Category: Fear

LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE FREEDOM OF FAITH

3/27/2020

Yesterday we looked at our struggle to believe that God is good.
To read the previous post, click here.

HOW DO WE GET BACK?

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
And afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
-Psalm 73:16-17, 21-28

STEP 1: THE RIGHT FOCus

Asaph doubted God’s goodness when he looked around him. He failed when he compared his life to the lives of others. He became discouraged when he let his emotions fuel his perspective. But when he lifted his eyes to God, he found hope.

When we go through times of pain and suffering, having the right focus is critical.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
-Isaiah 55:8

We need to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Not the bigger picture of our circumstances, but the bigger picture of God and who He has proven Himself to be in Scripture and in our own lives.

Instead of focusing on our circumstances, which constantly change, we need to focus on God, who never changes. Has God been faithful before? He will be faithful again.

God created us to glorify Him, and He gets glory through being good to us! Our problem is that we tend to forget that God knows more than we do, and so we question His method, forgetting that His thoughts and His ways are so much higher than ours.

STEP 2: THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

Instead of expecting God to make us happy, we need to expect God to make us holy – and then we will discover that joy is byproduct of holiness. Unfortunately for us, growth can only come through trials; that’s why Peter wrote that our suffering comes for a purpose:

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LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE STRUGGLE WE ALL FACE

3/27/2020

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Anger. Bitterness. Resentment. Doubt. Accusations. Isolation.

How did we get here?

the truth about god

A. W. Tozer once said that what we believe about God is the most important thing about us.

Hannah Whitall Smith explained this idea further in her book, The Unselfishness of God, where she wrote:

“Everything in your spiritual life depends on the sort of God you worship.
Because the character of the worshiper will always be molded
by the character of what he worships: If it is a cruel and revengeful God,
the worshiper will be the same, but if it is a loving, tender, forgiving,
unselfish God, the worshiper will be transformed slowly,
wonderfully, into this likeness.”

What we believe about God is the cornerstone in the foundation of our lives. If we believe things that are not true about God, it will affect everything else we think and believe in life; however, when we believe the truth about God, it becomes a beautiful lens through which we can properly see ourselves and the world around us.

There are five major areas of concern when it comes to what we believe about God: Is God really good? Does God really love me? Is God really enough for me? Are God’s laws really that important – or even relevant? Is God really in control?

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON

I think it’s safe to say that no one intentionally chooses to believe that God is not good, that He is unloving, that He’s not enough for us, that His commands are meaningless, and that He’s not really in control. However, many of us are living as though those things are true. Subtle lies have crept into our thinking and have begun to affect the way we live. Therefore it’s necessary for us to take a step back and look at the evidence in our lives, look at God’s word, and ask Him reveal what’s true about Him and about us.

Our starting point is God’s goodness. If God is not good, everything else in scripture crumbles to pieces. If God is not good, our lives are meaningless. If God is not good, we have no hope in life, or in death. Everything hinges on this one truth of God’s goodness.

Instead of assuming that you already know and believe this truth, I would caution you and challenge you to consider if it’s possible that you have unintentionally fallen into the belief that God isn’t really good – or maybe that He isn’t really good to you.

You may not be in outright rebellion against God, but is it possible you find yourself struggling with resentment in your prayers, or even have stopped praying altogether?

You may not be openly arguing and accusing God, but is it possible you’re afraid of God – afraid of getting your hopes up, afraid He will hurt you if you ask for what you need and want?

You may not be quitting church or Christian fellowship, but is it possible you avoid certain people or topics because you find yourself envious of how God is working in their lives while you feel neglected by God?

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THE POWER OF DESIRE

3/20/2020

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What do you want your life to look like a year from now?

Sometimes when I ask someone what they want in life, they instead tell me what they don’t want.

               “I don’t want to be depressed.”
“I don’t want to be fearful.”
               “I don’t want to be alone.”
               “I don’t want to be addicted.”

It’s often easier to identify what we don’t want than what we do want. Why is this?

THE PROBLEM WITH CHANGE

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition
when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on
making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant
by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
– CS Lewis

What a shocking truth to discover.

How do we end up alone?
How do we end up addicted?
How do we end up unstable?
How do we end up in misery?
How do we end up in bondage?

Our desires are too weak.

We want to be healthy, but aren’t willing to change our diet and exercise.
We want a godly marriage, but aren’t willing to put in the effort.
We want to be at peace, but aren’t willing to take our thoughts captive.
We want to have good relationships, but aren’t willing to invest the time necessary.
We want to be respected, but aren’t willing to do the hard things.

We want to be free, but aren’t willing to do what it takes to experience freedom.

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THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM

2/22/2020

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“Ah, freedom.”

The thought that runs through our heads when we’re finally alone. When the project is finally finished. When we’re finally off work. When we’re finally on vacation. When we’re finally able to do what we want. For different people, different circumstances cause us to breathe out that sigh of relief.

