Dealing With Uncertain Times
Sabbath, or as we commonly call it Saturday, is the day God set aside for us to rest. While I am not a 7th Day Adventist I have realized that there is a reason why God set aside this day to rest. I work hard Monday thru Friday and when I take Saturday to rest it gives me time to refocus my attention on God, and prepare for the upcoming week. I don't lay around all day, but I take life easy on Saturday. I don't clean or do laundry. I save those tasks for Sunday. Saturday is dog park day and that means a good long walk in the park talking to God surrounded by nature. The rest of the day is just about relaxing.
I can hear some of you saying, but what about church? It is interesting but no where does the scripture talk about going to church and on any particular day. Now, this doesn't mean that I am against gathering in a church building. Not at all. I actually enjoy attending church. It makes the week go a lot smoother and there is just something amazing that happens when you worship with other believers. You can truly feel the Holy Spirit in the worship.
Today when I was driving to the dog park and listening to the radio, a song came on that I really enjoy. It always brings me to tears. It is by Mercy Me. The song is called Even If. The words are below at the end. They hit me today because the world is in such disarray and there is so much going on around us that causes fear, doubt, anger, sadness, you name it. People are a mess! Its like we have gone into some crazy twilight zone where up is down and backwards is forwards. For some people the stress of it is just too much.
As we think about all the things that are going on in our world today and the fear that is pushed on us constantly through news and even social media, many wonder why God doesn't step in and do something. When you are going through personal struggles, health problems, family disagreements, mourning of a loved one, why doesn't God "fix it" when we ask? What should be our response when He chooses not to fix it? These are personal daily battles we all face.
This song puts it perfectly, "but even if you don't my hope is in you alone." This is rest. Resting in the sovereignty of God, understanding that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, but we can trust Him in all things.
I've seen arguments on social media and have had a few people angry with me as well for not wanting to pick up a gun and start fighting. They say, "are you resigned to letting communism take over America." What a silly thing to ask! Of course not. It isn't resignation that they are witnessing, but rest. I am resting in the God who brings peace to my heart when the world around me is falling apart. If I get caught up in all the noise, then it is my flesh that takes over. If I let my desires rule my heart then I am capable of the dumbest most wreckless of behaviors. This would not honor God at all.
When I rest in the hands of God knowing that He has already won this battle and that the end is known, that is called faith. Faith is trusting in the outcome and letting God's will be done. Without faith it is impossible to please God. I can't fix anything by being angry or taking matters into my own hands. But I can put my trust in God. He gives rest to those who do. The peace that passes understanding keeps my heart and my mind at perfect rest.
By way of confession, I was also very adamant that we "do something". I still believe we have an obligation to bring certain things to light and help others to see the truth. My sister Carolyn can tell you this is so. We have had many conversations about this very thing. She taught me to rest in the Lord and reminded me of Philippians 4:8. It isn't being resigned to be powerless. It is resting in the one who has ALL Power over everything. His will is being done. As hard as it is to understand, we have assurances in scripture that He is not going to allow anything in this life to separate us from Him.
Yes, I love my country. Yes, I love my family. Yes, I love my neighbors and I hate to see suffering. But I love God more than all of these. When you love God, your life and motivation is very different. You can clearly see that there is more to life than what we see and experience on the surface. The abundant life that is offered by God is a powerful life that endures for eternity. This world is going to pass away. What truly matters is knowing God and making Him known.
Resignation is giving up. You are resigned to whatever the outcome, but you are not at peace with it. You've just given up. God doesn't want us to give up. He wants us to put on the full armor that He has provided because the battles we fight are spiritual in nature. When we suit up and ready ourselves He gives us strength for the fight and we can see the fight has already been won.
To Resign is to Retreat!
No soldier worth his salt will retreat in battle. Our commander is God and He understands the importance of rest during the fight. This is why it is HIS rest that we are given when we trust in His perfect will.
Imagine Jesus standing on one side of a great wall of fire and beckoning to us to walk through it to get to Him. What would you do - pace back and forth or walk forward with confidence? Imagine Jesus encouraging you, "I'm here and the fire will not burn you. Just come to me. Trust me." Remember when Jesus walked on water and called Peter to walk with Him. He had to reach out and grab Peter's hand when he sank into the water. Then He calmed the sea with just a word when they reached the boat. He will do the same for us. Right now we are on very rough seas, oppressed on all sides, but there is rest when we trust in God. He is not going to let us burn or drown. When we take that step forward toward the wall of fire, Imagine Jesus reaching through the fire toward us. When you take His hand you can feel the peace He offers. The fire is quenched because HE is GOD who created the fire.
Whatever it is that you are struggling with, WHATEVER it is, He wants you to know that He is faithful and good and you can trust Him all of your days. He is able and He can save through any fire. When you find that rest in Him, then you can say "It is well, it is well with my soul."
Even If
They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't
It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
'Cause I know You're able
I know You can
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
Romans 8:37-39 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Hebrews 4:9-11 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[a] just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience."
Philippians 4:6-8 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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