Surrounded

We aren’t doing much camping in northwest Ohio these days. And truthfully, even when the temperature isn’t in the single digits and there isn’t snow on the ground, camping isn’t a frequent occurrence for most of us. I have been reflecting on this Bible verse, written during a time when camping was much more common:

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.” Psalm 34:7

This camping is not like a vacation, it is like a reverse siege – surrounding for the purpose of keeping an enemy out. I love the visual of God’s protection and rescue, and the idea that it is for the long haul.

I’ve been needing this reminder. God is in control. He hears and answers prayer. In case I am slow to catch on, it’s repeated at least 5 times in this very chapter (Psalm 34):

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me…”

“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him…”

“…those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing…”

“…his ears are open to their cry for help.”

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,”

Many years before this psalm was penned, a servant and his master were being hunted down by a powerful king. Overnight, a massive army surrounded the city where they were staying. After getting up early and discovering the situation, the servant asked his master, “What are we to do?”

His master reassured him that they didn’t need to fear. “Those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”

Then his master prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and Let him see.” When the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around. And not only did God surround Elisha and his servant that day, He also rescued them.

I do believe that God surrounds me, that God surrounds His people, that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. The mountains surround Jerusalem and the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.” Psalm 125:1-2

Today, I choose to remember God’s faithfulness, His nearness, His strength, His promises of protection. I pray that all of us will have our eyes opened to see God’s power and love at work in our lives.

-Leah

Sigh

Of course we sigh.

Things aren’t how they are supposed to be, and we know it. Life is hard. Sometimes the hard is big like cancer. Sometimes smaller difficulties gnaw away at us like termites, and we are more inclined to scream than to sigh. Whatever we face and however we express it, we all sense that there is an unending uphill climb. We are never quite where we were meant to be.

Of course we sigh.

Did Jesus sigh? I never thought about it until reading Day 21 of Only Jesus: 40 Days with the Son, which highlights Matthew 7:34:

“He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means, ‘Be opened!’).”

People brought a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment to Jesus. Jesus sighed as he healed. Author Max Lucado interpreted the sigh as Jesus grieving the existence of deafness and suffering. It makes sense that Jesus, who experienced all the emotions common to humans (Hebrews 4:15), would feel the inward groaning sometimes expressed as sighing.

I have found myself sighing a lot this last week. There have been some heavy things to carry. Big emotions, stormy weather, you get the picture. Want to walk with me through a Bible passage that has been an encouragement?

2 Corinthians 4:7 through 5:7

Choose your side

A friend and I have been reading a book Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow. She took the info from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 and made a table like this:

afflicted	BUT	Not crushed
perplexed	BUT	Not despairing
persecuted	BUT	Not forsaken
struck down	BUT	Not destroyed

She pointed out that the descriptions on both sides were true of Paul. He could decide if he was going to emphasize the language of suffering or victory. It’s about perspective – the struggle is real, but so is the protection and support we have from God! This is why recalling who he is and what he has done is such a powerful way to change our sighing into worship.

So that…

Thanks to a dear friend I am always on the look out for the “so that’s” in the Bible. There are so many! This occurs so that that will happen. It is so encouraging to know that God is using events to bring about his purposes! It reminds us that circumstances are not random and gives us endurance. This passage of scripture has 4 “so that’s” that I found. Look for them in 4:10, 4:11, 4:15, and 5:4. There are a few other “because of this” references also. Ponder them yourself. The point is, whatever you are going through, whatever is making you sigh, it is all for a reason, and it is a good reason. Your good, the good of others, and God’s glory!

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15

Do not lose heart

Let me encourage you. You are not alone. You might be sighing and sagging and sobbing, but hold on! Don’t lose heart. Reach out to God. Encourage yourself with the promises in the Bible. Reach out to a friend, to a pastor. (If you think you don’t have anyone to reach out to, reach out to me.)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

Preparation, perspective

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” 2 Corinthians 4:17

OK, we might beg to differ with the description of affliction as light and momentary, but remember that this is Paul describing his own affliction. He had a LOT of afflictions, and they were not mild or brief by any standards with which we are familiar. Using the comparison of heavenly glory, however, they do dwindle substantially. We can take this same approach – remind ourselves that what we are going through, when compared with eternity, is a tiny drop in a huge ocean, and in some way that we don’t understand, suffering actually brings about glory.

Full circle

Read these last few verses of the passage.

“”For while we are still in this tent[body], we groan[sigh], being burdened – not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:4-7

Of course we sigh.

