley of the shadow of death.” We don’t have to fear evil, or worry about the future, not because it holds no danger or dread, but because we never have to walk alone and defenseless!
  • Remember this is a pattern to follow, not a pill to swallow–none of this comes easy, and God’s peace is not an instant “fix.” Instead, it is a growing conviction that God is who He says He is– faithful, loving, victorious, eternal, and sovereign. Such peace defies our panic and erodes our worry, leaving us ready to face the battles before us, and move forward through the struggles.

It is not will power or a change of circumstances that brings incomprehensible peace. From panic to peace requires prayer, praise, and a bit of perspective. It is not magic– it is Majesty!

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My Body, My Choice?

The news is constantly filled with stories about women (and men and children) who want to have complete control over their bodies– they want to choose their gender, dramatically change their appearance, and determine when (or if) they will have children, commit to relationships, or accept the responsibility that comes with having a body.

In many ways, “my body, my choice” seems reasonable and even fair. No one wants other people to have control over their life and death, or their health and welfare, with no say and no choice. But often, this phrase is twisted into a fantasy that every person can do whatever s/he wants with their body, without accepting the consequences or responsibilities that come with their behavior or their natural abilities.

I once saw an online argument in which a young and earnest writer boldly claimed that “bodily autonomy is a ‘thing.'” They went on to argue that ‘bodily autonomy’ gave them the right to government-funded abortion on demand, access to puberty blockers, the right to identify as whatever gender (or species) they felt like, all without restriction or ‘judgment’ by anyone else. What? “Bodily Autonomy” is a phrase, suggesting that a person has the right to control or “own” their own body, and not answerable to any other authority, law, or limitation. But being a ‘thing’ doesn’t make ‘bodily autonomy’ a reality. I can make many choices about my body– but there are many realities over which I have no “choice”– no control or authority or resources to accomplish.

I’m short. I cannot suddenly become tall. I am a woman. No matter how many hormones I pump into my body, no matter how many surgeries I could have to make me look or sound like a man, or “function” somewhat like a man, I will never have a man’s body or a man’s DNA. I am barren. The idea that pregnancy was always a “choice” for me denies the very real emotional struggle I went through in accepting my body’s limitations. I recently lost a sister-in-law to cancer. What a mockery to chant “my body, my choice!’ to someone who is dying of cancer or who was born with cystic fibrosis or is battling ALS or multiple sclerosis. And sometimes, other people violate our bodies– we may struggle, but we cannot prevent someone else from abusing us physically or sexually. So, although bodily autonomy may be a “thing” or an ideal, it is not a guarantee. And if the choices we make in our body end up abusing, hurting, or killing another living being, that is not autonomy– it’s unjust and predatory.

But what does the Bible say? Does God give us choices about our bodies?

There is nothing specific in the Bible about gender dysphoria, or plastic surgery. There is no mention of third trimester abortion or modern feminism, or queer lifestyles. But there are many teachings about our bodies AND our choices. And surprisingly, the Bible does NOT say that we have no control or “rights” over our own bodies. Instead, the Bible tells us the following:

