Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Lamentations 2 GW; Psalms 77 GW

Hope, not despair.

Unfortunately, the dark nights of the soul are part of the human condition.  We will all experience them at some time or another.  Typically, they happen unexpectedly.  Jacob wrestled with God throughout the night.  When daybreak came, he had a new name:

“Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28 NIV)

Struggling with God in our darkest moments changes us.  We become new people as we overcome the temptations of the world by placing our faith in Jesus.  We have hope when we are down in the pit because Jesus is in the hole with us. God went before us, so we never have to go alone.  But we do have to go.  Each of us will have our struggles with God and man; it’s part of life.

Perseverance is key.

Jacob was victorious because he didn’t give up.  Knowing he was wrestling with God, Jacob refused to let go.

“Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26 NIV)

We can’t let go of God.  When we are deep in misery, pray “Hope, not despair.”  Three words that can help you cling to God, reminding you of Jesus.  God knows your pain; He sees your hurt.  Whatever you are going through, God is going through it with you.  Hold tight; the morning is coming.  Darkness doesn’t last forever, only for a time.

My last night of the soul wasn’t that long ago.  An unexpected event sent me spiraling.  I spent a sleepless night crying out to God, feeling no relief.  But I didn’t let go; I held tight to my Creator, knowing He is where my hope is.  Daylight did come; my soul received comfort as I clung to God.

Cling to God amid your pain.  Hold tight to the One who is in control.  Draw closer to God as He comforts your soul.

Lord, thank You for never letting go of us.  Forgive us for not holding on to You.  Help us through our dark nights of the soul.  Let light penetrate the darkness and give us hope.  Draw us closer to You as we wrestle with You.  In all things, the glory is Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How does your faith give you hope?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 52 GW; Psalms 74 GW; Lamentations 1 GW

God decorates.

We hang pictures on the wall; God hangs the sun and moon. 

Years ago, I did an apologetics class, learning how to defend the Bible.  Our teacher was a rocket scientist working for NASA at the time.  Using scripture, he explained how the Earth is set perfectly in place.  If our planet tilted minutely from its current position, the Earth couldn’t sustain life.  I’ve never forgotten his teachings, in awe of God’s precision.

Job 9:6, “Who moveth the Earth from its place…” inspired Galileo to discover our planet isn’t sedentary.  Up until that point, the church believed the Earth was stationary and the universe revolved around it.  Galileo invented telescopes and discovered the opposite; the Earth revolves around the sun.  For his discovery, Galileo spent the last nine years of his life on house arrest.  The church convicted him of heresy, a belief contrary to religious doctrine.

Funny how the early church thought the sun revolved around the Earth.  I’m certainly guilty of thinking the world revolves around me.  But neither of those statements are true.  The Earth revolves around the sun; God is the center of the world.

Revolve around God.

Life is a never-ending journey.  Putting God in the center of the circle makes life much more enjoyable.   Our perspective is limited, God’s infinite.  He wants so much more for our lives than we can even imagine.  But if we’re only thinking of ourselves, we’ll miss out on what God has for us.

Allow scripture to inspire your imagination.  Let God lead you into discoveries you never imagined.  Just like Galileo was amazed by the magnificence of the sun and moon, feel his wonder.  Meditate on God’s precision in hanging the stars:

“God hung the stars in the sky-the Dipper, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south.” (Job 9 GNT)

When you look at the sun and moon, remember God.  Think about the precision He used in creating our world.  Watch a sunrise or sunset.   Your doubts of God’s existence will vanish when you gaze upon His wondrous decorations.

Lord, thank You for decorating our world with such beauty.  Forgive us for taking it for granted.  As we experience life today, let us not forget what You have done for us.  Without Your precision, the Earth couldn’t sustain us.  Thank You for giving us such a beautiful home.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

When was the last time you looked at the stars in wonder?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 50-51 GW; Psalms 137 GW

God rocks!

Seriously, stand outside on a clear night and count the stars.  Watch the sunrise bring light into the world.  Listen to ocean waves as they lap against the shoreline.  Hold a newborn baby and witness the miracle of life.  God made all of these things without any of our help.  And He did it with words:

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.” (Psalm 33:6 ESV)

One of the most miraculous things God created is the human body.  Not a doctor, the workings of our inner system amaze me.  We take, on average, 23,000 breaths a day.  Our hearts beat 100,000 times in one day, which is around 35 million times in a year.  Yet, we do nothing to make them work.  God designed us as resilient beings that heal from the wounds we encounter.  Our immune systems fight off things we don’t even know exist.  All while we walk through our days, oblivious to the inner workings of our bodies.  

God is life.

