Fear Is Sometimes Evidence of Pride and Our Reluctance to Let Go of Our Control

By Paul Tautges

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6–7).

Anxiety is sometimes the fruit of pride—especially when it is accompanied by prayerlessness. Though we often minimize our lack of prayer, prayerlessness unmasks an independent spirit—it reveals our failure to recognize our weakness and utter dependence on God. When you don’t pray, and when you take on your anxieties by yourself, you show your need for humility before the Lord.

Peter makes this important connection. But notice that before Peter exhorts his readers (who are suffering Christians) to make a habit of bringing their anxieties to God—of throwing them at his feet, so to speak—he issues a call to humility. We must cultivate true humility in ourselves and for ourselves. Like a garment, we must put it on (see Col. 3:12). No human being can do that for us. Yes, others may humiliate us, but only the Spirit’s sanctifying
work can move us to genuinely humble ourselves. In order to do this, we need divine grace to combat pride and unbelief. Today’s verses are loaded with transformative truth for our anxiety-prone hearts. We find a command, its purpose, a manner of obeying the command, and the reason for obeying it.

The command is to humble yourself. Verse 6 begins with “humble yourselves” and is immediately followed by the word “therefore.” This command is preceded by a warning and a promise: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (v. 5). When you humble yourself before God, he gives you more grace. This grace empowers you to resist allowing anxiety about your trials to push you away from God.

The purpose of humility is to help us to exchange self-exaltation with trust in God. Anxiety is often related to our desire for control, which is connected to thinking too highly of ourselves. Peter’s warning is this: If you exalt yourself, you will be humbled by God’s mighty hand. But if you humble yourself, the same “mighty hand of God” will exalt you “at the proper time.”

The manner of humbling yourself is to cast your cares on God. Peter doesn’t simply bark out a command; he tells us specifically how to obey. The way to heed the command to be humble is by “casting all your anxieties” on God. You accomplish this by talking to God and releasing your cares to him by faith. Are you ready to bring your anxieties to the Lord as an act of humility?

The reason to humble yourself in prayer is clear: God cares for you. Peter connects relief from anxiety to an awareness of God’s faithful care. “He cares” is in the present tense in the original Greek, referring to continual action. This is Peter’s way of stressing how much God constantly cares for you. Our anxieties are stoked when we don’t trust that the Lord cares for us. Do you believe that he cares for you?

Casting your cares on God is an expression of moment-by-moment dependence on him, which is a fruit of humility. Why wait? Humble yourself before him right now and bring your anxieties to him.

• Reflect: How might your anxiety show you your need for more grace?

• Reflect: How would you describe your prayer life? What steps do you need to take to humble yourself?

• Act: Prayerlessness is an indicator of pride and self-sufficiency. If this defines you, repent of it right now and ask the Lord for help.

[This post is a chapter excerpt from the 31-day devotional, Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace.]

Posted at: https://counselingoneanother.com/2020/09/02/fear-is-sometimes-evidence-of-pride-and-our-reluctance-to-let-go-of-our-control/

Praying Psalm 63

by Paul Tautges

“Oh, God, You are my God, Earnestly I seek You;

I thirst for You, My whole being longs for You,

in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”

When David was desperate in the wilderness of Judah he had a choice to make. He could focus on the wilderness and his difficult circumstances or he could meditate on his God and what he knew to be true of God’s character. He chose the latter. As a result, our lives are enriched by having Psalm 63 in our biblical repertoire.

This marvelous song flows out of a commitment to praise God, which was birthed from meditations on God. “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (vv. 3-4). That is his commitment to praise. But the deeper source of his praise is revealed in verse 6: “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.”

What are some of the truths about God that David chose to meditate on? How does this precious psalm lead us into that same kind of worship? Here are eight truths that jump out from the sacred text. Let them be a starting point for prayer and worship. Say, with David, “O God, You are my God,” and then give to Him particular praise. Here is a suggested way to pray.

You are the God who wants to be thirsted after and who rewards those who seek after You. “I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary” (vv. 1-2a). “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

You are the God of all power and glory. “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory” (v. 2). “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen (Ps 72:18-19).

You are the God of lovingkindness (grace), which is better to me than life itself. Because this is true, “My lips will praise You” (v. 3). “I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul, and You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place” (Ps 31:7-8).

You are the God who satisfies my soul. “My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness” (v. 5). “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light” (Ps 36:7-9).

