It Is Possible... By Shannon Heiden
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"(Judges 6:12-14 NIV)
Beautiful One, in an unstable world, with all of it's uncertainty's, how do we effectively keep our head above the waters of life? The answer for us as Christians is an easy one, Jesus Christ! And for most of us He is what comes to the forefront of our minds. But did you know that you can be rooted in the Lord, and still feel like your drowning? Did you know that head knowledge is completely different than heart knowledge? And, it is possible to have wounds within our minds that go deeper than the faith within our hearts.
It is possible, to believe pain more than to believe God!
What makes this statement true is that sometimes we feel God has evaded us. But, pain, adversity, and hardship, there never seems to be a shortage of. Almost around every corner of life, there they are. After you have turned enough corners, you realize that in order to get passed them, you must go through them first.
Hardly seems fair at times, especially if you have encountered many hardships in life. Sometimes, you look around and can agree that yes, you could be worse off. Then again, you can also look around, and realize that hey, it could be a whole lot better too.
As you turn the pages of life, you can see very clearly defining moments. Places where choices were made, offenses occurred, and successes had their moments! But why is it that we as people, can so easily be derailed and stalled by the wounds of life? Do we really want this? No, I don't believe any sane person wants to be tormented and plagued by their pain. Sometimes though, when the pain is great, it's easier to not take that risk and believe for something better, again.
It is so much easier to not have any expectation, than to have one, and have it elude you.
It's so much easier to not do anything, than to do something and have it all fall apart, again.
Beautiful One, it's easier, but it's a lie!
When times of turmoil hit our homes and pierce our very hearts, we are in a defining moment! We may despise the trial, shed buckets of tears, even act foolish in the process. But it's OK. So long as we keep going, never give up hope, and believe for something greater than we could imagine!
When Gideon was in a cave hiding from the Mideanites, God came to him. God told him to get up and out of the cave, and go! For He had a job for him to do. But, Gideon, by his own admission was afraid, alone, and worn out. All he could see was his pain. He loved the Lord, he knew him and his strength, and might. But Gideon also knew the pain of oppression and injustice, because it daily stood on the corner in his life and called his name.
What I love about the Lord is that God didn't care how skewed Gideons thinking had become! He didn't seem to mind so much that he sought comfort in dark places. God didn't rebuke, or even acknowledge Gideons response of basically telling God, there was no way possible, he could do what God asked him to do.
It's as if God had seen all of the details of what brought Gideon to the place he was in, and it was now time to bring him out! None of it mattered. The mistakes, the fear, the anger Gideon passively expressed towards God for his hardship. None of it mattered. Because in case you missed it, like Gideon did, God is in control. And every step you have taken, has never been taken alone. Our past will never negate our future!
Beautiful One, if you believe that the pain you are in is because you have failed, or sinned, or just been a victim of circumstance, believe again! Maybe that's true, then maybe it's not, does it really matter?
There is nothing you can ever face that God cannot bring you up and out of! No matter how scared you are, or how much anger and resentment you may experience, remember that there is a defining moment when God will call you by name, and call you out! You may be like Gideon, and ask questions, and are afraid to risk believing him, but that's OK too.
God is not called patient for nothing.
If God will turn the weak and fearful Gideon into a mighty man of valor, how much more will he do for you?
God is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith. Simple childlike faith. Can you remember when we were children, and the world was just grand? Our curiosity was just that, simple curiosity, and we believed on the drop of hat. Doubt didn't plague our hearts. Worry didn't play tag with us. Somewhere between time, and experience we lost our God given ability to just believe. And, it slowly traded places with our pain. Over time, our dreams were replaced by dread and disappointment.
I have personally come to resolve that this is just a part of life. But, although life will present many challenges, it is our job to stop facing them armed with ourselves and our vast head knowledge of the wounds from times past.
There comes a time in all of our lives when we are expected of God to present every challenge, wound, and injustice before the throne of the One who can redeem them!
We, like Gideon will have to make the conscious choice, to simply believe God, and go!
And that my friend, is possible!
Beautiful One, just believe!
Shannon Heiden
shannonheiden@yahoo.com
changingonelifereachingmany.typepad.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com
