Hardship: An Answer to Prayer

I know of few better ways to explain the transforming power of God than showing you how He works in my own life so that perhaps you will recognize similar trends of God working in your own. This continual transformation of my heart more often than not begins with discontentment concerning my current life situation and ends with the "peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12:11) if I have, in fact, acknowledged the Lord's training for me amidst it.

The spring air, flowers, sunshine, grass, ducks, fertilizer... ok, everything about spring makes me SMILE! I love outside and being cooped up all winter has me feeling all kinds of stir-crazy. Not only was I stir-crazy, but discontentment was raising up inside of me regarding the "stay at home" nature of my job. I often found myself lying in bed listening to my 1-year-old whine in her crib and I thought, "What are we going to do today?". And that question wasn't a thought-provoking question, it was a bitter-filled, hypothetical question that I thought had no answer because I had irrationally determined that we could do nothing different from the last 100 days of winter we had endured!  Everything seemed so monotonous and every day of bitterness dragged me deeper into an unsatisfied life. Don't get me wrong, I love my baby girl and love being her main caregiver, but PHEW I was stuck in a rut of self-pity in what my days did or did not consist of. However, this blog post is not about how to be a good mom with a good attitude, it is about how God answers prayers. By the grace of God, His presence in my life prompted me to pray to Him. I prayed that I would be a mom that glorifies Him by being a mom with joy and that He would give me the wisdom to do it along the way. Although I did not receive an immediate change in attitude, I did see His answer to me in time.. an answer that I am quite sure I will have to receive many times.

God's word reveals to us that as believers He is working for our good in every hard or easy situation, in all things. (Romans 8:28) As I was stuck in bitterness and cried out to the Lord, I was nudged by several different sources and events to look at my situation through the eyes of the Lord and not my own. The eyes of the Lord, as revealed in the Bible, tell me that difficult circumstances produce character and hope in a Christian's life, we are not overcome by them (Romans 5:3-5). So believe it or not, I believe God ordained not only my original bitter circumstance, but He kept piling other unexpected difficulties on top of it as well. Not to get into too many details, but I had multiple physical ailments all at once and also two deaths of an acquaintance and a friend's mom happen near the same time. All of these served as "wake up calls" for me and an answer to prayer. While some might attribute this to circumstance, God's Word assures me that it was all from His sovereign, good, Fatherly hand.  These  "wake up calls" served to teach me everything from what a joy and privilege it is to be a mom (even during winter) through a faithful, servant-hearted mother's funeral, to meeting my trials with joy and a willing spirit so that the Lord can produce wisdom in me and a steadfastness in my faith. (James 1:2-4). These piled-on inconveniences served to restore my joy and gratitude for all the blessings I have in this life through motherhood but ultimately through the care and love that my Heavenly Father has for me through Jesus Christ.

When we pray to our Sovereign Lord, Creator, Perfect Life Planner, and Loving Father... He will give us an answer even if it is not in the "form" of answer we may expect because His ways are so much higher than ours. (Psalm 139:6, Romans 11:33-34) Our God works in ways that best answer our personal need, even if we do not see the answer right away or ever, in fact. Paul Tripp says it well in  his devotional, New Morning Mercies:

"Perhaps our problem is our definition and expectation of God's care. You see, God's care comes in a variety of packages. His care is not always a cool drink and a soft pillow. God's care is not always relief from circumstances, release from trouble. There are many moments in our lives when the very thing that causes us to wonder about God's care is his care. He knows that trouble will reveal our hearts or display His Glory. Often trouble is a tool of care in the hands of the One who knows best what we need. He cares; therefore, make sure your definition of his care is not too narrow."