We are living in an imperfect world, dealing with our own sin and suffering and walking alongside others who are hurting. We need the Holy Spirit – he’s interceding for us with groanings/sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26). God is preparing us and holding us, extending his mercy and grace to us and through us. We sigh, but we do not lose heart.

In Him,

Leah

Near to God

There is so much going on in the world these days. Words, actions, spin, reactions, disasters natural and not-so-natural, tragedies globally and locally. It’s overwhelming. And terrifying. And surprisingly mesmerizing.

Have you found yourself caught on the hamster wheel of scrolling for much longer than you are willing to admit, reading comments, feeling outrage and horror, wondering what the world has come to? It makes me sad to say that I have been there.

When I mentioned her uncharacteristically normal/low blood pressure at her visit last week, one of my patients showed tremendous insight. She had been watching a political reel as the medical student and I entered the exam room, and I assumed that would increase, not decrease, her blood pressure. She said the opposite. “As upset as it makes me, I kind of like it.” For some reason we are often captivated by bad news and conflict.

Over the past few weeks (maybe even months, but it seems to have been escalating), I have been letting the bad news edge out the GREAT news of Jesus’ love, in the arenas of my thoughts and conversations and down time.

I’m going to take a stab at walking you through the gentle but persistent way God has brought this lesson home to me over the past week.

Sunday: scrolling through Facebook, saw a friend’s post about a young lady I recognized. Read her words about vulnerability and praising in the face of cancer treatment. I wasn’t aware she had cancer – was sad to learn that. I typically don’t have sound on when looking at FB, so didn’t hear what she was singing.

Monday: skipped devotions but made it to the treadmill before work. Listening to worship music, and remembered the post, so pulled it up to hear what Devan was singing. Beautiful voice, singing words that I have known for many years, brought tears…

Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing

Power and majesty, praise to the King

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands

Forever I’ll praise You, forever I’ll stand

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

I was brought up short. Where had my worship gone?

Meeting with a friend later that day, we were talking about our struggles coping with the negative feelings around current events, and I shared my experience/thoughts about Devan’s song. My friend said, “It’s almost like we have a whole bunch of tests all day long. How will we respond?” Almost without thinking, I reframed it. “No, not tests. Invitations. God gives us invitations all day long.”

He says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Tuesday: Would love to say that I got up early and had quiet time with God. I didn’t. I can see from reviewing screentime now that I was on FB for 12 minutes before work. My last patient of the day Tuesday was the one mentioned earlier, the one who’s blood pressure seems to be responding favorably to political turmoil.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: some stress, missed invitations to be near to God

Saturday (today): FINALLY sat down to read Bible and connect with my gracious Father. Started by writing this in my journal, “God, my heart is prone to wander.” How I wish that were not true.

Next, I thought of the phrase from the Psalms “whom have I in heaven but you?” and googled the reference. It is from Psalm 73, right where my bookmark was, where I had left off reading. I copied these verses:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:25-28

“…We give thanks, for your name is near…” Psalm 75:1

I need to be near God. Being far from Him is just like perishing. He sent Jesus so I can believe and not perish. When I wander, I choose unbelief.

This passage from James seemed very relevant.

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?’ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:4-8

God, I’m sorry. Your majesty and Your nearness and Your glory and Your kingdom trump all else. Forgive me for getting mentally wrapped up in earthly things at the expense of eternal things. Help me to stay near to You and allow Your Spirit to fill me and to overflow on the people around me. My flesh and my heart do fail. Thank You for being the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I give thanks, for Your precious and unmatchable name is near. Amen

Over Thinking

Have you ever been accused of “over thinking?” Has a particular situation from the past or concern about the future run laps in your mind, achieving marathon distances?

I’ve been there. Just last week I found myself rehearsing what I had said at a meeting, fixated on how it had been received and if I should have spoken differently or maybe just kept my mouth shut entirely. It never seems to be the joyous or peaceful moments that are stuck on thought replay, nor imaginings of good times ahead, but rather musings on pain, uncertainty, difficulty, distress.

Tumult, turmoil, even angst are words that describe the state of mind during those times. But that is not the Jesus way. He is a storm calmer, and He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).

No more fretting? Wonderful! Thank You, Jesus! But…

Cast your cares

After realizing we are in a mental tailspin (which is a big first step, by the way), the next order of business is to let go. Surrender. Not an it’s-hopeless-I-give-up move, but a Jesus-take-the-wheel release.

Peter advises “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7). King David said it too: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22). We must consciously choose to give God the thing that is overwhelming our mind.

