A Thrill of Hope in the Wilderness

In the summer of 1986, my dad decided to take our family on their first ever vacation. He chose Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. We left Arkansas and finally arrived at Scenic, SD at which point dad announced he would take us in the back way, through the Badlands. Alone and on that gravel road, close to ten miles from any human being, a rock hit our gas tank and we were stranded in the wilderness. So, my brother and I walked through the Badlands back to Scenic where we called a wrecker to come get us.

My guess is you’ve had moments like that in life. Nothing seemed to go well. You felt isolated, alone, and no one knew your situation. We all felt like we were in a wilderness during COVID. Everyone did the best they could but it was a long time alone.

Maybe you’ve been asking questions like, “When do I no longer have to be alone”, “When will I finally get out of debt”, “When will I get a job”, “When will the cancer be gone”, “When will my child come home”. We’ve all had moments when it felt like we were stranded and we couldn’t see how we would ever move forward to a more positive space in our story.

We love the mountain top experiences with God. I mean, who doesn’t? But it’s interesting in the Bible, wilderness moments typically follow mountain top experiences. It happened to Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. He’s baptized by John and then hears the words of the Father, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” And right after that, Jesus is lead into the wilderness to tempted by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights.

Maybe you’ve had a bit smaller of a difficult time. Your relationship is great only to discover that person wasn’t being totally honest with you. You thought you had a rock solid marriage only to find out your spouse has been stepping out on you. You thought you were on the road to financial stability only to be laid off.

However, your deepest need becomes a gift when it drives you to depend an almighty God.

There’s a story in 1 Kings 19 about Elijah who runs away from a wicked queen. He runs to Mount Sinai and hides in a cave. The LORD appears to him to remind Elijah who he is and how God is with him, even in the wilderness. So God passes in front of the cave with Elijah standing there. There is a strong wind, an earthquake, a fire, but God isn’t in any of those extraordinary things. There’s finally an ordinary, every day whisper and that’s where God is. God asks Elijah in the whisper, “What are you doing here?”

And why does God whisper? It’s because He’s close…He’s near. He’s right there with you in your wilderness. So, what’s He saying to you? I will never forsake you. I will never leave you. I’ll hold you up with my strong right hand. I’ll stand by you. I will be light in your darkness. I love you more than you can imagine.

The Psalmist says in Psalms 34:17-18, “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” God is close to those who feel they are in a wilderness moment. But he whispers, “Hang on! I’m right here.”

You and I can trust God is Immanuel, “God with us”. He is with you and will never leave. He loves you more than anything. Blessings on the journey.

A Thrill of Hope in the Storm

This year, there were 18 named storms in the Atlantic/Gulf and 11 of those made American landfall. Of those 11, 4 were hurricane strength. On average every year in America, storms do $22.8 billion in damage. Storms are tough and they don’t care who gets hurt or the loss they create.

It’s true metaphorically in our lives as well. Storms are tough. Someone once said, “If you not coming out of a storm or in a storm, there’s one just around the corner waiting on you.” In other words, storms in our lives are inevitable. Some of you are in a storm right now.

For some, it’s going through a tough divorce. For another, it’s watching your adult children make poor life choices. Still others, it’s fighting through financial stress, especially this time of year. Others are hanging on through by their fingernails as they fight depression and anxiety. And of course, we all know older family members who are experiencing chronic and ongoing illness that affect our breathing, movement and heart. What do you do when you’re in the middle of the storm?

You never allow the presence of a storm to cause you to doubt the presence of God. He’s Immanuel (Matthew 1:23)…He is God with us.”

While we like to point to the Devil as the source of our issues (and overall that would be true), sometimes we have storms in our life just because of you. Sometimes there are storms because you spend too much money. You ran up the credit cards and took out a second mortgage and now those bills have come due. Your emotions got the best of you and you said some things during your fight to the one you love that can’t be taken back. You procrastinated. You decided to push off that budget meeting, that homework, studying for the final, buying Christmas gifts and now, it’s the eleventh hour. Everyone told you not to date him but you did anyone and now you are discovering why.

But sometimes, you’re in the storm and it’s really not your fault. Your parents are getting a divorce and as their child, you are stuck in the middle. The company you work for decided to do something different and now revenues are down so you find yourself out of a job. You trusted someone and took their word they’d come through. You did your part but they never showed up and now you are left holding the bag.