You are my Helper. “You have [already] been my help” (v. 7). “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper” (Ps 30:9-10).

You are my strength, my defense, and my life-support system. “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth. They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; they will be a prey for foxes” (v. 8). “The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the LORD” (Ps 118:14-17).

You are the God of truth and justice. “But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped” (v. 11). “You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance” (Ps 89:13-15).

Meditating on God will result in a heart filled with praise for Him, His gracious and faithful character, and His mighty works. Let us bless Him as long as we live and lift up our hand unto His name!

[Originally posted February 13, 2013.]

Posted at: https://counselingoneanother.com/2020/09/08/meditating-on-my-god/

"But God" - Ephesians 2:4-5

Mallori Boston

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love in which he loved us, even though we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. As the six days rolled by, God created light, darkness, beasts, crawling things, oceans and sea life by the power of his words. Then God created man, from his own breath, new life, the most valuable creation yet, and it was very good. And out of the man, came a helper fit for him; and God called her woman. God and man lived in perfect peace together. Man was able to be in the presence of a perfectly Holy God. God in his goodness gave the man and woman everything they needed. In his loving wisdom he gave them a command to not eat from the tree in the midst of the garden. 

Then came the serpent. And the woman, being deceived yet also desiring knowledge and power did what God had told her not to do, and her husband followed her. Shame and guilt came over the man and woman like a weight they had never felt before. As they heard God coming to find them in the garden, they hid. They knew that something was different now. They were naked and ashamed, and they knew it. But God gave them clothes to wear. In God’s justice he cursed the man and woman, a curse that all mankind would come to know; sin. The man and woman were cast out of the presence of God with no means to get back in his presence. God and man are forever separated, because our holy God cannot be in the presence of sin.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love in which he loved us, even though we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5

From Genesis to Revelation, God is always moving towards his people. It has always amazed me in Scripture to see countless times people rebelling against God. Even in the midst of God providing for them, they (and by they I also mean us) easily forget what God has done for them. Like Paul, I feel the need to remind myself of what my state before Christ was. Scripture says dead. Not sick, not broken but dead. There is no coming back to God on my own. There is no way to be alive on my own. 

“But God”

What blows me away about God is that even though it was man’s sin that caused separation from Him, God himself made a way for us to be back in his presence. Without compromising any of His attributes; his justice, mercy, love and holiness, God provided Christ, who was and is always my greatest need.

I have struggled with doubt more than I care to admit. I can’t count how many times I have cried, prayed and pleaded with God, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). That prayer has a desperation for deliverance from unbelief that I am far too familiar with. Yet, as God continues to purpose every event in my life to transform me into the likeness of his Son, I learn more and more of his faithfulness. In the midst of struggling with unbelief, our faithful God always has this one phrase that goes off in my head like a resounding bell; “But God”. 

As I am so easily tempted to doubt, God reminds me to remember what he has done. Like Job, in my finite mind, I lean on my own understanding of most of life’s trials, which leads me to focus more on what my circumstance is and not on Who is in control of my circumstances. I need to remind myself that if God is willing to give his Son for us, to fulfill my greatest need, then I have no reason to doubt. I would guess that maybe like me, you have struggled with unbelief. Although it's true that until God either calls us home or Christ returns, we may struggle with unbelief. But at the same time I believe that the Holy Spirit will enable us into trusting God. But in the meantime, I encourage you to take some time to meditate on Ephesians 2:4-5.

Focus on what it says about God, what attributes it highlights and how you can personally use it in your daily life. Scripture is full of these “But God” moments that I pray would be encouraging to you. When life seems chaotic, still, or painful, rest in the fact that God has already fulfilled your greatest need on Calvary’s cross and you can trust him.

“But God” - 2 Chronicles 20:15

“But God” - for the battle is not yours but God's

By Nancy Williams

2 Chronicles is an old testament book in the bible, written by Ezra to all of Israel to remind the people of God to humble themselves, pray, seek the Lord’s face and turn from their wicked ways, but their fearful responses keep the peace of God from them. Only God could bring true peace for He is greater than any enemy, army, or nation. All Israel had to do was to be faithful in their responses, trust the Lord and allow His peace to dwell in them. Just as their faithful responses was key to their peace and survival as a nation, so is our obedience to God as individuals if we are going to experience God’s peace.

