courage

Just as He Had Done Before

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10 NIV

In this hour, when there has been handwringing, frustration and anger among some conservative Christians about the recent election results we need to remember the story of Daniel. He certainly faced an election defeat far greater than ours. I doubt that any of us, at least here in the United States are worried we will be thrown into a den filed with hungry lions: but Daniel did. He knew the decree had been signed, he understood the gravity of the punishment, and yet we do not hear him complaining, making a public scene or running away. Instead, Daniel did exactly what he had always done before: He prayed! Daniel didn’t run to God in a panic, He got on his knees and asked for help, just as he had always done, and he did it three times a day. Maybe our trouble is that, when our ideas have won elections, been popularly trumpeted on social media and gained us acclaim, we have gotten to like being patted on the back. But if our courage is based on the world’s acceptance, we are building our house on a bed of sand. Today the rains are falling, the storms are rising and just as promised, they will beat on our houses of faith. Whether we stand or fall does not depend on the severity of the storm but on the strength of our foundation. Knowing that the world’s decrees are signed against us must not make us fearful but should inspire us to pray. We can trust always Him, because He has promised to be with us not only in a lion’s den, but in every situation, both today and forever!

You can do it!

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Six years ago, while my wife Nancy was battling cancer, I remember sitting for hours in hospital rooms and doctor’s offices, feeling anything but strong; and not courageous at all. I was overwhelmed, alone, and exhausted. When we go through those times, some of us look to the Bible character of Joshua as a tremendous example of courage. Yet I wonder if during those days when Joshua was mourning the loss of his friend and mentor Moses, if he was feeling particularly courageous. Do you suppose that he ever felt weak or afraid as he faced the task of leading more than a million people into the promised land? You better believe he did! Just think, if he never felt that way, then why did God command him not once, not twice but three times to be strong and courageous?

    Whether you are in a crisis or are just facing problems beyond your control, remember that we serve a God who gives us hope that is not based on own courage and strength, but in Him. We can have hope in His promise that the enemies we face are no match for our Him! He is not disappointed by our weakness, nor impatient with our faltering steps. Like a good father teaching His child to walk, God stretches out His arms today and calls to us, “Take another step! You can do it! Be strong and very courageous: because no matter what you face, I will be with you!”

Father, I ask you to quiet my heart so that I can hear your voice and trust that you will be with me wherever I go.

The Solid Rock

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments 
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV

Back in 1976, I worked for a company in charge of tree trimming for Connecticut Light and Power. Though by then I had a few years of experience clearing the right-of-way, nothing prepared me for the devastation of Hurricane Belle. Huge oaks, ancient maples and towering pine trees were snapped off or uprooted and on top of the power lines for our entire region. Over the following week we would often drive our trucks into neighborhoods that had been without power for days where the people would come out and cheer, as if we were conquering heroes. But if they could have read our minds, they would have heard thoughts like, “What in the world are we going to do?” or ” How are we going to get this done without getting hurt?” We were facing a huge challenge, but Joshua was coming up against the even more overwhelming task of leading the people of Israel, into a battle of conquest for the land that God had promised them. Unknown enemies lay ahead, and the tombs of those who had disobeyed God in the wilderness lay behind. Now that Moses was dead Joshua was in charge, and maybe like me, he wondered what to do. He recalled that Moses had met God at the burning bush and spent forty days in the cloud of glory receiving the ten commandments, but all Joshua had done was to watch from a distance. How would he be able to do what God was asking of Him?

Sometimes I try to encourage people facing major challenges by saying, “God knows what you are going through.”; but while that is true, it misses the most important point. The reality, for those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, is that God not only knows, what we are going through, but that He has planned for every step of our journey. Our real hope: is not that we can handle what lies ahead, but that God has promised to be with us and on that solid rock of God’s promise, we can be courageous, no matter what comes our way!