It’s Worth Waiting for God’s Miracle

In Isaiah 55:8 I read, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” (NLT)

Have you ever faced a big challenge in your life? Something that couldn’t be solved without a miracle?

If I haven’t, I will. And when that time comes, I’ll have a choice. I can wait on God’s timing and his way. Or I can take matters into my own hands and try to make a miracle happen myself.

But the truth is that miracles don’t come from the places I’d expect them. And they don’t come as a result of my own effort. The source of a miracle is always unexpected.

Take Abraham, for example. God told Abraham he was going to have a son, and that the son would be the father of a great nation. Abraham was nearly 100 years old, and he and his wife had no children. It would take a miracle to make it happen.

But he had trouble believing God’s promise, and he didn’t wait on God to work a miracle. Instead, he took matters into his own hands and had a child with a woman who wasn’t his wife. But that wasn’t God’s plan. God’s plan had been to work a miracle in Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Abraham’s solution was inferior to God’s.

The same is true for me. My way of making things happen is always second best, God’s way is best.

If I could understand God, I would be God. But I’m not! Isaiah 55:8 says, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine’” (NLT).

Miracles always come in unexpected ways. So there’s no need to fret, fear, or try to figure it out. Trust God and say, “I don’t know how God is going to do it but I know he will do it.” Then simply obey and follow where God leads. And get ready for a miracle.

In summary, God’s thoughts are nothing like mine. His ways are far beyond anything I could ever imagine. I’ll face big challenges, ones that can’t be solved without a miracle. When that time comes, I’ll have a choice. I can wait on God’s timing and his way, or I can take matters into my own hands and try to make a miracle happen myself. What I’m learning is that miracles don’t come from the places I’d expect them. And they don’t come as a result of my own effort. The source of a miracle is always unexpected. My way of making things happen will always be second best, for God’s way is best. Miracles always come in unexpected ways. So there’s no need to fret, fear, or try to figure it out. I need to trust God and say, “I don’t know how God is going to do it but I know you’ll do it.” Then I just simply obey and follow where God leads, and get myself ready for a miracle.

In retrospect, it would be foolish to act as if I know what God was thinking and planning. His knowledge and wisdom are far greater than mine. Also I'd be foolish to try to fit God into my mold, to make his plans and purposes confirm to mine. Instead, I must strive to fit into his plan. I’m so used to quick gratification and results, so waiting for God is hard. I want things to happen quickly. I need to continue to rest in knowing that he will never rip me off or do me wrong. I just need to trust him and then have the patience to wait. Father, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my preparations for leading a small group and for my future job role. I ask these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The Uncomfortable Path to a Miracle

In 1 Kings 17:8-10 I read, “Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah, ‘Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.’ So Elijah went to Zarephath.” (NCV)

There are times when I’m scared to death and vulnerable. I don’t know where I’m going, how long it’s going to take, or what’s going to happen when I get there. So what do I do? I’m reminded that the path to a miracle often goes through uncomfortable territory.

The Bible gives an illustration in 1 Kings 17:8-10: “Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah, ‘Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.’ So Elijah went to Zarephath” (NCV).

God’s instructions meant that Elijah would have to walk more than 100 miles during a drought through dangerous territory. Everyone he met would know who he was, and King Ahab had a price on his head. Elijah’s path was definitely an uncomfortable one.

When Elijah finally made it to Zarephath, he met a poor widow who was going to feed him. But the town still was full of pagan people who wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. How could the widow defend or protect him?

Miracles don’t happen when things are comfortable. Miracles happen when things are uncomfortable.

Elijah didn’t say, “God, there are three things wrong with this plan. One, you’re sending me in the wrong direction. Two, you’re sending me to the wrong location. And three, you’re sending me to the wrong protection.” He just obeyed.

God’s path to a miracle will often take me through uncomfortable territory so that I’ll learn to depend on him. It was true for Elijah and for God’s people throughout the Bible. For instance:

When Moses led the Israelites out of slavery to the Promised Land, they had to go through the Red Sea first.

Before David could slay Goliath, he had to walk onto the battlefield.

God told Jehoshaphat to put the choir before the army, and he’d win the victory. How much faith do you think that took?

Miracles never happen in my comfort zone. When everything is settled in my life, I don’t need a miracle. I only need a miracle when I’m at a low.

Am I at a place where things are a little uncomfortable; financially, emotionally, relationally, or physically? Maybe I’m nervous, unsettled, or insecure. Congratulations. I’m on the path to a miracle!

On my uncomfortable path, follow the example of Elijah. Obey God so I can see his miracle at the end of the road.

