Sweet Solitude

When I was younger, I hated being alone. I wanted people and noise all around me at all times. When things became quiet and I was left to myself, I literally did not know what to do. Sometimes I would waste my time by watching some senseless TV show. Or I would try to busy myself with some task to avoid feeling isolated. Even so, a deep sense of loneliness would creep over me and before long my emotions would get the best of me. I would mistake being alone with being unloved and undesired. I did not take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy being by myself. I did not know God intimately and so speaking to Him or reading from His Word never even occurred to me. Thankfully now that I am older and know the Lord, I can honestly say that I savor the time when I am completely alone. No noise, no people, just me and my God. I have also learned over the years that I really am not alone at all. Jesus is with me every minute of every day.

I find it interesting that even Jesus took time to be alone by Himself and His Father. At times He literally sent people away so that He could be alone and pray. "After He dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23" Usually He would awaken early to go off by Himself to pray. "At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. Luke 4:42" Being alone and seeking this solitude was an important priority for Jesus and even in His very busy schedule, He made the time to be alone with his Father. He knew that He could not do His work or maintain His fellowship in full power without His quiet time.

It is during these “alone” times that I have learned the most about God. Of course there is a place for “corporate” worship, prayer, and bible study groups, etc., but the times when I have felt the closest to God are the times when I have been completely alone with Him. The times He has revealed the deepest revelations to me are the times when I have been alone. The times I have found peace sweeping over my anxious thoughts are not the times when I have been busy talking things over with friends, but the times when I have been on my knees alone. I have come to realize that spending time ALONE with God is absolutely necessary if I desire to grow spiritually. Solitude with God has nurtured my relationship with Him in a way nothing else has. Spending this quality time with the Lord daily equips me to meet life’s many challenges and struggles. He gives me His power, His grace, and above all His perspective, which is so much better than mine.

My questions is “If Jesus had to get up very early just to get some “alone” time with God, how much more is this true for us today?” We must not get so busy that life turns into a flurry of activity leaving no room for quiet fellowship alone with God. The acronym for BUSY is "Being Under Satan’s Yoke". I am quite sure that Satan loves it when we are distracted and too busy to spend time alone with God. We may being doing all the right things with all the right people in all the right motives; however, if we make no room for God we will be acting in our own strength and it is only a matter of time before we “burn out”. Strength comes from God, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with Him. There is power of a life hidden in Christ.

Andrew Bonar once said, “In order to grow in grace, we must be much alone. It is not in society that the soul grows most vigorously. In one single quiet hour of prayer it will often make more progress than in days of company with others.” How true this statement is! No large growth in holiness will ever be gained by someone who does not take the time to be often and long, alone with God.

Remember there will always be plenty of things clamoring for our attention, many of them good things. My challenge to you is to seek first the kingdom of God. Enter into His presence by spending time with God first, and our very great reward will be that He will give us His power, His strength, and His wisdom. We will walk away from this time with him not feeling lonely or unloved, but refreshed, energized, and ready to conquer anything that comes our way. How? Because we have fed our Spirits with the living God who empowers and equips us for every good work that He has prepared for us to do. Best of all, we won’t tire out, and we won’t ever feel lonely.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

Be still and know that I am God. Isaiah 46:10

Unceasing Prayer

As Christians we know that Christ lives within us. That means he is in the very center of our physical being. He is in the midst of our brain, and in the midst of our nerve centers. He dwells within us physically and spiritually and the more mindful we are of His presence, the more prayerful we will be. Prayer is nothing more than keeping company with God. Far too long I have limited my prayer time with God to routine morning devotions. It always felt wonderful starting my morning with God and I felt energized and empowered to live a life worthy of Him. However, more often than not, by the time late afternoon arrived, I would find myself becoming impatient, annoyed and quickly falling into that slippery slope of sinfulness. It always bothered me that I could spend such wonderful communion with the Lord and yet by the end of the day all visible traces of any godliness were totally absent. It is becoming apparent to me that not only is setting aside time each day for solitude with God imperative, I must learn to walk “moment by moment” with Him. Only then will I be able to truly live out the Christian life God desires for me. How do you keep company with God like that?

