HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING
CIRCUMSTANCES - Part IV
Since Spirit-filled believers are
endowed by OUR SOURCE with deeper understanding of situational times and
seasons, we never need worry or stress about OUR RESOURCES. OUR TIMES AND
SEASONS are faithfully committed to (and controlled by) the ever LOVING AND
SUSTAINING HANDS OF GOD. So even when
circumstances in our lives ‘seem’ to be dead or dying, the all-wise God has
preordained our ultimate victory and success. According to Jude, HE is “the only wise God”
and HE is to be accorded “glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and
ever.” (Jude 1:25) ONLY GOD knows the
end from the beginning, and for that reason alone, we confidently commit total
trust in HIM. Kingdom Principle Number
Six: APPEARANCES NOTWITHSTANDING, THE ALL-WISE GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL!
Daniel gave an insightful praise
report on the wisdom and power of God. (Reference
Daniel 2:20-22).
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed
be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And HE CHANGES THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 HE REVEALS THE DEEP AND SECRET THINGS: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
21 And HE CHANGES THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 HE REVEALS THE DEEP AND SECRET THINGS: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
Any believer who operates out of
reverential fear of God is the benefactor of SECRET KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. The Psalmist David penned two closely related
revelations concerning this. First of
all, he wrote “The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of WISDOM.” (Psalm 111:10)
And then David revealed the direct
result of this reverential fear: “The SECRET OF THE LORD is with them that FEAR
HIM; and HE WILL SHOW THEM HIS COVENANT.” (Psalm 25:14) As believers, we have a covenant relationship
with God. And never forget: GOD is a
PROMISE KEEPER! Every single day, we
walk hand-in-hand with THE ALL-SUFFICIENT ONE (who has already ordered and
walked out our steps), so why should we ever worry? Think.
This reminds me of our
granddaughter, Sydney, who visits us almost daily. At seven years old, she is fully able to
navigate the stairs alone, but whenever Sydney is beside me, she always reaches
for my hand. It is her way of feeling
safe and secure – since she apparently believes that her ‘Pop-Pop’ would never
let her fall. Is there a lesson here for
believers who should invest total trust and confidence in the hands of
‘Abba-Father’ to guide our way through challenging circumstances? If we would only stop to reflect on the power
of God, we would realize that we are anxious for no good reason. The seemingly major issues we encounter are
minor matters to the Creator of Heaven and earth! Too often, we doubt whether God will bring all
His promises to pass. The clock seems to
move so fast, and our progress seems to be so slow. One insight from yesterday’s devotional bears
repeating: “Stop fuming, fretting and fussing about what TIME it is…GOD KNOWS
YOUR SEASON!”
That is why the twelve disciples
should never have surrendered to doubt and fear. The ‘place’ they occupied and the ‘problem’
they experienced were directly connected to the command of Christ, and
therefore subject to their delegated authority, the awesome power of The Living
Lord. So when TROUBLE showed up…JESUS
showed up! Kingdom Principle Number Seven:
GOD IS OUR PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. (Psalm 46:1) Let’s look briefly at part of the text again.
Matthew 14:24-27
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night JESUS went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, BE OF GOOD CHEER; IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night JESUS went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, BE OF GOOD CHEER; IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID.
Kingdom Principle Number Eight: WHEN
GOD SHOWS UP, DON’T DOUBT HIM. Our Lord
really knows how to make a grand entrance, doesn’t He? Jesus is not only a water-walker; JESUS IS A
WAVE-WALKER! Be assured that there are
NO tempestuous waves…NO life-circumstances…that are too hard or too heavy for
Him to bear. Take a mental snapshot of
that stormy night on the sea. The drama
and the noise of that night were quite literally off-the-chain! Howling winds…tempestuous waves…fearful
disciples crying out…it was loud and noisy beyond belief. But the Lord of Heaven and Earth strolled by
(atop the wave caps) and whispered a Word of now-faith to those fearful boys in
the boat: “BE OF GOOD CHEER…IT IS I…BE NOT AFRAID.” Sisters and brothers, I have noticed something
somewhat similar in my own life. Whenever
my ‘boat’ tacks perilously close to troubled waters, over the background noise
of my personal storm, I can always tune in to that still small voice speaking
soothingly to my spirit: ‘Don’t worry…don’t be afraid.’ As one composer penned, when JESUS SPEAKS, “the
sound of HIS VOICE is so sweet that the birds hush their singing!” In
tempestuous times like these…He still walks with me…and He talks with me…and He
tells me I am His own! David said it
even better: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3) Amen!
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