Challenges

Worry, anxiety, fear—have you ever experienced those emotions? No doubt you have. Even the strongest believer has been riddled with fear. But thankfully, for those who follow Jesus, these emotions are “drive-bys,” not destinations. We need not live with anxiety, worry, or fear because we serve God Most High.

Paul conceded that a “thorn was given [him] in the flesh.” We don’t know what it was, but he described it as “a messenger of Satan” sent to afflict him. Paul had been given a vision of heaven. He didn’t write a book about it or go on the talk show circuit.

Contentment. Where does it come from? There is no one better to ask than the apostle Paul. He was familiar with life’s extremes with challenging circumstances.

Followers of Jesus are not immune to disappointment, discouragement, or fear. Unanswered questions rattle around in our minds. There are challenges, for sure, but we know that every believer is empowered by the Spirit.

There are many circumstances and challenges in our lives that we don’t understand. From our perspective and from our pain, they simply do not make sense. Death comes suddenly and unexpectedly. Illness invades a healthy body, and we watch it waste away. An accident results in chronic pain.

Ever feel like you are alone in the battle? The fighting and chaos surround you, and there seems to be no chance of winning. Listen to today’s passage.

Until 70 AD, when the temple was destroyed, practicing Jews would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate feasts and worship. During their travels, they would sing songs together. These “Psalms of Ascent” are found in Psalms 120-134. Today’s song reminds us that our great God is the Maker of heaven and earth.

Do you ever have nights when you can’t go to sleep? You toss and turn—your mind races. Then fear shows up. For those of you going through illness, nights can be the worst time. While others sleep, nights are lonely hours that invite your mind to entertain all the “what ifs,” and those “what ifs” never bring comfort. There is no getting around it. Storms will come, and sometimes they are unleashed in our lives. Personal storms come through unmet expectations and unfulfilled dreams. Sometimes clouds of darkness from illness and grief build in our hearts: disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, and depression rain in our souls. But amid the storm—God is our stronghold!

I officiated a memorial service for Lois, a believer who followed hard after Jesus. One word that described her entire life was “service.” Not long before she died, her daughter-in-law took several of Lois’ great-grandchildren to visit her in a care facility. They became worried when she was not in her room and began searching for her. Finally, they found Lois at the end of a hall in her wheelchair, reading to a person who could not see.