  • God is the creator of all life. Life is a gift from God, not a random accident. And no one– NO ONE– can spontaneously come into being. So, the idea of “bodily autonomy” cannot be true of anyone who has ever depended on someone else to be born or to grow up or to become pregnant. God’s word makes it clear that “autonomy” is NOT the goal of creation. God’s purpose for us is to connect– with Him and with each other. He created men and women different, yet complementary. He created families to live and work together– the old teaching the young, as the young care for the old–sharing and building a legacy. Sin corrupts God’s design– it seeks to subvert it and destroy it, replacing it with a twisted independence that leads to isolation and loneliness, distrust, anger, pride and hatred.
  • God doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t delight in our struggles, our limitations, or our diseases. But Sin corrupts– right down into our DNA. God does not wipe out the consequences of Sin in our world– not yet. Someday, He will bring an end to all the causes of suffering, confusion, and grief. But in the meantime, He promises to be present WITH us THROUGH the struggle. We may not understand fully how our bodies work or why they do (or don’t do) what we might like. We may wonder why we look the way we do, or why our nose is “too small” or our body is shaped like a pear, when we want it to be an hourglass, or our hair in impossible to keep tamed, or we face a family history of oversized ears. We may struggle with diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, and even gender dysphoria. But God isn’t sitting in the wings, laughing at our circumstances. He promises to be both “present” and “sufficient,” even in the midst of our pain and uncertainty.
  • God calls us to take care of the bodies He gave us to the best of our ability. That means it is sinful to have indiscriminate sex with unknown partners who may be carrying venereal diseases– and also to overeat or starve ourselves with fad diets, or to pierce ourselves with unclean needles, whether getting a tattoo from an unlicensed and unclean parlor, or shooting up with heroin. Sexual and gender issues grab headlines and make for great political fodder, but we can make the mistake of thinking that such sins are “bigger” than lying or gossip or greed or pride, or that they are unforgiveable– they are NOT! God can remove the stain of abortion, rebellion, gossip, addiction, lying, drunkenness, body shaming, and judgmentalism.
  • God HAS given us the power of choice– we can choose our behaviors, our lifestyle, our morals, and our relationships. He has also given us governments to create laws and punishments for those who break them. But a law doesn’t actually prevent you from doing an act– it merely outlines the negative consequences for breaking that law. Laws can’t prevent people from committing murder, rape, theft, arson, etc., but laws provide a framework for responsibility and punishment to discourage certain behaviors and affirm the rights of even the most vulnerable among us. In other words, a law can’t prevent you from having an abortion or a sex change– but it can limit your ability to do so by forcing you to face negative consequences– jail time, higher fees, fewer practitioners willing to make such decisions “easy” and socially acceptable. God has given us His law in the Bible to show us how far we have fallen away from His standards and His character. On our own, we will never fulfill the entire law. But that is the heart of the Gospel– Jesus came to free us from both the power of Sin and the condemnation that comes from yielding to it. The Holy Spirit can give us the power to make Godly choices, knowing that Christ’s atoning sacrifice has paid the price for our sinful choices of the past.
  • Our choices come with consequences. We are ‘free’ to make bad choices, but we (and others!) are not free of the consequences of our choices. “My body, my choice” is an anthem of entitlement– of rights without responsibilities. Many of our choices carry great risks. Abortion is not a risk-free solution to a “problem.” Just as pregnancy presents risks, so does the medical procedure to end one. Clinics can minimize the risks, but there is no such thing as a guaranteed “safe escape” from an unplanned pregnancy. Sex change operations are even riskier, with complications that can be profound, chronic, and extremely painful. Risky health and sex habits don’t become any less risky just because they are legal or socially accepted. Experimenting with drugs can end in tragic death or lifelong damage to the heart or brain, as well as the horrors of addiction. Eating or drinking in excess will still lead to health problems, even if there is a new miracle fad drug that masks the early symptoms.
  • Sin has consequences that are often NOT of our making or choosing. It is not fair, it is not just, and it is not your fault. Punishing an innocent person will not take away that fact. It only spreads the consequences of Sin to someone else– someone who will be another innocent victim– YOUR victim. Cutting off family and friends because they don’t “affirm” your new lifestyle will not change them. It will hurt them. It will hurt you. It will not make your lifestyle any more acceptable to them. Aborting a baby will not change the circumstances of the pregnancy or make the abuse or memories of a rape disappear. Someday, God will restore justice, reward hope, and remove all grief and pain for those who learn to trust Him.

