pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: trust


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If the Lord Had Not…

Reading: Psalm 124

Verse 1: “If the Lord had not been on our side…”

Photo credit: Greg Rakozy

Scholars believe that David wrote this Psalm in the wake of Israel’s defeat of the Philistines. David had just become king and the enemy gathered the troops to test this new leader. David turned to God for direction. God led Israel’s army to victory. David knew that God had been with them and gave God all the credit for the victory.

In the early stages of faith, this is Satan’s trick too: attack before the new Christian is really established in his or her faith. The evil one attacks us when we are yet immature in those areas that were our weaknesses before we gave ourselves to Christ. Maybe you’re there now. If so, take courage in David’s story. Turn to God and seek direction and strength. On the other hand, if you’ve walked faithfully for a while now, you’ve experienced these attacks and assaults. I ask you: what new believer can you walk beside, modeling how to trust in the Lord?

The Psalm begins with this great line: “If the Lord had not been on our side…” David references attacks and anger and floods and raging waters. While these represent the army gathered against them, they are also metaphors for the trials and tribulations that we face. David recognizes that without God the outcome would’ve likely been different. Is it not the same with our battles within and without? May we trust in God as David did, eventually rejoicing with David as we too declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Prayer: Dear God, again and again you see us through. Again and again you keep the waters at bay, you calm the raging waters, you make a way when there seems to be no way. You do not leave us or forsake us ever. Draw us to you again and again – every time the enemy comes near, every time life throws something hard our way. Thank you for your unending love and for your constant presence. We love you Lord! Amen.


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Roles

Reading: Exodus 2:1-10

Verse 3: “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch.”

Today we continue in the exodus story. We are yet many years from Pharaoh letting the people go. In today’s passage, though, God begins to work that plan. A Hebrew baby is born and the mother cannot bring herself to obey Pharaoh’s law that says to kill the baby boy. After 3 months she is led to a plan: “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch.” The basket is strategically placed in the reeds right by where the Egyptian women bathe. The older sister keeps watch from a distance. As the basket and baby are found, she swoops in to offer to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. Just like that the baby is back at home, where he will remain until weaned. At that time he is given to Pharaoh’s daughter to raise as her own. She names the baby Moses. He will grow up and one day liberate his people from slavery.

The three main women in this story all play important roles. Each follows their hearts and allows love to guide their actions. The prompting of their hearts is God at work. Moses is a pretty big name in the storyline of the Bible. Yes, the three women play a much smaller role in comparison to Moses. But without any of their roles we wouldn’t have a Moses. We all can also play relatively small roles in God’s unfolding plan. Like these three women, what we do and say also impacts the kingdom of God. We too have the power to change lives. Following God’s promptings, may we choose to love as we are led out into the world and into people’s lives.

Prayer: Lord God, guide me today to step into the plans that you have for me. Give me a confidence to go where you lead. Help me to trust into your plans for building a kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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God Will Deliver

Reading: Exodus 1:8-22

Verse 11: “They put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.”

Time in Egypt rolls on. Joseph, his brothers, and all of their generation passes on. A new ruler comes to power. There is no connection to Joseph or his family or his people. All the new leader knows is that the Israelites are growing in number. Fear rises up. The Egyptians enslave the Israelites. In verse 11 we read, “They put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.” But the more they worked them, the more the Israelites grew in number. The labor ramped up and “made their lives bitter.” The Pharaoh then tries to force the midwives to kill the baby boys. God guides them. The Israelites increase in number. A new law is passed as fear continues to rise. Even through this, God will deliver God’s people.

At times we can experience negative attention. It can be because of our faith or simply because of how we act. Both can be seen as a threat to the powers that be or to people we know. Other times our faith calls us to stand up for someone or to call out an injustice. These actions will surely draw fire as well. In these moments, God’s presence remains with us. The Spirit leads and guides us; it gives us courage and the words to speak. In Spirit, God walks with us. If we, like the people of God in Egypt, choose to trust into God’s plan, then the Lord will deliver us again and again. May it be so for us all.

Prayer: Lord, in this life you said we would find trouble. Our faith – when lived out loud in the world – it will draw fire. You promise to always be with us, to never forsake us. You’ve walked a long, long time with your children. Continue to walk with us. Amen.


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Faith Rises Up

Reading: Matthew 14:24-33

Verse 27: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

As Jesus sent the disciples off across the lake all seemed well. Jesus often went away to pray. But what began as a simple journey across the lake became a scary and dangerous situation. “Life” can happen like this to us too. We’re sailing along and all of a sudden we’re in the middle of a storm. The storms of life can be physical, relational, emotional, spiritual, or a combination of these. As it was with the disciples, fear and doubt and worry often arise in our storms.

Late into the night, when the wind and the waves have been against them for a long time, the disciples first see Jesus as a ghost. He has not been their focus so far. If he was, they’d have recognized him. Speaking into their storm, Jesus says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” He encourages them with his presence. With him they can find courage – and hope. Both come with Jesus’ presence. So they do not need to fear or doubt or worry. Once again in his presence, their faith rises up against the storm. This allows Peter to step out onto the waves.

