Category: struggle

For five days, our son-in-law Jordan could not concentrate, process, or think clearly. Two times, once by ambulance, he was taken to the UAB emergency room. He spent three days in the hospital. Blood tests, a CT scan, two MRI’s, a spinal tap, and examinations by numerous doctors produced no hint of the source of the problem. Of course, Kinsey was at his bedside wondering whether life would ever be the same.

All of us were praying, but I could only share the truth that God was with both of them. On the fifth day, there seemed to be improvement and on the sixth day, the confusion finally subsided. Unfortunately, the spinal tap caused another several days of intense headaches that didn’t clear up until Thanksgiving. It is amazing how thankful we become after something lost is restored.

Jordan has completed four years of medical school and is in his fourth and final year of residency as an ophthalmologist. Having been named ‘chief resident,’ Jordan was looking forward to giving the speech to welcome thirty-five candidates for residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He missed his speech and all the festivities because he was in the hospital. But now Jordan and Kinsey are simply praising God.

Our brilliant Father is able to use difficulties, trials, and even loss for the good of His children. I would not presume to say to my daughter and her husband: “This is what you should learn…” But Kinsey and Jordan claim God is teaching them… and they gave me permission to share a bit. They keep using phrases like “new perspective,” “new priorities,” “re-dedication to what is important,” and “never be the same.” God alone knows our hearts, thoughts, and needs. And He loves us enough to teach us and discipline us and mold us and bless us. As parents here on earth, we do the best we can, but God’s brilliance goes beyond explanation.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit say: “Trust Him.”

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child He loves that He disciplines; the child He embraces, He also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” Hebrews 12:5-11 (The Message)

“God, brilliant Lord, Your name echoes around the world.” Psalm 8:9 (The Message)

“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)

Not only does Jesus want us to have His joy, He also wants us to receive His peace. This peace is beyond what the world can give. Treaties, agreements, and compromises can have positive impacts on society, but Jesus knows true peace takes place in the heart.

In the same conversation with His disciples, Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.” (John 14:1) God is the source of true peace. We can trust Him to be greater than our fears, greater than our circumstances, and greater than the enemy of our souls.

Paul even said that we can rejoice and give thanks in the midst of anything. Writing from prison he encouraged: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

I need God’s peace to guard my heart and my mind! God wants us to know He is present. We can trust Him; we can talk to Him and ask for help; we can thank Him for everything He gives us; and we can let His peace rule our hearts.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one Body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

“’Come, let us reason together,’ says the Lord…” (Isaiah 1:18)

Our Father in Heaven is a God of reason and He hears our sincere questions. Jeremiah had a valid complaint: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet You know me, Lord; You see me and test my thoughts about You.” (Jeremiah 12:1-3)

God answered with His own questions that revealed a higher goal for his prophet: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

If the athlete complains about tough practices, the coach tells him what it takes to be a champion. If a math student complains about fractions, the teacher explains that there are tougher things to come. If we get upset with others, God reminds us that the real struggle is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

John the Baptist sent a question to Jesus as he sat in prison: “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus did not criticize but rather sent back an answer of encouragement: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is being proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.” (Matthew 11:2-6)

I want to go to God with my questions today, rather than to a political candidate or talk show host. God not only sees what is happening on earth, He knows the reasons. I need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me think and speak and love like Jesus. I think He’s telling me to be dressed and alert and always praying.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:13-18

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (II Timothy 4:6-8)

Since being saved by Jesus on the Damascus road, Paul’s life to the point of his last known letter from a Roman prison looked like an amazing race. He had been given a plan, he had a focus, and he aimed to finish. “God has chosen me to take His Good News to the Gentiles and to share His great love with anyone who will listen.” What a plan the Lord had for Paul! And God knew in advance it would not be easy. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” (Acts 9:15-16)