2 Chronicles 20: 13-17 “Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

But God’s

As the enemy army bore down on them God spoke through Jahaziel to not be afraid or discouraged for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Did you see that, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed the battle is not ours but God’s. 

We may not fight battles with armies but every day we battle with temptation, sin, pressures, and rulers of the dark who want us to rebel against God (Ephesians 6:12). It is easy to forget in these situations that we need to be obedient to God if we are going to experience His peace. We as believers have been blessed with God’s Spirit in us. We have access to God to help us when we face struggles of any kind and God will fight for us and with us for the battle is His. 

How do we allow God to fight our battles?

By realizing the battle is not ours but God’s – most struggles we face are spiritual - will we obey God or not. Will we stand firm in the Lord, and see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf? 

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." 

We have all sinned, not one of us is innocent. 

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins. Battle won!

Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

What a great message that through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God.

Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." 

Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. 

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

The greatest battle for our soul is won by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Once we have surrendered our life to the Lord our next battle is to continually die to self, my ways, my wants and to remain obedient to the Lord.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

Philippians 1: 6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

 Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” 

Philippians 1:27 "Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." 

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." 

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

 Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 

John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

That continual dying to self allows us to grow in our likeness to Christ

Colossians 3:1-17 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 

And as we become more and more like Christ, we learn to trust Him with our life. 

Isaiah 26: 3-4 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

Jeremiah 7:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Because the battle is His, I can trust the Lord to fight for and with me as I obey Him with my life.

“But God” - Acts 3:15

By Wendy Wood

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” Acts 3:15 (NIV)

We are very quick to look at our circumstances and allow our feelings to determine if things are “good” or “bad”.  If things seem to be going as we want them to go, we feel happy or content and determine life is good.  If situations are not going as we hoped they would, or what we expected to have happen, we tend to get frustrated or discouraged and think life is not good.  “But God” are the two words that dispel the belief that our perspective or view of our circumstances can determine if our circumstances are “good” or “bad”.

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, circumstances did not look “good”.  Jesus was bloodied and his flesh was torn and hanging from his body.  His cheeks were tear-stained and the dirt from the long walk made mud as his tears of pain and hurt mixed with the dusty earth.  The Romans soldiers and Jewish elite were cheering and declaring victory over the traitor and rebel they believed Jesus to be as Jesus suffered and died.  The disciples were confused and bewildered that the Messiah they had followed and believed in for three years was now dead.  They wondered if they had just wasted three years of their lives and abandoned their livelihoods for nothing.  The sobbing crowd and the cheering enemies saw this same event from different perspectives.  The sobbing crowd mourned the loss of the One they hoped would rescue them from Roman rule and set up His own kingdom on earth to reign.  The cheering soldiers and Jewish elite were convinced their problems had been solved.  The death of Jesus meant their leadership and influence would not be questioned anymore and they could regain their status as respectable, honorable, important men.

Nothing more clearly shows that God is the decisive, sovereign ruler every single moment in time like the words “But God”.  No matter how circumstances look, God is who determines the outcome.  “But God” reminds us that God is always at work for His purpose, His will, and His glory.

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”  Acts 3:15

The death of Jesus did not surprise or frustrate God.  We know from Ephesians 1 that God purposed Christ to die “before the foundations of the world”.  We see in Genesis 3 that God had already planned that Satan would bruise Jesus’ heel, when Jesus died on the cross, but Jesus would crush Satan’s head, when Jesus raised up from the dead victorious over Satan, sin, and death.  When the situation looked bleak and without hope, God’s plan was being carried out.

But God reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways.  Human wisdom would never have a crucified Savior, but rather a ruling and reigning one like the Israelites were hoping for.

But God reminds us that God’s plan is always carried out.  When circumstances look bad, when we think nothing good can possibly happen from this terrible situation, we are reminded that God is working all things according to the purpose of His will.

But God reminds us that nothing can thwart God’s plan.  Satan, enemies, and even our own sin, cannot alter or change God’s perfect plan.  What man intends for evil, God will use for good.  What Satan attempts to tear us from God’s grasp, God’s hold on his children is secure.

But God reminds us that God is all-powerful and that nothing happens outside of his control.

This series of blogs has addressed several different stories and situations in scripture that involve a “But God” statement.  Think about what would have happened if “But God” wasn’t there.  

Take some time to thank God for the “But God” moments in His word!   

God Hears Tears as Well as Prayers

Colin Smith

Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her” (Gen. 16:2).

