Unveiling Hope

Bad Seed Grows

I’m not much of a gardener. I love gardens; I just don’t have the patience to wait for growth. I have a tendency to focus on the weeds growing while I’m waiting on the good stuff.

I have this mental picture of the “old” me – a garden of sorts – filled with briers and dandelions with the odd daisy pushing up here and there. I don’t know why I ever visit that garden, but I do.

The Greatest Landscaper of all creation has been weeding out my garden for several years now. You’d think a person who has a professional “gardener” come in would just stop fussing and just enjoy the scenery, but no … not me. Of course, I do appreciate the garden and I certainly see the work He’s done, but to tell you the truth, I seem to spend far too much time focussing of the little weeds that seem to sprout from time to time.

That old serpent loves nothing more than to scatter bad seed in our fertile minds and then sit back as hope that we’ll choose to get out the watering can. Every gardener will tell you weeds will grow. You can spend hours and hours lovingly caring for your garden, but the next morning – or maybe the following day - you’ll surely find a little sprout that doesn’t belong there. The enemy will always sow bad seed, and bad seed grows. But having a weed or two in your garden doesn’t mean your flowers won’t blossom or your plants won’t produce fruit.

God has worked so hard healing the soil and sowing; He seems to be happy with His work. Maybe I should just sit a spell - rest in Him - appreciate His work and let Him worry about what He plants.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV.

Trying Too Hard

If you’re anything like me the struggle to live in balance is like sitting on a teeter-totter at the exact moment that your friend leaps off. The most often heard words for the first 15 years of my life were “you’re not trying hard enough!”

I always wondered, and still do, if you are trying is it possible to try harder? Is it a question of quantification? Can a person try harder than their best? If you try less than your best, are you even trying? Is it any wonder that people get stressed out in life?

At the beginning of my relationship with the Lord there was a great sigh of relief in my life. I think for the first time I can remember I actually felt relaxed. I felt accepted. I felt loved. I felt as if I was enough, but wasn’t limited to remaining as I was. I just was – no need to try – I just was.

It only took a few years however for me to realize that, occasionally, I find myself straining under the pressure of being, striving, and achieving to be better than . . . well – better than that – whatever that is. It’s in these times – when the vein in my forehead starts to pop – that I hear the Lord whispering to my spirit, “Don’t try so hard.” I like that. Are you trying too hard?

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” Matthew 11: 28-30.

Guilt, Fear and Promises

My grandmother was a wonderful, God fearing woman. I lived with her for some time. She was the only person in my life who told me that she loved me and nothing would ever change that. When my parents weren’t around she would take me to church – something they would have never approved of. She had significant influence over my life and my beliefs.

Every morning, Grandma would make herself a cup of tea and place two sugar covered mint leaves on the saucer beneath her cup. She had a tiny silver spoon that jingled as she stirred the milk into her tea. She’d take a sip and give me one of the mint leaves. I loved that spoon. The only time she used it was in the morning when she sat with me. It was shiny and special. One morning I pilfered it and hid it inside a napkin and placed it under my pillow.

That night, Grandma was getting ready to tuck me in. I had been feeling guilty all day. I loved her so much but I really wanted that spoon – something to remind me of her when she wasn’t with me – it was like a little piece of her. I knew she was upstairs waiting to tuck me in and my fear that she had found the spoon under my pillow made me queasy. I didn’t want to disappoint the only person I was sure loved me. Gran sat on the side of my bed and pulled the covers back while I got in. She gave me a kiss on the forehead and began walking away. I couldn’t let her walk away but I was afraid to face her. “Grandma,” I called out as I took the spoon from under my pillow, “remember you said you’d always love me, no matter what? I took your spoon.” I stood on the promise she had made to love me no matter what and faced my fear because of my guilt.

Jacob had a similar experience. He had stolen his brother’s blessing, but Jacob didn’t hang around to face the music - he high-tailed it out of town. Years later he heard that Esau and his posse of 400 were on their way towards Jacob and his family. Guilt and fear abounded. Jacob sent his men ahead with a peace offering but the fear didn’t subside - the fear for himself and his family. So what did he do? He did what he knew best to do – he prayed. He prayed to God. He wrestled with Him until he was blessed and he stood on the promises God had made him. He walked behind God to meet his brother and was met with an embrace.

Not everyone we’ve hurt will embrace us when our paths cross; reconciliation does not always bring about restoration, but one thing is sure, if we ask Him, God will go before us. We can always stand on the promises of God.

After the Fire

Life can be pretty frenetic from time to time. Many people seem to live in high gear from one situation to the next. A hectic and cramped packed life doesn’t leave a lot of time to be still and even those who were once considered laid back have long since forgotten what being still is all about.

Some people just barely find themselves getting over one life event before the next one seems to steam roll over them. And yet, ironically, those who think these things always happen to them seem surprised when the next train wreck happens.

When I gave my heart to the Lord, I really (no really) believed that life would be easy, or at least easIER. At the sign of every upheaval, I began looking to God in expectation that He would manifest Himself by signs and wonders – soothing and smoothing over my little life situations. After all – He’s God!

But it dawned on me that there’s more to a relationship than counting on someone to help you out when you’re jammed up. God doesn’t want to only hear from us when were at the scene of a fire or at the site of an earthquake. Frankly, we long to hear from Him most in these types of situations but our hearing’s not so great during those kinds of times.

These are the times when He longs for us to come alone, to a quiet place, while He whispers in our ears – a place without distraction – just long enough for Him to encourage and strengthen us – just long enough to unburden and refresh us – just long enough to hear us tell Him how very much we love and appreciate Him – especially during these times.

