Spirit & Trust

Pride is a tricky feeling. We are taught to take pride in our work. However, too much pride can become a barrier between us and God. We see this often: people become angry when we mention God to unbelievers.

This is a perfect storm for Satan. He takes the mixture of pride and the fear of the unknown and twists the mind to become angry. He uses pride to form a narcissistic attitude. Today, the world justifies selfish attitudes like social justice warriors. Possible mental illness is a propaganda tool.

This is not a new technique. When Jesus was about thirty, He began His three-year ministry. Two thousand years later, we are still learning and believing what He taught and modeled. But when He turned the water into wine, the Pharisees began to watch Him. He was a radical. They refused to see the miracles and holiness of this radical Jesus because they would have to become humble and let go of their pride in the man-made structure they devoted their lives to.

Jesus is radical. When He declared Himself to be the Messiah mentioned in Isaiah, the Pharisees became mixed with that perfect storm of emotions of their pride. He threatened their power, and they had no humility.

If I were blessed to see Jesus in person, I would also be filled with many emotions—excitement, humbleness, gratitude, and worship. I do not deserve all that He has done for me. I certainly would not plot to kill the Messiah because He threatened my pride and power.

Don’t let pride or fear of this world erect a barrier between you and Jesus. 

The wind was knocked out of me.

I have experienced times when something traumatic happened, and I felt as if the air was let out of my tires. In those times, I could not form words to pray or say anything because I was so upset. When my mom committed suicide, I just walked around our neighborhood. At other times, I could not sleep. To quiet my mind, I played a CD that sounded like the ocean.

But doing the above is not the answer. As a lifelong believer, I know the answer is to call on the Lord, although conveying the words we are thinking about can be difficult.

Once, I called into a radio program that answered theological questions. The host suggested I go to the Psalms. I did an internet search and found the psalm from which this verse comes: The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him, and he saves them from all their troubles.

The Lord is the only one who can provide the answers we need. Jesus will never let us down. We will go through some deep, dark valleys in life. The Lord didn’t promise that everything would be easy, but we must cry out to Him and give Him our worries. We must trust that He will hear us.

When you feel life has knocked the wind out of you, pray the Psalms and remember God will care for you.  

Sometimes, we are so sad that it is hard to function, a sadness so profound and deep that it causes physical pain.

I experienced this once, and it felt like my brain could not figure out how to be happy again. This pain and sadness forever changed the way I thought. But when nothing seems to help because the heartbreak is so great, the great Physician can heal us when we call on Him.

As Christians, God tells us to be happy. “Let go and let God” is a favorite phrase. But what happens when we can’t let go? During my time of sadness, I still had peace and joy. But there is a difference between happiness and joy. 

Having peace and joy sometimes includes a sadness that can be soul-crushing, but “the Lord hears his people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their trouble.” This verse instructs us to cry to God, not deny or try to run from our pain. We must let the Lord rescue us when we are troubled. He wants His children to call to Him so He can comfort us. Being sad doesn’t mean we’re defeated; we’re human. And to be human means to care deeply about things on this earth. Jesus doesn’t want just our happiness but our sadness too.

When we speak Jesus into the pain, we invite Jesus into the truth. God will comfort us and shine His light into the darkness. When you need comfort, cry to the Lord. He will pull you near. 

Four jalapeño cheeseburgers with mustard and pickle and a large onion chip. That’s my standard White Castle order. I can almost smell the grilled onion aroma. I order my meal how I want, pay the cashier, and head out.

But what does God’s Word have to do with a fast-food order?

God orders our steps the way He wants them. Yes, I realize the analogy breaks down quickly. God never makes a mistake with His order. In addition to being lousy listeners, we are often unwilling to trust His ordering options, choosing instead to grab the menu of life choices and tell Him what we want, how we want it, and when we want it. After all, we live in a have-it-your-way world.

In my own life, that philosophy hasn’t worked so well. Making life choices before asking Him for His will and wisdom has led to a multitude of bad menu choices. I’ll spare the details. Let’s just say I have learned that if God chooses the liver and onions of trials and challenges and I would prefer the Krispy Kreme donut of ease, I’m going for the liver and onions every time.

I continue to learn that God knows what He’s doing in ordering my steps. All He wants from me is to submit my will to Him and trust Him. He’ll make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, always providing just what I need at the moment I need it. And just because He’s good, He’ll occasionally give me a golden-glazed Krispy Kreme.

Have you grabbed the menu and not allowed God to order your steps? Have you chosen life options apart from His will? We’ve all been there. Recognize it. Tell Him about it. Ask for forgiveness, and hand the menu of life choices back to Him through prayer as you ask Him to order your steps. Then open His Word and ask Him for wisdom. Choice by choice and moment by moment, your taste will change as you grow to appreciate God’s menu choices for you.

C. S. Lewis said, “Affliction is often that thing which prepares an ordinary person for some sort of an extraordinary destiny.” 

He seems to be having a problem. Is he one of those who recently came to our country? I wondered.

The slim young man in the wrinkled gray T-shirt and faded blue jeans stood at the counter in our local pharmacy with an energy drink and a snack, waiting to pay. He bent over the credit card machine while the clerk leaned over the counter, trying to assist. His credit card didn’t seem to work.

Next in line, I felt a nudging in my heart. Pay for his drink and snack. But I hesitated when I heard the still, small voice.

After a moment or two, the clerk came around the counter and tried to help the young man. Still, the card would not work, and still, I hesitated.

Empty-handed, the young man walked out into the excessive ninety-degree heat of the August day with his head down and shoulders slumped.

Pushing aside the energy drink and the snack the young man could have had, the clerk looked deeply into my eyes. Then she painted an invisible “G” on my forehead. I felt guilty—guilty for not helping. When she called for the next customer, I knew it was the Lord’s nudging I had felt.

Jesus said when we see someone needing shelter, food, water, or clothes, we should supply that need because we are helping Jesus. On the other hand, if we fail to help the one in need, we fail Jesus.

My cheeks burned in shame. I was guilty. I had failed the Lord. He opened a door for me to share His love, and I didn’t walk through.

“Forgive me, Lord,” I cried. “Help me love others as You love me.”

Watch for doors the Lord opens to share His love. And be quick to walk through.