Discouragement « Grace Fox

Archive for the ‘Discouragement’ Category

5 Reasons to Trust God

Friday, May 24th, 2013

John 14:1 NLT

I realize this post’s title doesn’t do justice to my heavenly Father. In reality, it should probably read, “Infinite Reasons to Trust God.” Heaven knows the list is endless. Our time to read, however, is not. Therein lies the only reason for a mere five.

Jesus’ words—“Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” remind us that we have control over worry and fear’s role in our lives. We can choose to let them run rampant and then bear their negative consequences. Or we can choose to trust in God and walk in confidence instead.

Personally, I choose the latter. I’d much rather trust and experience peace than struggle with fear, sleeplessness, negativity, and a knotted stomach. And so, here are five reasons for why I choose to trust the Lord:

God promises His presence. No matter what happens in the course of a day, He is with me. I am never alone. Why, then, should I be afraid or anxious?
God promises to give me wisdom, and lots of it. When I face circumstances that baffle me, I can ask Him for insight, and He will answer.
God promises victory. I belong to Him, therefore He’s on my side. Who can stand against me?
God promises to turn negative situations into something good. He specializes in transforming the bad into beauty, the sad into splendor.
God promises joy. Sorrow may last for a night, He says, but joy comes in the morning. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. God knows what He’s doing even when I don’t understand.

How about you? What would you like to add to this list?

Tags: can God be trusted?, fear, joy, sorrow, worry
Posted in Devotionals, Discouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Sovereignty | No Comments »

5 Strategies for Adopting a Godly Perspective When People Treat Us Unfairly

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Has anyone ever treated you unfairly? Maybe your spouse walked out and left you hanging financially. Perhaps your employer promised a promotion but hasn’t fulfilled. Maybe a family member refuses to carry his share of responsibility for an elderly parent’s needs. Whatever the case, you feel burned. How should you respond?

Humanly speaking, David had every reason to feel burned. God had already anointed him as the future king, but Saul was still on the throne and obviously feeling threatened by David’s reputation as a valiant warrior. And so, Saul hunted him…and hunted him…and hunted him.

One night, as Saul and his henchmen slept, David and Abishai had opportunity to sneak into their camp. Abishai, convinced that God had put Saul into their hands, tried to convince David to let him kill the king that moment. But David refused.

“No!” said David, “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday or he will die of old age or in battle. The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed!” (1 Samuel 26:9,10).

Rather than end Saul’s life and reign so he could assume the throne, David took Saul’s spear and water jug. Then he let it be known that, although he’d had the chance to seek revenge, he’d respectfully declined. He chose, instead, to let God deal with Saul in His timing and His way.

Others may hurt or take advantage of us, and our human nature resists such treatment. We want to declare ourselves innocent, or seek revenge, or do something…anything to stand up for our rights and seek fairness.

We don’t need to allow others to treat us like doormats. We do, however, need to exercise godly attitudes and actions. David did so by refusing to get even with Saul. He walked in integrity and trusted God to deal with the bad guys.

We can do the same. It’s not easy, but it’s possible as we…

Ask God to see the offender through His eyes. He may be insecure or hurting from unresolved issues.
Ask God to soften the offender’s heart towards Him.
Ask God to help us walk in integrity—no badmouthing the offender, no negative retaliatory actions.
Ask God to come to our defense.
Ask God for patience to wait as He works out His purposes in and through our situation.

God’s ways are much higher than ours. When we feel burned by others, let’s let Him work in His ways so He receives the glory and we can walk in freedom.

Tags: integrity, revenge, unfair treatment
Posted in Devotionals, Discouragement, Faith, God's Sovereignty | 2 Comments »

The Key to Experiencing God’s Rest in the Midst of Difficulty

Friday, April 26th, 2013

And so my saga continues. First the Achilles ruptured in January. Then the opposite knee required surgery. Just as things began to turn—the cast came off and my legs began learning to walk again—shingles nailed me. And so, I’m dealing with yet another major physical challenge. All the while, I’m learning and relearning wonderful spiritual truths.

