I often find myself reflecting on the idea of waiting on the Lord. Waiting can seem frustrating in our fast-paced world, where immediate results and quick fixes are highly prized. My personality is to get in and fix things as soon as possible. So, it’s not easy when I have to wait days, weeks, or months for something. I can start to get anxious very quickly.
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Every day, I read from Milton Vincent’s book, “A Gospel Primer.” It has a 31-part section that fits nicely into my daily devotional routine. This phrase always catches me each time I read it (on the 14th of the month). He refers to a “grief-stained joy.” That idea resonates with me deeply when contemplating life. Especially today, as I write this, about ten steps away from my wife Jeanne’s hospital bed — it’s awkwardly positioned in our bedroom. This verse specifically comes to mind as I search for solace.
“If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.” — Psalm 119:92
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Yesterday (October 23) marked three years since my father passed away. In previous posts, I have shared some of the things the Lord has guided me through so far on this path of grief. With that in mind, today will be the latest entry into that diary.
But first, a story. As children, my brother and I would oftentimes get our dad a t-shirt for his birthday. We’d get ones with his favorite rock bands on them. I always wanted to wear them to school, but they were obviously too big for me. However, as I got older, I began to grow into the shirts that once drowned me as a child. Today, I still have most of my dad’s shirts. You’ve probably seen me wear many of them often.
These memories have me reflecting on this thought:
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“Don’t care how I want it now.” Veruca Salt sings these words while dancing in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. She also insists that she gets what she wants when she wants it. It’s easy to cringe at her horrible attitude. We tell ourselves we are certainly not like that. But on the whole, in our fast-paced world, patience is not something most of us have enough of.
Get Rich Quick! Lose Weight Fast! Get Instant Access! We all see a good deal of these types of headlines while scrolling on our phones. It’s everywhere — instant gratification in everything from communication to consuming movies to getting meals.
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“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:4-5
I recently read through The One Year Bible and found these verses in John; they are perhaps among my favorites. These words come from our Savior Jesus. They remind me, quite simply, that “fruit” produced in our lives comes through abiding and resting in Him.
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“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)
What an absolutely beautiful promise from our Father!
When my oldest son was just a few years old, my family and I went to Lake Havasu for a boating trip. As we stopped in some coves while riding the boat, I took my son Abel into the water to swim with me. He had always been pretty hesitant when it came to water. After I put on my life jacket, I grabbed a floating swim noodle. Then, I picked up my cautious son (in his life jacket) and gently got into the lake. Abel safely floated in my arms with his head high above the water.
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“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” — Proverbs 28:1
Do you read the news? There is certainly a lot out there to cause worry and fear in my heart. So much is going on — from political unrest to droughts (and now flooding), shootings, economic news (inflation, the banking crisis, or interest rates), wars, rumors of wars, increasing wickedness, the love of many growing cold, etc. All that is happening locally, nationally, and globally naturally fills us with worry and fear.
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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NIV84)
A few weeks ago, I taught how to have hope in the midst of hardship. Many people told me that that message was precisely what they needed. I certainly needed to hear it, too! Life is always full of suffering, and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, Jesus promised, “In this world, you will have trouble.” (John 16:33b)
The reality of pain and suffering forces us to ask ourselves, “Where is my hope?” Jean-Paul Sartre, a well-known atheist, was agonizing over the thought of death. People heard him repeatedly say, “I know I shall die in hope…but hope needs a foundation!” I am eternally thankful to God for giving us a solid foundation on which we can have hope – even as we walk through the valley of death, difficulty, grief, and sorrow.
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I have a love/hate relationship with snow. The lovely song that Frank Sinatra made famous, “Let It Snow,” brings a certain whimsical set of emotions. Yes, the snow is beautiful! Yet, my back is aching, and driving is stressful. When pondering the statement “let it snow,” I can’t help but be reminded of the One (and only One) who controls the snow.
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Is the Word of God something you take delight in?
I’ve recently been thinking quite a bit about the word “delight”. We are currently in a sermon series at church (through Psalm 119) called “Delighting In God’s Word.” I take delight in naps, cats, and iced Americanos. I take great pleasure in the joy of Disneyland with my wife and children. But the thought of delighting in God’s Word strikes a chord that goes much deeper. Of course, I enjoy the goodness of God in the good times. But what about the times when I need the promises of God to minister to me in a more profound way? How can I delight in God’s Word when walking through pain, suffering, and loss?
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