Paul knew disappointment. He writes Timothy in Ephesus in 2 Timothy 4:16-17 and reminds him that even when everyone left him and walked away, God stood with him. Because God is Immanuel, God with us.

There’s a popular story in Mark 4. Jesus and the disciples are in a boat on the Sea of Galilee at night when a massive storm comes up. These experienced fishermen thought they were going to drown. They thought life was over until Jesus stood up to calm the storm. With Jesus’ words, the sky cleared, the waves stopped and wind was gone. See, peace is not found in the absence of the storms but in the presence of Jesus. Jesus told John, “In this world, you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

See my faith isn’t about what I see but in what God says! My faith isn’t in a boat but who commands the wind and waves. My faith isn’t in a ship but the one who created the trees that built the ship. You can’t control how big the storm is in your life or the damage it may bring but you can control what you believe about Immanuel and recognize He is with you in your storm.

The Psalmist writes in Psalms 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” No matter the storm in my life, I am trusting God Almighty. He has told me He will never leave me. He walks with me. He’s already in tomorrow preparing a place for me. My peace is not in the absence of the storm but in the presence of my God. Blessings on the journey.

A Thrill of Hope in the Valley

Christmas is here and we all love this time of year. Family and friends exchanging gifts and well-wishes, it is a “feel good” time. While all of that is true for most of us, for some, it’s a tough time of year. I mean, we all love the mountain top experience with God but what about the valley moments? It’s difficult to sense God’s presence when you are in the valley of your story. Some of us are dealing with the finality of a divorce or the news you can’t get pregnant or the news that the cancer is back. Many of us deal with a dark moment in our story that’s relieved every December, usually the death of a loved one.

The thing is while we may enjoy God on the mountain, we get to know God intimately in the valley. Psalm 84:5-7 reveals pilgrims ascending up to Jerusalem through the Valley of Baca. Baca in Hebrew means “weeping, loss, tears”. See, in the valley, one has to deal with thorns, wild animals and bandits. The valley gives a picture of difficulty. But verse 5 reminds us, “What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord.”

Here in America, we idolize independence. We love saying the phrases, “I don’t need any help.” or “I can do this on my own.” But the text doesn’t say, “blessed are those who can pull themselves up by their own boot straps.” No…as Jesus-followers, we have access to supernatural power. For all who believe in the baby born and placed in a manger, there is bigger power that will get you through your valley.

One way to focus on getting through your valley is Paul’s reminders in Colossians 3:1-2 and Philippians 4:8. What you think about matters. So, according to Paul, “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.”

So, your heart may be racing but your mind is on Jesus. Your soul may be aching but your mind is on our Savior. Your emotions may be many but your mind is on Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). Greater is the one in me than the one in the world. My God is going before me to prepare a place for me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am more than a conqueror. I may be in the valley but my mind is set on Jesus.

So this holiday season, you may find yourself working through a difficult relationship, health news that wasn’t that great, the loss of someone who meant so much to you, a dark cloud of depression or loneliness. Remember if you know Jesus, he’s with you in that valley. He’ll never leave you. He’ll always be with you. He is Immanuel, God is with us. Blessings on your journey.

Be Influential.

Almost every American has some type of social media platform. It may be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X). We do our best to stay informed about who is doing what and we want the world to know what we are doing so we post. We hope our postings gain followers so that our influence will be felt. But whether or not you have a platform, you have influence.

You have no idea how one conversation, one word of encouragement or one expression of love can change someone’s life forever.

Jesus calls those that follow him a couple of things: salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16. Salt purifies, preserves and adds flavor. Light a match in a dark room and it illuminates. So, as people who believe, Jesus says you have influence. Each of us have a circle of influence in our lives. These are people you have access to and no one else does: family, friends, neighbors, coworkers. Jesus is reminding us that influence always starts with people, never a platform.

So, read the story of Jesus’ interaction with a woman who was not wanted or seen in her community. She was broken, messed up, divorced 5 times, shacking up with her boyfriend and a community outcast. Yet, Jesus interacted with her and in doing so, unlocked her ability to influence others for Jesus. That story can be found in John 4 and it’s a wonderful reminder to all of us, God only uses broken people in his story. You don’t need anything but Jesus.