In the midst of our inevitable storms, when will we choose to look for Jesus? He will be there from the start because he is always with us. When we choose to look past the wind and the waves, when we choose to look beyond our fears and doubts and worries, we will instantly be in Jesus’ presence. There, our faith will rise up. In his presence we too can step out onto the waves, knowing that we are not alone. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, in my storms may I choose to turn to you as the wind and waves rise up. Lead me to look to you before the fears, doubts, worries… climb high. Grant me the courage to trust into your presence and to reach out to you. Amen.


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Ever at Work

Reading: Genesis 37:1-4 and 12-28

Verses 3 and 4: “Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons… they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

This week’s Old Testament passage is very challenging. Israel’s family is settled in Canaan and the kids are growing up. There are 12 sons in all. Joseph is Israel’s favorite. In the opening verses we read, “Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons.” This is a difficult dynamic to live with. I’ve heard many older siblings say that the youngest is Mom’s or Dad’s favorite. Usually this isn’t really the case. But because this exists in most families, we can relate to Joseph or to the brothers – depending on which side of this we were on in our families. In today’s story, though, Joseph isn’t the youngest. But he is the one finally born to Rachel, the love of Israel’s life.

As you can probably imagine, this clear favoritism creates some problems. The fancy, multi-colored coat is clear evidence of the favoritism. Joseph’s tendency to tattle frequently only worsens the situation. Add in his dreams about his family bowing down to him and we pretty easily arrive at this: “they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”

One day Israel thinks it is a good idea to send the tattletale out to check up on his brothers. As they see him coming, they begin to plot. As Joseph struts towards them in that fancy coat, their first thought is to kill him. This anger and hatred gets de-escalated into just tossing him into a dry cistern. In the end the brothers sell him to some merchants passing by. It is a win-win for the brothers. Joseph is gone forever and they have a little money in their pockets.

It is a challenging story because on the surface it does not appear that God is anywhere to be found. Sometimes it feels like that in our lives when we find ourselves in an ugly situation. And yet God is at work. God is always at work. The first challenge then is either to not sink down to a lesser level, as the brothers did, or to recognize our role in the problem, as Joseph failed to do. The second challenge is to keep looking forward and upward when we’ve failed to meet the first challenge. Even in the pit we must believe that God is at work. It is true in Joseph’s story and it will be in our story.

Prayer: Lord God, in those moments when we feel like Joseph or one of the brothers, remind us of your presence. If we’ll allow it, lead and guide us through. If we fail, come back around in love. Bring us through to see how you were at work. Thank you for your faithfulness, O God. Amen.


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Abundance

Reading: Matthew 14:13-21

Verse 17: “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.”

After learning of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus withdraws to a lonely place. That is the setting where a large crowd tracks him down. Jesus sees them and he has compassion on them, spending the day healing the sick. As the sun begins to set the disciples remind Jesus of the remote location and of the time of day. The disciples want Jesus to dismiss the crowd so that they can get food for themselves. It is nice to think of others. But in what must’ve been a surprise to the disciples, Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.” Huh? What?!

Would’ve this been your reaction too? I believe it would be because it is too often mine when Jesus tells me something similar. When the Spirit nudges me to bring someone food or when the whisper tells me to reach across a line or barrier or when the scriptures condemn me for my inaction or my stinginess, I try and ignore it or I make excuses, just like the disciples. They protest Jesus’ nudge, saying, “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.” What is that for a crowd of 5000+?

Luke the disciples, I often have a scarcity mentality. I think who I am or what I have is not enough. Our world is stuck in this mentality. That’s why we hoard and accumulate. In our passage we see, though, that it’s not really about the disciples. It’s about Jesus. And when I struggle to follow through or to respond, it’s not really about me. It’s about God. And God, our God, is a God of abundance. In the end this is what the disciples learn: they each had a basket full of bread. 5 loaves? Hah! Yes, God is more than enough. May we learn to trust more fully in this God too.

Prayer: Lord God, you are so abundant – in your love, in your grace, in your mercy, in your forgiveness, in your provision. Guide me to live more fully into your abundance, trusting you with all that I am and with all that I have. Amen.


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Again and Again

Reading: Psalm 17:1-7 and 15

Verse 6: “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.”

Photo credit: Diego Gennaro

When you go to the Lord God, how do you pray? Do you pray with boldness and confidence? Or do you pray with humility and meekness? Or do your prayers typically fall somewhere in between these parameters?

We often think that prayers have to be a certain way. They don’t. We often think that we should leave the praying aloud stuff to the professionals. We shouldn’t. We often think we need to hold back our emotions. Uh, no. We often think that we are bothering God with our little requests. Never ever.

