Gentle Reminders

But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. Romans 8:25 (NLT)
Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12 (NLT)


     "I'm wondering if we heard God wrong."  I said these words with tears starting to well up in my eyes.  Jake and I were sitting in a conference room for the  lawyer who would be handling our real estate closing.  The question which hounded me for the last two months of set backs finally bubbled to the surface.  What if we had heard God wrong?  What if our move had not been God breathed? 
     The question seemed preposterous in my own ears, we had been so certain God had lead every step of our journey from unemployed to employed, from one home to another.  Yet, here we were signing our papers in the hope it would be signed by the buyer to make it official.
     We hoped.  Each step of the way we had encountered some new piece of paper or situation that would prevent us from selling our home due to new real estate lending requirements.  I was at the end of my ability to handle any of it. 
     Can you relate?  Have you ever reached a moment where you have to wonder about the mission you were given?  Charity work, a new job, rehab program, new child, tithing - did you feel a nudge of doubt?
     Then, Jake looked at me and said, "Karey, nothing has stopped us from selling the house.  We've just needed to be patient."  There is the word I dread, and maybe when you read our scriptures in Romans you did the same thing.  Patience.  It had been our constant companion through ever decision, every open door, and every moment of waiting. 
     Mine had finally failed, along with my confidence.  I was thankful for my husband's gentle reminder, but even more thankful for God's Word which tells me, "...And the scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:4b) and "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13). 
     When we've failed in patience, confidence, and life in general, we can hold on to the encouragement and hope God's Word gives.  Beautiful reminders of God's love, Jesus and his sacrifice, and the gift of a Holy Spirit which lives in us.  As Jake showed me yesterday, when everything is running low or spreading thin in our life, our God is big enough for the hard questions and has placed his Word into our lives to breathe hope back inside of us. 

Shapes

I was reading my devotion this morning in Romans 1:20 (definitely read this verse if you have a moment).  I continued reading in chapter one for full context and was struck by verse 22 which states, "Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles."  (NLT version)  It seems outdated now to think of idols like these, but we continue to find things in our lives which take our attention away from God.  What is the shape of my idol?  The challenge for any Jesus follower is to identify the shape of what keeps their time, talent, attention, and affection away from Elohim (God our Creator). 


Can I be honest?  I have many idols.  The more this question rolls around inside my head and heart, the more I am keenly aware my life doesn't revolve around my relationship with God.  Particularly the idol shaped like my children.  Motherhood has been one of the most amazing ways to know and acknowledge the love of my Heavenly Father.  It has also been the door for allowing my hopes, dreams, and fears concerning our kids to consume my life.  Perhaps you are in the same position I am, or, perhaps, your idol may take a different shape.  Entertainment, shopping, eating, porn, media devices - we all have something vying for our attention.  What is yours?


 My children are a gift from God, not my god.  Motherhood is a revelation of God's goodness, love, and mercy, but never to take his place as first and foremost in my life.  This is the tension and reality of living in a fallen world.  Identifying the people, items, and events which pull us away from our Creator are essential.  Take time to think about your idol's shape and ask God for help returning him to his rightful place as your number one.  


(This is a difficult process.  I don't want to make light of it or act like a quick Band-Aid is easily applied.  Sometimes these shapes are scary, dark, and addicting.  If you realize your idol may be too much for you to tackle on your own, make sure to ask for help and find accountability with trustworthy people who will walk with you and not judge.)

Choices

Judges 14:1-4 (NLT), "One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye.  When he returned home, he told his father and mother, "A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye.  I want to marry her.  Get her for me."  His father and mother objected.  "Isn't there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?"  They asked.  "Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?"  But Samson told his father, "Get her for me!  She looks good to me."  His father and mother didn't realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.

This isn't going to end well.  Have you ever said that about a situation you've been in?  Or have you watched someone you care about struggle and you cringe at what lies ahead for them? My youngest learns the hard way.  He doesn't see why his actions are unsafe or lacking wisdom until he's reaping the consequences of what happened.  Sticking chocolate chips up my nose is bad and requires a doctor's visit?  Who knew?!  

In our passage today, Samson was setting himself up for issues.  He was going against his parents wishes in choosing a wife.  His choice was from a group despised by his people (Israel) and, more importantly, he was defying God who had specifically said marrying pagans was wrong.  Recipe for disaster?  It looks like it! Yet, at the end of the passage we see God is working in this seemingly poor preference.  It is a great reminder to me there are times I make decisions which are less than amazing or counter to what is required of me, but God is still there and He can work in and through these selections to bring about what He wants.  This understanding doesn't give us permission to do whatever we please.  It does allow us the peace of knowing that when we screw up, because it happens,  we have a God who will continue to work and use the broken, misjudged, and painful parts of our life for His glory.

Challenge:  Take a moment to write/type a mistake you have made.  Take a few moments to journal about this moment and how it has changed the trajectory of your life.  Then pray, ask God to show you how He has begun or will be using this moment on your timeline in His plans.