By the end of the story in John 4, this woman that her community had kicked to the curb brought the entire village out to meet Jesus. And the story ends by saying many of them believed in Jesus as the Messiah before he left the village. It just goes to show you, no matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, Jesus can use you in his story.

This is a season of giving upon us. So it’s our opportunity to be Jesus to those around us and show them how Jesus can change their lives for the better. It’s a chance to be salt and light in your life. You don’t need 4000 followers to be an influencer, just focus on the one person standing right in front of you. Blessings on the journey.

Seek the Kingdom

Usually about an hour after I eat dinner, I’m back in the kitchen looking for something sweet. I look in the fridge, in the pantry and on the countertop, narrowing down the choices for my sweet tooth. But I’m looking because there something I don’t have. If I was satisfied, I wouldn’t be in the kitchen.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom and live righteously and God will give you everything you need.” Notice he didn’t say everything you want. Jesus is calling us to seek the kingdom or look for kingdom living because he knows we don’t yet have it. We are missing something. We aren’t satisfied and we end up trying all kinds of things that aren’t good for us. Jesus knows exactly what we need to be satisfied: His Kingdom.

So, Paul calls us to imitate Jesus in life and character in Philippians 2:2-3. He calls us as followers to have the posture of Jesus. As followers and believers, we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, the Chosen One, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Yet, Jesus left all that to be killed for you and me so we could be reunited with our Heavenly Father. See, Jesus posture preceded his position. And we are called to that kind of living as well. Seeking the right posture yields righteousness, not because of anything I’ve done but because of all that Jesus has done and is doing.

So if we are going to be formed into imitators of Jesus, there are some things we can do in our lives to be better molded to look like Jesus. There are four things to know that will help build a Jesus’ posture in your life.

Be a part of community. Robin and I have been married 33 years. I’m grateful for what we have. But since the first week of our marriage, people who are believers have pulled us in and walked with us on our journey. Randy and Robin in Minnesota, Larry and Cindy in Ponca City, John and Sharron who known us since the mid-90s. Being in community or part of a church faith group is paramount. That family of believers gathers around you and helps shape you into someone who looks more like Jesus. You can’t have Jesus without the church.

Secondly, giving your resources helps build a Jesus’ posture. When we talk about money and possessions, we tend to get uncomfortable…nervous. But 15% of Jesus’ preaching was about this subject. It’s clear we are to manage our resources and not them manage us. There is a principle Robin and I use called tithing; giving 10% of our income back to Jesus/the church. We want to do what we can so that other’s can hear the message of freedom…the message of Jesus. When you decide to give back, you’re saying, “God, I think you can do more with my 90% than I can with my 100%.” It’s trusting God will provide and I share the blessings I have recieved.

Jesus said he had come to serve not be served. That’s our third shaping characteristic. When we serve others, we look like Jesus. There are so many ways to serve in the context of a spiritual family but also ways to serve our country, city, and schools. The principle of Jesus in this vein is that others are more important than you, which is a breath of fresh air in our culture. Americanism claims you are number one and you are all that’s important. In Jesus’ upside down kingdom, putting others ahead of yourself is looking like Jesus.

Finally, living an authentic life is how we are called in Jesus. The biggest knock against the church is that we say one thing and do another. That’s called hypocrisy. David Kinnaman, president of Barna, wrote two informative books using data his company collected that measured culture and church. The world doesn’t want any part of the church because we tend to be hypocritical. Three of the six things Barna discovered where the church is judgmental, hypocritical, too political, and too sheltered. There were more findings but these would remind us of the need to be authentic: making our voices and lives mirror Jesus.

As believers, we want a life and story that match our declaration that Jesus is Lord and King. To call for us as believers as that we’d count the cost of following Jesus and sign up. That we would be the kind of people who have a life that looks like Jesus full of mercy, compassion, forgiveness, sacrifice, unconditional love. To help mold us better into that person make sure you are part of a community of believers, that you give freely of your resources, that you serve those around you and live an authentically real Jesus life. Blessings on the journey.

He Must Increase.

Living in a me-first world is tough. At times it seems no one is following Jesus call to life except you. A picture of our culture can be found on an airplane. You’re in the middle seat and the other two passengers are taking up all the armrests. Or the guy in front of you reclines his seat back as far as it will go leaving your tray in your gut. In America, we live for ourselves. It’s a me-first culture.

