HEAVENSREEF

I look in the mirror each morning and wonder: can I really do one more day of this?  Like you, I am getting a little weary of staying at home.  We live near train tracks and more than once I have to admit that I wished I could be on that train going somewhere, anywhere! 

Let’s be honest here…….staying in one place for this length of time is not an easy thing to do.  Social distancing is especially hard if you are one that loves to be around people. 

The LORD pressed upon my heart the other morning that in the midst of this crisis, in the midst of all the suffering and death that one needs to move forward, day by day and being brave is possible only through JESUS taking our hands and showing us how.

Being brave does not mean we have to be hard as a rock.  Our hearts and minds don’t have to think that way, because we already have the ROCK to stand firmly upon.

PSALM 18: 2 “THE LORD IS MY ROCK, MY FORTRESS AND MY DELIVERER, MY GOD IS MY ROCK, IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE…….”

Being brave today in the midst of this crisis means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and even broken…….in our brokenness we realize how much more, immeasurably more, that GOD can do for us and through us!  And the news is hard these days, with death everywhere and people around us going through so many sufferings.  We feel helpless and our hearts hurt!

BEING BRAVE IS STEPPING OUT IN FAITH ALONE.

If you have nothing else, but faith alone, that is enough!  All things are possible to the one who believes!  But we can’t credit even this stepping out, even this being brave to…….us!  No, GOD alone deserves that credit!  HE is leading us moment by moment every day in faith.

PSALM 61: 2 “LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I.”

When our spirits grow faint with all our troubles, hardships and tribulations, we need to be gently led.  We have our Savior JESUS to lead us.  HE cups HIS hands around our faces and says: “with ME, it will be alright.”  We need to be guided, when we don’t know which way is up, but we need to first step out in faith into the ARMS of the ONE who holds us in the first place!

And this is what the LORD gives us when we do………

ISAIAH 61: 3 “…….TO GIVE THEM A BEAUTIFUL HEADDRESS INSTEAD OF ASHES, THE OIL OF GLADNESS INSTEAD OF MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE INSTEAD OF A FAINT SPIRIT; THAT THEY MAY BE CALLED OAKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MAY BE GLORIFIED.”

Our courage, our bravery comes from the LORD, because the weight of the world is way too big for us…….we weren’t designed to hold up under all of it and GOD alone is our answer.  Yes, our spirits grow faint and weary, and only JESUS knows and understands what we need to help us bear up under this world and all that goes with it.

THE LORD WILL REDEEM US FROM THE ASHES AROUND US.

JESUS and the Cross is our redemption, our lesson in submission and bearing up under tough stuff.  HIS going to the Cross was for us, because HE knew we couldn’t do any of this alone.  We need HIM, we need HIS courage, we need HIS bravery, we need HIS wisdom and most of all we need HIS amazing love.

JOSHUA 1: 7 “ONLY BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS; BEING CAREFUL TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THE LAW THAT MOSES MY SERVANT COMMANDED YOU. DO NOT TURN FROM IT TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT, THAT YOU MAY HAVE GOOD SUCCESS WHEREVER YOU GO.”

We need HIS strength, and HIS direction.  We can’t do any of this alone and please don’t try to!  Outside of HIS wisdom, there are traps and paths that will ultimately lead to destruction.  Instead, draw near to HIM, because HE will draw near to you and give you peace.

So, keep on stepping out in that faith dear ones…..trust GOD and all HIS wisdom even when you can’t see the answer to any of your problems.  Don’t trust anything the world tells you……..trust HIS wisdom instead………and above all, be brave and strong and courageous!

DEUTERONOMY 31:6 “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, DO NOT BE AFRAID OR TREMBLE AT THEM, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS THE ONE WHO GOES WITH YOU.  HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.”