So as I continue to meet hardship in my life, could it in fact be an answer to my prayers? If we let the Word of God renew our minds we will have a worldview that expects hardship and embraces it with hope knowing that Our Loving God is caring for us through all things. With this worldview we will have peace amidst any situation. My loving Father did not give me hardships so that I would be downcast in this life, but I can see how He wanted these hardships specifically for me so that He could produce a new trust in Him and character in me that endures with joy through difficult circumstances for His Glory. The greatest suffering on earth endured by our Lord Jesus Christ led to the answered prayer of many who desire to be in relationship with God. (1 Peter 3:18) So Christians, let us "entrust ourselves to the one who judges justly", the one who is always working for our good as we endure the suffering that will inevitably enter our lives. (1 Peter 2:23)




Additional Scripture on Suffering:
Romans 5:3-5 "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Psalm 34: 4 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed."

Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."

1 Peter 2: 21-25 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example , so that you might follow his steps. He committee no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live in righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

eternal views

I have recently been able to enter the other apartments in our building due to new friendships that have formed and a very sociable toddler who wanders around in our building until a friendly neighbor opens the door (side note: I was wandering with her!). As I have been in their homes I have noticed that while we all have a similar apartment layout, the view out their sliding doors are significantly better than ours. They can see the pond with the fountain, the ducks with their ducklings, the changing colors of fall trees... it really is a beautiful scene of God's beauty in the middle of a busy northwest suburb of Chicago.

If you look out our sliding door you can see... a parking lot. Not just a parking lot, but all the commotion of dump trucks, mailmen, car alarms, construction, and landscaping that comes along with a "come and go" atmosphere. I must admit that I have become pretty bitter at this view. Not only because it is significantly worse than my neighbors, but because all of these noises do not seem to soothe a toddler to sleep at nap time. But, during a recent nap time I was looking out our sliding door and God reminded me of something: what God sees as good and beautiful is not always what the world sees as good and beautiful.

My husband and I have connected with many people in the parking lot right outside our apartment. As much as the noises of a come and go atmosphere bother me, it also provides an easy way to meet people. Often it is a simple conversation as they are off to work or headed home for the day. Yet, through those connections the Lord has given me the opportunity to meet with and teach the Bible weekly to my neighbors... this is really something that I thought was impossible in a culture increasingly hostile to God. But God has done the impossible. He has literally and figuratively opened doors for us to share the love and truth about Jesus through our less than mediocre window view. Less than mediocre becomes glorious. Bitterness becomes joy. Bothersome becomes beautiful. I have seen the Glory of God through these doors more than ever before in my life. To the world this may be a sub-par apartment view, but to me it carries everlasting treasure. The world will see beautiful views that wither, but beautiful views of the Lord working will last forever. And so I become immensely thankful for the eternal beauty God has given me right outside my sliding door.


"Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness (of JESUS) delivers from death." Proverbs 10:2

"That though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O LORD, are on high forever."  Psalm 92:7-8

" And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him." Acts 17:26 -27a

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

From Annoyance to Love

Picture this: You meet a fellow Christian who is passionate about their faith as evidenced by their unashamed God-filled language, kind words, and warmth as they make acquaintance with you. As you get to know them more, you see more Christ-like characteristics, such as: no harmful words about others, genuine interest in your life and soul, reference to the Scriptures, and a passion to see the Gospel spread to people around the world.

As embarrassed as I am to say this, when I have met women like this in the past, I have felt annoyed. A reoccurring thought that passed through my mind went something like this: " I cannot connect with this woman because she is not authentic." I was assuming that someone surely has to be "fake" if they are talking about God and spiritual things in all circumstances.  I was used to connecting with people by making fun of each other, or making fun of others and even connecting over the sin we would have in common (Proverbs 1:14-15). As God has sanctified me and continues to, I have regretfully learned that even as a Christ-follower I can be tempted to be a world-follower that "hates Christians just as they hated Christ..."

God in his grace has revealed to  me this "world-following" temptation in myself that hates what is holy, so that I can fight against it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Women (and men) who have been transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more Christ-like have ultimately gained and may now pursue holy characteristics just as Christ is holy (1 Peter 1:16). As sinners, we hate what is holy. As sinners redeemed and changed by the blood of Christ, we come to love what is holy-- yearning to come closer to our Holy God.

