“If not, He is still good.”

“If not, He is still good.”

Those are not words you utter once and go on the rest of your life believing with determined, unwavering resolve.  No, those are words that must rise as your soul’s song each and everyday—no matter what you are facing—even if it’s not what you expected. Through the years, that quote has been an anthem in my heart.  There have been seasons where it has been easier to accept, trust and rejoice in those words: knowing His goodness with full assurance.  And there have also been seasons where I have struggled to believe them: days (weeks…years…) when I doubt and wrestle to declare His goodness through the tears and hurt.

But through it all He is still good and His goodness is not determined by my circumstances; even if it doesn’t feel good     …      He is still good.

The enemy and my flesh lie: causing me to doubt God’s character. Maybe you can relate, in my head it sounds like this: “How could He be good if _____ happened?”  “How could He be faithful if I feel alone?”  “I know I’m supposed to wait…but it’s in my power to get it and I’d rather have it now.”  “How could He be good if I don’t have ______?”

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” — Charles Spurgeon

There have been times where I have looked at God’s commands and purpose and have believed them to be burdensome, boring, irrational, and only in place to keep me from “enjoying life”.  I know in my head that God’s plan is “good” but there have been times that I, honestly, have not desired it because I believed it wouldn’t be as fulfilling, abundant, or joy-filled as my own.  That is a lie and is the voice of my own pride and self-righteousness. Those belief’s have come from a misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of who God is and when I begin to have those thoughts I must remind myself of God’s word and ask Him to correct my view of Him so I can see Him more clearly and trust Him more deeply.  My Father, who created me, the world, and everything in it, knows how to give good & perfect gifts: in His time and in His way.  Don’t you think the One who created you and the gift would know when and how to give it? I know it is hard and will cost you follow God’s Words & walk the narrow way, but distrust of God’s plan is ultimately distrust of God Himself.  “If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

“Even if You don’t,
my hope is You alone.”

Here are some lessons God has taught me along the way about His goodness, purpose & trusting Him with the unknown:

  1. Taking your eyes off of others — your journey is not theirs. Your family, life circumstances, and future is unique and unlike any other — God designed it that way with a purpose; it is not an accident! So do not be discouraged when others seem to be getting what you desire.  Embrace the journey God has designed specifically for you and rejoice in it—rejoice that your Heavenly Father writes no two stories the same!
  2. Fix Your eyes on Jesus and set your mind on His heavenly purpose.   “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)  I know that it doesn’t seem like it in the moment: when you’re alone, faced with a devastating diagnosis, buried under piles of work and a busy schedule, trying to reconcile the loss of a loved one while learning how to live again…I am reminded of Job’s words: “the Lord has given and the Lord has taken away” there will be times in life when those words feel harder to speak than ever; but through God’s grace and strength it is possible to face whatever is attempting to crush you and worship Him in the midst of the storm. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. 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”
  3. Cherish the season you are currently in. We tend to glamorize and daydream about every season in life except the one we are currently in.  We think “how much better it will be” and set unattainable expectations; but the truth is that there are difficult parts in every season and where you are right now is full of purpose: it is necessary and preparing you for what God has for you to walk through next.  Do not wish every season of life away — rather be grateful: assured that God is teaching you lessons right now that you couldn’t learn any other way. “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

I pray, no matter where you are in life, that you would be able to embrace God’s plan and purpose for you—it’s not easy but He is trustworthy and you can rest assured that He is who He says He is.  I pray you would be able to rejoice, celebrate and cherish Jesus and His words—that you would surrender your plans to Him.  He is good and faithful to do exceedingly more than you could ever hope, imagine, or dream for yourself.

 

Psalm 84:11 —
“The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold
from those who walk uprightly.”

Deuteronomy  10:20-21 —
“Fear the Lord your God and serve Him
Hold fast to Him.
He is your praise.”

Deuteronomy 26:11  —
“REJOICE in all the good things
the Lord your God has given to you.”

Crazy Love

“Our goal as people who follow Christ should be no less than becoming people who are madly in love with God.”

