This Is Where I Struggle

This is where I struggle. Death. Dying. Lives lost. Attacks. Threats. Fear. So many alarming realities in our world today. And I mean today. November 16, 2015. I can’t bring myself to post anything about food, and how I’m doing on my challenge, when I know there are unimaginable challenges being met in this very moment, I may never have to experience. I can’t bring myself to post about my workout (or lack thereof today), because so 

many are simply grateful to be alive. But the one thing I CAN post about is the faithfulness of God during times when all seems to be running amuck. During times when disease seems to be having its way. During a time when it does not appear justice is being served for the innocent. During a time when it appears the enemy is claiming victory.

​I make my way to work and it continues. How can I work, when I should be locked up in my closet praying and interceding right now? How can I be concerned on such temporal tasks when eternity is at stake for so many? How can I not DO SOMETHING MORE than I am right now, in order to bring peace to the chaos, allow love to engulf the hate, allow Jesus Christ to be known? This is where I struggle.

I struggle with the more. But like David in Bethlehem, I must be faithful where I am. I must be willing to tend after what God has, right in front of me, for as long as He needs me to. I must view it as the MORE now and all the MORE I may ever have, and be content, because God’s heart for my life is HERE. Where His heart is, is where I want mine to be. He needs me to pray for my husband. He needs me to pray for my children. He needs me to stand firm in my faith in Him and rise up on their behalf. Why? Because their faith, their hearts, their love is still growing. Until it becomes more solid, more deeply rooted, they need to witness and know there is a place where God is and that place is home. Isn’t this selfish, looking out for your own?

Absolutely not. If God is meeting their needs through me, He can then meet others’ needs through them! They will be compelled to pray and intercede for others. They will be moved to feed others, give a drink to the thirsty, cover the weaknesses of others, help the sick, and set free the captives in the lives they encounter every day. And then what? The ripple effect. It goes on and on, until not one is lost. God works like that you know? He causes one soul to rise up for the sake of others, and we were directly on the receiving end.

Rather than post about food, I am moved to fast. Rather than get in a work out, I am moved to pray. Rather than sit by and become disengaged in the life God has placed me in for His purposes, I am going to call on Him to cause me to live it out all the more. I am going to call on Him to help me rise up. I am going to call on Him when I pray with my family, with my friends, and with my community. I am going to call on Him to bring a wholeness to a situation appearing to be broken with despair. Will you join me?​