Fix Your Face
While Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus,
Remind Your Face To Reflect That You Have Hope
So I just spent the last three months telling everyone how the Lord blessed us with a home that has acreage, and all the ways we were going to use it for ministry, when the whole deal completely collapsed. I had given detailed information about the specific prayers answered, the God-winks, awesome coincidences, and blessings that let us know it was totally a “God-thing.” To, like, everyone with ears.
How rude for God to let me go on and on, then leave me here holding the bag trying to explain His actions! Does He not know how the optics on this could completely destroy His credibility? Does He not recognize the wasted ministry opportunity? Does He understand the healing that would have gone on, but now is obviously never going to happen??
Okay, this is (slightly) tongue-in-cheek, but I have to say I was embarrassed and confused. So many signs! We thought we followed God’s leading, but maybe we don’t hear Him at all.
I am quite sure there are eleven apostles who felt exponentially worse watching their appointed king get marched off to a humiliating trial and execution. What now? Everything was gone, all was for nothing, and their dreams were dashed. Thinking back on all He had said, what could they now believe? What was still true, and what had obviously just been proven false?
I can tell you that any dream worth pursuing will be attacked. I can’t tell you why bad things happen, but I can tell you that sometimes the dream is not viable without events unfolding in a certain way. Other times, it just may be that there’s a war for your dream, and you have to suit up and fight.
Whatever the reason, when you find yourself staring into the new normal with your mouth hanging open, remember the basics: God is good, He is using all things for your benefit, His word is true, His timing is perfect, and His ways are higher than your ways.
As you cling to these things, be sure and tell your face how to react. To paraphrase Jesus as He was walking on the water in a storm to rescue the disciples: BE BRAVE. BE OF GOOD CHEER. HAVE COURAGE. YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
My husband and I clung to our dream, our savior, and each other while reminding ourselves to behave like people who have faith, and we finally moved into the right place. As I write, I am looking at the oak tree on my property that is growing by the creek, and it reminds me of my signature verse in Isaiah 61:3, that those who mourn … will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
When all around you is falling apart, remember you are called to display His splendor and be the beacon of hope the world needs. Hang in there, because Jesus is walking towards you on the water, and His message is the same: Be brave. Be of good cheer. Have courage. You know who I am.
Reflection
Have you ever been embarrassed or disappointed for having faith about something? What was it?
What was your initial response to that disappointment?
What things do you know to be true about God, but have a hard time believing?
Goals
Find three scriptures that will help bolster your faith and attitude in disappointing circumstances:
And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
(Mark 6:49-50 NKJV)
