Withdraw

When danger is imminent, or life is in peril, some animals and shellfish will pull their head back into their shell or body. It’s a natural safety mechanism which the great Creator designed into their being to protect against predators. We humans can’t physically do that, but in times of stress, loss or danger, we certainly do withdraw from the normal activities of everyday life.

A friend lost his wife too early. As a couple they were always together. The standing joke was, if you are looking for one of them, try to see where the other one might be. You can imagine then that the loss was felt deeply by the grieving person, now left on his own. His sister was heard to observe, “he’ll just retreat into himself, and withdraw”. She was right. Just like the tortoise who pulls his head inside his shell, figuratively speaking, this man also pulled his head inside his body for self protection.

We withdraw for another good reason too. Trouble doesn’t only come in a physical form. It can be through an emotional hurt, or someone you love and respect turning out to be less than you had thought. They had fallen off their perch, or maybe we had put them on a pedestal, but whichever it was, it affected you and the trust you had placed in them. The most striking example is the breakdown of a relationship or marriage, but it can also and easily be as simple as a little ‘white’ lie from a friend which had serious repercussions within your own life, or a strongly held and opposing point of view.

It can be safer to keep your head down, otherwise you could lose it. In the words of the old (not Biblical) proverb, “fools rush in where angels fear to tread”!

The Journey - Fearful

Not all journeys are carefree. Take those who decide to cross a hot barren desert on foot? Or those who stretch themselves to their limits of endurance by swimming the channel? What about mountaineers who are always looking for the next challenge? Then there are the really crazy folks who go on an adventure headlong from bridge to valley by bungee jumping? In every one of these events there is an element of fear. Some greater than others, but the fear is there and that is what drives them on to greater risks.

Our faith journey is not always straightforward. There are times when we have to step out in a great act of faith the likes of which we have never thought possible before. A new job. Are we up to the challenge of our environment and will our testimony remain? Illness or disease takes hold, and the outlook is not good. Are we able for the unknowns which must lie ahead? Embarking on a marriage to someone you love dearly, but how can I measure up to the job spec of spouse, friend, homemaker, breadwinner, parent? I don’t know any newlywed who not only starts out excited, but also fearful because they have not walked this path before.

I am amazed at the number of times Jesus said to his disciples, “Fear not”. They needed it, and so we too need to hear it today. “Fear not” the illness, the new job, the role of husband or wife, I can hear Him say. Our heads know God is greater than our problems, but it needs to drop that all important and essential 10 inches into our heart.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

A Worried Christian?

Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Matthew 6:25 (AMP)

I have heard it said and preached that we shouldn’t worry or be anxious about anything, because it shows a doubting heart, and that you don’t trust God. I would agree with the verse which talks clearly about things like food, drink and clothing. But what about people? Are we not all, every one of us, worried about our friends and family? Worried to the point of being distressed as we watch them grow and enter a world they don’t know anything about.

Can I kindly suggest that it does not show a distrust in God when we are concerned, and yes anxious about our parents, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers or friends. It does not show a disbelief in the power of our God. When we pray, do we not weep for them? Would we not rather any harm would come to us, than to them? Sometimes our grief is measured by the measure of our love. The more we love, the more we grieve, and yes worry.

Can I let you into a secret? There is no age limit to this kind of concern. A parent will always worry for and about their children and grandchildren, no matter how well things would appear to be going. Sometimes the worry is contained easily behind a smile and a laugh. But sometimes that anxiety fills the praying heart, and spills out of the eyes in unwelcome, unusual, hot salty tears when no one except God sees or would ever know or understand. That’s a parent’s love, and there is nothing like it from the baby’s birth to the grandparent’s grave. As tough as it is, I wouldn’t change the gift of that role or responsibility for anything.

We Can Certainly Do It

We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. Numbers 13:30

We are surrounded by good friends who would do anything to help in your time of need. When you look at them, they are in no fit state to help anyone, or so you think. But they step up where others step back, and put their shoulder to the wheel and set themselves against the job to be done. That, my friend, is selfless.

Have you ever noticed that they usually are the ones who seem weak, with enough of their own issues, and least able or likely to help, but are the true friends who, with a broad grin will lend that ungrudging helping hand? I have seen it first hand, and the images don’t go away.

I have taken a liberty with the text, and used bold and underline colour to highlight and make my point. As I become older and have seen more of life, it has occurred to me that people who have their own serious struggles have an outlook which is at odds with their condition. Or so we think. They don’t see it that way. When you are faced with the brevity of life, it all takes on new meaning. There is nothing to prove now. You don’t have to feel obliged. Faith is real and unquestioned. All the minor problems of faith don’t count, because you now know without any shadow of doubt, what is true. And more importantly, Who is true. Jesus Christ is the author of their faith, it is no longer theory, and they KNOW it. Be thankful for the Spirit of God you see plainly in the hearts and lives of those who battle any serious illness, and we all know some who will give their best for the sake of others, and their Saviour. It’s the least they can do. I know it and you do too! The Word of God has echoed their sentiment clearly.

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2

Trump-ed

As a family, we were fortunate to live in the USA for some time, over a period of years and in three different States, in the north, east and south. My work took us there and we enjoyed the experience of meeting new people, making friends, some of whom are still in touch, and getting to know and understand our cultural differences. None of that was a problem, maybe in part because we put our roots down into the local churches where we were placed. Most Americans are not loud, opinionated or arrogant. In fact it was easy to like them and be in their company. Talking about politics wasn’t even an issue, because although there were many differing opinions expressed, nothing got in the way of acceptance or friendships. Our last work assignment ended in 1991.

