Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Generosity

God is closer than we think sometimes. Just as we might call on our dad to pick us up when the '97 Corolla won't start, call on mom when we need a simple recipe, or when you call on your best friend when you need some company to make it through a rough week, God is readily available when you need him. Unfortunately, we don't think God is as accessible when our trials seem bigger than him, but before Jesus went to be with God the Father in Heaven, he made a promise to his disciples in John 16:24:
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." - John 16:24

Here, Jesus is reassuring his followers that he is providing a new way of access to God before he leaves Earth. Before you are showered with reasons why it is in your best interest to ask God for things, in his name of course, let's look further at the context of this verse:

Jesus is talking to the disciples because he overhears them murmuring about how he is going back to be with the Father. Sensing their apprehension, Jesus reminds the disciples that their grieving will soon turn to joy. That's right! This verse deals with disciples worrying that Jesus' departure will cause much pain and sadness. We know the disciples are worrying about Jesus leaving Earth to be with the father because Jesus references the disciples sadness and trial in this moment in verse 22.

Just like the disciples grieving over the loss of Jesus in physical form, trials often take on the disguise of something good being taken from us, whether it be a loved one, a possession we once had, and/or an intangible being taken, like happiness, peace, and hope. The disciples' were justified to feel the grief and sorrow upon losing a dear friend, but Jesus reminds them to look ahead to the fulfilling of Scripture and how his departure is part of a bigger plan. Though the sorrow may last for a moment, this grieving will be replaced with joy (v. 22). Yet, from the perspective of the disciples, it looks like God is taking Jesus away from them. Sounds like a perfect recipe for grieving and deep sadness. However, God has plenty in store for the disciples, and it comes in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Earlier in John (chapter 14), Jesus promises the disciples that "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name..." (John 14:12-13).  Though Jesus' departure could be seen as painful, greater things are coming because of it. In fact, John 14:26 says, "...the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all the things and remind you of everything I have said to you." Though Jesus was going, he was leaving behind part of himself to the disciples (and to us!) that would continue the plan God has. In fact, Jesus says in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Now, God's will for you isn't to go through pain (see John 10:10 - don't confuse the Savior's job with the Devil's job), but good will come of the pain (Genesis 50:19). Ultimately, our focus should be on what God can and will do through the struggle.

But, what does the disciples' grieving over Jesus departure and him leaving us with the Holy Spirit have to do with asking God for anything in his name?
For one, God has an incredible plan, and he will use those trials to achieve the plan and purpose. Even though we go through trials throughout our earthly existence, God has a plan through it, and that plan is worth trusting. He had a plan even after Jesus left to be with him, and he continues to have a plan when we experience pain like the disciples did. When we ask God for anything in his name, we are trusting him to do what he does: give in abundance - it's part of his plan.
Let's go back to John 16:24: "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
According to this verse, God has gifted us with his generosity. He gives us what we ask for, including joy. When we ask in his name, we receive. We receive an abundance of blessing in the midst of struggle. We receive a helper, the Holy Spirit, and we receive peace.

When we ask in his name, it implies that our hearts are in alignment with his will. His will is perfect (Romans 12:2), so if we ask for what is in alignment with his will, we will receive it. According to Matthew Henry Commentary on this verse, “Asking in Christ’s name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favors, and shows full dependence upon Christ…” This also means that asking in Christ’s name comes with a price: humility. When we humbly accept that all good things come from God, and the things that feed the Spirit (not the flesh, like a sports car or $1m) come from him, we receive them because he is generous and good. When we ask in his name, we are asking for things that God is in the business of giving – so when we ask for the things he gives, he will give it. If we ask for prosperity through hardships, he will give it to you because you are asking for a spiritual blessing that God is in the business of giving. He knows what is good for the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and it’s the heart where all good things flow (Proverbs 4:23). He desires to give us supernatural freedom and prosperity, and when we are open to receiving the supernatural from him, he pours those gifts into our existence. As we ask, he downloads his perspective, his heart, and his will into your heart and mind. We begin to think the way he thinks because we are in the humble position to do so. Asking God in his name means we are considering his plan and the way he gives, not to satisfy our flesh, but to build us up in Spirit. Therefore, when we ask, God knows how to give us exactly what we need, even if we are asking for the wrong thing in the moment. The disciples experienced this with Jesus while he was on Earth.