In the end, God has given you “your” body, and He has given you “your” choice. But He also warns you of the consequences of making selfish, dangerous choices that can result in death, heartbreak, regrets, and long-term damage for short-term benefits. He also promises the blessings of recognizing that “your” soul was made to have a relationship with a Holy and Perfect God, and that your “choice” to follow Him will bring eternal and glorious benefits, including a new and sinless “body” in Heaven. I pray that I will make good choices to take care of “my body” today. And I pray that eyes and minds will be opened to the wonder of God’s gift of life, and His plan for every “body” around me.

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Puzzling Prayers

Have you ever been puzzled by prayer? Prayer is very mysterious. It’s difficult to explain how it “works.” I ask God to do something– sometimes I ask for very specific things. And if God chooses, He sends me exactly what I have asked for. But what if He doesn’t? Does that mean that He didn’t hear? Or does it mean that I am “out of favor” with Him? If God answers a very specific prayer, is it because I prayed for that specific answer or would He have done it anyway? Does my prayer change God’s plans, or does God cause me to pray what He wanted to do from the start? I can’t give a definite answer, because God’s ways are NOT my ways. I don’t fully understand how prayer operates.

But I don’t have to puzzle about prayer. I don’t have to analyze and dissect the various elements of prayer or of God’s Sovereign will in order to pursue prayer. Prayer has very little to do with any of the variables I can understand or control. Prayer is communicating (hopefully in an intimate and worshipful way) with a Sovereign and Holy God. If I could figure out the “how” I would not so treasure the WHO!

There are some guidelines, however, that make prayer a bit less puzzling and more practical:

  • Prayer isn’t about ME. I don’t have to be perfect, or eloquent, or righteous in order to call out to God. His answers don’t depend on who I am (status) or what I’ve done (performance). He doesn’t “grade on a curve,” and He doesn’t have favorites. “Whosoever” is a word that comes up often in Christ’s teachings, and I need to remember that NOTHING can separate me from the Love of Christ (see Romans 8:38-39), and ONLY Christ has made that possible (see John 15:5 and Acts 4:12)
  • Prayer isn’t about me, but it is FOR me. God already knows my thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. But He invites me to pray, so that WE can enjoy a relationship. God can survive and thrive without me, but I can’t live an abundant (and certainly not an eternal) life without Him. We were created to live in relationship– with others and with Him– and you can’t have a relationship without communication. And you can’t have a fulfilling relationship if the communication is only one-sided! God communicates with us in many ways– He’s given us His Word, He sends us the Holy Spirit, and He sends wisdom and encouragement through other people. But prayer is our way of responding! Browse through the Psalms and see how deeply personal prayer can be!
  • Prayer ISN’T transactional. Because prayer is meant to be relational, it is deep and personal– not shallow and transactional. In other words, it isn’t about WHAT I’m praying for or WHAT God gives in response. It is about sharing WHO we are– prayer may or may not answer my immediate circumstances, but it WILL answer (eventually and satisfactorily) the cry of my heart and allow me to know God more fully. While I can keep a record of how and when God has provided answers to my prayers, to remind me of His tender care or to encourage me as I face new challenges, I do not need to keep a “scorecard” of God’s answers– it is not a competition or a power play.
  • Because prayer is not transactional, it’s not really about the results. Of course, that is what we, in our lack of knowledge and understanding, can point to and keep track of, but Faith causes us to “see” the results that don’t yet exist (see Hebrews 11:1 and 6), and have confidence that God WILL act according to His Holy character and perfect will (see Hebrews 11:39-40). We pray BEYOND what we can see and know, because God is greater than our circumstances!
  • Prayer isn’t a procedure; it is a process and a pursuit. Because prayer is part of an ongoing and deepening relationship with God, it is never finished. We may say “Amen” at the end of each prayer, but really, prayer is a continuing conversation, not a task to complete. God may not answer a single “chat” when He wants to develop a conversational thread or an ongoing discussion.
  • God’s ways and plans are mysterious and majestic in ways my mind cannot grasp. I can puzzle and protest and whine about what God chooses to do, and when and how He chooses to do it, but I cannot tell Him how or when or why He MUST do anything. Because I can only guess at outcomes and results. God KNOWS. And even when His ways don’t seem to make sense, I can trust Him, not because I know the answers, but because I know HIM!
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Prayers In the Half-Light

We’ve had electrical problems at our apartment for the past few days. We haven’t lost all our power, but the overhead lights are all connected to wall switches that aren’t working. The repairman is supposed to come today or tomorrow to address the issue. But it’s been a weird experience to say the least.