“God wants us to trust Him with abandon. He wants to show us how He works and cares for us.  He wants to be our refuge.” – Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Yes, this book came out in 2008 (10 years ago?!) and I just read it for the 1st time last month… but: Whew. It’s good.  Francis Chan writes about the love of God and the way our lives would look if we truly lived out the words of Jesus and lived as He intended us to. God did not send His Son so we could simply sit in pews and listen to “good sermons” week after week; lives wasted in useless routine. Those have a place of importance but they do not bring salvation or a relationship with Jesus.  Following Jesus & looking like Him is not burdensome but is natural and a mere overflow—not a checkbox on a list—when we are consumed and motivated His ever faithful, gracious, never-failing love.  I remember when I stopped looking at church, Jesus, and the Bible as a set of rules and it completely changed my whole perspective. I realized that God created joy and has called us to a life of abundant purpose in Him: not in material, temporary wealth. He doesn’t keep us from enjoyment, He gives us boundaries so we can enjoy Himself & His blessings to the fullest.  1 John 5:3-4 says: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 

Self-sacrifice, faith, love and joy will define our daily lives when we have a clear view of Christ & His love.  Thru reading this book, these are a few questions I was challenged to ask myself:

  • In what areas in my life am I actively walking by faith? 
  • What am I doing to reach out to those who I typically wouldn’t?
  • Am I seeking my own safety and comfort more than God’s design and will for my life?
  • How am I practically, daily laying my life down for others?
  • What risks am I taking, trusting that God will guide and provide?
  • What places in my heart and mind have grown apathetic and complacent?

These are questions I know I’ll be asking for the rest of my life and I’m grateful for books like these that reveal places in my heart where I’ve been holding onto pride, selfishness and unbelief.  Definitely a book I see myself picking up again in the future.  Here are my favorite quotes:

“There are reason that we are where we are and who we are—they aren’t random.  It is the same with joy in our lives.  We tend to think of joy as something that ebbs sand flows depending on the day or season of life we’re in.  But joy is something that doesn’t come and go; it is something we must choose and work for.  It needs cultivation.  When life gets painful or something doesn’t go as we hoped, it’s normal for a bit of our joy to slip away.  But the Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life. — A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with their character than their comfort. Those who are overwhelmed by God’s love know that true joy does not depend on environment or circumstances. It is a gift that must be CHOSEN and CULTIVATED; a gift that ultimately comes from God.”

“The American church loves to make celebrities of their saints. To make the stories known of humble people who serve Christ faithfully. There can be a tragic consequence to this: too many people fall for the praise and start to believe that they really are something special. It’s pride. Plain & simple, that keeps me from giving God all the glory and keeping some of it for myself.”

“People who are obsessed with God are raw & honest before Him. They do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sin or failure…they know God is their refuge, a safe place, where they can be at peace.”

“Awhile back I had a free evening and had the idea to go to the store and buy some items for those in need. It was a good idea and something I wanted my life to be characterized by, but it was embarrassing because I realized that everyone I knew had enough. I didn’t know many people who were true in need & I needed to change that. I needed to go and intentionally meet those who don’t live like me, think like I do, & who could never repay me.  Most people think about life on earth way too much—all our time, energy, and money is channeled on that which is temporary. When Christians sacrifice & give wildly to the poor, that is truly a light that glimmers. When people gladly sacrifice their time or comfort or home it is obvious that they trust in the promises of God. People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way—Jesus talked about money & the poor so often because it is really important to Him.”

“‘What are you doing right now that requires faith?’—That question affected me deeply because at that time I could think of nothing in my life that required faith.  I probably wouldn’t be living very differently if I didn’t believe in God.  My life was neither ordered nor affected by my faith like I had assumed it was.  Furthermore: when I looked around, I realized that I was surrounded by people who lived the same way I did.  Life is comfortable when you separate yourself from people who are different from you.  That epitomizes what my life was like: characterized by comfort.  But God doesn’t call us to comfort. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come thru.”

“It ought to be the business of everyday to prepare for our final day.”

“The concept of downsizing so that others might upgrade is Biblical, beautiful…and nearly unheard of today. Dare to imagine what it would mean for you to take the words of Jesus seriously.  Dare to imagine your own children in poverty…dare to believe that those really are your brothers and sisters.”

