Friday, February 11, 2022
Greetings, Dear Friends ~
I pray all is well with your soul in this moment and along your journey with the Lord! It is a blessing for me to be able to share today in what will be a series for the next several weeks on the Selah blog topic, “But God!”
Let us begin by considering the following “But God” passages of Scripture, which will used for our discussion today and in the coming weeks:
“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded” (Genesis 8:1, NIV).
“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, ESV).
“David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands” (1 Samuel 23:14, NIV).
“But God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 (ESV).
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV).
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, KJV).
Focusing on Genesis 8:1, think about these words: “But God remembered Noah….”
The very fact that we are alive means that we will face the challenges that life demands –ups and downs, peaks and valleys, and meandering roads. Some experiences or seasons will be an incredible journey of beauty, laughter, and celebration, while others will rock us to the core. Such, my friends, is the fruit of being alive. The moments of joy create within us an appreciation for peace and a sense of calm. All is well; and we are, in those times, immensely grateful.
In contrast, we, as Christ promised, will have times of hardship and difficulty (see John 16:33). I can think of conversations I have had with people just in the past week or so about the things they are facing. Most are issues related to a medical diagnosis they are battling—e.g., cancer or other illnesses. Each situation is unique, and my heart is with them. Yet, the approach to dealing with their diagnosis is integral to their path. I want us to consider this question: In times of struggle or testing, where is God?
In Noah’s circumstance, he was doing exactly what God instructed him to do. We might not regard Noah’s situation as a struggle, but if we dig a little deeper, we might be able to consider his state of mind without doing damage to the integrity of the Scripture as it is presented. Noah was in the ark . . . on the water . . . and he was waiting on God. All life forms in the world, as Noah knew it (except those on the ark) were dead. Did Noah feel guilty for being alive? Think about people that have gone to war, and the traumatic and lingering challenges they must battle because they have witnessed tremendous loss of life. Just something to think about . . . .
Being human necessitates the call to wait—on countless things. It just comes with the territory. Has the Lord ever called you to a place—to a season of waiting—that caused you to feel as if you were out in the middle of nowhere (as Noah and his family were), and your only solace was knowing you were in the center of God’s will? This can be challenging because not everyone is going to understand your journey. Perhaps, you feel like no one does—that no one just gets you. Yet, God knows what He has called you to do, and the focus must be on following His Voice and not what other people think! That is a topic in and of itself!
God’s plans do not always make sense (to us) but following His lead brings us to unimaginable fruitfulness. We will all faces times of loneliness, isolation, sadness, grief, anxiety, fear, depression, doubt, and hopelessness, but God remembers us right where we are! We can feel we are in the middle of the nowhere (so to speak)—and even in a crowded room. The blessing is knowing we serve the (one and only true) God, Who remembers us.
“But God remembered . . . and the waters receded.” What waters do you need to recede in your life today? These waters do not catch God by surprise. But God remembers us with everything we face. The very fact that we begin with the word, “But,” shows there is a contrast to what has preceded this statement. It does not matter what the situation is because “But God” is there, we have what we need.
This means that God will act! The outcome might not be as we expect, But God will get the glory; and we will be blessed in our walk with Him! As others on the ark benefited from Noah following the Voice of the Lord, people in our lives will as well because we are relying on God to take us where He wills. Therefore, leaning into and holding onto BUT GOD, will bless our lives in a way we never dreamed possible! So, whatever you are facing today, “But God.” In the midst of your waters, “But God.” When no one else understand, “But God.” You can fill in the blanks, and then add to your specific situation, “But God!”
May our God fill your life to the brim and allow you to see the overflow! This is my prayer for you as you remember that . . . this world is definitely a much better place because you are in it!
Until Next Time, My Dear Friends,
Selah