Jacob, one of the patriarchs of God's family walked with a limp after wrestling all night with God. God has other children who walk with a limp as well. Perhaps you are one of them. Has something happened in your life that was so painful that it left you feeling overwhelmingly vulnerable and insecure? Something that has made it very difficult to trust others? Perhaps you have become your own critic in the worst way. Maybe you may think your career is over. Or even worse, it never even got off the ground - and now you've been Spiritually disabled....crippled, morally ruined! If that's where you are today then these words are for you:
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand" (Psalm 37:23-24 NLT).
Can you relate? Our God loves to use broken and flawed people and he does that because when they become successful they aren't arrogant like other people who think they deserve it. They are a little nicer, a little more humble and a lot more willing to reach out and embrace others. They know first hand that without God they would never have made it.
Joseph was a man fashioned by the very hand of God; molded and shaped through the deep valleys he endured on his journey to the top of all Egypt. Joseph was treated so very badly by his brothers, beaten and thrown into a pit; sold into slavery...as good as dead. Yet not only did Joseph forgive his brothers but he fed them and wept over them. How could anyone do that? Joseph did it because he was convinced that the hand of God was responsible over every facet and every detail of his life. Have you seen God's hand in your life yet? Listen to what Joseph told his wicked brothers: "Do not be angry with yourselves… it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you" (Genesis 45:5 NIV).
God has a way of walking with us through even the toughest situations and reminding us of where we came from. Then when we do finally experience success we realize that it was God that brought us each step of the way, over every hill and through each and every valley. It is God who gives us favor and success. Now all we have to do is turn around and help others!
That's all I'll say about that.....for now.
That's all I'll say about that.....for now.
I'm going to pass your blog info on to the rest of the people in our church. You have such encouraging words. We lost our pastor of 22 years in a car accident a month ago and I know your words will bring hope and inspiration. I'm so glad we met in blog-world!
ReplyDeleteYes Tracy that is so sad, you mentioned that he had passed away in your blog. What a terribly hard thing for your congregation to go through. I hope you will all draw comfort from one another and bind together during this most difficult time. I'm sure your pastor would be more blessed to know his church grew stronger from it, and kept the vision and mission going as a result. That would be a real testimony to how much he was treasured. I will certainly keep your congregation in my prayers. Perhaps God is going to do wonderful things in and through all of you as a result. Blessings on your head Tracy!
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