Our Makin’it through the Weak Days series continues.
Just a quick word before we get into the PhotoDevo for today. Mission trips and other life experiences provide unique opportunities to experience God. The Infinity in Focus Blog enables me to share some of those experiences with you through photo-based devotional thoughts.
As we navigate the week days, truth is, some of them are weak days.
A quick glance at my email and text feed:
Please pray for SB. She is on life support, but they are considering “pulling the plug”
Please pray for the family of JK. He was born just two weeks ago and is not expectedto live.
Please pray for sister AH. She lost both her uncle and aunt this week.
Please pray for sister KK. She lost her 7-year-old grandson this week.
Jobs lost
Homes lost to fire
Repeat surgeries because of “error.”
Missing children (and adults)
That’s just my personal in-box over two or three days.
Literally, as i'm writing about sickness, death and weak days, i just received the call that Uncle Elwood has just gone to sleep in Jesus. Another soldier.....
If we zoom out to the local or national headlines, it’s worse. i have several friends who have stopped watching and listening to the news because...... it’s all bad news.
Fox News....Bad news
CNN....Bad news
MSNBC...Bad news
CBS
ABC
LMNOP
You get the point.......
It’s enough to make you cynical, even on a good day.
Truth is, in this world, we will have tribulation, but Jesus says, "I’m telling you this so you can have peace. But! Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). i don’t say this in a patronizing way. Nor do i mean to imply that the solution is easy. Fam! Life is full of weak days
We first talked about recognizing the power of God as we face the weak days. Sometimes, in my sanctified imagination, i wonder if God is saying, “Who you talkin’to? Who are you talkin’ about?” Back in the day, we would say, “i know you not talkin’to me?”
Then, there is the business of God’s presence. How on earth (literally) can we make it through the weak days without getting into the presence of the God who saves us? Mind you, i’m not just talking about the gifts He gives us, the prayers He answers. His presence IS the gift, it IS the answer. Just like i worked to be in the presence of the cool girls. We must make getting into HIS presence a priority.
And now, we land at principle #3 of making it through the weak days. This is a hard one.
We Must Trust the PASSION of God!
No matter how dark it gets, now matter how weak you feel..... because the SON rose, the SUN will shine again.
i ran across this vine on a very weak day........ It remains a precious reminder of his unfailing LOVE
Yes, He is powerful
Yes, we must enter his presence
And Yes, we have to TRUST that His power is not arbitrary or intentionally hurtful. His power is guided, controlled and tempered by his passion for us. Mind you, before you had the opportunity to impress God with your goodness......
While you were stealing, lying, committing adultery and cheating on tests. God made the Ultimate sacrifice and gave the Ultimate gift for you.
That's the LSV (Loretta Standard Version) of Romans 5:8. Maybe the New Living Translation is more familiar.
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
You know how when you give someone gifts; you save the biggest and best one for last?
God didn’t do that. He gave His biggest and the best gift FIRST.
The passion of God acknowledges:
Yes, I AM Powerful.
Yes, I can do whatever I want
Yes, I know the end from the beginning
And yes, dear one. There is some good news. It's from BNN (Bible News Network!)
"You are the apple of my eye. Trust my everlasting love for you. Trust me, I know what is best for you. Trust that I am God and you may never fully understand my prerogatives. I am not deaf to your request; I am working out the BEST for you."
We conclude with another Word from BNN (Bible News Network)
Three times Paul begged God to take away his pain. God's response?
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:
for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
The great paradox.