The outline of Hagar’s story is simple: Sarah wanted to have a child, and so she gives her servant, Hagar, to Abraham. Abraham agrees with the plan. Hagar conceives, and this already fractured family is plunged into a web of conflicting loyalties and hidden resentments.

Hagar’s story comes right out of the Scriptures and speaks straight into the life of the person who has never felt deeply loved. Hagar was never first in anyone’s life. No one was close enough to Hagar to know who she really was and what she really felt. There was no one she could count on—not even the father of the child she was carrying.

Emotionally Abandoned

Abraham was the father of this child, and he had responsibility for Hagar. But Abraham did not stand up for her. He gave her up, just as Pharaoh and Sarah had done before. Hagar ended up alone, pregnant, and in the desert, which is like being alone, pregnant, and in the city today.

Who cared about this woman? Her whole life seemed to be a story of what other people wanted. She was pushed from pillar to post, according to what was most convenient for others.

This is a story for the person who feels that she has been like a pawn, moved around on the board of other people’s lives.

Spiritually Wounded

In the kindness of God, Hagar found herself in the family God had chosen to bless. Hagar would have learned about God from Abraham and Sarah. But they turned out to be desperately flawed believers. Try to imagine the impact on Hagar when the only believers she knew used her in the way that they did! How could this woman ever come to believe?

It’s not surprising that she ran from the family of faith. She ran from Sarah and from Abraham, and she ran from the God that they had failed so badly.

This is a story for the person who has learned about God, but now struggles with faith because of what he or she has seen in the lives of some believers.

Deeply Loved

The last part of Hagar’s story is full of hope for every person who feels emotionally abandoned or spiritually wounded. Hagar discovered that she was deeply loved by God.

Here are three glimpses of His love.

1. God finds lost people.

The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur (Gen. 16:7).

God appeared to Hagar in visible form, as he had to Abraham and Sarah. We know this because Sarah “called the name of the LORD who spoke to her…” (Gen. 16:13). It was Yahweh who spoke to her directly and personally. Hagar would never have found her way to God, but God in his mercy, found His way to her.

If God waited for us to find Him, none of us would get there. Lost sheep don’t have the capacity to find the Good Shepherd. It is the Good Shepherd who has the capacity to find lost sheep.

Hagar was running away from believers, and she was running away from God. She was angry and resentful; she felt a sense of injustice. This hardly seemed like a time when she could hear the voice of God. And yet it proved to be the great turning point of Hagar’s life!

2. God hears suffering people.

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction” (Gen. 16:11).

This verse does not say “the Lord has listened to your prayer.” Up to this point, there is no suggestion that Hagar prayed. Why would you pray to God when running from Him? But God listens to your affliction. God hears tears as well as prayers (Ps. 56:8).

God told Hagar to give her son the name “Ishmael.” Ishmael means, “God has heard.” Since he turned out to be a difficult boy, this must have been a blessing to his mother. Every time she called out his name, she would be reminded that God hears.

There must have been times when Hagar said to herself: “Pharaoh didn’t look after me. Abraham didn’t look after me. Sarah didn’t look after me. Now I have found the One who looks after me!”

3. God sees all people.

She called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me” (Gen. 16:13).

It is fascinating that Hagar said this immediately after the prophecy made about Ishmael: “He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him” (Gen. 16:12).

Parents know what it is to see a reflection of themselves in the struggles of their children. I suspect Hagar saw a reflection of herself in the description of Ishmael. And Hagar said, “Truly you are the God who sees me!” You know me as no one ever has!

God sees not with the eyes of condemnation but with the eyes of love—this for a woman who was running from Him, in order to lay hold of her and bring her back.

Happy Ending?

Hagar did what the Lord commanded. She went back to Abraham and Sarah, back to the fractured household of faith. Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael (Gen. 16:15).

But Hagar’s obedience to God meant living with continued difficulty. This is not a story that ends with “And they all lived happily ever after.” They didn’t! The “happily ever after” stuff belongs to fairy tales and Hollywood movies from the 1930s! Even Hollywood doesn’t make movies like that today, because the world doesn’t work like that.

The Bible speaks to the real world—to the ongoing difficulties faced by single mothers, perplexed wives, flawed fathers, and troubled sons. The message is not “Come to Jesus and you will live happily ever after.” The Bible’s message is “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9).

If you come to the Lord Jesus Christ today, you will find that His grace is sufficient for you, too.