“We are loaded down with too many good things, more than we could ever need, while others are desperate for water & their next meal. The good things we hoard are more than just money: we hoard our time, resources, gifts, families, and friends. When we begin the practice of regular giving we see how ludicrous it is to hold onto the abundance God has given us and merely repeat the words ‘thank you.’”

“There is more to faith than friendliness, politeness, or even kindness. I think that we sometimes assume that because we are nice people, people will know that we are Christians and want to know more about Jesus.  [the great commission, our call and purpose is not simply to be nice] True faith is loving a person after they have hurt you: that love and faith is incomprehensible to the world.  Who has hurt you? Who do you avoid? Who avoids you? Am I willing to do good to those people?  To reach out to them?”

 

Hinds’ Feet on High Places

“‘I am afraid,’ she said ‘I have been told that if you really love someone you give that loved one the power to hurt and pain you in a way nothing else can’…’To love does mean to put yourself into the power of the loved one and to become very vulnerable to pain, and you are very Much-Afraid of pain, are you not?’ ‘Yes, very much afraid of it’ she replied, shamefacedly. ‘But it is so happy to love, even if you are not loved in return. There is pain too certainly, but Love does not think that very significant.’” (pg 11)

“O Shepherd, when you said that love and pain go together…how truly You spoke.” (pg. 36)

What is your greatest fear? Can you relate to weighing pro’s and con’s only to allow fear to paralyze you from making a decision? What fears have you faced?  Fear of the unknown?  Fear of rejection?  I’ve been asking myself: what have I grown so accustomed to living in fear of that it’s become a part of who I am, that I’ve stopped fighting against and have accepted as “normal.”  What is this fear holding me back from? Who would I be and where would I be if it no longer bound me? What if I was completely free from fear…. ?

“You, my Lord, never regarded me as I actually was, lame and weak and crooked and cowardly. You saw me as I would be. You always treated me with the same love and graciousness as though I were a queen already and not wretched little Much-Afraid.” (pg 230)

Near the end of 2016 I was sitting in a circle with girls from church and we were discussing this topic of fear.  When it was my turn to confess my greatest fear I responded: “Losing those I love.”  Not knowing all the changes that would take place in my life in 2017, I know look back and know that God knew my greatest fear and that I needed to surrender it to Him.  In 2017 one of my dear friends from that circle looked at me in the eyes and said: “Do you remember what your greatest fear was?”  I nodded. And I took it as her saying: “You’re still here. You’re walking through your greatest fear. God’s holding you and He’s in control.”

“Will you suffer yourself to lose or be deprived of all that you have gained on this journey to the High Places? Will you go down this path of forgiveness into the valley of loss, just because it is the way that I have chosen for you? Will you trust and still love me?” (pg 161)

“Every circumstance in life, no matter how crooked and distorted and ugly it appears to be, if it is reacted to in love and forgiveness and obedience to Your will, can be transformed..that is the only real satisfactory way of dealing with evil: not simply binding it so it cannot work harm, but whenever possible: overcoming it with good.” (pg 230)

Fast forward to January 2018 and I’m reading “Hinds Feet on High Places”—a book about a girl named “Much-Afraid” whose fear has crippled and deformed her, she then meets the Shepherd (Jesus) who promises to transform her and make her as the deer who leap without fear as they follow Him.  During her journey Suffering and Sorrow join as her companions and Much-Afraid learns to embrace them as an essential part of the journey.

“It is only up on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour themselves down in an utter abandonment of self-giving…I never knew before, that the Valley is such a beautiful place and so full of song.”  (pg. 47)

I’ve also been listening to a podcast called “Going Scared,” where women share their stories of courage and emphasize that courage is not the absence of fear but rather is going despite of your fears.

“Remember also that it is always safe to obey My voice, even if it seems to call you to a paths which look impossible or even crazy.” (pg 80)

So I’ve been thinking again…what do I fear?

