I am firmly committed to the belief that the destiny of a man is embedded not in how together he seems to have it, how successful the world decides him to be, or even how super spiritual he may have grown over the years.
No, the destiny of a man lies squarely in one place and one place only...in his response.
It is in his response to the threatened marriage; in his response to the chemical dependency; in his response to the obsessive thoughts; in his response to the waning commitment; in his response to dad's baggage, in his response to the unstable employment, in his response to the magnetic addiction, in his response to the undiscipled children; in his response to the defense of the weak; in his response to all of life's setbacks, challenges and troubles, in his response to the adversary's unrelenting drive to steal, kill, and destroy, in his response to the call to stand and fight for heart, mind, spirit and soul...in his response to the unwaivering offer of God.
Our destiny is unequivocally defined by our response. What is yours?
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Help Me To Believe
Do you ever have those moments in life when you are confronted with a pivotal question? A pivotal decision? A pivotal response?
I was recently taking a car ride with my 12-year-old nephew and we got on the subject of God. He asked me how God (if there was one) could allow all those people in Africa to go hungry. Wow, I thought, heavy question for a child, even for an adult. And it wasn't that my nephew was trying to stump me, he was rather saying in his own way, "Help me to believe."
'Help me to believe.' Isn't that what we each ask at some point in our lives?
Help me to believe that there is more out there than just superficial lusts and empty dreams. Help me to believe that life's hurts can be healed. Help me to believe that addiction isn't the end of the road. Help me to believe that all this pain and suffering isn't God's doing. Help me to believe that there is freedom in forgiveness. Help me to believe that no matter how desperate and bleak the circumstances, there is a way out. Help me to believe that even though I am overloaded with what look to be insurmountable responsibilities, I can overcome. Help me to believe that depression can be beat. Help me to believe that less can be more. Help me to believe that charity is still worth the sacrifice. Help me to believe that the cause for human dignity is still alive. Help me to believe that absolute truth is still worth the fight. Help me to believe that there is so much more to be gained from love than with hate. Help me to believe that there really is life after death. Help me to believe that illness will not irradiate out my hope. Help me to believe that I can and will have victory over my financial burdens. Help me to believe that security isn't found below my feet, but above. Help me to believe that courage is found in taking a stand for righteousness, no matter the cost. Help me to believe that life isn't simply a series of tragedies buffered by just enough of a sliver of hope to give me a pulse. Help me to believe that whatever the direction of my life (even if unbelievably way off course), God unconditionally awaits my repentance and reconciliation. Help me to believe...
What have others around you desired your help to believe? That this country will make it? That their business will prosper? That their family will have unity? That their faith will withstand the storm?
For my little nephew, the answer could have come from so many different angles. But with love, I explained that it is not God who has failed us, but us that have failed God. We have failed God with every act of impurity, false idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, envy, and so on. If we truly desire the world to be a 'better' place, making that difference starts no further than with us. It begins with a choice, a change of mindset, a change of direction, toward God rather than away. Our own lives can radically change this world for good. Sometimes all we need is a little help to believe...
Nate
"I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!" - Jesus (Jn 16:33)
I was recently taking a car ride with my 12-year-old nephew and we got on the subject of God. He asked me how God (if there was one) could allow all those people in Africa to go hungry. Wow, I thought, heavy question for a child, even for an adult. And it wasn't that my nephew was trying to stump me, he was rather saying in his own way, "Help me to believe."
'Help me to believe.' Isn't that what we each ask at some point in our lives?
Help me to believe that there is more out there than just superficial lusts and empty dreams. Help me to believe that life's hurts can be healed. Help me to believe that addiction isn't the end of the road. Help me to believe that all this pain and suffering isn't God's doing. Help me to believe that there is freedom in forgiveness. Help me to believe that no matter how desperate and bleak the circumstances, there is a way out. Help me to believe that even though I am overloaded with what look to be insurmountable responsibilities, I can overcome. Help me to believe that depression can be beat. Help me to believe that less can be more. Help me to believe that charity is still worth the sacrifice. Help me to believe that the cause for human dignity is still alive. Help me to believe that absolute truth is still worth the fight. Help me to believe that there is so much more to be gained from love than with hate. Help me to believe that there really is life after death. Help me to believe that illness will not irradiate out my hope. Help me to believe that I can and will have victory over my financial burdens. Help me to believe that security isn't found below my feet, but above. Help me to believe that courage is found in taking a stand for righteousness, no matter the cost. Help me to believe that life isn't simply a series of tragedies buffered by just enough of a sliver of hope to give me a pulse. Help me to believe that whatever the direction of my life (even if unbelievably way off course), God unconditionally awaits my repentance and reconciliation. Help me to believe...
What have others around you desired your help to believe? That this country will make it? That their business will prosper? That their family will have unity? That their faith will withstand the storm?
For my little nephew, the answer could have come from so many different angles. But with love, I explained that it is not God who has failed us, but us that have failed God. We have failed God with every act of impurity, false idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, envy, and so on. If we truly desire the world to be a 'better' place, making that difference starts no further than with us. It begins with a choice, a change of mindset, a change of direction, toward God rather than away. Our own lives can radically change this world for good. Sometimes all we need is a little help to believe...
Nate
"I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!" - Jesus (Jn 16:33)
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