It is Possible.....

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of the Midians." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midians hand. Am I not sending you?"(Judges 6:12-14 NIV)

Beautiful One, in an unstable world full of uncertainty, how do we keep our head above the waters of life? The answer for Christians is an easy one: Jesus Christ! But, did you know you can be rooted in the Lord, and still feel like you are drowning? Did you know that head knowledge is completely different than heart knowledge? And, it is possible to have wounds within our minds that go deeper than the faith within our hearts.

It is possible, to believe pain more than to believe God!

What makes this statement true is that sometimes we feel God evades us. But, there never seems to be a shortage of pain, adversity, and hardship; they like to surprise us from around every corner of life. After turning enough corners, you realize that in order to get passed them, you must first go through them.

It hardly seems fair, especially if you have encountered many hardships in life. Sometimes, you can look around and think things could be worse; other times you realize things could be a whole lot better!

As you look back over the pages of life, it's easier to identify the defining moments in your life; places where choices were made, offenses occurred, and successes had their moments! But, why is it that we are so easily derailed and stalled by the wounds of life? Is that what we really want? Personally, I don't believe any sane person wants to be tormented and plagued by their pain. But sometimes when the pain is great, it's easier to not take that risk and believe for something better.

It is so much easier to not have any expectation, than to have one, and have it elude you.

It's so much easier to not do anything, than to do something and have it all fall apart, again.

Beautiful One, it's easier, but it's a lie!

When times of turmoil hit our homes and pierce our very hearts, we face a defining moment! We may despise the trial, shed buckets of tears, and act foolish in the process. But it's OK so long as we keep going, never give up hope, and believe for something greater than we could imagine!

When Gideon was in a cave hiding from the Mideanites, God came to him. God told him to get up and out of the cave, and go! He had a job for Gideon. But, Gideon, by his own admission was afraid, alone, and worn out. All he could see was his pain. He loved the Lord and knew all about God's strength and might. But, Gideon also knew the pain of oppression and injustice, because they stood on the corner in his life and daily called his name.

What I love about the Lord is that God didn't care how skewed Gideon's was! He didn't seem to mind that Gideon sought comfort in dark places. God didn't rebuke, or even acknowledge Gideon's response that there was no way possible, he could do what God asked of him.

It's as if God had seen all of the details of what brought Gideon to the place where he was; it was now time to bring him out! The past didn't matter. The mistakes, the fear, the anger Gideon passively expressed towards God . . . none of it mattered, because God was in control. It's the same today. Every step you take is never taken alone and our past will never negate our future!

Beautiful One, there is nothing you can ever face that God cannot bring you up and out of! No matter how scared you are, or how much anger and resentment you may experience, remember that there is a defining moment when God will call you by name, and call you out! You may be like Gideon, and ask lots of questions or be afraid to believe God. God is not called patient for nothing.

God is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith. Simple childlike faith. Can you remember when you were a child, and the world was  just grand? Our curiosity was just that, simple curiosity. We didn't need to be convinced. Doubt didn't plague our hearts. Somewhere between time and experience, we lost our God given ability to believe. Over time and through hardships, our simple faith to believe and dream, was replaced by disappointment and dread.

I have personally come to resolve that this is just a part of life. But, although life will present many challenges, it is our job, at some point, to stop facing them armed with just ourselves and our vast head knowledge of the wounds from times past. There comes a time in all of our lives when we are expected of God to present every challenge, wound, and injustice before the throne of the One who can redeem them!

We, like Gideon will have to make the conscious choice, to simply believe God, and go!

And that my friend, is possible!

Beautiful One, just believe!

Comments

[Lisa Nelson]

Amen, we have to DAILY...and FULLY...Rely...on God...its a process. Not a once done deal. We daily grow and rely. IT DEF. is...possible. :) Be encouraged. This was really good, thanks for sharing. Love to have you come alongside me at my blog,
http://faithonthemountains.blogspot.com/
blessings, love, n prayers.