Scroll forward some 25 years, and I don’t recognise the general tone of US society and politics as reported during this run up to November 2016 when the American people will  democratically elect their next president. You would have to be a hermit to have missed the loud, aggressive candidates who are standing, and their supporters. My own recollections just a few years ago, are that debates were open, good and strong, but never personal. Something has changed.

Permit me the openness to say that the speeches and rhetoric of the present candidates who are hoping to become the unchallenged leader of the free world, are nothing short of school playground antics. I watch as the front runner of the Republican party hides behind bar room brawl talk. The kind of stuff that would only be allowed when you are drunk, and among your ‘own’ kind. Trump is a charlatan, who seems to have enough supporters who share his pub lounge antics, to get elected. If Trump is short on integrity, then Clinton is short on truth. She has not been open and honest with the nation she would aspire to lead, and is very short on credibility. Bernie Sanders is still an unknown, but he is viewed as an outsider who may just overtake the Democratic ‘favourite’.

So, the world outside the USA watches and holds their breath while a nomination circus spectacle takes place. The end result scares anyone who watches and follows with interest. Candidates with a chequered and coloured history fight it out to be the most powerful person in the free world. My questions are these: Is this the best of the country’s good people? I don’t think so. My second question, and possibly more significant: How did it come to this in the most democratic country in the world? My third question, and certainly the most significant: Do those many ‘good people’ within the USA care about the worldwide  consequences? We watch. We wait. We wonder. We worry.

Evil into Good

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Genesis 50:20,21

The old saying goes, “Bad things happen to good people” and how true. I’m sure bad things have happened to you, but I wonder how we cope and react as Christians? Bad things take many forms from sudden poverty, loss of employment, serious illness, and even the death of a loved one. Christians are not immune, no matter what the so called prosperity gospel preachers tell us.

Joseph had it bad. Hated by his brothers, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned for years, forgotten by those he had helped. Joseph had every reason to believe that God had abandoned him, but somehow he held on to his faith until he came out the other end of his long dark tunnel. The end of the story sees Joseph reunited with the brothers who had hated him, thrown him into a pit, and sold him to a travelling group. I’m not sure what I would have done, but Joseph was overjoyed, and wept.

He knew the bad stuff had happened for a purpose, and he recognised that reason when it came, even though it was many years later. The lesson is clear. When bad things happen, and we think God has left us alone, hang in there because there will come a time when God will turn things around, and in doing so reveal His eternal plan for your good. Our problem is that we want the answer right away, so how long are we prepared to wait for God to intervene in our broken life? Sadly, we might give up before God’s plan unfolds fully, so let’s determine to stay the course and “wait patiently before the Lord” Psalm 37:7.

Fear or Faith?

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18 NKJV

Perfect love is faith at its most supreme, and most sublime. Perfect love is the goal every Christian should aspire to, and never lose the drive for its excellence. There are clever men and women who will debate whether we can achieve it in this life, or if we have to wait until our life in Heaven, but from this short verse, one thing is certain, even to the less educated among us. Faith or fear, but you can’t have both. They are mutually exclusive.

Imagine a balance scale, with Faith on one side, and Fear on the other. As you add to the Faith side, the Fear side gets lighter, and vice versa. It is extremely difficult to get a 50:50 balance on the Christian life between these two feelings, so we are encouraged by the apostle John to make sure we use Perfect Love to eliminate Fear. Is this possible? If it is in the Word of God, it is not only possible, it is to be our goal, and yes it can be achieved.

The battlefield of Fear and Faith is best demonstrated when a crisis happens. It can be in a hospital room, or a school classroom, or even in a church among friends. It is best explained as that feeling of being cared for more by your loving God, than the fear which the devil puts in our heart. Easy? No way. Possible? Yes, and is our best refuge in a time of crisis. Ask any Christian who has been there, and don’t take the word of someone who may mean well, but has not shared the experience of having to act with fear, but in spite of it, use their faith.

Dragons

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matt 6:34 NKJV

The words, “Don’t worry” roll off the tongue easily sometimes. Too easily in fact. The truth is we all worry and get afraid, and even Christians are not exempt from it. Parents will use these words as a comfort to their children in an effort to ease their pain about something they have to face. The trouble is, if we are already a fearful and worrying person, they see it and the advice doesn’t help a whole lot.

Worry and fear go hand in hand. No matter how hard we try to lean on God’s promises, we go under to one or both of these feelings. There’s the thing, because both worry and fear are feelings. They are not tangible, and they don’t make us bleed. The pain they cause is brought on by our own emotions. If you look through the Bible, there are countless times the words “fear not” are recorded, so there must be a good reason for the words being repeated so often.

Our dragons love us to worry and fear. In fact they feed on them, and the more we worry and fear, the bigger our dragon grows. So, what is your dragon? You are human, so you will have them. They are not easy to face, and it can take some inner strength to handle them. I know what my dragons are, I know the biggest one, and it is a fight to see who wins sometimes. There are times when it is easier to let the dragon get the upper hand and win the day. I don’t always have the fight in me.

However, there are some real dragons out there, like: Nervousness with people you don’t know. Being in a place where you have to be close to a door. Meeting that insensitive person who will ask you the most direct and personal questions. Rejection. Illness. Bereavement. Depression. Loneliness. A wayward child. Which one is yours, and how do you face it, or do you try to ignore the dragon’s breath?

Let me share my idea of how best to slay that dragon. Find a friend you can trust totally, who will pray for you, and share your fears with them. You will almost certainly find out that you are not alone in your worry or fear, and that the Lord will allow that friendship to be the root cause of your victory over that fire breathing dragon. God has no hands but ours, and no heart but ours, and those friends He is gracious enough to put into our path. What better passage to finish with than this:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.1 John 4:18 NKJV