Our refrigerator, stove, air conditioning, water heater, and computer are all functioning as usual, but there is no light in the bathroom at all, and only window and skylight available in the rest of the rooms. We were able to find one floor lamp, which gives some light in the living room– just enough to read for a few minutes, but not enough to light up the other rooms, including the kitchen, where I need to cook and do dishes. Most of our life continues as normal, but at night, or during the recent rains, it gets very dark. We have flashlights and candles, but it is difficult to take a shower or cook in the dark!

I’m not complaining. We are marvelously blessed to have the appliances working as they do. But it changes one’s perspective. We take our lights for granted.

I like to think that I see the world around me clearly; that I know where I am going and understand my surroundings. I take for granted the illusion of control and clarity. Even in my prayers, I like to think that I know what to pray about, who to pray for, and how to approach God in prayer. But often, I am praying in the half-light. I don’t really see things clearly, I’m not in control of my own circumstances, and I’m only guessing at what I need (or what anyone else needs). I see God as part of my surroundings, or distant, rather than the One who holds all things in His hand while being ever-present with me.

But God delights to hear us even when– especially when– we can’t see the next step clearly. Faith that is never put to the test isn’t given a chance to be strengthened. Faith can shine through during moments of crisis. If we lost our power completely, it would be easier somehow to fall back on Faith, knowing that God sees and hears; that He will provide. But in the half-light, it is tempting to look for ways to rely on my own ingenuity to “manage” the crisis and not “bother” God with my temporary struggles.

And I find that I do this with emotional, relational, and even spiritual struggles, too. Of course, I turn to God in the dark, when I can’t see to do anything. But what about when I can “handle it” for a while. I have all that I need to survive, but I’m facing a new challenge, or a temporary disruption?

When I pray for my unsaved neighbors or family members, I can’t see what they really need. I can see that they are lost– perhaps miserable and struggling, but also perhaps believing that everything in their life is fine. But I can’t dictate to God how or when or what will be best for them. Often, they are living lifestyles that are taking them further away from God. Sometimes, they are entrenched in philosophies and experiences that cut them off from the truth. In my limited wisdom, I would pray for immediate results– that they would repent NOW. I don’t think that’s wrong to want, but it may not be God’s plan for them. It may be that God will redeem them from such thinking and situations only after they have experienced heartache and suffering– so that they will be in a position to help people who otherwise will never hear the Truth. God’s ways are not my ways– and His ways are ALWAYS best!

Jesus said, “‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12). The overhead lights I think I depend on in my apartment cannot give me the light of life. All they can do is shine light on the things in my apartment. Only God can shine His light in my heart, mind, and soul! And that’s where my focus needs to be in prayer– not on what I can see around me, but what God will light up as I walk with Him.

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Perfect Peace

3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV)

We spent last weekend saying goodbye to my sister-in-law. NOT a final goodbye– more of a “see you later!” Wendy had suffered for years from both rheumatoid arthritis and stage four cancer. Many of her days were spent in agony, back and forth from hospital to home. In the middle of her battle, she had to say goodbye to her husband and navigate widowhood.

“Peace” would not seem to be a word connected in any way to Wendy’s struggles. Yet, the verses above from Isaiah kept speaking to me throughout last weekend. Not because Wendy ‘finally’ found peace and rest. But because she had a sustaining peace that “passes all understanding.” She lived with peace, trust, hope, and even joy, even while she suffered.