In summary, the LORD spoke to Elijah, and told him to go to Zarephath and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you. So Elijah went. There are times when I’m scared to death and vulnerable. I don’t know where I’m going, how long it’s going to take, or what’s going to happen when I get there. What do I do? I’m reminded that the path to a miracle often goes through uncomfortable territory. God’s instructions meant that Elijah would have to walk more than 100 miles during a drought through dangerous territory and there was a price on his head. Elijah’s path was definitely an uncomfortable one. Miracles don’t happen when things are comfortable. Elijah didn’t say, there are things wrong with this plan. He obeyed. God’s path will often take me through uncomfortable territory so that I’ll learn to depend on him. So when things are a little uncomfortable, I’m on the path to a miracle! While I’m on this uncomfortable path, follow the example of Elijah. Obey God so I can see his miracle at the end of the road.

As I reflect on this my path to my future work role is very uncertain. Hope that I held onto for an opportunity I wanted didn’t seem to work out. I also know that I have not been doing all that the Lord wants me to do. I’ve taken a step toward what I believe he wants, but having some concern or doubt about it. I hear God telling me to keep going no matter what, as He will give me only what he knows I can handle. Father, thank you for the reminder that my path may not always be comfortable, but you want me to depend on you. So I ask with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life that I turn to you in my discomfort and distractions. I also ask for help with temptations I’m facing. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others and with my future work/job role. These things I pray through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

How to Receive the Grace to Keep Going Through Troubles

In 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 I read, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (NIV)

So what can I do when I can’t fix a problem, solve a riddle, change a circumstance, or control a hurt? I throw myself on the sustaining grace of God.

He offers me the kind of grace I need to keep going in spite of temptations, trials, tension, tiredness, and troubles. To accept his grace, I can do these four things:

First, cry out for God’s help. When I pretend to be self-sufficient, I end up short-circuiting God’s power in my life. I need to admit my inadequacy and say, “God, I can’t handle this!” The Bible says, “‘God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ So give yourselves completely to God . . . Come near to God, and God will come near to you” (James 4:6-8 NCV).

Second, fill my mind with God’s Word. Let God’s Word comfort, strengthen, fill, soothe, and energize me to keep going. Get into it every single day of my life. The psalmist prayed, “I lie in the dust; revive me by your word” (Psalm 119:25 NLT). If I could find the solution within myself, I’d already be changed. I need to look to God! He’s the only one with sustaining strength.

Third, accept support from God’s people. The Bible says that, by helping each other with our troubles, we obey the law of Christ, which is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” God never meant for me to go through life on my own. My weaknesses help me realize how much I need others. I need to accept support from God’s people.

Lastly, hold on to God’s promises. There are around 5,500 of them in the Bible waiting to be claimed. Here’s one of them: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV). Keep my hope in the Lord and my eyes focused on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and now.

The Bible says, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV).

When I’m going through a problem I can’t fix, don’t give up. Just look up!

In summary, when I’m looking for some affliction to be taken from me, God tells me his grace is sufficient, for his power is made perfect in my weakness. So what can I do when I can’t fix a problem, solve a riddle, change a circumstance, or control a hurt? I throw myself on the sustaining grace of God. God offers me the kind of grace I need to keep going in spite of temptations, trials, tension, tiredness, and troubles. To accept his grace, I can do these four things: First, cry out for God’s help. When I pretend to be self-sufficient, I end up short-circuiting God’s power. Admit my inadequacy and say, “God, I can’t handle this!” The Bible says, “‘God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ Second, fill my mind with God’s Word. Let God’s Word comfort, strengthen, fill, soothe, and energize me to keep going. Look to God! He’s the only one with sustaining strength. Third, accept support from God’s people. By helping each other with our troubles, we obey the law of Christ. God never meant for me to go through life on my own. My weaknesses help me realize how much I need others. I need to accept support from God’s people. Lastly, hold on to God’s promises, such as, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Keep my hope in the Lord and my eyes focused on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and now. When I’m going through a problem I can’t fix, don’t give up. Just look up!

In reflection, God may not remove my physical affliction, but he does promise to demonstrate his power in me. The fact that God's power is displayed in my weakness should give me courage and hope. Father, as I recognize my limitations, I will seek to depend more on you for my effectiveness rather than my own energy, effort, and talents. My limitations and weaknesses will help me develop the character you want to grow in me. Father, I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others and my next job role. I do thank you for the feedback I received on a previous role I was pursuing, as it will help me to focus on areas I need to focus on. I pray these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

How God’s Grace Gets Me Through

In 1 Peter 5:12 I read, “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.” (NLT)

I’ll face many pitfalls in the marathon of life. But regardless of what I go through, I can count on God’s sustaining grace.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:12, “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace” (NLT).

There are times in life when it will be easy for me to stumble, to get cast off to the side of the race, and to not finish well. But in each of these situations, God’s sustaining grace will get me through it.

First, God’s sustaining grace helps me keep standing when I’m tempted. Temptation is the first thing that can cause me to stumble. The Bible says, “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).

God says, “I will provide the sustaining grace to always give me a way of escape.” That way of escape may mean turning the television channel. It may mean running out the door. It may mean changing the way I’m thinking. But God will provide a way to escape temptation.

Secondly, God’s sustaining grace helps me keep standing when I’m tired. Sometimes I’m not tempted. Sometimes I’m just tired! Life is often exhausting. It requires a lot of energy, especially when I’m trying to do the right thing rather than the easy thing.