The Bible gives us the answer… pray unceasingly (1 Thes 5:17). But how on earth can we pray unceasingly? We have jobs to do, places to go, people to meet. I believe I found the answer this morning in my quiet time with the Lord. Unceasing prayer means keeping company with God all the time. It is conversing with Him frequently throughout the day because we realize that He is with us all the time. There is never a time we are apart. We become so conscious of God that we begin to include Him in every detail of our lives. And yes, it means we inquire of Him before we make decisions…both big and small. It means knowing He cares so much about us that He desires to help us in making our choices. Lord, is this the right time for our family to own a pet? Lord, what type of washing machine should I purchase? Lord, I need help in managing my finances. Lord, should I apply for this job? God wants to be in every facet of our lives. Not just our morning devotions! Yet, how often do we just leave Him there, forgetting to invite Him into the rest of our day? I have been guilty of doing that over and over and then I wonder why things just didn’t turn out quite right. I prayed to you this morning Lord. Wasn’t that enough?

Corrie ten Boom, a wonderful and dedicated Christian, once said, “Is prayer your steering wheel or is it your spare tire?” Wow! That is powerful. That is a challenge for all of us. I know there is more of God to discover. Deeper conversations to be had. More secrets from His Word to be revealed. We have to remember though that prayer is not some “magical formula” that will grant us all our wishes. Prayer is an integral part of our relationship with God. Prayer is simply talking with God. It is pouring out our soul to Him, telling Him our deepest desires, our hurts, and our concerns. One of the primary ways God speaks loudly is through the pages of the Bible. It is our job to listen, to meditate and ponder on what He says. He will comfort us, encourage us, challenge us, convict us, and show us a larger view of Himself if we but take the time to immerse ourselves in His Word. But when He speaks, He also requires a response from us. We communicate that response in prayer. It may be silent reverence, it may be thanksgiving, it may be repentance, it may be commitment, or it may be a yielding of our own will to His. The Bible will change our prayer life and lift it to new heights.

I have a challenge for you (and me)--next time you find yourself worrying, immediately begin to pray. Tell God what you are worried about and let His peace flow through you. You must always remember that He is in control. Worrying does not help us one bit. When you find yourself not knowing what to say to a friend in need, quickly ask God to whisper to your heart and give you the right words. When you need to make a quick decision about something, step away for a moment, and ask the Lord for guidance in making the right choice.

As we begin to live a life of prayer in fellowship with our Lord, we will begin to experience a peace that is independent of feelings or circumstances. This is one of the many blessings God gives to His children. And always remember, we are never alone. God is with us always, beckoning and wooing us to come to Him.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes 5:16-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God; And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

God's Point of View

I just finished reading a true-story of a man who lost his entire family in a flash flood in Kansas during the summer of 2003. His wife and four young children all died as the floodwaters engulfed them. In a split second his entire life changed. He was the sole survivor left to carry on without his precious family. It was a gut-wrenching story to read but it spoke volumes about his character and his eternal perspective. Although grief-stricken beyond belief, he was able to carry on because he knew God and His promise of eternal life with Him one day. I could relate to his story because, I too, have experienced extreme sorrow when my own 9 year old son died in a freak accident many years ago. Although I did not have a personal relationship with God at the time, the intense grief and sorrow paved the way to a relationship with my Lord. I quickly discovered that no one nor anything could give me the hope I so desperately needed. I found that hope in Jesus alone. I began reading the Bible and took Him at His word. Over time, He gave me an eternal perspective and I realized that He used my suffering, tears and pain to give me a new vision and purpose for my life. It was to know, love, obey and serve Him. I did not have all the answers to why these horrible tragedies occur, but I didn’t need to know why. I just needed to trust Him and know that He would use them for my good and for His glory.

As I immersed myself in His Word I began to get God’s point of view. His promises filled me with hope and increased my faith exponentially. Since we live in a fallen world, it is inevitable that we are going to experience pain, disappointments, and sorrow. When earthly dreams disappoint and our future seems to be on hold, what will enable us to carry on? When people fail or hurt us, what will we turn to? When sorrow comes knocking on our door, what will bring us hope? Every single day of our lives we need God’s perspective or we will surely fall apart.