Paul’s focus was Jesus, his Savior and King. Jesus is what the race is all about; He is the goal. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The finish is in God’s hands. Paul must have known he was near death as he wrote to Timothy. Many times he had come close to death, but the Lord rescued him. Now, as he sensed his earthly race was ending, there did not seem to be sadness or regret. Instead, there was anticipation of what was to come. “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

After taking the twenty-first pill of a three-week chemo cycle, I told Susan last week I felt like I had just run a marathon. In fifteen years, this is the ninth major treatment we’ve embraced to combat the blood cancer, multiple myeloma. God has enabled doctors to discover new and different plans of attack, and though there is still no cure, we are thankful for all the progress made. My last treatment was a trial drug that gave me two cancer-free years. I had to get an infusion once a month, which impacted me only a couple of days. I loved that schedule, but as always, the disease figured out a way to resist and the cancer gained the upper hand.

This new regimen is going to take some getting used to, as it calls for cycles of three weeks on the meds with one week off. I have to focus on the One who endured the cross. The Holy Spirit helps us; I know this full well. He speaks to me through the sleepless nights and reminds me that ‘I can do all things through Christ.’ Jesus also uses members of His Body to encourage and help and strengthen. I don’t think we can run the race alone.

A dear friend, who endures much more difficulty than me, lives out the practical methods of perseverance. He shows one can truly ‘count it all joy’ in the midst of the trial, knowing that God accomplishes things we cannot see. He not only fixes his eyes on Christ, but he invites surrounding men and women and boys and girls to know that Jesus is real. My friend shows me you can laugh at the pain. This is not being flippant; his pain is real and few I know could endure it, but just as Jesus scorned the shame of the cross for the joy set before Him, so we can remember the promises ahead. Eternal life is to come. “Think about the future! What are we going to be doing two hundred years from now, Dana?” he recently asked. “We can’t imagine what the Father has planned!”

Let’s run well.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” II Timothy 2:1-7

When a person enters the army, he separates from civilian affairs. Allegiance is pledged and total obedience to authority is required. Beginning in basic training, a soldier understands that hardship is part of the package, but suffering is embraced for a greater good.

My good friend Tim did a tour in Afghanistan and continues to serve our country as a member of the Army Reserve. We were talking recently and he shared the importance of the concept of Esprit de Corps. This is a French term that translates to Spirit of the Body.

Tim told me, “Our hope for success does not rely on the strength of the individual soldier but rather in the ability of the group to work together in pursuit of a common mission – even in the face of fierce opposition. We not only have to be dedicated to a goal, we must be committed to one another. Total commitment is essential.”

Paul used the military as one of three comparisons to help Timothy grasp what it takes to be a fruitful disciple. We are saved by grace, but God’s grace is not cheap. Paul urged a younger man to “be strong in the grace that is Christ Jesus.”

“Be like a good soldier; be like a world-class athlete; be like a hard-working farmer.” All three of these challenges point to dedication, effort, and sacrifice. We cannot be successful out of our own strength, but it might take every ounce of effort and energy to accomplish what Jesus asks us to do.

In captivity in Jerusalem, the Lord said to Paul: “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify about me in Rome.” The next day, over forty men pledged to kill Paul. Then Paul was escorted by Roman soldiers to Caesarea where he stayed in prison over two years. Falsely accused by the Jews, Paul appealed to Caesar and eventually was placed on a ship headed to Rome. The ship wrecked in a furious storm, but all survived and found refuge on the island of Malta. On his first day on the island, Paul was bitten by a deadly viper, but God did not let the venom harm him. Eventually Paul made it to Rome, where under house arrest for at least two years, he shared Christ with all who would listen. Tradition says Paul was beheaded in the year 68 AD while Nero ruled as Emperor of Rome.

“Don’t worry about hardship – embrace it as a good soldier. We are in this world, but we are not of it. Remember, we are living for God’s kingdom! The One we serve is no ordinary ruler… He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! All we endure on this earth will be worth it when we finally see His face and live with Him forever. Run the good race; fight the good fight; don’t get distracted; be strong in God’s grace.”

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in inapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” I Timothy 6:9-16