It is clear in the Bible that followers of this world hate Christ and His followers:

"And you will be hated by all for my namesake." Matthew 10:22
"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God." Romans 8:7
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19
"Do not be surprised brothers, that the world hates you." 1 John 3:13

Do you feel annoyed when people talk about God? Would you rather if people just stuck to worldly topics of conversation? Would you like to silence those who bring up Christ? Do you not like people who ask you about your faith? Christ-followers love Christ and His holiness and His people. So ask yourself: Do you find yourself tempted to be annoyed with the Christ-like character of your brothers and sisters in Christ rather than bonding with them over the mercy of your Heavenly Father?

It is important to recognize that even as a follower of Christ we can be tempted to deny Christ and hate what is holy (John 18:13-27). But God knows we will be tempted by this and therefore His Word instructs us:

"For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:11-16

I have seen God transform my heart and continue to do so... I have seen myself go from being disgusted by righteousness to loving and respecting my sisters in Christ who freely pursue righteousness with the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I need to continually come to God in prayer asking Him to help me fight against my temptation to hate holiness and instead love my Christian brothers and sisters, so that the world may see and know Christ. Will you join me in this prayer?

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

A walk, jog, and run to the Finish!

I remember in college that one of my friends had to run a 10k for a class that she took, and apparently I was a very supportive (or stupid) friend who told her I would run it with her! I was a college athlete but had in no way trained for the race like she had. We made it clear from the beginning that I was not necessarily going to keep up with her, but that I would morally support her by just being way worse than her. Oh the things we do in college...

Funny enough, I ended up running with a couple of the girls who lived in my dorm who hadn't trained as much either. We kept a pretty slow and steady pace throughout the entire race together and when I knew the end of the race was approaching I kept thinking, "I can go faster than this...", but should I leave these girls behind? I felt pretty rude leaving them since we had kind of joked that "we were all in this awful race together", plus one of the girls was having some pretty intense pain in her back that was keeping her from pushing too hard. But, I knew that I could run faster and I hated the thought of finishing without giving it my all... So, I took off! I left those suckers in the dust and ran as fast as I could the last mile! It felt pretty good... until about 5 minutes later my friends stumbled across the finish line and seemed less than thrilled to see me waiting for them.

I could not help but think of this race when I read 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. So many times, Paul refers to "running the faith race" in his writings and I always picture "sprinting" until the end! How else would you run a race "in order to receive the prize" except for sprinting? But as I studied 1 Corinthians 9, it seemed like Paul might not have been "sprinting" in the way I would have always imagined. Verse 19 says "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them." It is almost like Paul is saying, even though I could sprint this entire race knowing that I will win, I am going to slow down and run alongside those who are not as fast, those who have experienced hardship, those who need help, because the goal is not being the first one to win the race.. the goal is to bring as many people across the finish line as you can.

It is important to understand what our goal is as a follower of Christ and "discipline" (1 Cor 9:27) ourselves to remain in that goal and to not sprint "aimlessly" (1 Cor 9:26)  throughout our entire Christian race. Although Paul talks about running to win the prize, it seems that "winning" involves winning others to Christ and "sharing in the blessings of the gospel together" (1 Cor 9:23), instead of being the 1st to finish and wondering if the others are going to stumble across the finish line later. Are there people in your church who you are not sure are Christians? Are there people around you who are going through a struggle in their faith that you can't relate to? While it may seem that you are unable to grow in your faith while spending time with them, Paul calls us to "become a servant to all" in order to win more of them. While you may have to jog or even walk instead of sprint in your faith, as you walk alongside others in their race of faith, know that you are "racing" in a way that God tells you to through His Word and in a way that wins an "imperishable" (1 Cor 9:25) reward.

So Christians, the goal is to win others to Christ! Jesus' last words in Matthew 28:19-20 stated his will for our lives is to make disciples of Christ and teach them all He has said. His goal is not for us to bypass others on our way to Christ-likeness, rather he uses the walking and jogging we spend next to other racers to refine our righteousness and sweeten our prize.  We will ultimately receive blessings together as we one day enter eternal life with the beautiful Creator of the race and the merciful Savior that allows us not only to finish the race, but to receive a prize. So remember God's goal as you race and don't zoom by those racing next to you..slow down and bring them into eternity with you! May we imitate Paul as he imitated Christ and run the race for Christ.