In John 14 and 16, Jesus encouraged the disciples before his departure to be with God. In the midst of trial, Jesus reminded them that he is leaving something behind (the Holy Spirit, as well as peace) - part of God's plan. In other words, Jesus knew what the disciples needed. They need peace and joy, which Jesus later promises them (John 14:27). The disciples didn't even ask, yet Jesus knew! How much more will God give in times of trial when we ask him directly! The disciples received, so that their joy would be complete! And remember: grieving is not a bad thing. Jesus even says, "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again, and no one will take away your joy." Jesus promises that their joy will be complete through the process of grieving; grieving is not eternal, but joy will be!

Do this: Memorize John 14:27 in moments of trial. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Why? Jesus gives you peace, and much, much more. We know he gives because of John 16:24. Ask and you will receive. Identify what God is in the business of giving by getting to know his heart, then start asking! Watch him give!

When Life Throws You Lemons...

Do you ever feel like some people are out to get you? Better yet, do you ever feel like life in general is out to make you feel miserable? Sometimes, when life throws you lemons, you cannot simply "make lemonade;" all you can do is get hit by them and hope no permanent damage surfaces.

Fortunately, those "lemons" are the worst of it. David, from the Bible, was not always in the most optimistic situations. David had a son, and his son was jealous of David's position as king. So, his son tried to kill him. If there are any such lemons that hit hard, it is these type of lemons. How can one rejoice in sufferings like this? Romans 5:3 says, "...We also rejoice in our sufferings, because suffering produces perseverance." The great news is that our troubles, our "lemons," produce growth and shape us into strong men and women. The bad news? One does not normally see the good news while the bad news is current. However, through all the chaos and the pain, we can take refuge in something greater than ourselves.

Psalm 4 is all about David expressing his dependence on God. He begins chapter 4 by admitting that God is his  safe net. Furthermore, the chapter then gives any and all readers something to relate to. "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him" (Psalm 4:3). Are you considered Godly in the eyes of the Lord? Can you be certain that, as you have faithfully served the Lord, He will protect you and set you apart from the wicked and chaos?

As the storms come and you feel there is a small chance you will get out alive, know that God has already got you covered. Your level of safety far outweighs whatever you go through in this life. If you depend on God as if your life depends on it, the safety you feel will eliminate the fear you hold. Take heart, for "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe" (Psalm 4:8).

Resting in Peace

Little kids often complain about the small things. When they do, a well-known phrase often concludes the moment: "Life is not fair." Befuddled, the complaining child stops and mumbles something the parent usually cannot hear. For young children, the big issues in life are small compared to the big issues an adult has to face daily. When the adult complains and someone replies, "Life is not fair," the adult is usually smart enough to respond with something like, "How does that help my situation?" or "Yes, and it does not make any sense." Whatever the situation is for the adult, the truth is, "Life is not fair," is never the cure to a hopeless life. "Life is not fair" only appears to only say, "I told you so."

So, what is the cure? How can we stay afloat during the major storms in life, when everything around you seems to make you want to give up and no longer try? 

It appears there is a reason to take delight in the situation around you.

Read Psalm 3. Do not just read it, but visualize it. Visualize God standing in front of your situation. He is there, not carrying a shield; he is the shield. He takes on the fiercest storm and the biggest problem in life.

To understand the situation, let's think about why this was written. David wrote this little piece when he was king. However, a dilemma had come up while David was in command; it was his son Absalom. Absalom, having a strong desire to be king, wanted to dethrone his father. So, he attacked David, and naturally, David fled.

Without a doubt, David was in trouble. He needed help. His own son attacked him and claimed to be king, and David was in hiding. Out of desperation, he cried out to the One who knew his situation more than anyone else:

"O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me."