Without God, we wouldn’t exist.  He puts breath in our lungs and heals our wounds.  As a clumsy person, I often find myself suffering from a minor cut or bruise.  Instantly, our body begins to heal.  One moment we’re cut and bleeding; within days, the body forms a protective covering, then works diligently to restore the hurt—all part of God’s design for our lives.

God created the universe; then He placed you in it.  Where you live, who you interact with each day are part of a larger narrative.  Your purpose on earth is one no one else can accomplish.  God placed you in His story, at this time and place, to fulfill your mission. 

“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  (Esther 4:14 ESV)

God is amazing.  He does everything with intention.  You are part of His story.  God’s narrative never ends; eternity is forever.

Lord, thank You for creating us.  Forgive us for taking for granted the work You do for us daily.  Help us remember today Your sovereignty in our lives.  Every breath we take is a reason to praise You.  Let us worship in wander today at Your glorious works.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has God amazed you lately?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Psalms 123 GW; Jeremiah 48-49 GW

God gives peace.

Trusting God when life is tough requires conscious effort.  We have to remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty.  What looks like a disaster to us doesn’t look the same to God.  When things aren’t going my way, maybe they are.  We think life is pitiful, but God doesn’t.  God never loses control; nothing happens that He doesn’t know.  

One of the most poignant posts I read on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 was about the people who weren’t in the towers.  People whose alarm clock didn’t go off or had a flat tire on the way to the office didn’t lose their lives because of their unexpected issues.  One man stopped to buy band-aids because he was dealing with blisters on his feet.   Various “annoyances” prevented them from getting to work on time; and saved their lives. 

Comfort isn’t God’s number one goal for our lives; growth is.  In America, we live better than anyone else in the world.  We have freedoms no other country offers. Our forefathers created a system with checks and balances that still stand today.  Our pampered lifestyle isn’t one Jesus enjoyed.

Count the blessings.

Next time you attend a pity party for yourself, remember your blessings.  Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, thank God for what you do.  First and foremost, you have Jesus.  He loves you so much; He died for you.  And Jesus didn’t live in comfort.  He never owned a home, drove a car, or enjoyed a Starbucks latte.  Jesus didn’t sleep on a temperpedic mattress or wear expensive walking shoes.  No, Jesus rested on the ground and wore sandals that didn’t do much to protect his feet.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You.” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

Stay steadfast with the Lord.  He does take pity on our circumstances.  However, God’s view and ours differ.  What we think is terrible isn’t.  Only with time can we see the truth.  

Lord, thank You for taking pity on us.  Forgive us for thinking our circumstances are worst than they are.  Help us to focus on our blessings, remaining steadfast in You.  When our hearts need encouragement, give us the boost we need.  All glory is Yours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How are you remaining steadfast in God?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Jeremiah 44-45 GW; Psalms 13 GW

Trust God’s mercy.

People think God can’t forgive them because whatever sin they’ve committed is too big.  If you are genuinely sorry for your misdeed and ask God for mercy, He forgives.  God understands our human nature better than we do. 

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15 NIV) 

Like a horse to water, some things are inevitable.  Battling our sinful nature is one of them.  Struggling against the temptations of life is never-ending.  Lately, God is working on my language.  Recently, my opportunities to say the wrong thing seem constant.  Watching the words that come out of my mouth requires effort.  Sometimes, I put my hand over my mouth to keep myself from rising to the bait.  

Sometimes I fail miserably, damaging relationships.  When those times happen, I trust God’s mercy, not only for myself but the situation.  My faith gives me hope God will repair the damage and restore the connection because of His love and compassion.  

God’s power, not ours.

Trusting God’s mercy means relying on His power.  When we require grace, we can’t provide it for ourselves.  We must trust God will provide the compassion we need.  What we’re unable to do for ourselves, God does for us.  And that should bring you relief.

God rights our wrongs.  He fixes our messes.  Align your heart with His.  Check the motives of your actions.  God looks at our reasons, not our blunders.  If we’re doing something with the right intentions, God honors our efforts.  Because He knows us intimately, God knows what we truly need: His love and mercy.

Believe today in God’s mercy for yourself.  Forgive yourself, knowing God already has.  Feel joy at the freedom which comes from God’s unconditional love.  Nothing you do can separate you from God’s love.  Breath a sigh of relief today.  Rest in God’s love and mercy, knowing they never end.

Lord, thank You for Your unending love and mercy for us.  Forgive us for our unbelief.  As we move through our day, help us believe from the bottom of our soul in Your mercy.  Create in us a new heart, overflowing with Your grace and mercy.  Let us share the gift You’ve given us with everyone we meet.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What do you think God can’t forgive you for today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 41-43 GW; Hebrews 13 GW

Love brings joy.