Ingredients needed

Relinquishing our worries (because let’s face it—worry is what we are really talking about here) to Jesus might be simple, but it is miles from easy. Why? What holds us back from receiving the peace and serenity we have been offered? Or, to focus on the positive, what do we need so that we can step away from our mental mess?

We need humility. We are I’ve-got-this, DIY kind of people. When we look deep within, we believe that we should be able to handle things ourselves. When we don’t live up to the expectations our pride has set for us or when we anticipate not being able to control circumstances or outcomes, the thought train goes off the rails. Peter knew this. He prefaced his “cast your cares on him” admonition with these words: “Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (I Peter 5:6).

Many of the frustrations and fears that occupy our minds are self-focused. Cultivating a humble heart opens the door to offering our angst to God.

We need trust. While humility speaks to a right view of self, trust is about an accurate view of God. Can He really handle these troubles—past, present, or future? Has what I’ve said or done messed things up so badly that He can’t redeem the situation? Is He really a good Father with plans that are perfect and the power to carry them out? We think so, but we do wonder (AKA doubt). Jesus taught that even a little faith can move mountains. We can choose to let the faith that we have push away the doubt mountain. We can remind ourselves of who we know God to be and of what He has done, and we allow faith to arise.

Then sings my soul

Humbling ourselves and fanning our faith into flame, we notice that we are worshipping! We are declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness. We have brought our fretful, spinning mind as an offering to the One who knows us best and loves us most. We are giving all that we are, our turbulent thoughts included, as a “living sacrifice, … which is (y)our spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1). As we worship, we connect more deeply to God and experience His presence.

Draw near

When we next catch ourselves “over thinking,” let’s change our posture from bent under the weight of our mental turmoil to bowed in worship. Even a little movement toward God makes a difference.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

God, I give You my worries and my anxious thoughts. Forgive me for wallowing, for pride and doubt. Thank You for Your steadfast love and for Your nearness. How great You are!

-Leah

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

“Flailing and floundering.” Those were the words I texted to describe my status to my sisters one Saturday morning last month. My circumstances and emotions had pushed my heart and mind into a tailspin.

I was driving to the hospital to visit my father-in-law, being buffeted by my feelings. You’ve been there yourself a time or two, right?

As I waited for a response to my text (I’m thankful for hands-free texting, by the way), I sang out loud a church chorus from my childhood:

Jesus, we enthrone You

We proclaim that You are King

Standing here in the midst of us

We lift You up with our praise

And as we worship, build Your throne

Come, Lord Jesus, and take Your place

Worship as Construction

When I sang this song as a child, I visualized a church filled with believers, each with a brick, actually building a throne for Jesus as they worshiped Him.

As I sang in the car that morning, I was acknowledging my desperation for God’s presence and making space for Him.

The song is inspired by words from Psalm 22:

“Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”

Another translation of the verse says that God “inhabits the praises of his people.”

Worship opens our hearts to be filled with God.

As We Worship, Build Your Throne…

The words are repeated 3 times in this short song. Turning our hearts to worship and thus enthroning Jesus in our lives is not just a one time effort. External and internal forces seem to conspire to draw our hearts away from admiring God, from gazing at His goodness. Worship is intended to be one of the rhythms of our lives, practiced repetitively. This way, when we find ourselves flailing and floundering, we more naturally return to adoration. Through worship we allow Jesus to return to center stage in our thoughts and hearts.

Standing Here in the Midst of Us

Jesus “stands in the midst” of worshipers. The same language was used to describe His presence with His disciples after having resurrected from the dead.

“While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” Luke 24:36

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” John 20:19

“A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” John 20:26

When Jesus came and stood with His followers, He brought peace. Peace in the middle of fear and doubt.

We have been promised that God is present always and everywhere. Worship opens our eyes to experience His presence in a deeper way. It brings us to Jesus, and being close to Him ushers in peace.

He is Enthroned

By turning our eyes and hearts toward Jesus in worship, we “lift Him up.” We remind ourselves that He is Lord and Master and in control. Our adoration does not change who Jesus is – He is already enthroned over all. Rather, worship changes our posture and our perspective. We take our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances when we stand in awe of the all powerful God who truly loves us.

This re-orientation lets us exclaim with the psalmist: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” Psalm 29:10-11

I find myself clinging to this hope more and more often during these past weeks. The Lord sits enthroned over the flood. The Lord sits enthroned as King forever. Confusion, sadness, worry, overwhelm, anger – may I let go of them and build a throne in my heart for the King. Join me in worship! He is worthy!

-Leah