-Psalm 3:1 (NLT)

David is desperate. His enemies are great, and he needs someone who is stronger than his situation. As he cries out to God, he realizes who it is that can save him:

"But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high."

-Psalm 3:3 (NLT)

The Lord, defender of the weak, and he is here to hold your head high. David, attacked by his own son, discovered who could keep his head up even in the worst situations. 

It is important to know how David fought through the situation; he reminded himself of where his victory lies. "Victory comes from you, O Lord," David writes in verse 8. David's recognition of who is in control is what gives him a boost.

Whatever situation you are in, remember who is bigger and is more capable of defending you. In Confessions, St. Augustine writes about his current situation and points out that it is "our blessing to know that God is in control." We need to be aware of who is our defender. When David realized that his safety net was the Lord, he responded, "I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side" (v. 6). 

Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and author of Just Walk Across the Room and others, reassures, "Does your problem seem bigger than life, bigger than God himself? It isn't. God is infinitely bigger than any problem you had or will have..."

Talk about relieving the pain of feeling like you're on your own! God is so much bigger than anything you have ever faced or will face. Whether your son is attacking you like Absalom attacked his father, or you are just graduating from college and staring reality in the face, God is so much bigger and will defend you. Furthermore, Hybels even reminds you of the sin you are committing when you decide to not trust in him as our "shield": "...and every time you call a problem unsolvable, you mock God."

Next time you think your problem is too big, think about who your shield and defender is. Picture God fighting off everything you are too weak to fight off yourself. God has your back, and he will continue keeping you safe. 

What you can do is trust in your defender. You can rely on God through every situation that is too big for you. The more you accept God's sovereign power to save you, the more you will find yourself living in safety.

"I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me."

-Psalm 3:5 (NLT)

Your burden can be His. Give it to him and live in safety.

Struggling with Comfort

Close your eyes. Picture a scene of tranquility, where your biggest worry is whether the waiter is going to remember the virgin strawberry daiquiri you ordered 10 minutes ago. You are on a beach in the Bahamas, about four miles from the cruise that brought you there. No one is going to hurt you, and everyone wants to help you find your way. The best part is this: since you have been working so hard at the high-paying job you have, your boss has told you to go on vacation, all expenses paid for.

This is the ultimate dream vacation, correct?

Today, when we think about the life and eventual death of Jesus, we usually envision one of two things: the birth of Jesus and the death of Jesus. This is not to discount the years in between, or even to insinuate people do not put much thought into the "middle years" of Jesus, but the most celebrated times were that of Jesus' birth and death.

Specifically, Jesus' death is symbolic of not only our status' as saved souls, but the pain he went through to get there; yet, the latter is not simply a reason to be inspired by the heroism that our Savior characterizes, but also to teach us how to be human.

Luke 9:23 says, "Then [Jesus] said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Jesus was following through with his Father's direction, and Jesus followed them just as we should follow God's direction for us. Matthew 7:21 says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Our mission in this temporary existence is to do the will of the Lord, which is to "deny [yourself] and take up [your] cross daily."

Is it comfortable to deny oneself? Is it in any way enjoyable to take up the symbolic cross? Jesus was brutally beaten, mocked, humiliated, spit upon, and physically destroyed by the stubborn and vile hearts of the sinners. It seemed as though sin had conquered God's son. Now, Jesus commands us to carry our cross like he did?

Well, it might not sound comforting to be mocked and humiliated both physically and emotionally, but here is comforting news, and it comes in a parable:

Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field" (Matthew 13:44 NIV).

Using this parable, Jesus puts the kingdom of heaven in terms that humans can relate to. When it comes to some of the things we possess, we do very similar things like the man in the parable. We are willing to be mocked for the things we love, we claim we would take the bullet for our children, and we spend countless hours on things that matter to us. As a result, we are willing to be put to the test to prove how devoted we are to our possessions.

If we love God and want to serve him, it will show. Our comfort is in him; our hope is to be true to God and nothing else. Our wealth does not matter, our health does not matter, and our possessions do not matter. In the grand scheme of things, we are here on earth to glorify God and allow him to take care of the rest. St. Augustine, from his book Confessions, asserts that "our blessing is to know that [God is] in control." Our security and safety is in the Lord, so wherever he takes us, we can take comfort in the fact that our physical bodies can take any beating it can, only if it does not interfere with our hope in him.