As you live in the tension of a home where there is little peace, the grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient for you. As you live with the emotional abandonment and the spiritual wounding you have experienced, the grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient for you. Living with and mastering the wild impulses that sometimes rage in your heart and your soul won’t be easy. But you will find that His grace is sufficient for you.

Learn from the Scriptures that you are deeply loved by God, just as Hagar was. He sees you, knows you, and hears your tears. He sent his Son to seek and to save you.

By God’s grace and through his Word, He draws near to you today with the command to repent, and also with a promise of blessing. And His grace is sufficient for you.

This article is an adaptation of Pastor Colin’s sermon, “The Single Mother”, from his series Faith for Fractured Families.

 Posted at: https://unlockingthebible.org/2020/08/god-hears-tears-prayers/

"But God" - 2 Chronicles 20:13-17

By Nancy Williams

2 Chronicles is an old testament book in the bible, written by Ezra to all of Israel to remind the people of God to humble themselves, pray, seek the Lord’s face and turn from their wicked ways, but their fearful responses keep the peace of God from them. Only God could bring true peace for He is greater than any enemy, army, or nation. All Israel had to do was to be faithful in their responses, trust the Lord and allow His peace to dwell in them. Just as their faithful responses was key to their peace and survival as a nation, so is our obedience to God as individuals if we are going to experience God’s peace.

2 Chronicles 20: 13-17 “Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

“But God’s”

As the enemy army bore down on them God spoke through Jahaziel to not be afraid or discouraged for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Did you see that, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed the battle is not ours but God’s. 

We may not fight battles with armies but every day we battle with temptation, sin, pressures, and rulers of the dark who want us to rebel against God (Ephesians 6:12). It is easy to forget in these situations that we need to be obedient to God if we are going to experience His peace. We as believers have been blessed with God’s Spirit in us. We have access to God to help us when we face struggles of any kind and God will fight for us and with us for the battle is His. 

How do we allow God to fight our battles?

By realizing the battle is not ours but God’s – most struggles we face are spiritual - will we obey God or not. Will we stand firm in the Lord, and see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf? 

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." 

We have all sinned, not one of us is innocent. 

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins. Battle won!

Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

What a great message that through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God.

Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." 

Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. 

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

The greatest battle for our soul is won by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Once we have surrendered our life to the Lord our next battle is to continually die to self, my ways, my wants and to remain obedient to the Lord.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

Philippians 1: 6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

 Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” 

Philippians 1:27 "Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." 

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." 

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

 Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 

John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

That continual dying to self allows us to grow in our likeness to Christ

Colossians 3:1-17 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 

And as we become more and more like Christ, we learn to trust Him with our life. 

Isaiah 26: 3-4 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

Jeremiah 7:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Because the battle is His, I can trust the Lord to fight for and with me as I obey Him with my life.

"But God" - Genesis 50:20

By Wendy Wood

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”  Genesis 50:20

At the age of 17, Joseph was a typical teenage boy.  He had been born into a large family, and enjoyed the benefits and favor of being the spoiled youngest.  His father loved his mother and showed Joseph favoritism in caring for the boy and bestowing gifts on him.  In most middle eastern families, it was the oldest son who is shown favor and was given special treatment. The older 11 brothers resented that Joseph was clearly the favorite kid.  That resentment and jealousy turned violent when Joseph shared his dreams with his brothers.  The dreams foreshadowed a day when the older 11 would bow down and show honor to Joseph.  The brothers seize Joseph and throw him into a pit.  After discussing their options, they decide to sell Joseph to a passing caravan who will take Joseph to the slave trade in Egypt.  Not only do the brothers rid themselves of their “problem”, they also profit!

Put yourself in Joseph’s place.  Joseph is still a teenager and must be confused, angry, and afraid as he is taken from his home and becomes a slave.  Joseph doesn’t know the end of the story.  He knows his brothers hated him so much that they didn’t want him around anymore and were willing to treat him horribly to get rid of him.  In Egypt, Joseph is put to work in Potiphar’s house.  He is a slave so he is working long hours, doing jobs and chores that are beneath ‘regular’ people, and is all alone in a land and doesn’t speak the language.  