We’ve got a choice. We can look at life two ways. Either we can look at what is seen, what is temporal. This consists of man’s view of his feelings and circumstances and is seen and experienced with the physical eye. Or we can look at life at what is not seen, yet is eternal. This is God’s eternal perspective. We may not be able to see with physical eyes since it is invisible, but nevertheless it is true and real. This perspective gives us hope and anchors our soul and is totally independent of any outside events or circumstances.

There is only one place where we can find God’s point of view and that is in the Bible. It is there that we will gain God’s perspective on any given situation. But in order to do so, there are a few things we need to do.

• We must be a Christian. (You must first be a Christian to understand spiritual things. 1 Cor 2:6-26)
• We must acknowledge our present situation in life. (You can’t gain a proper perspective if you deny your circumstances. The truth will set you free.)
• We must discover God’s point of view in His Word. (Find God’s promises related to your situation in life. Forego telling all the friends and neighbors your situation. Go to God instead.)
• We must take God at His Word. (Act according to the eternal perspective you see in God’s Word. Walk by faith, not be sight.)

Remember that faith is a choice, a decision, not a feeling. It is important to act on God’s Word and not just read it. Inotherwords, be a doer. What good is it if we fill our mind with God’s truth but don’t live it out? As we gain an eternal perspective, we will experience the power of God’s Word at work in our lives. We will be walking by faith and not by sight!

Life on earth is but a brief moment compared to eternity. So let us make it a priority to see God in everything and live the brief life He gave us on earth in light of our eternal life with Christ.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:18

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Heb 11:6

Throw out the Fleece!

Remember the story of Gideon and the fleece? God called Gideon to be Israel’s deliverer. The Lord assured him on numerous occasions that He would be with him and allow him to strike down all the Midianites in battle. Gideon needed visible signs though…lots of them. First he asked for a sign that it was really the Lord who was speaking to him. So God obliged him and consumed the sacrifice with fire that Gideon prepared. With much excitement Gideon realized that he had seen the angel of the Lord face to face! (Judges 6:22). God again assured him that he would not die and told him not to be afraid. But his emotions got the best of him and being wary and unconfident, he chose to ask God again for clarity and assurance. He told God that he would lay out a fleece on the threshing floor and if dew was only on the fleece and the ground was dry then he would know for sure that God would save Israel by his hand. Once again, God granted his request. A third time Gideon asked to make one more request and this time if the fleece was dry and the ground was covered with dew, then he would know for absolute certain that God was indeed going to save Israel by his hand. Wow! Three times Gideon requested signs from God regarding the same matter. Was he putting God to the test or was he simply asking for reassurance and confirmation? One might say that his motive was right, but maybe his approach or method was a little less than ideal.

I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with asking God for guidance. In fact, God welcomes it. But could it be that continually demanding extra signs is an indication of unbelief? Or was Gideon’s faith just a little weak? Maybe he really didn’t think that God could do all that He said He would. In my own Christian walk I have learned that there are degrees to faith. As a new believer, I’d often make special requests of God to confirm in my heart that it was His voice I heard. Often I would not believe unless I had some visible sign or great manifestation or feeling. God was so gracious to me and understood that I needed more tangible evidence of His presence or answer to prayer. So, I too, put out my fleece. Although this is true faith, it is imperfect faith. It seems to always look for some token or feeling beside the Word of God. An advance in faith is when we can believe and trust God without needing “proof” or experiencing overwhelming emotions all the time. The highest form of faith believes and trusts God and His Word when all circumstances, emotions, people, and human reason urge to the contrary. God gave us His Word and it is truly the greatest means of guidance and wisdom that we have available to us. It is His complete and fully revealed truth. What else do we need? I must admit that I vacillate between the three types of faith. Sometimes, my faith is so strong that I just know because I know. God has proved Himself faithful to me over and over again and no amount of emotion or tangible sign will make me love or trust Him more than I already do. Then at other times, I seem to be like Gideon and I want confirmation over and over again before I will budge. Is it really you, Lord? Can you please just give me another sign and then I’ll do what you want.