 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 (NKJV)

Perfect peace does not come from perfect circumstances. It does not come from willpower, or even positive thinking (notice that verse 7 precedes verse 8 in the passage above!) It comes from having your mind “stayed” on the great I AM. Not just thinking about Him in passing, or knowing a vast amount about Him, but keeping your focus and thoughts directed to Him. Peace is a by-product of a close and constant relationship with the one who is the “Prince of Peace” and the author of “shalom.”

We cannot generate perfect peace within ourselves because we are not perfect. We are not Holy, Righteous, or complete. But God is! And Paul’s advice to the Philippian believers above was written, not from peaceful surroundings, but from prison! His advice begins with prayer! Pray about everything! We can pray prayers of supplication (asking for healing, help, wisdom, direction, etc.) WITH thanksgiving– not because our circumstances are wonderful, or even because we expect God to work miracles to change our circumstances. We can thank and praise God from prison, from hospital beds or homeless shelters, refugee camps, storm shelters, blizzards, hurricane-battered houses, or sinking ships. Because God’s promises are faithful and true. They may not look like what we expect, imagine, or even hope for. They will involve pain and suffering because we still live in a broken world. God may bring us out of suffering, or help us avoid suffering, or He may settle in with us through the suffering. In every case, we can fix our eyes on the one who loves us perfectly, the one who has perfect power over every circumstance, perfect wisdom and vision to lead us through, and perfect plans for redemption, healing, hope, and eternal joy!

Wendy wasn’t perfect in this life. Suffering hurts. Pain ravages the body, and preys on the mind. Sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and nausea when one eats– such things cause us to cry out, to lament, and to ask “Why?!” Wendy did all that. But when we choose to focus less on the temporary trials of this life and look beyond to the greater story of redemption and ultimate glory, there is a peace that revives us, refreshes us, and strengthens us beyond what we can imagine. God is trustworthy– We can depend on Him when all around us is chaos and suffering. We can have hope and strength and blessed peace!

And that same peace is available to all of us who grieved for Wendy during her long illness. It sustains us with hope and strength that rises above the questions or doubts, beyond the tears and the memories of the past. We will have the joy of seeing Wendy (and many of our other family and loved ones) perfected. No more suffering; no more questions; no more separation. Perfect. Peace.

My challenge today is to stay focused on what really matters– on WHO is really in control. I pray that whatever you may be going through, that you will also find God’s perfect peace as you look to Him!

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Prayers for Healing

My family has prayed for years that my sister-in-law would be healed. She fought a pitched battle with cancer at the same time as she suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis. Her bones and body were twisted, and she was in a lot of pain. Several days ago, she “lost” her battle and died at age 62. God didn’t give her the miraculous healing we hoped for. God let her suffer for years and then took her from us.

But is all that really true? Did she really “lose”? She lost the daily struggle of her earthly life. She lost the future years with her grown children, her siblings, her nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. And yes, God took her away from those of us who remain to mourn her passing from this life. But she is reunited with her husband and her father, and all those who died before. She is in the presence of the baby brother she never met. Most of all, she is standing, pain-free and glorified, before the very God who heard every prayer, felt every ache, and saw every tear drop.

Healing doesn’t always look like we imagine. Years ago, a close friend of ours got a diagnosis of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She underwent experimental treatment and it went horribly wrong. While it killed many of the “bad” cells, it also killed some of her healthy cells and muscle tissue along her neck and throat. She eventually lost the ability to talk, to hold up her head, and to swallow solid food. She seemed to waste away right before our eyes. We all prayed for her to be healed and to have good health restored, but her decline was slow, agonizing, and final. Another friend, a schoolmate, died of cancer a few years ago, after hundreds of people had prayed for her healing. She had great faith, and great hope that she would be cured. But she, too, died. In spite of all the prayers, in spite of her great hope. Three precious women of faith; three lives cut short by pain and senseless suffering.

