October 2004
You're going to be let down
Let's face up to one fact - sooner or later, even those whom we love best are going to let us down in some way or the other.
As Christians we have a God given responsibility to be different. We are after all, a chosen people, a people set apart, to show the goodness of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.
How then do we react when people whom we love, perhaps whom we've been counting on, let us down?
Recently I had the privilege of facing the evil one's arrows from almost every area of my life. And unfortunately my reactions were less than Christian. I fretted, I fumed. I was upset that so many people, who should have 'been there' for me, weren't.
Through it all however God taught me wonderful truths:
Truth 1 - Jesus never fails! I remember this one old hymn I had learned some time back 'Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails, man of the world's gonna let you down, but Jesus never fails '. Amen.
Truth 2 - 70 times 7 applies both ways. Jesus would never expect us to forgive our neighbor 70 times 7, if He didn't forgive us the same way. All too often I expect God to be merciful to the 'poor sinner' me & yet expect perfection from the people around me. How hypocritical! If anything, we should be even more merciful to those who haven't yet seen the light of truth. "Father forgive them, they know not what they do".
Truth 3 - He never lets us take more than we can handle. This truth is straight out of Scripture; 1 Corinthians 10 states '. God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear...' Sometimes I wonder - "God is this some sort of backhand compliment - that you think I can bear all this??!" Yet, undeniably, this scripture proves that when we've 'reached our limit' , things definitely will get better. God really loves us.
Truth 4 - God will make a way, where there seems to be no way. One of my favorite hymns, and also the continuation of 1 Corinthians 10 ". But when you are tempted , he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." When you think about it, it seems only natural of a Just God. If He allows temptation, surely He will provide a way out! Praise be to our loving, providing God!
Truth 5 - God's ways are not our ways. Just as I felt 'let down' from 'safe' corners, I found help in the strangest of places. I realized the truth in Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways ," declares the LORD". I also was reminded of a close friend's words of wisdom to me some time back "We do ourselves a great disservice, when we tell God how to solve our problems". Instead of telling God what we want & how we want it, let's practice the art of trusting God more & more in every area of our life.
Truth 6 - After the rain, comes the rainbow. I praise our God who made the rain and who made the rainbow. I praise Him because He knows we appreciate little things in life so much more when we've had to do without them. And I praise Him because He's a dependable God. He'll never send the rain & not send the sun to brighten it up afterwards. And a rainbow, His beautiful signature in the sky, to remind us that He keeps all His promises to us.
If you're going through a tough time in your life, I pray that through the strength of God you may stand firm through it and come out victorious. Put on the Armor of God (Eph 6:10-18) and trust in Him - If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. Amen.
Blessing on you & your family in every moment of your lives,
October 2004
"I am learning that in difficult times God uses these same people (whom from my point of view seem to let me down) to make me more and more, no... totally, dependent on him (I'm still learning).
This I believe, is His ultimate plan for my life. My life on earth with all it's ups and let-downs (!) is a preparation to share eternity with Him. Humanly speaking, I think people let me down because of my expectations or probably because I allow them to do so. Rom 8:28. Praise the Lord!"