“He will never be content until He makes me what He is determined I ought to be. I wonder what He plans to do next and if it will hurt very much indeed?” (pg 166)

“Always go forward along the path of obedience as far as you know it until I intervene, even if it seems to be leading you where you fear I could never mean you to go.” (pg 175)

At the root of all my fear is unbelief and a lack of trust in God. While reading “Hinds Feet on High Places” I saw myself in Much-Afraid & I can relate to the way her fears crippled her.  And I remind myself that in reality, I have no reason to be afraid: when I focus on Christ & His promises–I know He will take care of me.  I know He’s going to guide me, even though the path seems unclear at times. I can cast all my cares & fears on Him, because He cares for me.  Don’t forget that He cares.  He really, truly does.  You can trust your greatest fear in His hands: He does not promise that you’ll never face it, it simply promises that He will be with you.  And that is enough.

“She marveled at the grace, love, tenderness, and patience which had led, trained, guarded, and kept poor faltering Much-Afraid, which had not allowed her to turn back, and which had now changed all her trials into glory.” (pg 217)

“Because He is with me, I will fear no evil, what can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod & Your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
“The Lord is my light & my salvation, whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

“All she can do is to gasp with wonder, awe and thanksgiving and to long with all her heart to go higher and to see and to understand more…how little she had imagined, when first she set out on that strange journey, what lay ahead of her & the things that she would be called to pass through.  So for a long time she sat silent — remembering, wondering, & thankful.” (pg 226&229)

Billy did. 

Billy Graham.

November 7th, 1918 — February 21,2018

I remember reading his autobiography … reading about the way he lived: his humility and the way that, no matter how many people were in the crowds he spoke to, he remained humble. He knew that he was representing and living for a Holy God. Billy remembered who he was and made much of the amazing Savior he served.  His life was about Jesus.  So simple, yet what power there is in taking Jesus at His Word, loving Him, relying on the Holy Spirit, & loving others.

While I hear stories of people making shipwreck of their faith; I think of Billy Graham.  I think of his faithfulness and the example of his life, the boundaries he put in place to keep himself accountable and pure. The way he served others and sacrificed what others take for granted, to preach, serve people and bring them the Good News.  What others would view as a desired, glamorous life of prominence and influence comes with the reality of temptation that is more than what most men can endure.

I think about the cost his family paid for him to preach… how often he traveled and was away…

I think about him and Ruth…the letters they wrote to each other and the strain they must’ve felt at times being away from each other, yet how it seemed to only strengthen their commitment and faithfulness to what God had called them to.

I think about the way Ruth prayed for Billy and served her family while standing strong in the Lord.  What an amazing example. She knew who she was in Christ and because of that she was able to love her children and husband free of expectations.

What speaks loudest is not what one does when they are in front of crowds or influential people but who they are when they are alone. Billy knew that one day he would stand alone before God & the same is true of me.

When a person is alone or at home with their family that the place where you see who they truly are. And it is the place that most challenging: because that is where character is built.  The truest test of a person is who they are when they leave the stage and the people are gone.  Who am I then?  That is the real me.  For Billy: it was real, his family & legacy is a testament to that.  He counted anything that the world has to offer as incomparable with the gift of walking with Jesus & being a trophy of His grace.  He cast aside anything that would’ve marred his example & testimony or could’ve distracted people from receiving the gospel.  He subjected himself to a higher standard, the one that-honestly-every Christian is called to, to be an example.

And look what God did with a man who devoted himself to the truth of the Good News and living it out.

I am reminded that Billy was a man, human.  Just like me. Just like you. What set His life apart was the God whom He served with utter abandon.  And God is still the same: looking for people to take Him at His word & follow Him. And it causes me to ask myself: am I willing to sacrifice & risk it all to serve my God who has already promised to care for me, give me the words, and guide me?  Do I believe Him?  

Billy did.

…And look at what God accomplished through his life.

 

“I asked Mother how she endured so many years of goodbyes. She quoted a mountain-man who said, ‘Make the least of all that goes and the most of all that comes.’”    – Gigi Graham, daughter

 

“It is a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her that which only Jesus Christ Himself can be: always ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. Such expectations put a man under an impossible strain”    – Ruth Bell Graham

 

“As I grew older I realized that my parent’s love for one another was deeper than just the look in their eyes each time one of them came into the room. Their love was based on more than their physical and emotional attraction. It was based on solid, uncompromising commitment—first to Jesus Christ, second to the institution of marriage, and then commitment to each other.”   – Gigi Graham, daughter