But Jesus told us, “You must lose your life if you want to find it.” Life cannot be about you in Jesus’ upside down kingdom. John the Baptist had a driving motto and it’s one I’ve adopted, although I drop the ball every single week. John says in John 3:30, “Jesus must become greater and greater; I must become less and less.” That’s a kingdom heart and the same heart Jesus wants all his followers to possess.

Jesus actually pointed at John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11, saying there had never been anyone greater than John. Why? Because John’s heart was a kingdom heart. His attitude was about self last and others first, indeed the King of kings was in the priority position in his life. So what were the things in John’s life that give us a better understanding of what it means to follow the risen Savior?

First, John’s parents were sold out for God. They created a rich heritage within the home that lived out Kingdom mentality. They served others and God with their Temple service. They had done that their entire life. So, moms and dads, grandma and grandpa…you have the opportunity to predecide you will live for Jesus and your life will be centered on serving him. Make a decision, no matter where you are in your family life that your house will be centered on Jesus by servicing others, regularly interacting with a local faith group and making your house scream you love Jesus with decor and scripture on the walls.

Secondly, practice NOT being #1. John did. He says in John 1:26-27, “I’m not worthy of being the slave of Jesus nor untying this shoes. John was humble and did not seek to be known. His only desire was to make Jesus known at whatever the cost. So many of us seek the spotlight and what the applause. But those of us in life, when we get the applause, acknowledge Jesus during the recognition. God is the one who put you in that position so let the world know it’s not about you but about Jesus.

Finally, when you have doubt, take it to Jesus. That’s what John the Baptist did when he found himself in prison because he was speaking truth about King Herod and his wife Herodias. We don’t know how long John was in prison but it was long enough for him to start asking some questions. He was alone, isolated, tired, cold. In Luke 7:19-22, he is asking Jesus, “I think…I believe you’re the Messiah but in this moment, I’m not 100% sure.” It’s a good story for us to read.

Each of us have moments when things are dark, negative, and stormy. We can’t feel God or see him working in our life and we ask, “Are you real?” The story, your story, will not always turn out as you had planned. But in a be-last kingdom, we are called to trust the Savior and realize, it’s not about me. It’s about exalting Jesus and letting the world see our faith and trust in Jesus, especially during the valley moments of our life.

So Jesus reminds us in Matthew 10:39, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” So the challenge is to live the mantra of John, “Jesus must increase and I must decrease.” In this way, you will develop the Kingdom heart that says you belong to the Savior. Blessings on the journey.

Greatness Defined

At least once a year, I watch “Band of Brothers” created by HBO. The show follows a company of US soldiers during WWII through Europe. It reminds me of the sacrifices of men and women who were part of the greatest generation and makes me appreciate all that I have. But how does greatness get defined in the Kingdom of Jesus?

In Mark 9, the disciples are arguing over who is the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus doesn’t discourage greatness but does redefine it for us saying, “The first will be last and the last will be first”. In Matthew 20, the disciples are again arguing over who’s the greatest among the disciples. Jesus says look, I have an upside down kingdom. If you want to be great, you’ll need to be the servant and slave of all.

In Luke 22 as Jesus celebrates Passover with the disciples one last time before he’s killed, he redefines the Passover meal into what Christians celebrate today as the Lord’s supper or Eucharist. After Jesus breaks bread with them and drinks the watered wine, the disciples begin to argue over who’s the greatest! But Jesus says, “I’ve told you I want you to experience the best life possible and the path to that greatness is not pushing people around but serving those you encounter.”

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a land owner who went on a trip but before he left, he gave 5 bags of silver to one servant, 2 bags of silver to another servant and 1 bag to the last servant. Upon his return, the 5-bag servant had earned 5 more bags and the 2-bag servant earned 2 more. The master said well done! Let’s celebrate and I’ll give you more because of how you used the resources to gain more.

But the 1-bag servant was afraid of the master so he hid his silver and did nothing with it. Upon the master’s return, the master took away what the last servant had and gave it to the 5-bag servant. So, what’s the moral of the story and how does it relate to greatness in Jesus’ kingdom?

Well, we notice the 5-bag servant put his resources to work immediately…he didn’t wait. Some of us make plans to work in the kingdom but after our kids graduate and leave home or after I get my nest egg built up or when I get different working hours. But Jesus reminds us it’s a mindset. We all have been given “gifts”. Gifts could be time, talents or resources. The point is, whatever we have, if you follow Jesus, start today using that for kingdom.

