HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES (Part II)
Your faith-walk involves a PROCESS which arguably seldom involves instantaneous
results. That’s why Jesus Christ declares “in your PATIENCE possess ye your souls.”
(Luke 21:19) Patience may be defined as the elapsed time between earth’s cry
and heaven’s response. Although Jesus hastened forthwith to lift
‘Water-Walking-Peter’ from troubled seas, perhaps (to the despairing sinker) it
felt more like an eternity, while he was trapped in a terrifying moment of
anguish and anxiety. Nevertheless, despite any notion to the contrary in our
human perspective, we serve a GOD who always shows up on time to transform
tragedy into triumph. That’s why we wait (expectantly) on Him. David declared,
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
(Psalm 40:1)
When Jesus issued the directive, ‘Get in the ship and go on
to the other side,’ His disciples never hesitated. Hesitation is the equivalent
of doubt. They did not delay because numerous
prior experiences produced a knowledgeable confidence that it was reasonable
and right to invest total trust in
THE MASTER. What they did not know is that divine directives require both
risk and sacrifice. Nevertheless, our God clearly comforts us
ahead of any testing times: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with
thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when you walk
through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon
thee.” (Isaiah 43:2)
However, after our initial call, with its subsequent and
inevitable challenges, it is tempting to question whether we were ACTUALLY called by God, especially
when we stand face-to-face with tenacious troubles. Our thoughts go something
like this: ‘Lord, did you REALLY say we should get in the ship and go to the
other side? Was that YOU, or was that just our imagination working
overtime?’ But since the Holy Spirit is a Comforter, He always breathes
soothing and stabilizing Words of life into our spirits. So, after Peter’s
trial-by-water, he nailed it and later penned these insights: “But the God of
all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after
that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle
you.” (I Peter 5:10) My friends, YOU WILL make it through the storm; your
perspective will change, and your faith will be strengthened. The mere
fact that you may experience danger or detours along your journey does not
invalidate or nullify the original call of God.
Faith in God’s eternal Word ultimately produces fulfillment
in the context of time. But here’s the rub: We don’t know the precise ‘WHEN’ of God’s timing; which is to
say that our CHRONOS is never intimately acquainted or precisely synchronized
with God’s KAIROS. Stated more simply and in the vernacular…‘God’s timing ain’t ours!’ In our
foundational scripture (Matthew 14:22-34), there is what I call a ‘frustration
gap’ between verse 22 and verse 34. Jesus says “GO” in verse 22, and the
disciples finally “LAND” in verse 34. To wit, it’s the IN-BETWEEN-STUFF that is the real trial of our
faith. I smile at myself whenever I testify confidently and
enthusiastically (after the fact)
with the 20/20 vision of hindsight. But the truth is that there are times
WHILE I’m passing through troubled waters when I’m not sensing any real measure
of victory.
There are several Kingdom principles in this scriptural
passage that should be highlighted.
Kingdom Principle Number One: When Jesus issued the command to cross over, He went up onto the
mountain to pray. This was surely a TARGETED PRAYER, with the express purpose of undergirding the
disciples for whatever challenges they would confront while obeying Christ’s
command. I love the fact that JESUS CHRIST yet serves as our INTERCESSORY
HIGH PRIEST! Hebrews 4:14-15 informs and inspires us: “Seeing then that
we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” I Timothy 2:5 confirms this
fact: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus.” His High Priestly function positions Him as our effective advocate,
so why should we worry? Think about it. Jesus strongly advises
against anxiety of any stripe, since Our Father is the Supplier of ALL we will
ever need. (Matthew 6:25-32 and Philippians 4:19) Never forget, G--O--D
HAS OUR BACKS!
The next Kingdom principle is found in verse 24.
Kingdom Principle Number Two: When we decide to launch-out-into-the-deep, our obedience becomeS a
moment-of-manifestation, ALBEIT VIA buffeting waves and contrary winds.
One of my friends is an excellent sailor, and he tells me that every proficient
sailor lives in expectation of robust and hearty winds. Indeed, smooth and polished seas are a death-knell
to sailing forward with power. Sisters and brothers, contrary winds do
not come to break you; they show up for the express purpose of MAKING YOU, i.e.
mobilizing you to GO and GROW! God reconfigures tempestuous winds, divinely
transforming them into gusts of dunamis
(vigorous spiritual power) to move you forward with passion and purpose.
So, stop cursing any prevailing winds, and start blessing them via fervent
prayer and faith-filled praise. (James 5:16) These are the unseen and
unexpected vehicles that carry you THROUGH your tests and INTO your destiny. Stay tuned…more to
come tomorrow!
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