"I have become all things to all people, that by all means I may save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessing."1 Corinthians 9:22-23

Back-Up

Paul is in prison writing to the Church of Philippi asking them to refrain from making him look like a fool. He is in prison (suffering) for Christ, but if the other Christ-followers outside of prison are frightened to admit their belief in Christ then society will be unconvinced of the importance of the gospel. They will simply think that a crazy guy, named Paul, has got his feathers ruffled for Christ and no one else has got his back, so why should we believe him? Have you ever jumped off a big cliff into a body of water? If you aren't the first one to jump you are waiting to hear from the guinea pigs if the jump is worth the fear you are experiencing at the top. If one comes back and says, " It is TOTALLY worth it, you have got to do it!!", then you are intrigued. But if the rest of the group comes back and says, "It's alright, not a big deal really...", then you may second guess whether you want to jump or not. While jumping off a cliff cannot even compare to the ways people have suffered for Christ, I don't want to be a Christian who says, "Christ is alright I guess...", I want to be convincing "back-up" for those who are truly suffering in this life for Christ by boldly proclaiming that suffering for Christ is TOTALLY worth the eternal joy you will one day receive.

Paul reminds me of courageous Christians today who have been put to death, imprisoned, persecuted, bullied for Christ. I'm sure you have heard the recent stories of Christians beheaded for claiming Christ or Christians standing up for God's design of marriage whose businesses have been vandalized or closed. These stories intimidate me. While Paul is in prison, he writes to his intimidated brothers and sisters in Christ and says in Philippians 1: 27-30,

" (27)Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (28) and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. (29) For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for his sake, (30) engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. "

We may not be persecuted as Christians are in other countries, but we will be hated no matter what country we are in by unbelievers hostile to God. Let's be effective "back-up" for Christians all over the world by remembering these three truths when we feel intimidated by the bullying of society:

1. "Stand firm in one spirit, striving side by side." (vs 27)
Jump off the cliff together! It is more comforting to face fear when you are in fellowship with those who have the same mindset as you-- that Christ is Lord of our lives. Meeting together at church and outside of church and joining a church will encourage you and your friends to "hold fast" to the gospel "without wavering" and give you confidence to know you are not alone when engaged in conflict. (Heb 10:23-25)

2. "Do not be frightened of your opponents." (vs 28)
Psalm 27:1 " The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?" The Lord who has made the oceans, the mountains, thunder, and lightening, and much, much more has said in His Word that He is our stronghold. The God who has made every human being, gives us life each day is our fortified place, a place of protection. What better protection could we ask for? We no longer have to be consumed with worry about men hating us because we know at the end of the day and the end of our lives all that matters is what God thinks of us. "And do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

Because of Christ, we know what God thinks of us: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are Children of God, and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."Romans 8:17


3. It is a gift to both believe in and suffer for Christ. (vs 29)
A gift of suffering is a foreign concept in our world. There is no question as to why it is a gift to believe, it is a gift because God has given us forgiveness of sins and eternal life freely and therefore we have hope in this life for the next! And suffering is a gift because it is a "clear sign" of your salvation. Because Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19  Who doesn't want assurance that they are a Christian heading to heaven one day? I do! Jesus chose us out of the world and one of the marks of being a follower of Christ is suffering for His name. When you suffer for Christ, take heart that "this is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering..." (2 Thess 1:5) The more we suffer for Christ, the more we know we are bound for Heaven because of Christ!

Stay Awake

If someone asks you to stay awake it implies that you are sleepy. I most recently experienced this when I was asked to take the 12 hour night shift at work. All of the patients are fast asleep in their beds and as the nurse, you are asked to stay awake. So how did I do it? I had to engage my mind in something and also…. snack. Everything in my body was telling me that it was time to sleep, but I had to fight against that inclination due to the fact that one of the patients could need me and I wanted to do my job well, or my boss could come by at any time. 