Each of us has our own ideas about freedom. If you’re anything like me, in spite of the short-term instances of relief you occasionally experience, freedom is an elusive dream that you’re always chasing.

If I can just get through one more week, I’ll be free.

If I could just find a different job, then I’d be at peace.

If I could just break this one habit, I’d be okay.

If I could just have this relationship squared away, then I’d feel better.

If I can somehow find a way to make more money, I’ll be set.

But the week comes and goes, and I still feel restless, the new job has its own set of problems, the habit just won’t go away, the relationship is never perfect, and the money is never enough.

LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The imagery Jesus uses when He speaks these words is vivid – “life to the full.” Abundant life. Life that has richness. He’s not speaking about life in a biological term – He’s speaking of a quality of life that is higher than we are able to experience on our own because it comes only from Him.

Many of us would use words like frazzled, frustrated, overwhelmed, stuck, defeated, fearful, insecure, lonely, confused, burned-out, or discouraged to describe our lives. I know I’ve used those words many times, even in the last few months. In contrast, Jesus offers us abundant life. Life that could be described as peaceful, contented, gracious, loving, joyful, and free.

As you consider your current season of life, which list most resonates with you? Are you experiencing the abundant life and freedom that Jesus came to offer? Or is it possible that, like me, you’ve been attaching your peace and freedom to the wrong things and as a result, are experiencing discouragement over joy, frustration over peace, and bondage over freedom?

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The Honest Struggle

4/21/2018

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I think it’s safe to say that we all know of an area in our lives that God is calling us to surrender to Him. And we all believe surrender is worth it. At least, we want to believe that. But still, we struggle. Surrender requires faith, and faith has to be exercised to grow. And so when the extra strain is placed on our faith, we can often falter, wrestle, and be tempted to collapse under the pressure.

And on top of the pressure we feel from the feeling of losing control, the fear of the unknown, and the struggle of wrestling with what we really believe about God’s nature and character is the horrible feeling of isolation and loneliness.

I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

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Mysteries

4/13/2018

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I love mysteries!

And I hate mysteries.

And if I had to guess, I’d venture to say you’re in the same boat with me.

Allow me to explain.

My favorite genre of fiction happens to be suspense/mystery. I love them. Mysteries are a perfect escape from reality for me. I like not knowing what's going to happen next, and I love trying to figure out what happens next anyway, and of course, trying to guess "whodunit." Maybe reading isn’t your thing – but perhaps crime dramas are a go-to for you. I think media trends to show that we, the people, love mysteries.

In real life, however, I have a much harder time getting excited about not knowing what's around the bend. It's far too easy for me to find myself anxious, and often fearful, about anything from what's going to happen when I call this person, to what's going to happen over the course of the year – or beyond. When I don't have a grasp on what to expect or what's going to happen, it doesn't matter how big or small the situation is, I just plain don't like it.

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Freedom in Surrender

4/5/2018

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As you probably know, I’m a biblical counselor and for the past 7 years have done crisis counseling and discipleship with women who struggle with addiction and other life-dominating problems. Over the course of time, I’ve noticed some common responses when someone first expresses a desire to give their lives to Christ, and I’d like to take some time to explore some of the common things that hold us back from finding the freedom and salvation we all want.

If you’ve already surrendered your life to Christ, I hope this article will serve as an encouraging reminder to trust God and remember what He’s done for you. And if you haven’t yet come to that point of surrender, I hope this article will challenge you to take that step of faith and find the peace that comes in trusting God with every aspect of your life.

Now, back to the topic at hand:

When I say surrender, what jumps to mind?

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For what it's worth

3/23/2018

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Most of us are familiar with the story of how God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses, the burning bush, plagues, splitting the sea. There's a lot there. A lot to learn. And as I was recently reading in Exodus 8, something jumped out at me. It was following the curse of the frogs:

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”
    Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.”
   “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.
   But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.
(Exodus 8:8-10a, 15)

WHOA.

So Pharaoh refuses to obey God.

God sends consequences – painful, irritating, frustrating, and annoying consequences.

God offers relief – “obey.”

Pharaoh gives in. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

When?

“Tomorrow.”

God brings relief.

Pharaoh says, “Eh, never mind. That wasn’t so bad.”

It wasn't until Pharaoh and all of Egypt suffered the most personal loss of all that he finally surrendered.

Isn't that just like us?

People change when the pain of staying the way they are becomes greater than the pain of change.

The problem is that we suffer frequently from memory loss.

We sin. We suffer. God offers freedom. We hesitate. Is it worth it? Maybe. Tomorrow.

Sometimes tomorrow doesn't come until next week. Or next month. Or next year.

But eventually, the time comes. It's too much. We agree. We'll do anything. Just help.

So God relieves the pressure and the pain.

And then we forget.

We forget how painful the consequences are. We forget how much we suffered. How overwhelmed we were. And, instead, we overwhelm ourselves with the “what ifs” of the change we promised God – of the obedience we promised God.

