Flood Times Are Long

"Now the flood was on the earth forty days..." (Gen 7:17)

"And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days." (Gen 7:24)


I think about the times of flood in our lives and how they can seem to go on and on forever. When I thought about Noah's Ark, I knew that it rained for 40 days, but I didn't think about how long the waters stood covering the earth - 150 days. When taken all together, it becomes over 6 months time (Update - looking at the scriptures again, it is 40 days of rain, 150 days of waters, 40 days of decreased waters - the rains started on the 2nd month and they left the ark in the 10th month - ~8 months).

Can you imagine the feelings of Noah and his family? At first, they are partially relieved to see the rain as a fulfillment of God's direction in their lives. They know that God will keep them safe as the Ark begins to float along on the floodwaters. But during that time, it continues to rain and after 40 days, it stops. Flood over, right? Well, God still had more cleaning to accomplish and He continues to leave the waters on the land for another 150 days. Whoa, that's an eternity to spend on a gigantic floating zoo.

Although the Bible never really gets into it, the waiting must have been quite a grind for Noah's family. And it probably seemed to them at times as if God wouldn't ever restore land to the 'waterworld' that they found themselves in. But in everything God had a purpose and a plan.

Today, I am encouraged by this because I find myself in a type of personal flood situation. It isn't dire, and thankfully it is isolated to my family living through it, but it seems interminable sometimes - as if I'm staring daily on the railing of a ship in the middle of the ocean that isn't finding a port of call. Water everywhere, everyday.

But, God has been doing a cleaning out in my life, as well as in the life of my wife, and together we are regaining a spiritual strength that had been drained out of us. So, I can see that the Lord has His own plans in everything. They certainly are not like anything I would have imagined, but I know that they are accomplishing a good work of cleaning out the filth and grime that had been accumulating in our lives.

Maybe He isn't done yet, and that is certainly His prerogative (as is everything in my life). My hope though is that my flood won't last longer than Noah's. =p

Lord Jesus, thank you for today's encouragement out of the story of Noah. It is so easy for me to get so fixated on my own situation and how I want to change it, without really submitting myself to whatever work you're already doing in our lives. May I never negate Your work in whatever fashion it comes. Thank You for everything You have done for us, and for all that You are refining and cleaning in our family. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Cheerful Patience

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself,^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:22-24 NKJV)

Pastor Mike Reed of Oceanside Calvary gave a great sermon this weekend that really spoke to my wife and I. I can't say that I noticed Acts 20:24 before, but it succinctly highlights the spirit and heart of Paul in following God.

Paul was getting ready for his final recorded journey to Jerusalem and everyone was prophesying that he would suffer imprisonment and persecution (which later happened). Yet, Paul received the news with no qualms, but instead he was willing and available to the Lord to do whatever he was called to do. For Paul, loss of freedom and persecution wasn't anything to be afraid of -- something that seems counter-intuitive to me. If the Lord were to ask me to let myself be captured and imprisoned, my first instinct would be run quickly the opposite way. In what way would my imprisonment serve the Lord?

But isn't it like the Lord to shock us in ways that we would never expect? We have all these grand plans and notions about how the world works, and the Lord shakes it all up with something different and brand new. Like Jesus - the Jews expected a political, military Messiah, but instead they got the son of a carpenter. A man who did not bear a weapon and had no military might.

As we know now, Paul is the most influential writer in the New Testament, but would all his hard work, the race he ran, be respected if he did not choose the hard path? He path that took him through unbelievable hardship?

Trials and tribulations are not separate from the Christian life, but instead, they should be expected. I often get into a mode of self-pity because I wonder why the Lord isn't answering my prayers immediately and in the way that I've asked for. But, the Lord's plans are not like our own and they will all be answered in His own time. We don't know why things are they way that they are, but He has the vision of the Alpha and the Omega. We can trust Him to arrange everything in their proper place and time. We can trust that He will bless us most appropriately.

Lord Jesus, help me to have what Pastor Mike described as "cheerful patience". Let me know in the depths of my soul your goodness and your good plan. Help my soul to rest in that, knowing that things will come in their due time. Thank you for all that you've done in us and all that you are seeking to develop in the character of our family. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Trusting God Through Tribulation

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NKJV)

It is a very common trap for Christians to believe that when you accept Christ that things should become easy and smooth. After all, God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, right? And to be honest, when I first accepted Christ, things were pretty smooth in many ways because God would show His presence very quickly to help reinforce my fledgling faith. But that only lasted for a season, and once I grew into maturity in faith, there were many moments of tribulation, where great patience would be required of me.

As I'm going through another period of trial, I thought it was so enlightening that Jesus Himself stated that tribulation is something that we will all go through as Christians. There is no opting out of it; we simply will not have a completely easy life. In fact, I suspect that God desires to develop our character by putting us through the fire in order to allow ourselves to see what we're made of when put to the test. And the truth is usually pretty embarrassing when we see our reactions of anger, frustration, and self-centeredness.

Most of the time I walk along through life believing that I'm doing all right - I'm good - My faith is strong. But, then when God allows tribulation in my life, I become angry at Him and disillusioned from my erroneous belief that somehow my life should be easier than a non-believer's. "If I am a child of God and an heir to Your kingdom, why don't you make my path easy!!," I whine.

When the fear passes and I come to my senses, I realize that I am fine in the midst of the storm. Nothing has really harmed me and my family and I are well. God is still taking care of us even though my life isn't moving in the direction that I had planned and expected.

It is at that moment that the Lord is finally able to really speak into my life because I no longer am focused on my own goals and objectives. Like the two pilots who were recently suspended, I had been flying on autopilot and ignoring the calls to land at a scheduled destination. In fact, I was too busy arguing with God to pay attention to my bearings.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being patient and gentle with Your servant. I know that I often get so caught up with the cares and concerns over our daily life and my expectations, that You have no way to communicate with me. I'm simply not taking the time to pause and hear You. Please open my heart to You today, and speak whatever You desire. May I have the courage and patience to walk in Your way every single day of my life. In Your saving name, Amen.

The Simple Overriding Command - "Worship God"

"But again he said, "No don't worship me (an angel). I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this scroll. Worship God!" (Rev. 22:9 NLT)

I often forget that Christianity is supposed to be simple. As a Christian, I have chosen to surrender my life to God to do with as He wishes. In this politically charged and turmoil filled atmosphere, it is hard for me to stop from complicating my identity in Christ, and having it stray away from a simple love of God and obedience to Him. It's probably due to the fact that I often don't exactly know what He wishes of me and I spin around trying to figure it all out.

Right now is a case in point as I'm waiting on Him to determine my future employment. Yes, I realize that I will be job searching, but I want to be in the workplace He desires of me. I want to be faithful to Him. That has some consternation for me as I'm striving to please God. But, in the end, I have to trust our relationship. He won't be angry with me because I'll know in my heart what to do when I simplify my life and have a sincere and genuine worship of Him. In worship, the proper doors and opportunities will open up and even if it doesn't, the patience to wait will be given to me.

Lord Jesus, it is true that I'm waiting on You in faith. From time to time, I have felt guilty because I have thought that somehow I've done something wrong to have caused You to withhold a job from me at this time. But, I need to realize that You have Your own plans and timing, and I don't always know what's best for me. You do. Please help me to instead re-focus myself away from what I lack and instead rejoice in the fact that You are my Lord and Savior. My life is yours to do with as You will. Let Thy will be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.