Pain and suffering challenges (and sometimes destroys) faith. But faith can also be strengthened, refined, and purified by suffering– whether we are suffering physically or mentally, suffering injustice or persecution. God does not abandon us in our struggles, and our pain does not bring Him pleasure. We may question why we suffer; we may even question why God allows suffering to continue. But God never leaves us. Even when we don’t feel relief; even when we don’t hear His voice.

Wendy, Jean, and Lena are great examples of women whose faith allowed them, even in the worst suffering, to feel joy and hope. They may have had moments of doubt, fear, or even anger. But each new day brought forth praise– praise for God’s love, for His beautiful creation, for His faithfulness in the past, AS WELL AS in the midst of their suffering. They saw God clearly– perhaps even more clearly– for their struggles. And they inspired others to hope and to rejoice! They endured much. They “fought the good fight and kept the faith” as Paul said in one of his last letters to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

I hope that I write words that are true, encouraging, and strong. I’ve read beautiful tributes to God’s faithfulness from many other people as well. But words spoken by those who suffer speak more clearly and powerfully than words written in ease or quiet contemplation. Sometimes, they scream. But they make a deep and lasting impact on those who hear. And then those words testify to God’s glory and love…they echo for generations to come.

God absolutely answered every prayer we prayed over Wendy and over others who have suffered. His healing is not always what we want or expect. But it is eternal, powerful, and glorious. I fully expect to see Wendy (and so many other) completely healed and glorious someday. And all the grief, all the unanswered questions, all the “what ifs…” that I wrestle with now will be wiped away in an instant.

We are blessed to pray for those who need healing. And, in some cases, God answers with miracles we can’t explain. Sometimes, He answers with pain and grief we can’t explain. But we continue to pray. Because healing, whether in this life or the next, is something only God can do perfectly. He heals broken bodies, grieving hearts, and troubled minds. He heals the past, redeems the present, and promises a glorious eternity with Him!

Praise Be to Jehovah Rophe– The God who heals!

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Praying Through the Eclipse

Last week we experienced a partial eclipse of the sun– a solar eclipse. This happens periodically, when the moon’s orbit causes it to pass between the earth and the sun, casting a shadow that temporarily blocks light from reaching the earth. The opposite can also happen, when the earth passes between the sun and moon at night, casting a shadow on the moon and keeping it from reflecting light at night– a lunar eclipse.

I was thinking about eclipses and how our spiritual lives can be impacted in ways that behave like an eclipse. We are to be a reflection of the light of Christ– in His own words, “The light of the world.” (see Matthew 5:14-16) So we are to act like the moon, reflecting the powerful light of the “Son” in a dark world. But we don’t always do that. Sometimes, as in a lunar eclipse, we allow the “world” to block out the light of the “Son”. The darkness and evil in the world can rob us of the light of hope and faith, causing us to live in shadow, and the darkness to triumph– temporarily. Other times, we actually get in the way of the “Son’s” light– grandstanding and promoting our own self-righteousness. Whether deliberate or just thoughtless, our actions can “eclipse” the Gospel of Jesus Christ and block out the truth of His Light.

God’s light is Holy, Powerful, and Eternal. We cannot offer a greater, wiser, or brighter light than Jesus. Our best efforts are darkness compared to His Holiness. Our job is to reflect HIS light to a darkened world as it awaits His return!

Wherever you were last week; whatever your experience of the eclipse, I hope you are able to rejoice in God’s light today! What a wonderful, powerful reminder that God’s Glory is brighter than 1,000 suns, and it will never be dimmed! What a privilege to reflect HIS love, mercy, grace, and wisdom to those around us!

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Praying and Waiting

I write a lot about praying. I believe in the power of prayer. But I am often challenged by people who say, “God helps those who help themselves.” The power of prayer is not found in the people who pray but in the God who answers. And sometimes, those answers take time and require patience.