While I know that God’s answers to our prayers are sometimes clearly evident, sometimes He allows us to go through seasons of “waiting”. Maybe it is in these waiting periods when He just wants us to lay our burdens down, sit at His feet, seek Him alone, and bask in His presence. Maybe we don’t need all that fleece. Can it be that just being still and knowing that He is God is sufficient enough? Can it be that just believing He loves us is truly all we need? Sure, there may be times when we need to know for certain that we have heard from God before we act, especially on important matters, but let us not make that an excuse for inactivity or disobedience. Sometimes fear makes us want to wait for more confirmation. While God is often gracious enough to give us these visible signs, if we come to expect or demand them we are keeping ourselves from growing in our faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1

Remember that relying only on “putting out fleeces” is a poor decision-making method. When we do this we put limitations on God. We are asking Him to fit into our expectations and then bless our methods. I think God prefers we seek after Him with all of our hearts through prayer and Bible study. He tells us to ask, seek, and knock. If we do, we’ll get all the answers, wisdom and guidance we need. And although we may still pull it out occasionally, we’ll actually be okay without the fleece!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

School of Suffering

We do everything possible to avoid it. In fact, we go out of our way to steer clear of it. We run; we hide; we shun it. No one is immune from it, and one day, it will come knocking on our door. We will not welcome it in, but it will burst open the door, force its way in, unannounced, and certainly uninvited. What is this most unpleasant thing that we would rather not have anything to do with? It is our arch-enemy, our rival. And its name is Suffering.

I don’t think I know of anyone who welcomes this tyrant. When it makes its visit, we resist, we wail and scream, and we fight it with all our strength. Unfortunately, it is much stronger than we are, and we quickly succumb to its overwhelming brute force. To those around us it is quite apparent that we are not in a “happy” state of mind. Our emotions overwhelm us, and we outwardly show the world this pain we are in through various ways. Some of us cry uncontrollably, others withdraw into our own world, and still others openly complain about our situation. Only the “seasoned” sufferer takes it in stride and is able to manage his pain for he has learned the secret of how to live with it.

I’ve often wondered why we shun suffering so much. After all, Jesus himself suffered immensely for our salvation. How is it that we think we can avoid it? Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulation, but we are to take heart for He has overcome the world. I must admit that if I had not personally experienced extreme suffering myself, I would still not understand the purpose of it at all. I’ve heard it said that the school of suffering graduates rare scholars. Something happens in this “school of suffering” that transforms us in ways that nothing else can. Faith grows exponentially, we loosen our grip on the things of this world, and we seek to know God in deeper and more profound ways. We want an answer for our suffering. Why God, have you allowed this debilitating disease to ravage my body? Why God, did you allow my little boy to die? Why God, must I carry such deep wounds from being unloved by my parents? These and many more “whys” fill our minds and grieve our souls. We simply must have an answer, and suffering provokes us to find it. Ironically, we will not find the answers to our suffering through the world itself. We find and make peace with our suffering only when we turn to Jesus. Even so, often our pain lingers for what seems like an eternity. Yet God miraculously gives us a new perspective—His perspective, and it sure is better than ours. Ours seeks to reason and rationalize—His shows us an eternal glory that awaits us if we persevere. Ours wants the suffering to end—His asks us to come unto Him and He will help us through our trials.

Dr. Charles Parkhurst said that “To do and suffer God’s will is still the highest form of faith. Great faith is exhibited not so much in ability to do as to suffer.” I challenge you to think back for a moment on some of the trials you have suffered through. Were you not able to comfort or encourage someone else going through a similar experience? Those who are most effective at helping and sympathizing with others are those who have also paid the high price of affliction. He who would be a helper, must first be a sufferer. Likewise, we must never forget that to have a sympathizing God, we first had to have a suffering Savior. Jesus suffered everything imaginable from loneliness, to hunger, to persecution, to rejection, and ultimately death on a cross. Yes, Jesus can sympathize with us in our troubles and sorrows. And He alone can heal and mend a broken heart.

Next time you find yourself in the unwanted “school of suffering,” lean close to the One who loves you so much and who wants to use this pain, this trial, this discomfort, to not only refine your character, but to bring you to Himself in a new and fresh way so that you can help those who are also suffering, thereby bringing God the glory He so deserves. Jesus, our suffering Servant, endured the cross for “the joy set before Him”. Ask Him to give you the ability to endure your cross, your suffering for the joy and glory set before you. The only way to get through it and be refined by it is to take His hand, His strength, and His power. You’ll be amazed at what He can do through you, and with time you will find an incredible blessing behind all your pain.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be oeverjoyed whi His glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12

Not only so, be we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoiont us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:3-5

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Heb 2:10

“The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11

Got JOY?

