Devoted

You know what’s worse than a bad day? When that bad day steals the next day too. Worse yet… when a bad day steals a week, months, or even years of our lives. It’s painful looking back over a season of life and realizing that you’ve wasted so much time being angry or hurt and all its done is left you broken. Was it worth all it cost? It never is.

Believe it or not, the Scripture speaks about this exact thought. The Scripture warns us: And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT). I’m embarrassed to admit… this is a deep struggle for me. Countless times I have felt the gentle encouragement of the Holy Spirit to deal with anger and to find healing in a day, only to brush it aside, push the anger down, and see it steal so many other moments from me.

Husbands and wives do it. Family and friends do it. Partners in ministry do it. Coworkers do it. We get angry, we refuse to forgive someone or deal with the hurt, and it snowballs into something it never had to be. This is why Paul warns us, inspired by the Holy Spirit (thus God warns us), to process anger so we don’t give a foothold to our greatest enemy.

Tonight as you are getting ready to sleep (or regardless of when you are reading this), what anger has given the devil a foothold in your life? The good news is that regardless of how “big” or “immovable” the anger has become or the hurt and brokenness that has come from it, you can find healing. It starts with a healthy realization that you are angry, you haven’t dealt with it, and it is stealing more and more from you.

Once you’ve been honest with yourself… the next step is to take your anger and frustration to God. Pray for guidance, healing, and His direction on how to find reconciliation, forgiveness, and true healing. It’s time for us to realize that we’ve made a proverbial mountain out of the molehill and that we’ve given the enemy a place to operate in our lives.

There is a story that I think encapsulates this thought well for me tonight, I hope God will speak to you through it.

A NEW SHEET,
He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done.
“Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?
I’ve spoiled this one.”
I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted
and gave him a new one all unspotted.
And into his tired heart I cried,
“Do better now, my child.”

A NEW DAY,
I went/came to the throne with a trembling heart;
the day was done.
“Have you a new day for me, dear Master?
I’ve spoiled this one.”
He took my day, all soiled and blotted
and gave me a new one all unspotted.
And into my tired heart he cried,
“Do better now, my child.”

It’s time to find true healing regardless of what you are facing. The strength of Jesus is made perfect in our weakness and His grace is enough for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). If we will come to Jesus in our weakness, He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28). 

I’ve heard it said that “night is darkest before the dawn”. Although I don’t know if that is scientifically true, what I do know is so many times in our lives we give up right before that break through moment. We turn back when the mountain becomes too difficult to climb, giving up moments before we stand at the peak. We get scared and turn back to what is familiar and comfortable right before we see God do something miraculous. Over and over again, we fail to endure.

Through an ongoing series of events over the past three years, God has helped me grow in ways spiritually that I never knew I needed to grow. For some time now I have been praying that God would allow me to walk away from a difficult set of circumstances that never seem to really get easier. His answer might be surprising to some, I believe God has called me to “endure”. 

The definition of endure according to Google is to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently. If I’m being honest, I have been suffering. I’ve been suffering humiliation as I have been attacked in ways I never thought I would be. I’ve been called things I never imagined I would hear in my lifetime. Over and over I have seen hurts and painful, difficult circumstances occur from some places and with some people I never thought I would witness.

Does God really want me to endure in this? The human side of me wants to cry out: “God they are being mean to me! They are being unfair! They are saying things that aren’t true. God why aren’t you defending me!?” But time and time again as Scripture always does… the Word of God speaks: Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also… (John 15:20 NIV)

Yes… God’s call for me to endure through painful suffering (spiritual, mental, or physical anguish) can seem unfair. But, God always has a purpose for the pain. It is here in the midst of suffering and hardship that the Master molds us, shapes us, refines us, and continues the work that He started within us. The call to follow Jesus is not an easy one. Often I find myself struggling to be faithful through the attacks of the enemy. My mind drifts back towards the promise of Jesus: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

The last thought that occurs to me tonight is that we are fighting a very real enemy (Ephesians 6:12) but we are called to “fight the good fight” of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Yes, it is unfair when people lie about you, misjudge your intentions, gossip about you, slander you, or try to humiliate you; but they did all these things to Jesus too. As a servant of Jesus, I am not above these things (neither are you) so let us endure them with joy and prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

If you are struggling in the midst of some incredible hardship, don’t give up! If God has called you to it, He will guide you through it. Remember that God is using all things for good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Trust that what God has started in you, He will finish (Philippians 1:6). 

*Please take a moment and read all the Scriptural references listed in this Devoted devotional. My words are powerless to change your life or give you the life that each of us needs. The Bible links I’ve included throughout this article are essential to knowing and serving the One true God of creation.

Sometimes when you read the Scripture, there are certain things you almost wish weren’t there. Ways of thinking, living, or acting that can be contrary to everything that feels natural and easy are abundant in Scripture. For the purposes of this devotion, I’d like to explore one such way of Christian living found in 1 Thessalonians: Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (Chapter 5, verse 16-18).

If I’m being honest, this Scripture seems almost impossible. If we take a serious look at our lives, the way we are called to live is impossible except by God’s help. Paul admonishes us in verse 16 of 1 Thessalonians to “Always be joyful”. Humanly speaking, this is an impossibility. Even the happiest people I know aren’t “always joyful”. When we find our source of joy in Jesus, who never changes (Hebrews 13:8), we can be more consistent in living lives of joy. 

So the “how of the Christian faith” is only through the grace of God. There are two specific steps we can take as followers of Jesus to live a life that honors the Lord: prayer and Bible study. God assures us in Philippians 1:6 that He will finish the good work He has started in us. So how do you live a life of more joy? Spend more time with Jesus.

Today I want to encourage every follower of Jesus to honestly and prayerfully examine their lives. In my own life I can see so clearly that as I spend more time in the Lord’s presence through prayer and studying the Scripture, every part of my life is impacted. I find greater joy, greater peace, and greater purpose as I spend more time with Him. As the Scripture says we should “never stop praying” (verse 17) and here in God’s presence we will find greater joy than we’ve ever known and the ability to give thanks in all circumstances.

As we wrap up this devotion, I encourage each of you to to consider a few questions:

• If I am stressed and overwhelmed, have I been too distracted lately?
• If I feel like I lack the joy I know should be in my life, am I spending time with Jesus?
• If I have an ungrateful heart, have I ignored God’s blessings in my life?
• Have I been feeling my life with the things of God or the things of the world?

If you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit today, remember that God corrects those whom He loves! (Hebrews 12:6) Don’t fight or run from the conviction… Jesus came so that we could have life and have it abundantly! (John 8:36) It’s time to step into that abundant life and experience the intimate relationship we have with God through our faith in Jesus.