We also have to realize that all the resources you have (time, talent, physical resources) are entrusted to us and don’t belong to us. Everything we have was given to us by Jesus and while we have it, it’s used for His glory and for his kingdom.

Too many of us have adopted the American mentality of entitlement and owning, using what we have been blessed with for our own purposes. If this is your spirit, your joy and peace will be wrapped up in the stock market and your bank account. But if you realize what you have is really not yours, your joy and peace will be wrapped up in Jesus.

Finally, if you follow Jesus, serve others as one who will give an account of your life one day. The Bible mentions that we are allotted 70 years on earth. The current US average for life is just under 79 years. In the moment, we think we have all the time in the world to live into the life we have but the truth is, it is a very small window to make a kingdom difference.

Jesus is coming back and when he does, he will not say good job my good and faithful social media influencer or good job my good and faithful public school teach. King Jesus will recognize me by the way I stepped into kingdom life and served those around me. I look forward to the day when my Savior looks at me and says, “Well done my good and faithful SERVANT.”

As we live into the greatness of the kingdom of Jesus, we want to be like him which means we serve those around us and recognize, others are more important than we are. Blessings on the journey.

The Key to Greatness.

Most of us have heroes…typically sports figures. Football might be Tom Brady; Basketball could be MJ. Women’s gymnastics is probably Simone Biles. These are the people who have sacrificed a lot to be the greatest of all time. They usually say having a great coach, practice and trusting your skill set are the things to make you the GOAT. But what does Jesus of Nazareth say will make you the GOAT?

Initially, there was no clue to his greatness. He was born in a barn to poor parents who eventually became refugees in another country. His dad was a blue collar worker. Jesus was so ordinary early on that we don’t even know about 17 years of his life.

But the 33 years Jesus had on earth changed the course of human history. His life affected the medical field, the academic field. theology. You can go to the graves of world-be world changers but you can’t go to Jesus’ grave because he isn’t there. And the Bible paints a greatest-of-all-time picture of Jesus.

Just read John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15-17 and Hebrews 1:1-3. You’ll see the authors remind us that Jesus existed before time began and that everything we know was created through him and for him. He is the visible image of the invisible God. Jesus is the greatest of all time. So what does the GOAT say is the key to greatness?

Jesus says, “Be last”. Jesus says in Matthew 20:26-27, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.” Jesus would never ask us to do anything that he hasn’t already done. Jesus left glory, heaven, authority, peace, purity to be pour into a human body and live on earth. He gave up kingship in order to be a servant.

Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-11 how Jesus left heaven and what he did on earth. Jesus is setting an example for us that in a “me-first” world, a “be-last” life is different. And Paul says “you must” in verse 5 reminding us that if we follow Jesus, looking like him is imperative…it’s not an option.

So focus on the one question this week: “What does ‘be-last’ look like for me?” If you are like me, I could make a list fairly quickly of 10 things I need to change. But if I make a list, I won’t do any of them. So, focus on one thing. What’s one thing that would help you be last this week?

There are so many ways you can look like Jesus this week. Following Jesus will cost me something. My hope is the Spirit will reveal to you exactly what you need to work on. In a me-first world, following Jesus looks very different. Blessings on the journey.

The Spirit of our Politics

You grew up hearing little phrases that meant something in your neck of the woods. Phrases like, “You’re behind the 8-ball now” or “You’re barking up the wrong tree” or “bless your heart”. All of these meant something specific where you grew up. One I grew up hearing was “never talk about politics and religion together.”

But over the last two to three election cycles, my American friends have told me they felt like they were between a rock and a hard place. Comments like, “No candidate inspires me” or “I don’t trust either one” or “I just don’t know who I should vote for” has led to the comment, “So I’m just going to sit this one out”.

Now, I am not a political person by nature. You’ll really never hear me endorse a candidate or a platform or a party. But Paul tells us in Romans 13 that God establishes human government. And it doesn’t make sense to me that God would not want humans involved in the government he has established.