Jesus asks us to “stay awake” in Mark 13:37. Paul reiterates this request in Romans 13:11. Both are referring to the fact that we do not know when Our Savior is going to return and therefore we do not want to be “sleeping” when he returns! Sleeping in this case is referring to basking in our sinful inclinations and not fighting against them in order to walk in the light. Just as I naturally was sleepy at work during the night time, we are naturally sinful as human beings. If every thought that crosses our mind and heart is not put through the filter of godly discernment, I would be worried that we are in a sleeping state. If decisions we make are not first brought to God out of fear that our sinful heart could be leading us astray, we could be in a sleeping state. If we find ourselves defending our “minor” sins telling ourselves they don’t truly matter, then we could be in a sleeping state. 

Paul says that everyday we live is closer to the day that Jesus will return. I wish I woke up like that: “Today is one more day closer to my Savior returning, so how can I glorify His name?” Both Jesus and Paul give us the solution to staying awake: Jesus says to “Be on guard” in Mark 13, and Paul says to “Put on Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify it’s desires”. I think Jesus’ command to “be on guard” can be defined as “making no provision for the flesh”. Do not provide a place for sin in your life. Do not provide a TV show that fills your mind with worldliness. Do not provide your mind with freedom to wonder to jealousy, envy, and covetousness. Do not allow for carelessness in your thoughts and actions, but “put on Jesus" by asking the Holy Spirit to help you fight against your sinful desires and sleeping state. The fight begins in your mind and heart. “Above all guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Ask the Holy spirit to help you engage your mind. What your mind knows, your heart will love.

• “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, be be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

• “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

• “I will ponder the way that is blameless, Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I Will know nothing of evil.” Psalm 101:2-3

• “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you: let me not wander from your commandments! I have store up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” Psalm 119: 9-11

Fill your down time with reading God’s Word or books about God’s Word. Fill your mind with truths from godly songs. Spend your time with uplifting and encouraging Christians. How you fill your mind and spend your time will determine if you are awake or asleep when Jesus returns!

2nd Trimester Trial

As my uterus began to grow, so did my self-awareness of where I find my worth. Where does my head tell me I should find my worth? In what Jesus has done for me. All that I desire to be defined by is that I am a saved sinner, daughter of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Psalm 62:7 "My Salavation and my honor depend on God". My head has the right idea of where I should find my worth, but my heart tends to pull me another way...

I know God knows my heart and through my 2nd trimester he needed to show me where I truly find worth and not just where I idealistically want to.  So, like I said, as my body began to change (because of a GREAT blessing, I might add), I started to feel a little insecure about what people thought of me. Inevitably people make comments about your body changing and  frankly some of those people have no idea what should and shouldn't be said to a pregnant lady, but it was my opinion of myself that mostly concerned me. When I became pregnant, I was not oblivious to the fact that my body would grow and change but my self-loathing thoughts would suggest otherwise.  If you've ever been pregnant, you get to this "medium-stage" where people are wondering: "Is that a pregnant belly or just a donut belly?" In the world's eyes your belly doesn't look quite big enough to hold a human being quite yet. The thought of people wondering if I was fat or pregnant bothered me WAY too much.

I could go multiple directions with this. Not only was my worth being defined by what others thought of me, but I also found that my worth was being defined by the way my body looked. God knows my heart so well. Before pregnancy, I would have played it off like image isn't that important to me... I think God is laughing as I typed that last statement, because He knew way better than me. Each time  I walked out of our apartment, I found myself worried about what people were thinking about my appearance. I asked God, "Why am I so worried?" He seemed to answer: Because part of your heart worships people and part of it worships appearance.  Let me leave it at this: Time and time and time again, God has shown me where my heart is unfaithful to him. And where my heart is unfaithful to him, I find myself emotionally unstable because "all other ground" besides the Lord is "sinking sand".   I am grateful that He keeps reminding my forgetful self that He is the only one who will give my soul (and emotions) rest.

"Come to me all who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and I will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
My hope comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge. " Psalm 62:5-7