Next Joseph is solicited by Potiphar’s wife.  Joseph, who had been brought up to honor and fear God, refuses to commit adultery with her.  Potiphar’s wife is angry that she is rejected, and falsely accuses Joseph of attempting to rape her.  Joseph is put in prison.  Joseph stays in prison long enough to gain favor with the guards and earn privileges and responsibilities there.  Joseph still doesn’t know why all this is happening to him.  His circumstances keep getting worse.  Joseph is given by God the ability to interpret dreams and after interpreting the baker and cupbearers, he is forgotten about again!  Joseph spends a couple more years in prison.  What would you be thinking at this point?  What would you be thinking about God at this point?  Joseph is mid-thirties now.  Since the age of 17, life has been a series of disappointments and unfair treatment.  

Finally, Pharaoh has a dream that he doesn’t understand and is told Joseph is the one who can help him.  Pharaoh's dream of the seven fat cows and the seven skinny cows is interpreted by Joseph as seven years of plenty of food and seven years of famine.  Joseph tells Pharaoh to save food over the next seven years because they will need enough saved to last seven years of producing no food.  Pharaoh is thrilled!  He releases Joseph and puts Joseph in command of all of Egypt’s resources.  Joseph becomes the second most powerful man in Egypt.  He is 37 years old!

Twenty years have passed since Joseph was sold by his brothers.  Twenty years of difficult circumstances and suffering at the hands of his brothers, who out of jealousy, sinned against him and triggered a long series of unfair, harsh, and frustrating events.  How do you think Joseph felt about his brothers?  Was he allowing bitterness and resentment to grow in his heart?  The refrain in all of these events from Genesis 37 to 50 is “But the Lord was with Joseph.”  Joseph probably struggled with being tempted to frustration and bitterness.  Joseph probably wondered where God was at times.  Joseph must have cried out to God asking for help and deliverance.

“But God”

As Joseph’s brothers arrive in Egypt needing help and food, Joseph’s love and trust in God is incredible.  Joseph interacts with his brothers a few times before revealing his identity.  But when he finally says who he is, there is no bitterness or ill will at all.  Joseph’s rock solid trust in God leads him to say, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”  (Genesis 50:20)  Joseph knows that nothing happens outside of the sovereignty, wisdom, and love of God.  Joseph knows that God determines every step of man’s life and no one can change or thwart God’s purpose (Proverbs 16;9, Job 42:2).  Joseph’s confidence in God’s plan allows him to love and forgive the brothers who sinned against him.

“But God”

When you are sinned against, are you able to say, “You meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good”?  Are you able to trust that God is so powerful, wise, loving, good, and faithful that He is using all things to bring about his purpose, even the sins of others against you.  “But God meant it for good” is the most encouraging and hopeful phrase to remember when someone treats us unfairly and harshly.  “But God meant it for good” gives purpose to the sufferings of this life. The next time someone is unkind and unloving toward you, remind yourself

“But God meant it for good”.

"But God" - Matthew 19;26

By Darcy Pearson

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26)

Impossibles come in all containers, all forms, and all intensities. It could be a medical condition that chips away at your joy, a financial crisis that is terrorizing your peace, a relationship that is falling apart that you can’t fix, a child who has turned his back on all you taught him in the Lord, a job that you hate and feel trapped in, rejection by someone you deeply love, unsaved loved ones that you have faithfully prayed for years for with no change, an addictive habit you can’t stop, or a secret sin that you feel tremendous guilt or shame over. Impossibles also have attached unwanted companions that daily accompany them such as anxiety, fear, worry, stress, loneliness, anger, jealousy, or desperation. It feels hopeless and overwhelming. It feels impossible!

“But with God!”

Let us look at the story in Matthew 19:16-26 where this verse is contained. It highlights an incident with the rich young ruler that led to Jesus giving an important message to his disciples. This young, wealthy man with many possessions makes his way through the crowd to ask Jesus, “What good deed must I do to inherit eternal life (16)? Jesus walks him through the Law’s requirements. Self-contentedly the man replies, “all these I have kept” (20). So, Jesus takes it directly to his specific sinful, selfish ruling wrong desire and states; “sell what you possess, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; come follow me” (21). The rich man upon hearing those words shows us what his impossible was. He could not imagine a life beyond the one he was living in luxury and status. To the man, it was impossible to leave all that behind and find a greater purpose, joy, and peace in a life following Christ. He chose to walk away sorrowful (22). He chose treasure on earth.