What if I’m alone forever?

What if I never get healed?

What if they never make it right?

What if, what if, what if…

And just like that, we decide that the pain of change is worse than the pain of staying the same.

Just like that, we reject God.

And God begins the process over again. Consequences, pain, suffering.

“Can you hear Me now?"

"Do you believe Me now?"

"Will you seek Me now?”

And because He loves us, He does this until we finally see His goodness, His patience, and His mercy and find the motivation necessary to follow through. To believe Him. To trust Him.

Enough to overcome the fear.

To overcome the what ifs.

And to start saying, “even if.”

Even if I’m alone,
it’s worth it.

Even if I never find healing,
it’s worth it.

Even if they never say they’re sorry,
it’s worth it.

Even if.

It’s worth it.

Disobedience, on the other hand, is never worth it. It brings pain, bondage, anger, despair.

But obedience? Obedience is always worth it.

Let's choose to obey God
for what it's worth -
Peace. Hope. Joy. Freedom.

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Support Characters

3/16/2018

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It’s easy to see heroes of the faith in Scripture. People such as Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul. We also are pretty familiar with the “B-list” characters – like Ruth, Jonathan, and Stephen. And of course, we know the “villains” well.

But there are a lot of other people in Scripture that are easy to overlook – they’re not villains, but they’re not stars, either. People like Andrew – the one who brought Peter to meet Jesus. Or those four unnamed friends who pushed through crowds and finally cut through a roof to bring their broken friend to the One who could heal him. Or Barnabas, who quietly supported and encouraged those weak in the faith, building them up, and making peace a priority in the church.

These are the unsung heroes. They don’t seek attention for themselves. They stay in the background- support characters. They’re not the ones at the front lines – but they’re the ones that keep the front lines strong.

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Fearful Relationships

3/3/2018

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Until my own recent struggle, I don’t think I realized just how far-reaching fear can become, not only personally, but how my internal fears can begin to affect my relationships in significant ways. I think we’re all guilty of acting in fear in our relationships – I just think we don’t generally notice until it becomes out of control and is seen more in the results of deep depression, desperate behavior, and a pattern of broken relationships.

It’s often not too difficult to look back and see where we did things the wrong way, acted in fear, and where things got off track. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to fix the problems when we’ve reached that point. It is not, however, impossible. It simply requires much humility and a determination to let God become our focus rather than people, and let love control our actions, not fear.

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LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE FREEDOM OF FAITH

HOW DO WE GET BACK?

STEP 1: THE RIGHT FOCus

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
-Isaiah 55:8

STEP 2: THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

LIVING LIKE GOD IS GOOD: THE STRUGGLE WE ALL FACE

the truth about god

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON

THE POWER OF DESIRE

THE PROBLEM WITH CHANGE

THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM

LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The Honest Struggle

I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Mysteries

Freedom in Surrender

When I say surrender, what jumps to mind?

For what it's worth

WHOA.

Isn't that just like us?

And then we forget.

What if I’m alone forever?

What if I never get healed?

What if they never make it right?

What if, what if, what if…

“Can you hear Me now?"

"Do you believe Me now?"

"Will you seek Me now?”

Even if I’m alone,
it’s worth it.

Even if I never find healing,
it’s worth it.

Even if they never say they’re sorry,
it’s worth it.

Even if.

It’s worth it.

Let's choose to obey God
for what it's worth -
Peace. Hope. Joy. Freedom.

Support Characters

Fearful Relationships

bethany HARRIS

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Categories

HOW DO WE GET BACK?

STEP 1: THE RIGHT FOCus

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.-Isaiah 55:8

STEP 2: THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

the truth about god​

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON

THE PROBLEM WITH CHANGE

​LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10​The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

​I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

​When I say surrender, what jumps to mind?

​WHOA.

Isn't that just like us?

And then we forget.

What if I’m alone forever? What if I never get healed? What if they never make it right? ​What if, what if, what if…

“Can you hear Me now?""Do you believe Me now?""Will you seek Me now?”

Even if I’m alone, it’s worth it. Even if I never find healing, it’s worth it.Even if they never say they’re sorry, it’s worth it. Even if.​It’s worth it.

Let's choose to obey God for what it's worth - Peace. Hope. Joy. Freedom.

bethany HARRIS

Archives

Categories

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
-Isaiah 55:8

the truth about god

LIFE TO THE FULL

JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.

When I say surrender, what jumps to mind?

WHOA.

What if I’m alone forever?

What if I never get healed?

What if they never make it right?

What if, what if, what if…

“Can you hear Me now?"

"Do you believe Me now?"

"Will you seek Me now?”

Even if I’m alone,
it’s worth it.

Even if I never find healing,
it’s worth it.

Even if they never say they’re sorry,
it’s worth it.

Even if.

It’s worth it.

Let's choose to obey God
for what it's worth -
Peace. Hope. Joy. Freedom.