Sometimes it feels like we’re being attacked on every side.
Sometimes it feels like we can barely keep our head above water. From the
simple daily tasks of non-stop tantrums, to the spiritual battles of fighting
for their souls.
A dear friend and I are doing a Bible Study on the women of
the Old Testament, and this last week was on Deborah, the judge and prophetess.
After Joshua had led the Israelites successfully into the Promised Land by
God’s will, it says in Joshua 3:1, 4 “Now these are the nations that the LORD
left to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all
the wars in Canaan . . . They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether
Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He commanded their
fathers by the hand of Moses.”
These past few weeks God has seemed to lead us through a
great testing of whether we will obey Him or not. When it seems as though the
world is caving in around us, will we choose to be obedient? “He has told us
what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to
love kindness, and to walk humbling with our God?” Micah 6:8.
It’s easy to fall into the mindset that we’ve “done enough.”
We’ve walked that hard before, so we’ve paid our dues. But His command is not past
tense, but present. To do justice, love
kindness, walk humbly. In the midst of trials and weariness, we are called
to continual obedience to Him.
He is so gracious to remind us that He hears our pleas for
help like He heard the Israelites when groups waged war against them. Every
single time He sent them a deliverer. He reminds us today that we are never
alone. That this battle we fight on a daily basis is fought with those friends
who send texts of encouragements, or the family and friends who help babysit,
or the agency that continues to advocate for us, and the non-stop prayer we
receive from all over the place. He reminds us that He is in control. “Seek
first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to us. Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious
about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34
Chuck Smith said, “If I am only building on consent to the
truth rather than obedience to the truth, my house will fall in the time of the
storm.” It is so difficult to be obedient in trial, but the Lord’s faithfulness
prevails every time.
"For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:8-10