I’ve had prayers that were answered almost before I finished saying, “Amen!” But there are other prayers that tested my patience and my faith; prayers for which I’m still waiting for a definite answer; prayers that were answered with a final and unexplained, “NO!”

But some of the most amazing moments in my life have been the ones where God “showed up” at just the right (and seemingly last) moment. The time that we needed a certain amount of money to pay bills– and it showed up almost to the penny! Or that time I prayed about the teaching position. I lost out to another, more experienced candidate and spent much of the year doing substitute teaching in another county. And then, without warning, the school called to ask if I would consider coming back on probation for the same position I had lost out on– the teacher they had hired had developed significant health issues, and they needed a permanent sub for the end of the year. I was able to prove my worth, restoring order and bringing the classes back on track– I stayed for seven more years!

Waiting is not easy or pleasant. When I was almost five, I had a chance to go to kindergarten– My birthday is in November, and the school would allow “young fives”– students who would turn five before December 1st could interview for a chance to be accepted in the current year’s kindergarten. My parents considered it. I desperately wanted to go to school. But I had some lingering health issues from early childhood, and my parents worried that I would be susceptible to viruses and injuries. So, they held me back. I can still remember the ache of watching the school bus pass by my house– the humiliation of having adults ask if I was in school and having to answer, “not yet. I got held back.” It was like a badge of failure in my mind. “Not ready. Not healthy enough. Not good enough.” Years later, I can say that my parents made the best choice they knew how, and it worked out just fine for me. I loved school. I loved my classmates and teachers. And I had more time to be with my baby sister before I spent every day at school. I was older when I made decisions about college and career. I was more mature.

I waited a long time for a husband. I prayed for decades about marriage. And always, the answer seemed to be, “Not yet!” No explanation. No insight into whether I ever would be married. But in the waiting, I grew as a teacher and librarian. I found out that I could not have children of my own. I learned to manage on my own, and also how to reach out for help when needed. And I developed habits of Bible Study and Prayer that have become precious to me. My marriage is a fulfillment of patient waiting and listening to God’s voice, instead of making impatient and rash choices and shutting out the lessons along the way. Oh, and those children I could never have? I never had them. But I ended up with stepchildren and grandchildren who bless my life with love, laughter, and excitement.

God’s best is worth waiting for! I can testify to this on many levels. God doesn’t help “those who help themselves.” They literally “help themselves!” But God blesses those who wait patiently for Him. He doesn’t just show up at the last minute. He stays beside us in the waiting, He encourages us along the way, and He rejoices with us when we see the end from the beginning.

For more, see the following verses (and their context!):
Isaiah 40:31, Lamentations 3:25, Micah 7:7, Psalm 130:5, Romans 8:25, Psalm 40:1, Isaiah 49:23, 2 Peter 3:9, Psalm 27:13…

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My Next Breath

Wildfires have been raging in Ontario, our neighbor to the north. Hundreds of thousands of acres of forest, land, homes, and towns have been destroyed. And the smoke from those fires is also causing damage hundreds of miles away. My husband and I woke up last week to bits of ash on our flowers and thick, smoky air causing visibility to shrink drastically, and breathing to become difficult– especially for those with lung damage or asthma, like my husband.

I was reminded of the time, in 1980, when Mount Saint Helens erupted in Washington State. Even though it is hundreds of miles away, some of the ash from the eruption made it to Michigan and coated our cars and plants. The smoke and ash caused many breathing problems and killed plants across the nation. Smoke doesn’t just “get in your eyes” as the old song claims. It gets into your lungs, it chokes out fresh air and light, hijacks rainwater, and settles in a coating on vulnerable plants, cloths, animals’ coats, standing water, and much more.