On a scale of 1 to 10 what is your Joy factor? Are you feeling healthy and vibrant? Are you successful in your career? Are you surrounded by wonderful and loving people? Do you have plenty of money in the bank? Do you drive around in a new car and live in clean suburban neighborhood? Good. Then you’ve got joy, right? Wrong!!! These things may make you happy, but they do not bring you Joy. Oblige me for a moment while I explain.

Happiness is circumstantial…it depends on outward experiences and happenings. Joy is intrinsic—it is an inward experience and does not depend on circumstances. Everyone desires to be happy and live a carefree and fun-filled life. So, they seek to do the very things that they believe will bring them this happiness. They go to college to get a good-paying job, they exercise for health benefits, and they take regular vacations to enjoy life to its fullest. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing these things either. Furthermore, it is quite easy to be happy when things are going well. But what happens when life throws you a curveball and you lose your job, your health deteriorates, or a loved one dies? What then? Obviously you aren’t “happy” about these things. Does that mean it is time to start complaining, sulking, and blaming others for your misfortune?

Have you considered being “joyful” even in these difficult situations? “How can I be joyful,” you ask “when things are falling apart all around me?” Joy is in direct contrast to happiness and it runs much deeper and stronger. Unlike happiness, joy does not depend on good or positive experiences. You can be joyful even if there is great sorrow all around you. Joy is the quiet and confident assurance that no matter what happens, you are loved by God and He will never leave nor forsake you. This kind of joy can come only from a deep abiding relationship with your heavenly Father. It comes from being dedicated to and living for Jesus Christ. Even when things aren’t going well and we “feel” like complaining, we can rest assured that Christ still reigns, He is still in control, and He will work all things for good for those who love Him.

Consider Paul who endured so much opposition and suffering. Not only was he repeatedly beaten and put in prison, he truly suffered for Christ. He was hungry, he was cold, he was alone, yet he considered “everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus.” No matter what his circumstances were, he learned to be content, and he focused all his attention and energy on knowing and obeying Christ. Wow, what a role model to follow! In his letter to the Philippians, he exhorts us to be joyful in suffering, in serving, in believing, and in giving. He wants us to be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6

We’re flesh and blood and it is inevitable that we will feel discouraged at times. However, we must always remember that God’s Spirit is alive and well and living inside each one of His believers. He is the one enabling us to carry on. He is the one who initiates, enables and sustains us from day to day. We may be incomplete and lacking, but He is not! God will never give up on us even though we may give up on ourselves at times. We must learn to rest in His promises and His truth. He will do far more than we can ever expect or anticipate. Our job is simply to rest in Him and trust Him. And remember that trusting is not passive—it is active faith. Read and meditate on His written Word, pour out your heart to Jesus, and walk obediently with Him. He may not take away or change your situation overnight, but He will change something—He will transform you from the inside out. Your attitude will change and your perspective will begin to mirror His. A peace that surpasses all understanding will flood your soul and you will begin to get the mind of Christ.

Maybe it is time to revisit those two words. Are you “happy” or do you have “joy”? Don’t allow your present circumstances to rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him. Let’s face it, in this world we will have troubles. Jesus says so Himself. But He also says that He has overcome the world. He is bigger than anything that concerns you. He sees beyond your painful trials and circumstances. He alone knows the end of the story. All He asks of you is to take Him at His Word and take His hand. He will journey with you through the good times and the not so good times. He’s done it for me and I know He’ll do it for you.

Don’t waste your time pursuing fleeting experiences in an effort to evoke a temporary “high” in your life. And don’t just settle for “Happy.” Happiness will elude you as soon as the going gets tough. Personally, I want to live in a constant state of euphoria…a deeper joy that truly surpasses any fleeting experience. That is why I chose Jesus. He is my true and lasting Joy!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes 5:16-18

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16

Security in the Storm

Every human being ever born, whether he or she realizes it or not, craves security. At times we even go to unhealthy extremes to get it. Some people stay in unhealthy relationships for the hope of achieving security; others spend countless hours away from home and family in the pursuit of money expecting that financial security is all they need; and still there are others who become rather self-indulgent anticipating that the beauty treatments, plastic surgeries, and muscularly toned bodies will bring them the love and recognition they so crave. Don’t misunderstand me…we are wired to crave security. Needing to feel loved and taken care of is not wrong. The question is: Where are we going to get it? We must stop and ask ourselves from time to time how much of our security lies in our possessions, position, reputation or appearance. The ironic thing is that we all know that possessions can be destroyed, relationships can be broken, beauty fades with time, and for each one of us death is inevitable.

