Opportunity and Opposition

The sense that I had as I said the words I did – was simple – God was about to do something that has never been done before. He, with his mighty power, was going to intervene in remarkable ways. But how could it be? The situation is impossible to work with. There are no logical and good answers. Everything points to an ultimate defeat. Everyone and anyone involved will be going down!

Have you ever had a nightmare that has been on-going? You may understand then…something that comes back to haunt your thinking over and over again? I know that feeling – today as I woke early the shudder came again – and I couldn’t sleep any longer.

How do we deal with a nightmare? How can we face the thoughts that drive us under? Is there any freedom?

I deal with nightmares by coming early into the presence of God. I pray. I cannot face the thoughts that are impossible and frightening alone. I need God. The answer to the last question is – there is freedom in Jesus.

But I know all that by heart. Where does it all come from? And Why?

The reality is that I am very human. My humanity never left me when I turned my life over to the Lord. In fact it may have even become more human in its weakness as I came closer to God and his strength. And my weakness makes me shudder as the realization grows – you can do nothing about this problem.

The Truth in my life…
I should explain this better. My mother is 86 years old. Her health has failed and there are some decisions that have to be made. The doctor said she is at a time in her life that she needs ‘assisted living’. After months of thinking about this we have realized that she needs to move – and that the best place for this to be is come and live with us. Mom has slowly come to realize that this is what she needs to do as well. This week the tickets were booked and the final plans fell into place. This is going to take place in March – two months from now.

Add to that the nearness of my retiring years has added to some frightful thinking. How will it all end with me? How can I go on knowing what I know?

Now add about another three thoughts that regularly mix with the whole pot within me – and I wake up early in cold sweats. Sleep vanishes like it did this morning

The opposition is real – but it points to Opportunity. In God there is Opportunity. In life there is opposition and the opposition will tend to bring us down – but that isn’t God’s plan.
The verses from Isaiah 40 – verse 28 - 31 make even more sense today than yesterday.

When I am weary with the circumstances and too tired to go on – God isn’t.

When the nightmare rages and the thoughts become impossible – God assures me that he is there.

The peace that filters in is amazing. He has assured me again that He will work it all out. He will provide an answer when there is none.

I have said this often enough to remember it well, the importance of prayer is not the words I offer to the Lord – it is his presence and simply being in his presence that is so important.
This morning as I sat in his presence trying to find words that would describe what was happening in me, I stopped trying and simply listened to the silence. Then he made himself real again. He has been here for over one hour reassuring me that it will be okay.
What are you facing today? I have prayed that wherever this simple thought ends up – God will be there for you too. May you “soar on wings like eagles” today.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Isaiah 40
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.