Take comfort in the Lord, for he is the only treasure that is worth investing in. Once you maintain that treasure, protect it in every circumstance, for it is your lifeline. Fall back on the Lord, and he will "give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4 NIV). You may try to convince yourself that you will find your own desires, but take delight in the Lord, and he will make your real desires known to you.

After all, He made you, and He knows what is best, even if it may seem uncomfortable at first glance.

A Moment of Silence, Please?

The sound of a distant train. The crunching of pebbles. The quiet breeze blowing. The empty mind letting silence do the talking.


Quiet.


In our world, it is quite daring to climb over the wall that separates noise and silence. The idea of shutting up and letting silence speak the words we need to hear seems to take a lot of strength to do. We never get used to the busy life, but somehow we find ourselves attracted to it. Either we feel attracted to it or we feel slowing down will only remove us from any consistency, comfort, or necessity we need to survive. Take any man's career, for example. The man toils and labors nonstop, just to spend the income on things he needs to live; and it does not stop. Everybody goes round and round, never stopping to think to let peace and quiet fill the mind.
It is an interesting presence, silence. Sometimes, we need to shut up and let the Lord speak to us. Even when we are not verbally making noise, the world supplies the noise we are forced to partake in. Everyday, we are dragged out of bed whether we want to or not, feeling the pressure of spending the day productively. When we are silent, letting the whispers of outside noise appease our scattered minds, we find peace; we find God.
How many times do you think about the ground you walk on? How often do you consider the simplicity of the   grass and the complexity of our DNA? What about the sun? Or the infinite stars in the sky?
All of these things can remind us of God's mysterious beauty if we let silence run its course.
So, please, do shut up and let silence do the talking. Let God tell you something you would only hear if you remove yourself from the busy schedule demanded of you. There is something beautiful about that silence, so make time for some silence - maybe check out this video.

I Wanna Live Again!

John Piper, preacher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, says that prayer is "the intentional conveying of a message to God." He went on, in his sermon about prayer, to say that messages are always going up to heaven from us. When we talk to friends, go to class, joke with peers; these messages are all heard by God. It is the intentional messages; the ones that start with 'hello God' and 'dear God' that are the prayers.
Recently, I have become dependent on these prayers. As life has become more demanding, my heart has become more humble. Even more so, I have often relied on God hearing my prayers and providing a boost of confidence in my life through these prayers. However, before I relay the wrong message to my readers, I want to clarify that my position regarding prayer is not one that is narcissistic by any means. I do not intend to make God out to be a puppet that pleases me and, with the pull of a few strings, gives me what I need.
What I do see prayer doing is guiding my mind and my heart to be in synch with a God who constantly transforms and molds us into the Christian example we are called to be. It does not only help us to think and act as sons and daughters of Christ, but it helps us never give up.
Prayer happens all throughout the Bible. Everyone prays, even Jesus! Jesus prayed, and taught parables about prayer (Luke 18:1). James 5:13 encourages us to pray through our hardships. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray all the time! Colossians 4:2-6 advises us to prayer for others when they put themselves at risk for God's glory.
If any of you can't imagine a Bible scene, regarding prayer taking place, consider the inspirational scene when George Bailey is crying out, "I wanna live again, I wanna live again. Please God, let me live again," at the end of the 'It's a Wonderful Life.' He is at the end of his rope, crying out to God. He has given up on life, yet discovers he can pray to an omniscient God who cares about his needs.
Whether you want to live again or you just want someone to talk to, there is nothing more powerful than talking to someone who "knows when you sit and when you rise," who "perceives your thoughts from afar," who "discerns your going out and your lying down," and who is "familiar with all your ways" (Psalm 139:2-3). He even knows the words that are about to come out of your mouth (Psalm 139:4)!
If you start the habit of praying to him always, you'll certainly live again as George did at the end of the movie.