Looking at Psalm 17 we see one model for our prayers. But Psalm 17 is not the one right way to pray. There are many other Psalms and many other models of prayer that we find littered throughout the Bible. In this Psalm we can find elements that are worthy of noticing and emulating. First, David’s heart is right when he comes to God. There is no deceit or sin. He has been walking faithfully with God. Second, there is a trust in their relationship. They are not strangers. In verse 6 David prays, “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” David is confident and bold. This is built up on their steady relationship and upon David’s experience with God. David goes to God in prayer again and again. God answers again and again.

Again and again… That’s the way to pray. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, your presence never fails. You are always there to hear my prayers. Thank you for your faithful heart. Thank you for desiring such a close and personal relationship with me. Guide me and help me to walk in your way of love, seeking righteousness and holiness and my foundations. Amen.


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Hold Onto God

Reading: Genesis 33:22-31

Verse 26: “But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’”

Photo credit: Ryan McGuire

We begin our week with Jacob. He has almost returned to his home and to his family. Although he has come a long way in his relationship with God there is still some of the old Jacob in him. In the first part of chapter 32 he questions responding to God’s directive to go back home. When he hears that Esau is coming out with 400 men, Jacob feels “great fear and distress.” Instead of fully trusting God, he begins to scheme – maybe he can at least escape with half of his “stuff.” Sound familiar? He sends flock after flock across the stream, sent as gifts to try and curry his brother’s favor and friendship. Then he sends across his wives, servants, sons, and all of his possessions. He himself stays on this side of the water.

It is during the night that a “man” comes and wrestles with Jacob. Jacob is tenacious. Finally the man wrenches Jacob’s hip in an attempt to free himself. Jacob wrestles on. At daybreak the man asks to be let go. In response Jacob says, “‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.” It is then that Jacob is blessed.

When have you wrestled with God? Maybe, like Jacob, it was when a lot was on the line and it felt like everything rested upon the decision(s) you had to make. Maybe it was in a valley or in some other place of struggle, in a place where you clung to God because it felt like you had nothing else to hold onto. Maybe it was some other scenario when you held on. Maybe it is happening right now. From Jacob’s story and from our own story, we learn that when we refuse to let go of God, when we hold on tight in spite of the pain, we too will be blessed by God. In trust, may we wrestle with and may we hold onto God until we get to the place of blessing.

Prayer: Lord God, I know that the light and the joy come with the morning. Though the night may last days or even weeks, I know that you are there and that you will see me through. Help me to hold onto you, especially in the wrestling. Thank you Lord for holding onto me. Amen.


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Even So

Reading: Psalm 13

Verse 3: “Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes.”

Psalm 13 begins with four sentences that all begin “How long…?” David is asking how long will this horrible situation last? How long will God take to bring relief, comfort, healing, resolution? Although we do not know if this is a personal prayer or a corporate prayer from David, we do know that we’ve prayed these “how long” prayers again and again, for ourselves and for others.

David continues in verse 3, writing, “Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes.” He is begging for, pleading for God to respond. He wants light to see the way through. We note that David is not praying for an answer already in mind. He is praying for God to light the way forward, trusting in God’s light and direction. The rest of verse 3 reveals the depth of the situation: “or I will sleep in death.” The end of the rope has been reached. The grip is failing. O God, answer!

Verses 5 and 6 are “even so” verses. The answer hasn’t come. He feels all alone. David cannot yet see the light. But even so he declares trust in God’s “unfailing love.” He rejoices in the salvation that he knows is secure. And David chooses to sing a song to the God who has been good again and again and again. As we wait upon the Lord may we do so with such trust and faith. From that place, may we praise our good, good God.

Prayer: Lord God, in moments when I cannot sense your presence, give me the strength to trust and the heart to praise you. When the dark feels too much, bring a sliver of light, prompting me to choose faith over fear. Amen.


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How Might I Respond?

Reading: Genesis 22:1-14

Verse 12: “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

We begin this week with Genesis 22. I marvel at Abraham’s faith and commitment to God. In the last chapter he cast out his firstborn son into the wilderness. In today’s text God once again challenges Abraham, asking him to sacrifice Isaac. I look at Abraham’s faith and wonder how I would respond if I had to stand in his shoes.

In our text today God asks Abraham to do the unthinkable. Abraham cuts and gathers the wood. He prepares for the journey, taking with him the fire and the knife. Abraham journeys with Isaac and two servants towards the mountain. Leaving the servants behind as they near the mountain, Abraham and Isaac continue on. Each action and each step is a step in faith and trust.

When Isaac notes the wood and the fire, but asks about the lamb, Abraham responds, “God himself will provide the lamb.” Reaching the place, Abraham builds an altar, arranges the wood, and then binds and places Isaac on the altar. Knife in hand, Abraham is ready to follow through on God’s directive. It is here that an angel of the Lord intercedes, saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy.”

Continuing, the angel says, “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham has proven his faith. Put to the ultimate test, Abraham demonstrates his full trust in God. Again I wonder, how might I respond?

Prayer: Lord God, what an example of faith and trust in you! What a model of obedience. Lord, build up in me a faith and trust that would respond as Abraham responded. Amen.