First I apologize for being slack this week. I have been out of town and have not had the opportunity to post.
No one is immune to life's crises!! No, not even Christians. In case you disagree, don't take my word for it, study the life of any biblical, God fearing character (Abraham through Paul, including Jesus Himself) and you will discover each encountered times of personal crises. If you are still not convinced, study the lives of modern saints and you will discover they too have encountered some serious crises during their lives. The important thing is how you respond to these crises. What are your options when crises strikes? More importantly, how do you respond during these crises? I'll leave these for you to ponder and hopefully comment to in the blog!
Genesis 32 & 33
This week Jacob encounters such a crises. He has been in Haran living with his father-in-law(Laban) for twenty years. He arrived with nothing, God has blessed him with:
family.... (four wives & twelve children [eleven boys and one girl] Benjamin not yet born)
wealth.....(sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, oxen, servants, etc.)
and life skills....(a career, wisdom, discernment, etc.)
So what is the crises and what to do? In short, he is no longer welcome in Laban's home or land. Years before he left his father's house (Isaac) under threat of his life. What to do - does he stay?, if not where does he go?, will his family be safe?, will they understand?? God speaks to Jacob and tells him to return to the house of his father, Isaac. The decision to return was not an easy one for Jacob. How will he be received? Does Esau still harbor revenge? What will happen to his family? God did not provide understanding - just direction.
God does not abandon us in times of crises! Sometime you have to listen carefully to hear God's voice over the hurt, pain and distress. But it is there if you will listen and hear. Often the instruction is not what you want to hear but it is always for your well being. It will provide hope; but requires faith. Hope... that somehow tomorrow will be better than today. Hope... that God hears and will respond to your pain. Faith... to respond to God's instruction even if it hurts. Faith... that God will use this time of hurt to grow you spiritually. He does not promise understanding....just that He will be with you and not abandon you. Sometimes you cannot see or feel Him but you know he is there.
Most likely you will not see God's hand until you respond in faith. Jacob was obedient and began the journey to his father's home. In my opinion his anxiety grew even though he was responding to God's instruction. God did not remove him from the anxiety until he responded in faith. More importantly Jacob did not abandon God. He was faithful to remember God's promise to him twenty years prior. The same promise God had made to Abraham and Isaac. Mainly that He would multiply his family, give him the land of Canaan and...... that the whole world would be blessed by his faithfulness. Jacob not only remembered this promise; he reminded God of it. When crises strikes, you should remember God's blessings on your life and remind God of his promises to you. His word is filled with these promises. I do not mean to imply that God has forgotten them or that He needs to be reminded of them. Rather that you must reflect on His blessings and remember His promises in order to act in faith during this time of crises.
When crises strikes, and it will; how will you respond? For you see, it is in times of crises that you are most tempted to abandon God. If you respond to God in faith...He will grow you spiritually. If you abandon God, you do not respond in faith and deny God the opportunity to demonstrate His faithfulness to you during this time of need. Jacob listened, heard, acted in faith and was greatly rewarded for his faithfulness. In conclusion, often in my own life I am reminded of the great promise of God in Proverbs 3: 5-6...Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path (JKV). I believe this to be God's instruction as to how you should respond at all times and especially in times of crises. Read it, memorize it, remember it, respond in faith as instructed and see how God will grow you through your time of crises.
Until next time.....
Danny
No one is immune to life's crises!! No, not even Christians. In case you disagree, don't take my word for it, study the life of any biblical, God fearing character (Abraham through Paul, including Jesus Himself) and you will discover each encountered times of personal crises. If you are still not convinced, study the lives of modern saints and you will discover they too have encountered some serious crises during their lives. The important thing is how you respond to these crises. What are your options when crises strikes? More importantly, how do you respond during these crises? I'll leave these for you to ponder and hopefully comment to in the blog!
Genesis 32 & 33
This week Jacob encounters such a crises. He has been in Haran living with his father-in-law(Laban) for twenty years. He arrived with nothing, God has blessed him with:
family.... (four wives & twelve children [eleven boys and one girl] Benjamin not yet born)
wealth.....(sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, oxen, servants, etc.)
and life skills....(a career, wisdom, discernment, etc.)
So what is the crises and what to do? In short, he is no longer welcome in Laban's home or land. Years before he left his father's house (Isaac) under threat of his life. What to do - does he stay?, if not where does he go?, will his family be safe?, will they understand?? God speaks to Jacob and tells him to return to the house of his father, Isaac. The decision to return was not an easy one for Jacob. How will he be received? Does Esau still harbor revenge? What will happen to his family? God did not provide understanding - just direction.
God does not abandon us in times of crises! Sometime you have to listen carefully to hear God's voice over the hurt, pain and distress. But it is there if you will listen and hear. Often the instruction is not what you want to hear but it is always for your well being. It will provide hope; but requires faith. Hope... that somehow tomorrow will be better than today. Hope... that God hears and will respond to your pain. Faith... to respond to God's instruction even if it hurts. Faith... that God will use this time of hurt to grow you spiritually. He does not promise understanding....just that He will be with you and not abandon you. Sometimes you cannot see or feel Him but you know he is there.
Most likely you will not see God's hand until you respond in faith. Jacob was obedient and began the journey to his father's home. In my opinion his anxiety grew even though he was responding to God's instruction. God did not remove him from the anxiety until he responded in faith. More importantly Jacob did not abandon God. He was faithful to remember God's promise to him twenty years prior. The same promise God had made to Abraham and Isaac. Mainly that He would multiply his family, give him the land of Canaan and...... that the whole world would be blessed by his faithfulness. Jacob not only remembered this promise; he reminded God of it. When crises strikes, you should remember God's blessings on your life and remind God of his promises to you. His word is filled with these promises. I do not mean to imply that God has forgotten them or that He needs to be reminded of them. Rather that you must reflect on His blessings and remember His promises in order to act in faith during this time of crises.
When crises strikes, and it will; how will you respond? For you see, it is in times of crises that you are most tempted to abandon God. If you respond to God in faith...He will grow you spiritually. If you abandon God, you do not respond in faith and deny God the opportunity to demonstrate His faithfulness to you during this time of need. Jacob listened, heard, acted in faith and was greatly rewarded for his faithfulness. In conclusion, often in my own life I am reminded of the great promise of God in Proverbs 3: 5-6...Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path (JKV). I believe this to be God's instruction as to how you should respond at all times and especially in times of crises. Read it, memorize it, remember it, respond in faith as instructed and see how God will grow you through your time of crises.
Until next time.....
Danny
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