Acts of love don’t bring regret like acts of hatred do.  The two emotions on opposite ends of the spectrum motivate action.  You have a choice which feeling you’re going to follow.  Actively choosing to continue loving people, even when they cause you pain is the right choice.  How you love them is the question.

Boundaries in relationships create good health.  Some of my relationships are distant; some are close.   Unhealthy people can’t have healthy relationships. Only when they do the work to become healthy will, their connections become more vital.  Most people don’t want to make an effort.  Even if you’re becoming healthier, they aren’t.  Therefore, those boundaries require more space.

Establishing boundaries helps you love joyfully.  Don’t take offense if people don’t respond the way you think they should.  Placing expectations on people they never agreed to leads to heartache.  Love expecting nothing in return.  Experience the joy that comes from loving hard-to-love people.  The truth is, we’re all hard to love at times.

Love on Repeat.

Following Jesus means constant loving.  Jesus never stops loving us; we’re not to stop loving Him and others.  Every day is a new opportunity to strengthen your love muscle.  How people respond isn’t your responsibility, but you do control your actions.  As my mother always said, “You’re the one who has to sleep with yourself.”  I sleep much better knowing I have a clear conscience and did my best to love others well.

No one is perfect.  We all falter in the love category from time to time.  When that happens, give yourself grace.  Then try again.  Seek God’s guidance as you love His children.  After all, no one knows His flock like our heavenly Father.  When God prompts you to act in love, do so quickly.  Don’t waste a moment.  Joy doesn’t come until after the act.

Over and over again, love.  If people resist, love harder.  All of us crave the unconditional love God offers.  Share what God gave you with others.  Experience His heavenly joy.

Lord, as always, you Rock.  Thank You for loving us so well.  Forgive us for not loving others when we had the chance.  Help us today do better.  Time and again, let us, love.  May those around us know us for our love.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

Who can you love today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 38-40 GW; Hebrews 12 GW

Don’t quit.

Life will make you want to stop trying.  Whether you’re struggling with relationship issues, health issues, or financial issues, they can exhaust.  Beating your head against a wall gets old quickly.  When your efforts seem to no avail, quitting seems like the best option, but it never is.

Job waited for 38 chapters before God spoke to him.  After losing everything but his wife, Job sat in his misery and grief for seven days, not saying a word.  Surrounded by friends, when they finally spoke, their words weren’t helpful.  Finally, God speaks and restores Job’s life.  But Job had to go through the dark days.  Throughout his pain, Job didn’t sin.  His love for God is unfailing.

Hang on for the blessing.  Don’t let the tough days discourage you.  Remember, our reward is in heaven, not here on earth:

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14 NIV)

Pain and love comingle.

With love comes pain.  Just this morning, I saw a post where a friend lost her beloved pet.  Part of owning dogs is understanding; their life span isn’t as long as ours.  Quickly, our furry friends become part of the family.  When they die, the pain is deep.  But if we didn’t have the love, we wouldn’t feel the pain.   We can’t avoid one if we’re to have the other.

Whatever pain you’re feeling today, allow yourself to experience the emotion.  Sit in your grief and sadness, processing the emotion.  Then move through the pain with Jesus.  Allow Him to shoulder your hurts, putting on his yoke.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 NIV)

Instead of quitting, turn to Jesus.  Lay your heart open before Him.  Tell Him of your pain.  Empty yourself of the hurts.  Allow God to fill your soul with His love.  In God, find the strength to keep going. As you do, your faith will mature.

Lord, thank You for never giving up on us.  Forgive us for wanting to quit.  Help us persevere through the trials we face.  Give us peace in the storm.  When we need encouragement, encourage.  Help us keep moving towards our heavenly reward.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What area of your life are you struggling not to quit?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 36-37 GW; Hebrews 11 GW

Air is unseen.

You have faith whether you think you do or not.  Everyone living today believes oxygen exists, even though they can’t see it.  Without O2, we can’t live. Each breath you take is one of faith, believing oxygen is present, filling your lungs, supporting your life.   Faith believes what is unseen.

Taking steps of faith means moving forward even though you don’t know what is ahead.  Trusting, as you journey along, no matter how slowly, God is with you.  Pain is something that comes with love.  If we didn’t care deeply for other people, the pain wouldn’t exist.  God wants us to trust Him with our wounds, crying out to Him in the depths of pain.   Our most powerful prayers are the shortest, “Lord, help me!”  God will if you let Him.

Open your heart.

