In this life, we are bombarded with all kinds of problems. Some of them big, and some of them small...and there's one thing that I have figured out as I've traveled this road....Problems are here to stay and I had better learn how to co-exist or I will find myself stuck in a world of defeat. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to just go and hide, and just hope that my problems would just vanish while I was out! ....You know, put an "out for lunch" sign on the door of my life....I know you know the feeling! That feeling of, "If I could, I would just find myself a rock and crawl far beneath it, until my end comes!" .... Have you ever felt like this? When your mind wonders if life would be better, if God would just call you home {quietly}while you slept. When it's just too much and there seems to be no refuge!
I mean, I know that the Bible says to faint not, but sometimes fainting doesn't sound half bad, if it will rid me of all of these troubles! Ever felt that way? You don't have to tell me, but I know that if you could, you would faint right now, and pray that those problems would be gone when you came to! Well, maybe that's just me!
Seriously, there are times when fainting is NOT an option, and we must face whatever challenges may come our way. Some may come as a result of disobedience, while others may be ordered by God to take you to a place of trusting. Fainting is nothing more than "giving up"...throwing in the towel! washing our hands of a situation! But what happens when God refuses to allow you to opt out? Remember Jonah? When God gave him something to do, he decided to "opt out" and do something different. Well, opting out wasn't an option for him because God had something for him to do. And what about Elijah? Who ran up under a tree and literally asked God to take his life so that he wouldn't have to face adversity. God sent an Angel to tell him, "boy, get up from here, go wash your face, eat this food to strengthen yourself, and come on here! God was just letting him know that, there won't be no dying here today, I got plans for you. So I'm here to let you know, that your request to "opt out"...to "faint".....to "die and leave your troubles behind" ...has been denied! So get up, strengthen yourself, and let's get it!
Now, it would be unfair of me, if I allowed you to think that this is an easy place to be and that I have figured out how to keep troubles away, HOWEVER, what I can tell you is this! There is only one place that you can run for shelter and it is to the Rock that is higher than both you and I! If you need to climb up under something, climb up under that rock! Jesus is that rock, and he wants you to know that joy really does come at daybreak! Satan may abide in your mid- nights, but he has no dwelling place at your break of day! Hallelujah!
So go ahead and climb under a rock, but make sure that rock is Jesus! Psalms 61:2 says, "lead me to a rock, that is higher than I" meaning that HE can lead you to a place of refuge! a place of stability! You are holding on to Jesus with every ounce of strength that you have, but what I want to let you know is this! Even when YOUR strength fails you and the pain seems to overtake you! Dying in the midst of your storm is NOT an option for you! But YOU CAN run to the rock!...See, He knows about pain that refuses to let go! He knows what it's like to have your request to "opt out" be denied, and have to bear that cup anyway!! Oh, but at daybreak....if you just hold on! You will hear from the "joy giver!" The one who endured pain that would not "let go" until He had paid the ultimate price with his life!!! Don't believe me? Ask Him! Go ahead! Ask him about the joy that comes at daybreak!!! and then begin to thank him that He never "opted out" on you!! You are on your way to victory!! Lift your hands in praise to the "ROCK" of your salvation!!!!
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