This morning I read the psalmist’s familiar words, “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care” (Psalm 95:6-7). Beautiful words, they are. Words that invite us to acknowledge God as sovereign King and gentle Shepherd.

But this morning as I continued reading, I noticed something I hadn’t seen when reading this passage at other times. The last half of verse 7 says, “If only you would listen to his voice today!” The passage goes on to say, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did…They refuse to do what I tell them. So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest’” (vv. 10-11).

These words caught my attention. They remind me how easy it is to know spiritual truth in one’s head but lack spiritual reality in one’s heart, to give mental assent to God’s greatness while spurning His commands. The consequence? We bypass the opportunity to possess the rest of soul and peace of mind He longs for us to experience.

As I navigate deep waters of a physical nature, it’s easy for me to say that God is sovereign, good, and loving. But will I do what He says and give thanks in the midst of my circumstances? Will I worship Him and count every difficulty as an opportunity for joy? Or will I worry about the possible outcomes and resent the inconvenience and pain?

If you’re experiencing hardship, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Doing the latter only breeds hardened hearts, negativity, and fear. But kneeling before the Lord and worshiping Him in the midst of pain brings hope. And doing what He says—giving thanks despite the pain, for instance—rewards us with inner rest and peace.

Whatever difficulties we face, let’s honor God with our response. Let’s kneel before Him in worship, and let’s obey His command to give thanks in everything and choose joy. Then we’ll experience the rest He longs to give us.

Photo courtesy: Elizabeth Michel – http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintersDaughter

Tags: fear, inner rest and peace, spiritual truth, worry, worship God
Posted in Devotionals, Discouragement, Gratitude, Hope, Peace | 2 Comments »

Lessons Learned from a Red Sea Experience

Monday, April 8th, 2013

C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains.” I experienced the latter this weekend.

For three months, I’ve been navigating a personal Red Sea—a ruptured Achilles tendon, three knee-high casts, no weight-bearing, surgery on the opposite knee, physiotherapy, insomnia, and exhaustion. During that time, I faced three book deadlines and a major assignment from Guideposts Books.

Also during this time, I’ve experienced God’s strength and enabling in amazing ways, and I credit Him with the honor and glory He deserves. But as the effects of extended insomnia have multiplied and other circumstances came into play over the recent past, last Friday morning dawned dismal, and desperation set in.

“God, help me,” I cried. “I have no reserve. I’m completely exhausted.” I opened my Bible and read Psalm 77:1-20. The whole passage seemed written with me in mind, but verses 19-20 especially grabbed my attention:

“Your road led through the sea; your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.”

It felt as though God was lovingly shouting my name to turn my focus from my circumstances back to Him: “Grace! I haven’t plopped you in a dinghy and shoved into waters that will drown you. I’m not pushing you from behind. I’m leading you through the Red Sea, and I know the path. Trust Me.” And as if to erase all doubt, He spoke again on Saturday morning.

A girlfriend dropped in for a quick visit. She smiled and handed me a little book. “I thought you might like this,” she said. The title? The Red Sea Rules: The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out. And guess what Scripture passage the author refers to in the preface? You got it—Psalm 77.

I have no idea how much time remains in my Red Sea travels. But this I know—God is leading me through on a path He sees, and I can trust Him.

How about you? Perhaps you’ve had a similar Red Sea experience and you’re already on the other side. Or maybe you’re in the middle of it right now. Or maybe you’re standing on the shore, staring at an endless expanse of open water and feeling scared half-silly.

Be encouraged today. God knows the path through the deep waters. The same God who led you in will lead you out. Trust Him.

Tags: C.S. Lewis, desperation, insomnia, Red Sea
Posted in Courage, Devotionals, Discouragement, Fear, Hope | 5 Comments »