When we read Jeremiah 29, you find a prophet of God living in a broken Jerusalem who’s trying to encourage his countrymen who have been taken hostage. King Nebuchadnezzar took thousands of Israelites to Babylon as he conquered and dismantled the country of Judah. So, while the Israelites are living in a country and culture that doesn’t share their values nor their belief in the God of Israel, Jeremiah sends a letter to encourage them. This letter is written and sent to Babylon in about 597BC and Jeremiah has some insight that will help us in our difficult and divided moment here in America.

Jeremiah reminds us to be responsible in our culture. He says look you’re going to be there a while, 70 years so provide for your family, get a home, get a garden, get a job, get married, have kids and raise a family. The average life span in America is 78.9 years. And we live in a culture that doesn’t have the same beliefs we do in a risen savior nor an everlasting God. But don’t isolate, permeate. Be salt and light and live in such a way to represent Jesus well.

Jeremiah reminds us to be prayerful for our country. Our lives are wrapped up in the welfare of this country. Prayer is our declaration of dependence on God. I think most of us would agree that our country desperately needs God. So prayer for revival and another chance. Pray for our leaders to use the wisdom of God in their decision making. Pray that we’d be united instead of divided.

Jeremiah reminds us to be careful about who you consider when you vote. Every election candidates from both sides tell some truth and some things not so true. We hear positives and negatives from both sides. So, take time to think, research and learn. Don’t just listen to your favorite evening news broadcast and go with it. Investigate and discover what the real issues are in the campaign. Then make the best choice you can out of what is available. Participate in the process; don’t isolate.

Finally, Jeremiah calls us to be hopeful in your calling. Keep your eye on the permanent heavenly home. We are here for a lifetime; we are not here for all time. We are just passing through. At the end of the day, God is still on his throne. The Lamb is greater than the donkey. The Lion is greater than the elephant. As a child of God, I should never be hopeless because our God is in control.

We are about a month away from election. So, be responsible, be prayerful, be careful and be hopeful. We are called by God to be salt and light. It’s our opportunity to show our friends, coworkers, and family how to navigate a culture making sure God is the priority. Blessings on the journey.

You Should Just Give Up

In Junior high, I was experimenting. I was playing football for school and I was in the school band. I didn’t know anything about either so I was giving both a shot. The band director gave me the French horn to play, which is a hard instrument. Every day at football practice, I thought about throwing in the towel since I was so small. Eventually, the band director, Mr. Hicks, told me I needed to choose: it’s either football or band Hall; which do you choose. So I gave up on band and dedicated the rest of my years (7-12 grades) playing football. It was the right choice for me.

Each one of us have moments in our life when we have to choose. There are difficulties and hardships. When hard moments come, it’s the enemy, Satan, trying to get you to choose to give up your relationship with God and other people. Jesus said that the enemy came to kill, steal and destroy. That’s all Satan cares about.

One dude in the Old Testament who experienced the full force of choices was a guy named Job. His story is one of the oldest recorded stories in the Bible. Job was very blessed by God. Job worshiped God every day and kept God in the primary place in his life. Job had lots of wealth, property and a huge family with 10 children. But Satan wanted to press Job into leaving his relationship with God so Satan created difficulty and chaos.

Satan had groups of people come in and steal all his livestock and kill all his servants. Satan also created a storm that destroyed the house all ten children were in, killing all of them. But even after all of that destruction, Job 1:20-21 says that Job worshiped God.

My guess is you also have had tough moments in your life. Maybe your marriage is not in a good place right now or your adult children are walking away from God. It could be your working through a prolonged illness or cancer treatments. Maybe you were hit hard in the market and investments and now you realize you’ll need to work a few more years before retiring. It could be you’ve been carrying around the shame and guilt from past mistakes, unaltered habits, or secret sin. These all are difficult moments where you must make a choice.

But like Job, we must realize your story doesn’t have to be defined by what happens to you; it should be defined by how you respond. As a follower of Jesus, we know difficult life moments are going to come. That’s a promise. Like Job, we must realize the script is already written for us in how we respond. Don’t buy the lie from Satan that you should just give up. Don’t let him sway you from the truth that Jesus has given us.

Like Job in chapter 19, we can say, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”. Jesus told us he’ll never leave us nor forsake us. He’s with us until the end. There are going to be storms in our lives. It’s just Satan trying to get us to walk away from our relationships with those we love, including God.

So, stay the course. Be resolute. Don’t back down. Make the choice to continue to walk with God through the storm. He’s with you. He’s got you by the hand and he’s not letting go. Blessings on the journey.