“Keep your chin up, Moses! People of faith never waver or falter; they are just as steady as the moon’s orbit around the earth. Their sky is always blue, and there’s never a cloud that dims their mind. So, Moses, if you want to be an outstanding Bible character – you must never get down or question God or lose sight of the goal or fail to see the big picture. If you want to be listed in the famous Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 – then never ever question things when you pray!”
Maybe you think that way too. Good Christians never have their down days, and they never feel swamped and overwhelmed. They are always on the top of the mountain, singing their hearts out, with nothing but sweetness flooding their souls. And because you don’t feel that way – then, you must be a bad Christian.
Be sure of this – outside of Christ, there has never been one who hasn’t wavered or faltered at some point along their spiritual journey. That’s not saying it’s good that we have those times, but the reality is – we do have them. And, if we allow God to work in our lives during those times of stark, dark bleakness – something good for God will come out of those times.
Eavesdrop just now on Moses’ conversation with the Lord on one of those bleak days of discouragement and depression.
Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” Numbers 11:11-15
And you know the rest of the story – the Lord was shocked over the tone of Moses’ voice, and He struck his servant dead right on the spot for speaking to Him in such a manner. Absolutely not! The story does not end like that.
The reality is – there are times in our Christian experience when we will be overwhelmed and swamped – spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Circumstances will be such that our thoughts will snowball from small to big, from bad to worse. Times when it seems like we are in a free-fall, thinking there is no parachute to eventually open and take us down safely to solid ground. We only see the impossibilities.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalms 61:2
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out, (spill out, dump out) your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalms 62:8
Child of God – where are you today in your thinking? Are you overwhelmed with guilt for the thoughts you have been having lately about God? Does it help in some small way to know that when Moses poured out his heart to God – God was not indifferent? Nor did God scold or chide Moses for being so real and candid in His presence. The highest mark of intimacy, friendship, and trust is when two parties can be completely open with each other.
Click here: Short Video – Idioms and Metaphors – Lesson #1 Turning Over a New Leaf
When we read Hebrews 12, we understand that all those great old Bible characters who experienced an incredible amount in their lifetime – actually made it home. It should encourage us to know they went through the floods and fires, so to speak, but they made it. Yes, they made it home!
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Open up to the Lord today and ask Him to help your troubled and distressed mind to refocus and to once again – fix your eyes on Jesus.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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