Getting a Grip When it all hurts Part 1 040114
1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. [11] To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Wonderful words of encouragement and admonition. But what do you do with it when it all hurts, when there is no sense of hope although you know there is a reason to? What do you do when you read this and walk away empty and hollow?
First you realize that Satan will do all he can to create that hollowness and deepen it. Whether through the world or the flesh he will use every means he can to deepen your despair. We're not cut out to fight him ourselves but we must call upon - cry out for God to save us from this sense of hopeless sinking. We must let God fight that battle for us and that is not easy.
Satan will do everything in his power to cast you down and to crush you. One of his ploys is to isolate you from the Body. We all know that in times of trouble people seem to withdraw, run, move away not wanting to be too close to the one in distress. Now we can't blame them and we also know that we withdraw as well. We, for whatever reason (shame, embarrassment even fear) want to hide away and curl up in a ball and disappear.
Satan wants us to be isolated - he doesn't hunt the herd but rather the solitary and wounded. So when you are wounded and in despair it is making the situation worse if you curl in a ball in a corner.
Satan also wants to chase us into greater distress. That's why he is roaring. He wants us to run from him to where the rest of the pride is. The pride is in the deep grass waiting for us to run into the middle of them so they may take us down. We must not run. We must slowly move in a safe direction and the only one who can show us that safe direction is God.
Satan also wants to get us to murmur - to complain about God as the Israelites did in the wilderness. He wants us to complain about God and His treatment of us. He wants us to deny God's goodness, His lovingkindness, His whole character. He wants us to accuse God of wrong doing, of meanness, of hard heartedness or the typical - He's not fair.
All this and more Satan desires to do. It is very very hard to stand in the face of a roaring lion but by the grace and power of God, we must. Like Daniel we must stand among the hungry beasts and trust in God. We must by the grace and mercy of God resist running - resist isolation - resist shame - resist murmuring.
None of us are the only believers who suffer. Some suffer more and some less but suffering is suffering and when we are suffering ours is the only one we feel. But Peter seems to indicate that knowing that we are not the only ones who suffer will be of benefit to us. That's a hard thing but a true thing. God is at work in the lives of countless believers and we should praise Him for that fact. The starving, the oppressed, the persecuted are all trusting Him for so much more than the rest of us and they are holding fast - they've got a grip - faith.
Faith - faith that He can relieve us of our suffering. Faith that it is meant for His glory. Faith that it is meant for our good. Faith that even if it kills us, as it does many, we will then be with Him, at peace and forever without suffering.
Heaven is not a consolation prize for those whose suffering kills them. Heaven is the glorious reward that awaits those who are His and barring His coming prior to, death is the ony way to heaven.
I'll write more on this passage as I am able - but have faith my friends God is with you and for you - He wants to display His glory through, in and by your circumstances. It is hard - at times is seems hopeless but I have to ask myself: For what am I really hoping, treasuer here or treasure there? The comfort of the world or the comfort of His grace. It is a real battle - get a grip on His truth and providence and do not let go.
Showing posts with label shame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shame. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Friday, February 14, 2014
Trusting God - Or? 021414
Jesus tells that we will trust either God or Mammon (Money). And who of us could dispute that truth? For better or ill we need money to live in this fallen world and we are subject to all the schemes and machinations of our economy devised by men and women for whom Mammon if indeed God.
We do foolish things when it comes to money and we do make mistakes. We take bad advise and well - we sin. And so money (for both needs and debt) looms large in our vision and can preoccupy our prayers.
It's all too easy to see Mammon as an answer - and we have to admit sometimes it is. But how do we pray for that answer - and whom we pray to for that answer is critical.
Fred has been out of work for a year. He and his wife squeak by on what she earns and the kindness of both friends and strangers. They worry and fret. They are embarrassed and convicted. They have erred and sinned when it comes to money.
How do we encourage them? How do we direct them to pray. Fred needs a job - they need money - what do we say, what do we do?
Encouraging them to pray for God's provision is a "Yeah duh." But they struggle with constantly praying for money. They feel they are using God like and ATM and they do not want to. They fear imposing upon friends and ruining relationships. They are embarrassed and to some extent ashamed. The "brave faces" they put on often crack and become scowls and frowns of shame.
They wonder why God should make up for their errors and their sins with material blessings. They struggle with bartering with God about what they will do if He come to their relief. They struggle becasue their prayers seem inundated with their needs to the exclusion of other more important things.