I normally don’t spend much time thinking about my next breath. I take it for granted that I will fill my lungs with fresh air and breathe out again. The carbon dioxide I produce will be absorbed by plants and fresh oxygen will be replenished into the air. I don’t have to “decide” to breathe– it happens automatically unless I choose to “hold my breath” and NOT breathe. But I also don’t think about WHAT I am breathing in. I take for granted that the air contains the appropriate amount oxygen to keep my body energized and working properly, and that it doesn’t contain noxious gases, carbon monoxide, tar, ash, etc.

I read somewhere once that God’s name (Yahweh) actually mimics the breathing process. Yahweh is two syllables– the first requires you to inhale in order to produce the right sound. The second allows you to exhale for the exact same reason. You cannot say “Yah-weh” without breathing! (Actually, you can, but you have to make a conscious effort to do so– breathing comes naturally in the two syllables otherwise.) The Bible never actually suggests this, and some religions and sects have misused this idea to suggest that God is somehow IN our breath or in the way we breathe. But I think there is something else to be pondered here.

My next breath depends absolutely on God’s sovereignty. I assume that the air I breathe is pure, healthful, and life-giving. And even when it isn’t– like the past week or so– I assume that air filters, breathing masks, or other mitigations will make the air “safe” to breathe. My husband is a little more aware of his breathing, because he has suffered from asthma attacks, apnea, bronchitis, and lung damage from COVID. Still, he doesn’t spend most of his waking hours in fear of his next breath. And even if we both spent time thinking about it, we have no way to control Earth’s atmosphere, no way to create our next clean breath and guarantee that it will be pure and good. We can buy tanks of oxygen, but even that requires that we trust what is in the tank. Our lives, and every function that sustains it– breathing, blood circulating, brainwaves, digestion, nerves, etc., are in God’s hands. And that’s an amazing and comforting thing, indeed!

Imagine a world where God was NOT in control; where the very air around us might quietly morph into noxious fumes with no warning– no smoke or clouds, no smell–just instantly shutting down our lungs, brains, heart, and life. Such things have been known to happen, in isolated incidents or in the deadly gas chambers of World War 2. We know that we could not breathe the air on other planets, such as Venus or Jupiter. But our Earth was created and is sustained by an abundant life-giving God, who cares about every aspect of our life, including our next breath.

“Father, I am so grateful for your Sovereignty and your compassion. I will fill my lungs with your gift of breath today, and I will use it to pour out praise to You!”

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I Am..

There are many ways to describe who I am (or who you are). I can describe myself in terms of my appearance, my social status, my occupation, age, familial role, or any number of other labels. These labels help distinguish me from other people around me, while also grouping me in with still others. Even my name functions in this way. My surname connects me with my current family; my maiden name with my birth family–my first name distinguishes me from my siblings within the family. However, there are many others in the world with either the same first name, surname, or both!

I know that I am a unique person, but I am not singular. That is to say that while I am a unique combination of genetic materials, with unique hopes and dreams, I still belong to the human race, to my family group, and to the culture and time in which I live.

Only God can say “I AM!” and not have to add any modifier. God is..God. There is no one like God–no label that can be applied to Him and to anyone or anything else. We use words like “King”, “Father”, “Lord”, “He” even “God”, but none of them convey the fullness, the enormity, the eternity of the great “I AM.” Many ancient cultures worshiped gods; supernatural beings who ate and drank, married and had families, ruled the skies or waters or land or underworld, fought, loved– some even died. But none of them could say they were “I AM”. I AM stands in the face of doubt and unbelief; I AM remains unchanged and unchanging in the face of progress and technology; I AM defeats our attempts to shrink Him into our own limited understanding and our own limited lifespan; I AM is ever present, ever aware, everlasting.

And this I AM created each of us to BE. Because of I AM, I can say that I am, too! And my purpose is to be, and to become more like He is, to the glory of I AM, and the fulfillment of what I am in Him.

Lord, Father, and the great I AM– help me to see you more clearly for who you are. Help me to become more like you, and more like the person you created me to be. Help me to reflect your glory in the words I speak and the actions I take today.

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