Jesus uses this as a teaching lesson when he commented to his disciples that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (23). In fact, He said “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” (24). Since the rich man had placed his trust in his wealth and not in Jesus to save him, he could no more enter the kingdom than a camel could go through “the eye of a needle. ” The word for needle in Greek is “rhaphidos”. It refers to a sewing needle, which has an extremely small opening. In contrast, the camel was probably the largest known animal to the disciples. So, it follows that the astonished disciples would incredulously ask, “Who then can be saved” (25)? Think about the context in this passage. Because of the Pharisees’ influence on them, they wrongly believed that God bestows wealth on those He loves. They mistakenly reasoned; if a rich person who clearly has God’s favor, because he is wealthy, cannot make it into the kingdom, then no one can! Jesus answered with his main point. Salvation is solely a work of God (26). It is impossible for the wealthy to shift their allegiance from materialism to the Lord Jesus without supernatural intervention. A transfer of what a person treasures must take place, in the inner man, in the heart, by faith. And that is God’s domain.

“But with God!”

What appears to be impossible, and is impossible for men to accomplish, is what God delights to do. He delights to save sinners. He delights to do the impossible. Earlier in Matthew 17:20 Jesus said, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like the grain of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Moving a mountain was a metaphor common in Jewish literature for doing what is impossible (Isa.40:4; 49:11; 54:10; Matt. 21:21-22). Jesus is teaching us that faith is required. And saving faith God gifts to us who are regenerated. Certainly, wealth makes it difficult to walk by faith. Our impossibles make it difficult to walk by faith! We are asked to stretch beyond what we see. Will I see only my impossible or will I see God’s possible? This is what brings all the glory to the one accomplishing the impossibility and removes it from the one who likes to be the glory stealer, namely me and you.

“But with God!”

What if impossibles are placed intentionally into your life and mine, in order that the glory of the Lord might be displayed in us and in our circumstances? This passage teaches us that God gives us two important tools to exchange our impossibles into his possible; surrender your treasure, will and agenda (die to self) and then completely depend upon Him in faith. The transfer of trust, transfer of treasure, must take place in the inner man.

At the beginning I listed many examples of impossibles. That list of impossibles is actually my own personal list. Some are past, some are current, and I am promised there will be more in the future (Jn. 16:33). 

What is your impossible? Will you trust the Lord, with the faith of a mustard seed, to bring good to you and glory to Himself through your circumstances? Will you allow God to use your impossible as a tool for His glory? Will you see God as The God of the Possible amidst our puny lives of impossibles? Will you die to yourself daily pick up your cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24)? Will you exchange what you treasure on earth for treasure in heaven? It is impossible unless you believe:

“But with God.”

"But God" - 2 Timothy 2:8-10

By Nancy Williams

Paul was a man who knew God. He was changed by his encounter with Jesus which shaped his life forever. Part of what made Paul extraordinary was that his love of God compelled him to love others well. One of those Paul loved well was Timothy, a young man he discipled to hold to the truth of Jesus’ teaching. While Paul was in prison waiting to be executed for preaching the gospel that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was the only way, he wrote 2 Timothy to encourage Timothy to remain faithful to the gospel. Here was Paul in chains, nowhere to go, limited time on earth, no job to support a ministry and his concerns were not on his situation, circumstances, or lack of funds, but was on the need to encourage others to remain faithful to Jesus. How often do we allow our situations, circumstances, the idea that there is always tomorrow, or lack of funds to hinder us from sharing the gospel or encouraging others to remain steadfast in their faith?

2 Timothy 2:8-10 “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

What a great reminder “But the word of God is not bound!” The gospel is not bound by man’s limits, Satan’s schemes, or even government denial. The gospel still has the power to change lives. Do you believe that? Do you live as Paul lived, taking every opportunity to share the gospel? As followers of Christ we need to know it, share it, and teach it to ourselves and those around us. We need to endure the blank stares, the hostility to the gospel but never give up on sharing it for it is the only thing that has the power to change a life.

But the word of God is not bound - It discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

But the word of God is not bound – It is used to equip us for every good work

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

But the word of God is not bound – It saves

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

But the word of God is not bound – It guides

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

But the word of God is not bound – It causes us to be wise

Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

But the word of God is not bound – It sanctifies

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

But the word of God is not bound – It helps us to not sin

Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

But the word of God is not bound – It last forever

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

But the word of God is not bound – It teaches and admonishes

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

But the word of God is not bound – It is Jesus

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Because the word of God is not bound, we can share it freely remembering that the word will do the work it was intended to do.