What to we tell them, what do we do?
Are their prayers for financial relief actually prayers to Mammon? They sometimes feel they are? Though God provides for them daily and friends and strangers do what they can to help they still struggle with trust even in the face of provision
They know that God is providing but as we all know, looming future needs can force their way into our hearts and blot out that present gratitude with fear and axiousness.
Are they trusting God "Or" are the trusting someone or something else. They think of some who could relieve their distress either by helping Fred find work of by directly addressing their debt. They find themselves trying to figure out how God can fix the problem and they even sometimes feel that God expects then to fix it their own.
As Fred's wife says, she struggles, " I know God CAN provide, I struggle with IF He WILL provide." This is so very common especially when we look at the circumstances as the consequences of of our sin. We ask, "Why should I ask God to clean up my mess?" "Why should I expect or even ask Him to undo the consequences of my sin?"
Prayer can be tough in tough times. The world condemns, Satan raises our failures and sows doubts and the flesh wants to have a pity party or just give up.
Perhaps - just perhaps the safest prayer we could ever pray - regardless of the situation is, "God have mercy on me, a sinner."
When it comes to tough times and the assaults we suffer in them we tend to "pray to the hurt" instead of praying as we ought. It's a fight but a fight worth the effort.
But still the question remains, "Am I trusting God for money or am I asking God for money to trust in."
We do foolish things when it comes to money and we do make mistakes. We take bad advise and well - we sin. And so money (for both needs and debt) looms large in our vision and can preoccupy our prayers.
It's all too easy to see Mammon as an answer - and we have to admit sometimes it is. But how do we pray for that answer - and whom we pray to for that answer is critical.
Fred has been out of work for a year. He and his wife squeak by on what she earns and the kindness of both friends and strangers. They worry and fret. They are embarrassed and convicted. They have erred and sinned when it comes to money.
How do we encourage them? How do we direct them to pray. Fred needs a job - they need money - what do we say, what do we do?
Encouraging them to pray for God's provision is a "Yeah duh." But they struggle with constantly praying for money. They feel they are using God like and ATM and they do not want to. They fear imposing upon friends and ruining relationships. They are embarrassed and to some extent ashamed. The "brave faces" they put on often crack and become scowls and frowns of shame.
They wonder why God should make up for their errors and their sins with material blessings. They struggle with bartering with God about what they will do if He come to their relief. They struggle becasue their prayers seem inundated with their needs to the exclusion of other more important things.
What to we tell them, what do we do?
Are their prayers for financial relief actually prayers to Mammon? They sometimes feel they are? Though God provides for them daily and friends and strangers do what they can to help they still struggle with trust even in the face of provision
They know that God is providing but as we all know, looming future needs can force their way into our hearts and blot out that present gratitude with fear and axiousness.
Are they trusting God "Or" are the trusting someone or something else. They think of some who could relieve their distress either by helping Fred find work of by directly addressing their debt. They find themselves trying to figure out how God can fix the problem and they even sometimes feel that God expects then to fix it their own.
As Fred's wife says, she struggles, " I know God CAN provide, I struggle with IF He WILL provide." This is so very common especially when we look at the circumstances as the consequences of of our sin. We ask, "Why should I ask God to clean up my mess?" "Why should I expect or even ask Him to undo the consequences of my sin?"
Prayer can be tough in tough times. The world condemns, Satan raises our failures and sows doubts and the flesh wants to have a pity party or just give up.
Perhaps - just perhaps the safest prayer we could ever pray - regardless of the situation is, "God have mercy on me, a sinner."
When it comes to tough times and the assaults we suffer in them we tend to "pray to the hurt" instead of praying as we ought. It's a fight but a fight worth the effort.
But still the question remains, "Am I trusting God for money or am I asking God for money to trust in."
Friday, January 31, 2014
The Hell of Melacholy
I'll make no pretense at pretty words and no effort to edit this. Today I am in the hell of melacholy.
It's a tough place to be as many many of you know. It's cold and dark and the sense of utter isolation is terrifying. But at's not the worst of it.
The worst of it is the utter obsession with one's self. I've found that all my prayers, all my thoughts, all my cries are about me---my---mine. what I have not and what I want -- what need and the overwhelming sense of those needs.
But the hell is this - imagine someone unwashed, smelly, curled in a ball in a dark corner whinning for help. Unable and unwilling to do anything for themselves. Not knowing what to do and believing that no matter what they do it won't matter.
