Recently, I’ve been going through a rather rough time in my life. My mind has been swirling in chaos and confusion, my heart has been heavy with doubt and discouragement, and I’ve been so stressed that my health has been on a steady decline in the last year. All of this is no good and I know that it is not of the Lord. So I have been praying that the Lord would intervene and make His presence known and that His peace would reign in my life.
Then last night happened.
As I was preparing for bed, the Lord spoke very clearly to my heart. It must have taken a while to get through there because of all the clouded doubt that was smothering me, but God’s word will always reign victorious. It was almost like a battle was happening in my mind. Every time my mind would wander to the issues that have arisen in my life He would combat it with a single word: love.
Lord, this is happening to me!
love
But what about this Jesus?
love
I don’t know if I can trust these people!
love
But they did this to me….
love
Why should I stay here when I’d rather run away?
love
…
Right! Love! How simple. How pure. How joyous. How perfect of a solution to the chaos that was around me.
God called Darcey and me to love others as He loves us. That is our mission and call as husband and wife. How could I have forgotten? How could I have gotten so consumed by rumors and hurts that I lost sight of what really matters… to love God and make His love known to others. I am not defined by hurts, by GFA, or by others. I am a child of God. I am His and His alone. I am loved and am a work-in-progress as He molds me into His perfect image.
After the Lord reminded me about His love, He brought to mind a few other verses that have been my life verses for quite some time now. And they all meld beautifully together.
Let’s start with 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
I love this verse, but this time when I read it, God revealed to me so much more depth in this single verse. I’ll break it down for you in the way God broke it down for me.
Fear. That same “fear” that is talked about throughout the whole Bible that we are warned against dwelling on. The same “fear” he told Joshua to not worry about. That “fear” that is so easy to be consumed by and takes on so many different emotions such as: shame, unrest, confusion, chaos, etc. This verse says that this “fear” is not from God! So WHY is it so hard to give it to Him to take care of?
Power. When I hear this, I think of how nothing that we accomplish is of our own doing. It’s by His power and His might. I also am reminded of the armor of God mentioned in Eph 6:10-20
“Finally, my bretheren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waits with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the firey darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Love. I will let 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 speak for itself in this matter:
“Love suffers long and is ind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Sound Mind. To this I could point to the whole book of Philippians. But mainly the fourth chapter.
Phil 4:6-8 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, bretheren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Phil 4:11 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
It was so nice to wake up this morning clothed in His peace that passes all understanding. It’s so freeing! I only need to Trust the Lord. I don’t know why it took so long for me to get that through my head this time around. I’ve been hurt before. I’ve been sexually abused for 8 years of my childhood for goodness sake! God got me through that, He can get me through all that’s happening at GFA. God is bigger than my hurts. He is bigger than the chaos. He is Alpha and Omega. He is the Beginning and the End. HE UNDERSTANDS! It’s so freeing to think about His truth and His promises. I no longer feel like I need to flee. No… I can stay if God wants me to stay because there are people here whom He loves. As long as there are people who need His love, I will go and stay wherever He wants me to go and stay. I am content.
Be encouraged by this verse today:
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
No matter what is going on in your life, God will use it for His good. Don’t worry. Be content. Trust God.
Source: Power, Love, and a Sound Mind