Sometimes I feel like we know in our minds the promises God has made to us – we have the Bible verses memorized – and they’re great. But, when difficult circumstances arise in our lives we are quick to forget and quick to run toward panic or despair with open arms. When really, those moments are why we memorize and read God’s truth to begin with! We want to absorb God’s Word so it becomes a part of us, becoming our default setting day to day. I myself have given into fear, despair, and doubt, but if we actually allow these truths to move from our head to our spirit – our heart – I wonder how different our daily lives would look. I wonder how different our responses to stress, tragedy, conflict, and circumstances out of our control would look. Would it look more like His Kingdom on earth?
1. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:26
So often we put God into a box. The God of the universe is not contained by space or time. There have been many moments in life where I have felt nothing but despair and hopelessness. Worries about fundraising, paying the bills, broken relationships, dream job opportunities, wanting friends, family, or co-workers to come to know Jesus – it’s a lot to take in. Within the scope of our human minds, these things seem impossible and we throw up our hands.
But I think it’s a good thing when you come to this place because it makes you fix your eyes on the only One who can make the impossible possible. You can’t, but He can. Nothing is too hard, too broken, or too far gone for Him.
2. “The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.” -Psalm 121:7-8
Every day you step out the front door, whether it’s off to work, school, church, or to run errands. We are always on the go. In the craziness of life we travel, we move – each day holds its own agenda. Sometimes there can be sickness, layoffs, car accidents, or moments we don’t feel safe. But He is always ahead of you and behind you – guarding and protecting you. You’re safe. He’s watching out for you.
3. “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'” – Luke 9:58
As Jesus went about His ministry, teaching about the Kingdom of God, He did not have a home base. They were always on the move, sometimes invited into houses and sometimes asked to leave altogether. Our Savior had no place of His own on earth, but He knew where His true home was. He knew what His inheritance was and He came to share that with all of us. I’m not saying we should all sell our houses or get out of our apartment leases and live in tents and make them for a living like Paul.
But I am saying we need to remember where our true home is and stop living as though getting that big fancy house and new car is the end goal because it’s not. There’s so much more waiting for us. We need to remember Jesus was a nomad and if the goal is to be like Christ, maybe we need to adopt that nomadic spirit in our own hearts. What I mean by this is we need to always be open and attentive to however the Spirit moves. We need to be easily interruptible. How much are you bogged down with – materialism and “stuff” – that if Jesus came to you today and asked you to follow Him, would you be able to? Would you be able to drop it all, turn and follow Him without a backwards glance? Would you try to keep up, lugging around a pack full of your precious possessions? Or would you be like the rich young ruler, who walked back to his fortune, deeply saddened because he couldn’t part with it? I bring this up as a way to check where your heart is at, because that is what God cares about. In your heart, have you given up every right to yourself to Jesus and His purpose? Have you surrendered it all – having everything, but possessing nothing? Something to think about.
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