Now imagine that's you. That's how you see yourself and that's how you fear others will see you. You're pathetic and weak. An object of scorn and rejection. That's how you see you and how you sense others would see you if you let them.
Melacholy, for me, is like being sucked under by quicksand but not wanting to bother anyone or ask for help becasue they'll just find you wimpy and irritating.
You want to do something but you just know it will fail. You sense your responsibility for at least part of your circumstnces and it feels like it's all your fault. You know better than anyone else ever could how you've contributed to where you are at and it feel like you and you alone are onky to blame.
Yes, you may even want to be dead - but them you sense that you're already dead - just unburied. You see sense no purpose for your life and yet you fight to find one.
Hanging on by the skin of your teeth is a very appropriate way to see it. but them comes the sense that there's nothing to hold on to.
OK - don"t freak. Anyne who has been on the hell of melacholy has thought avbout ending it all. You really can't avoid those thoughts. But fortunately, for most of us, even that seems purposeless.
You identify so closely with the lepers in the Bible. Regardless of the pity, encouragement, etc. Others ffer, you are still a leper - unclean - unfit - to be avoided.
When in the depth of melacholy even the most genuine act of kindness hurts. You're ashamed to need it - you're ashamed to accept it - you're ashamed - completely.
I'll quit now - rant over - but probably more to come. There is a very real hell and then there's the hell of melacholy -
Have I touched something in you? Wanna talk? Wanna share the rant ith others? Feel free -- contact me at sheepdog.ms@gmail.com.
I plan to continue to try to say all that we folks afflicted with melacholy want to say but never do - or if we do it's not understood. Like - I was late starting my day today, my safe routine was ruptured and I felk myself sinking deeper - just 30 minutes crushed me - that's melacholy.
It's a blessing too though - without it I would never has seen just how self-serving and self-seeking and selfish my heart can really be.
Prayers are welcome - comments too --------
Best regards -
Michael
It's a tough place to be as many many of you know. It's cold and dark and the sense of utter isolation is terrifying. But at's not the worst of it.
The worst of it is the utter obsession with one's self. I've found that all my prayers, all my thoughts, all my cries are about me---my---mine. what I have not and what I want -- what need and the overwhelming sense of those needs.
But the hell is this - imagine someone unwashed, smelly, curled in a ball in a dark corner whinning for help. Unable and unwilling to do anything for themselves. Not knowing what to do and believing that no matter what they do it won't matter.
Now imagine that's you. That's how you see yourself and that's how you fear others will see you. You're pathetic and weak. An object of scorn and rejection. That's how you see you and how you sense others would see you if you let them.
Melacholy, for me, is like being sucked under by quicksand but not wanting to bother anyone or ask for help becasue they'll just find you wimpy and irritating.
You want to do something but you just know it will fail. You sense your responsibility for at least part of your circumstnces and it feels like it's all your fault. You know better than anyone else ever could how you've contributed to where you are at and it feel like you and you alone are onky to blame.
Yes, you may even want to be dead - but them you sense that you're already dead - just unburied. You see sense no purpose for your life and yet you fight to find one.
Hanging on by the skin of your teeth is a very appropriate way to see it. but them comes the sense that there's nothing to hold on to.
OK - don"t freak. Anyne who has been on the hell of melacholy has thought avbout ending it all. You really can't avoid those thoughts. But fortunately, for most of us, even that seems purposeless.
You identify so closely with the lepers in the Bible. Regardless of the pity, encouragement, etc. Others ffer, you are still a leper - unclean - unfit - to be avoided.
When in the depth of melacholy even the most genuine act of kindness hurts. You're ashamed to need it - you're ashamed to accept it - you're ashamed - completely.
I'll quit now - rant over - but probably more to come. There is a very real hell and then there's the hell of melacholy -
Have I touched something in you? Wanna talk? Wanna share the rant ith others? Feel free -- contact me at sheepdog.ms@gmail.com.
I plan to continue to try to say all that we folks afflicted with melacholy want to say but never do - or if we do it's not understood. Like - I was late starting my day today, my safe routine was ruptured and I felk myself sinking deeper - just 30 minutes crushed me - that's melacholy.
It's a blessing too though - without it I would never has seen just how self-serving and self-seeking and selfish my heart can really be.
Prayers are welcome - comments too --------
Best regards -
Michael
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