Real security is found only beyond this life. It can only be found when our security rests in God alone and His unchanging nature. Even though our circumstances change continuously, He is the only constant in our lives. And only with Him can we face this uncertain future with hope and peace.

I just finished studying the Book of Esther and it brought to light that Esther’s life was filled with many challenges and uncertainties. Although she was a beautiful queen who found favor with King Xerxes, the Persian king, her security did not lie in being Queen of Persia. Tradition in those days was rather cruel and it was not uncommon for a king to show his disapproval by killing those who did not respond in an appropriate fashion. In fact, his first wife Queen Vashti was exiled (and possibly killed) for not coming to him when summoned. Queen Esther was a Jewess (unbeknownst to the king) who replaced her. No doubt she walked around on pins and needles wondering what her fate might be. When a plan was made by the king’s right hand man to annihilate all the Jews, she fasted and prayed for three days before she entered into the king’s presence. She knew that she could have been killed simply by not being invited to speak to him. Edicts were irrevocable, and punishment was extreme to say the least. In fact, it didn’t surprise me to learn that the ancient Persians were the ones to come up with the tortuous crucifixion as a means of humiliation and death.

It is interesting to note that although God’s name is not mentioned once in this Old Testament book, it is quite obvious that His name is imprinted invisibly on every single page. He may have appeared to remain “unmentioned or anonymous”, but His work and sovereign plan for Esther’s and the Jews’ lives is clearly evident. In the end, God turned the tables around and the Queen and all the Jews were spared from annihilation.

This makes me wonder how many times God has turned the table around for me and I did not even know it? How many times has he protected me from harm’s way or not allowed me to get something I may have wanted and even prayed for because He alone knew that it would not be good for me. How many times have I grumbled because I didn’t get what I wanted totally unaware of the fact that He was only looking out for my best interest? Maybe that job I wanted would have caused me undue stress and turmoil. Maybe that friendship would have been harmful to me and caused me to stumble. Maybe that extra raise would have allowed me to become greedy and self-reliant. And maybe that period of time when my husband was unemployed was His way of teaching us that He alone is our all-sufficient Jehovah Jireh and provider.

I have learned over the years that nothing takes God by surprise. There are no “coincidences” in life. And yes, sometimes he remains completely anonymous. It our job to seek Him with all of our hearts and He promises we will find Him. It is our job to trust in Him and not in the world. Nothing the world offers can compare to the love and peace and security we find in our relationship with God. Let’s face it…we are definitely living in uncertain times. Many of us don’t know from one moment to the next if we will have a job or not. We certainly cannot rely on the crazy economy we are currently living in and the volatility of the stock market. We don’t know if our health will fail from one minute to the next. And we certainly know that death can come knocking on anyone’s door at any minute. No one is exempt. Don’t think it can’t happen to you or just happens to others. Take it from me. My very own 9 year old son was ushered into God’s presence at a birthday party of all places. As utterly devastating as that was for me, it did not surprise God one bit.

I have learned through much pain and sorrow that God is truly in control of everything and that if I place my trust in Him alone, He will see me through whatever trials or challenges that come my way. No one else I have ever met can do that for me. I have also learned that life is not so much about “smooth sailing” but in whom you trust when the boat begins to rock back and forth or the storms come with a vengeance. Do you trust in your boat’s ability to save you or possibly in the captain who is steering the boat? Or do you trust in the weatherman’s forecast and decide he’s probably wrong anyway? Are you planning to “sail through life” hoping to escape the turbulent waves in your own strength? Or are you willing to surrender self and let God be your ultimate security?” Seriously ponder that question for a little while and let it sink in deep. I hope you choose Him, because I can already see the storms brewing on the horizon.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:8-9

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1