Believing in the Creator requires opening your heart to things unseen.  Never will you understand everything that happens in this life.  Pain is part of the journey; learning to deal with it healthily helps us move forward.  Instead of running from the hurts in life, move towards them.  Acknowledge the dark places that exist in all of us, then give them to God.  Let Him bear your heartache for you, comforting in ways only God can.

In my most painful times of life, I’ve turned to God’s word.  When my mom experienced emergency surgery to save her life, I remember reading my Bible by her bed.  When the pastor walked into the room, that was what I was doing.  Only by burying myself in God could I find His peace in dire circumstances.  God always shows up.  My habit of turning to the Bible started in my twenties.  Even though I wasn’t attending church or actively pursuing a relationship with God, I’d open the Bible and start reading when times got tough.  During my flight attendant days, I praised God for the Gideons, who placed Bibles in hotels.  I used them often.

Trust in what you can’t see.  God is with you.  His plan is unfolding in your life.

Lord, thank You for always surrounding us.  Forgive us for doubting.  Today, as we face the devil’s ploys, let us not doubt.  Give us faith to overcome any obstacle.  Our lives are Yours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How are you believing in the unseen today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Jeremiah 34-35 GW; Hebrews 10 GW

God is the ultimate author.

Our actions come from our thoughts.  We either capture our thoughts, or they capture us.  When God writes His thoughts into ours, He gains control.  The bottom line is this, God’s word never comes back void.  When we are obedient to God, He blesses our efforts.

One of my favorite memories from my days at Nautica happened in the first year.  At a training, a few of us were enjoying the weather, sitting on the front porch of our hotel.  In Miami, we were oceanfront.  My roommate brought up faith, asking the group what our thoughts were on God.  Immediately, this verse ran through my mind:

“But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny in heaven.”  (Matthew 10:33 ESV)

New on the job, not knowing any of these people; I couldn’t believe the situation.  Still young in my adult walk with the Lord, I didn’t feel equipped to talk about Jesus.  But I knew I couldn’t lie because God would know.

Embrace the message.

Standing in a crowd, I felt very alone, but I cared more about what God thought than man.  When my turn came to answer the question, I said: “I love Jesus.”  What happened next was a moment I’ll never forget.  Tracy, who quickly became a friend, started preaching the gospel.  “Amen,” he said, “My aunt thinks I’m lost, but I ain’t lost. Jesus found me a long time ago.”

Let God write on your hearts and minds.  Spend time memorizing the passages that speak to your soul the most.  We’re all different.  The verses that speak to me may not you, that’s ok.  Life is best when we become who we’re meant to become and allow others to do the same.  The more pages God fills in You, the more your life will blossom.

Let God’s word lead your actions.  Replace your thoughts with His. Bloom today. 

Lord, thank You for writing Your will on our lives.  Forgive us for constantly trying to force our agenda.  As we move through the day, let us follow Your promptings closely.  Control our thoughts with Your word.  Give us courage when we need it.  Let us honor You in all things.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has God helped You with His word?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Jeremiah 32-33 GW; Hebrews 9 GW

Big is small.

Nothing is too big for God; we’re the ones who think it is.  Our tragedies overwhelm us, knocking us off our feet like a tidal wave.  The sheer enormity of the situation, from our perspective, is more than God can handle.  But that’s not true.  Our huge is God’s tiny.  Just because something is difficult for us to understand doesn’t mean it’s not a reality.

In our weekly prayer component, we talked about patience in suffering:

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand”. James 5:7-8 ESV

God is working in your situation.  If I were a betting woman, I’d say God probably isn’t doing things the way you want.   God is God; we’re not.  Accomplishing things in His way is God’s forte.  We answer to God; He doesn’t answer to us.

Trust and relax.

Where we landed on our discussion of patience is acceptance.  We must accept God is in control; we’re not.  

Coaching kids, every class has a high-energy child who likes to test the limits.  When I encounter such a soul, I always establish boundaries.  If the student is trying to hi-jack the class, I say the same thing.  First, I’ll get their attention by saying their name; then, I’ll ask them this question, “Who is the coach?”  Typically, that’s all I need to do to remind them; I’m in control, you’re not.

God does the same for us.  Through our circumstances, God reminds us who He is.  What is impossible for us is possible for Him.  Nothing is too big for our God.  Without a doubt, God’s plan is unfolding, one day at a time.  

Trust the plan.  Relax knowing God’s in control. 

Lord, how grateful we are You’re in control.  Forgive us for constantly trying to take the reigns from You.  Help us today become better versions of ourselves as we trust You.  Let us relax, knowing You have our best interests at heart.  In all things, You receive the glory.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What problem in your life do you think is too big for God?