Up from the Depths of Despair

Have you ever been in despair? 

I don't mean have you ever been depressed, somehow that seems different to me.

I mean have you ever felt like the foundations of your life were dissolving?  That despite having good health and a strong mind everything you thought life would be about was wrong?  Experiencing emotional, relational, mental, or professional confusion and instability?

Fully energized, but with behavior breaking out in uncontrollable ways, like the body you thought you could trust was misleading your heart?

When everything you thought about yourself and the world seemed to come into question . . . . even what you thought you knew about God?

Have you known that kind of desperation?

I have. 

And it wasn't until I got to the end of my own rope that I called out in isolated and traumatized desperation. 

I called out to Jesus.  He answered me and showed me that I wasn't at the end of my rope, I was at the beginning of my journey . . . . my journey with Him. 

He pulled me back from the precipice and showed me there's so much depth I never could have reached by myself; so much love I could never have experienced on my own terms. 

And He's still showing me. 

Focus Scripture:  'I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech. Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand.'  Psalm 17:6-7

Go Ahead and Sweat It.

What makes you break a sweat?  It could be mild to intense physical exercise or mild to intense emotional stress. 

'Breaking a sweat', of course, is a metaphor for putting in extra effort to achieve an important objective. 

Jesus forever raised the bar for goal-focused achievement the night before His torture and crucifixion. Commanded by the Father to bear the sins of humanity—including your sins—meant that Jesus would be spiritually separated from the Father.  

The crushing reality of that command causes Jesus's sweat to look like blood. That most likely means His mental, emotional, and spiritual trauma was so INTENSE that capillaries just under the skin burst and mixed with sweat glands. 

That indicates extraordinary, almost unheard of, psychic anguish.  Have you ever sweat that intensely? 

Remember today that Jesus went through that unspeakably traumatic anguish for you. Not because you deserve it, but because you're worth it. 

Let that reality raise your sights and build your courage. 

Focus Scripture:  'Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who, for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.'  Hebrews 12:2-3

Following Jesus?

Are you following Jesus at a distance?  It's safer that way, it's easier. You can be close enough to pretend you're connected to Him, but not so close that it will cramp your style.  

When it's convenient you can claim Him, and when it isn't you can disavow all knowledge. 

But if you're following Jesus from a distance you are just one step away from denial and a whole world away from the intimacy of His comprehensive love.  It is only in the fullness of His Presence that you will experience the fullness of life. 

Realistically, I doubt if the Christian exists who hasn't distanced himself from Jesus at some point.  And, although that may be your recent or current reality, Jesus never wants it to stay that way. 

So if, as you're reading this, you find yourself closely aligned with Jesus, stay that way; seek to be ever closer to Him. 

But if you find yourself distant or even in denial, run to Him. His open arms of forgiveness are always ready to receive you, to heal you, and to empower you for the challenges ahead. 

There is a law of the universe: you get as much (or little) of God as you want.  Choose wisely, you're choosing for eternity.

Focus Scripture:  'Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.'  James 4:7-8

What in the World Is God Doing?

What if God wanted to do something new in your life? . . . . through your life?  

Would you hesitate?  Would you resist?  Or would you welcome His new initiative?

We get so comfortable in the status quo.  We adapt to mediocrity, we lower our expectations to reduce the danger of disappointment.  

But what if God is doing something new?  What if He wanted to blow the doors off of your expectations?  What would that mean to you?

If God is doing something new it will require your courage. Comfort comes with the known; the unknown—even a good unknown—induces fear. Courage will empower you to act despite your fear. 

If God is doing something new it will require your creativity.  Your creativity will take diverse thoughts and unarticulated desires and give them tangible expression.  

If God is doing something new it will require your determination. Nothing of importance is ever easy. Your determination will be needed to overcome setbacks and criticisms. 

Let God build your courage, let Him fuel your creativity, let Him intensify your determination.  These are the tools He has given you to move out of your comfort zone stagnation and into the future of His purpose. 

Focus Scripture: 'Thus says the LORD your Redeemer . . . . Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder the things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?'  Isaiah 43:18-19

Just Say No to Slavery

What enslaves you?  Past sins?  Present weaknesses?  

What holds you back?  Expectations of others?  Expectations you place on yourself?  

From the beginning God designed you to be free.  We seem so far from that now.  Freedom is so simple, yet so illusive. 

When Adam and Eve made that first decision to trade the freedom of God for the slavery of their own way, their immediate response was to withdraw from God and try to fix things on their own. 

It didn't work. 

What did work was when they responded to God's call. 

So whatever enslaves you, whatever you're struggling with, whatever sin or weakness, whatever fear or uncertainty, whatever trouble or trauma . . . . call out to God.  Today.  Bring your burdens to the light of His Presence. 

In His Presence you will find the full freedom He designed you for from the beginning.  And in His Presence you will find the fullness of life.  Forever. 

Focus Scripture:  'It was for freedom that Christ set you free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.'  Galatians 5:1

Stepping Into the Future

Jesus goes before me today. I've known that for a long time now.

Today I want to start acting like it. 

I want to start acting like no situation can catch Him off guard. I might be surprised by the events that unfold today, but Jesus will not be. I want to proceed knowing He has prepared me for today. 

I want to start acting like no words will be spoken today that Jesus hasn't already anticipated. Whatever words come my way today, Jesus will give me the words to say in response.  Even if it's silence. 

I want to start acting like there is no place I can go that Jesus is not there ahead of me. Even if I've made a wrong choice, He's there with me to help me turn it around. 

I want to start acting like Jesus knows about any heartache I'll face today.  There is no pain of loss or rejection or emptiness that He has not already borne . . . . for me. If I cry today, Jesus will cry with me. 

I want to start acting like Jesus is in control. Today may be out of my control, but it is not beyond His. If there is a change in my plans today, I want to be alert to how Jesus might be moving. 

No, I don't know what today holds.  But Jesus does. All I need to do is act like He is in charge, listen to His instructive voice, and have the courage to step into the moments of His purpose. 

Focus Scripture:  In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said 'I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age.'

God's Perfect Creation

I woke up late this morning and I was reminded of the perfect practicality of God's creation and the utter stupidity of man's reaction.  Does that seem like a strange connection?

Once awake, I went outside and looked toward the heavens.   I was amazed by the beauty of the stars, with the full moon just dipping below the horizon.  I thought about the perfect alignment of the planets, how Jupiter's large mass deflects meteors from Earth. 

I thought about how Earth's distance from the sun is perfectly designed to support life, how the angle of our axis is perfectly set to maximize the sun's energy, how the elliptical nature of our orbit allows for a wonderful change of seasons. 

I even thought of how the pattern of daylight changes by two or three minutes a day, and how perfectly God planned our bodies to adjust to that daylight change incrementally. 

And then I thought about the stupidity of suddenly and abruptly setting the clocks ahead an hour, which is the real reason I woke up 'late'.  The contrast between the beauty of God's creation and the stupidity of man's reaction never seemed clearer. 

Let's be more like God.

Focus Scripture: Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun.  You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.  Remember this, O Lord, that the enemy has reviled, and a foolish people has spurned Your name.’  Psalm 74:16-18.