But where do I get the power to do the right thing when I’m dead tired? “It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NLT). Having the Holy Spirit in my heart gives me the energy to do the things I can’t do in my own power. 

Thirdly, God’s sustaining grace gives me the power to keep going when I’m troubled. There are some hurts that all the wishing in the world won’t make go away. Some things in life are unplanned, unrelenting, and undeserved, and they hurt the most.

What do I do in those situations? I first stop doing the “if only” game and instead focus on Christ and his sustaining power. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you” (NCV).

Remember that I’m never alone in life and never without hope. Whether I’m tempted, tired, or troubled, I can count on God’s sustaining grace to uphold me.

In summary, Peter encourages and assures me that what I’m experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for me. So stand firm in this grace. I’ll face many pitfalls, but regardless of what I go through, I can count on God’s sustaining grace. There are times in life when it will be easy for me to stumble, to get cast off to the side of the race, and to not finish well. In each of these situations, God’s sustaining grace will get me through it. First, God’s sustaining grace helps me keep standing when I’m tempted. Temptation can cause me to stumble. The Bible says, “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure”. God tells me that, “He will provide the sustaining grace to always give me a way of escape.” That way of escape may mean turning the channel, running out the door, or changing the way I’m thinking. But God will provide a way to escape temptation. Secondly, God’s sustaining grace helps me keep standing when I’m tired. Life is often exhausting. It requires a lot of energy, especially when I’m trying to do the right thing rather than the easy thing. But where do I get the power to do the right thing when I’m dead tired? “It is God who enables me to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts”. Having the Holy Spirit in my heart gives me the energy to do the things I can’t do in my own power. Lastly, God’s sustaining grace gives me the power to keep going when I’m troubled. Some things in life are unplanned, unrelenting, and undeserved. When those situations occur, I need to stop doing the “if only” game and instead focus on Christ and his sustaining power. God said in his word, “Don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you”. I’m never alone in life and never without hope. Whether I’m tempted, tired, or troubled, I can count on God’s sustaining grace to uphold me.

Three important things that God’s grace can help me get through, are Temptation than can cause me to stumble, grace to keep standing when I’m tired and grace to keep going when I’m troubled It’s encouraging to know that God provides grace when I’m tempted, tired or troubled. I need to focus on what he provides to get me through. Also as God has provided his sustaining grace to me, I can provide sustaining grace to others. It will be important for me to look to Him, as he will provide the grace I need at the time. Father, I thank you this morning for your grace you provide me. I ask also for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, and my interactions with others. I also pray for patience in the new job role you have for me after my current job ends. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Be Merciful, as One Who Has Been Shown Mercy

In Matthew 5:7 I read, "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (NLT)

God doesn’t want me to show mercy only to the people I like, or only to the people it’s easy to be merciful to. God wants me to be merciful to everyone.

Why? Because I need mercy to get into heaven. Jesus says, “If I refuse to forgive others, my Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15 NLT).

The only way I can get into a perfect heaven is by God’s mercy and forgiveness through the death of Jesus Christ. But I cannot receive what I’m unwilling to give myself.

I cannot afford to burn the bridge I need to walk across in order to get into heaven. If I won’t show mercy, why would I expect God to show mercy to me?

Someone at some point is going to need my forgiveness, because we all sin and are sinned against. When that person comes to me, asking for forgiveness (and even if they never do), how I respond to them will reveal what I believe about God’s character.

There’s going to be a Judgment Day. I need not live in fear, but I should live as if what I say and do matters. My words and actions count both here on earth and when my life is done. The Bible says, “You must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment” (James 2:13 NCV).

Jesus says it another way in the Beatitudes: “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7 NLT).

God offers mercy, to me and everyone else who calls on his name. If a perfect God can do that for a sinful world, then I can do it for the person who sins against me.

In summary, God blesses those who are merciful, by showing them mercy. God doesn’t want me to show mercy only to the people I like, or only to the people it’s easy to be merciful to. God wants me to be merciful to everyone. Why? Because I need mercy to get into heaven. Jesus says, “If I refuse to forgive others, my Father will not forgive your sins”. The only way I can get into a perfect heaven is by God’s mercy and forgiveness through the death of Jesus Christ. But I cannot receive what I’m unwilling to give myself. If I won’t show mercy, why would I expect God to show mercy to me? When that person comes to me, asking for forgiveness (and even if they never do), how I respond to them will reveal what I believe about God’s character. I should live as if what I say and do matters. My words and actions count both here on earth and when my life is done. God offers mercy, to me and everyone else who calls on his name. If a perfect God can do that for a sinful world, then I can do it for the person who sins against me.

In retrospect, me showing mercy to others, is an example of God character. Only my own stubbornness and judgement keeps me from forgiving others. When I show mercy, God blesses me by showing his mercy to me. Father, I ask that with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life, that I always forgive and show mercy to others, no matter what they have done and whether they realize it or not. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.