“and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice,” 1 Kings 19:12.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Yes! Yes! I can hear you. I hear every word you say, I know every thought you think. I’m with you. Yes! I’m here, always and forever.

I know you’re beginning to think I’m not listening or that our connection has been broken; it hasn’t dear heart. Every prayer you pray I collect in a bowl, waiting for the perfect moment to pour out blessings upon you. I’m not ignoring you. I’m not disappointed in you. I love you, with all my heart, without condition. There is nothing you’ve done to change that. There is nothing you can do to change that.

You will hear me again, know this for sure. The din of this world is making much static, but I’m still on the line. I won’t hang up. Quiet yourself. Find a place of solitude and meet me there, you’ll find less noise on the line. You’ll hear me. You might have to try a few times, but please don’t give up. Don’t give up on me for I will never give up on you. My heart is for you - all the way. You have my full attention.

You said you wished we could talk the way we used to, we still can, if you cling to the Hope I’ve given you. Nothing has changed – this is a temporary situation. You’ll see, soon you’ll understand everything. Let this be a time that drives your passion for me to persist regardless of what is going on around you. You will hear me again, I promise. You can stand on that promise. For all the promises I’ve made to you are the foundation of an everlasting covenant. You are mine! Stay on the line!

‘And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him,’ 1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV.

Listening Intently

When the out-of-town relatives would visit my family, anyone under the age of 25 was assigned special seating arrangements at dinner time at the famous “kiddie” table. I always thought there was some kind of covert family operation going at the “grown-up” table. The raised eyebrows, pursed lips, the head-cock, and the occasional glance at the kiddie table, were all evidence that something interesting was being said, something far too interesting for the kids to hear. Listening intently brought some success to my endeavours, but on occasion, I had to resort to more drastic measures.

Everybody knows that the dinner time conversation only gets better somewhere between the kid’s bedtime and the first cognac. As luck would have it, there was an air vent on the floor beside my bed. I spent many crawling beneath my blankets with the side of my face looking as if my face had been pressed in a waffle iron. Listening intently doesn’t begin to describe the efforts I made to hear every single word that was uttered. It was only a matter of time. . . and I had faith that my persistence would be rewarded.

The years have passed and it seems that my hearing has dulled, not so much in the natural sense as in the spiritual sense. I look back at those days gone by and think of the effort and patience I put in to listening and I ask myself, what’s happened? Why is it, when I wait for God to speak, I give up so easily; I fill those silent moments with the sound of my own voice – babbling on. Why don’t I wait until I have waffle iron face? Where’s my faith? Where’s my persistence? You’ll excuse me won’t you? I have some listening to do and it might take a while.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” Jer. 33:3 NIV.

All Day Long

How do we become impatient? Is it something we learn, or does it come naturally? Why are some people so easy going and others not? Can we change?

When I was a young newlywed, before ATM’s were invented, people received paycheques made of paper. They had to stand in line at the bank to take care of business. Living in a city of primarily government workers meant that every second Friday those line-ups were … well … imagine a day of free coffee at St. Arbucks … yup … those were the good ole days.

On one of these fine Friday evenings my husband was waiting in the comfort of the car listening to the radio while I stood in a line that serpentined from the foyer to the counter. About 20 minutes into my wait the sound of a blaring horn caught the attention of all the customers. The driver kept honking and honking until, his impatience got to the better of him, and he simply left his hand on the horn. I was married to that driver. He was yelling and gesturing at me from inside the car. What could I do but turn red and hope no one would see me get in the car with him some 45 minutes later.

Some friends and I were talking about waiting on God – waiting to hear from Him concerning various issues. None of us doubted, for a moment, that He would answer, the question was: when? That Friday evening of decades gone by popped into my head and I started to laugh.

I wonder if, in all my impatience, I ever look like that driver to God. I wonder if He ever questions why I can wait in line at Starbucks for a latte I can never finish, and don’t really need, but I can’t seem to wait on Him. I can be like a screaming child who’s missed a feeding – answer me, answer me now! All the while – I know – I KNOW – that He answers. He answers and provides in His perfect timing and sometimes that means I need to wait. That should be enough, shouldn’t it? Honk, honk.

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” A Psalm of David 25:4-5 ESV.

I Know

I know you’ve been weeping, and calling out, wondering if I hear you, wondering if I’ve ever heard you. I know.

I know you’re hurting. I know you’re feeling battle fatigued – weary – alone. I know you have many questions that haven’t been answered to your satisfaction. 

I count the times you’ve cried out to me, “I can’t handle this anymore.” I know you can – with me. I know what your made of – I created you. 

There is something you should know – something you should know and believe – six little words filled with truth, hope and promise:'

I am. I hear. I answer. 

“You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you,” Jer. 29:12 NIV.

What Will You Plant?

If there exists a person who has never lived through turmoil or disappointment, fear or illness, rainy seasons or drought, I would like to meet that person.

I’ve noticed that during those types of seasons, I draw close to God. I draw close to God and my faith in His protection increases BUT in one way, my faith dissipates like the top layer of sand in a desert storm.

Drawing closer to God in fear is the best place to be – tucked away under His wing. The kind of faith I want however is the kind of faith that draws close to God and expects a manifestation of His power and glory to settle me, calm my fears, heal me, dry the rain or soak the land.

I watched a wonderful movie the other night: Faith Like Potatoes. Against all odds, science, common sense, Angus Buchan decided to plant potatoes during a drought because he believed God was calling him to sow his faith. After having been discouraged by his wife, pastor, brother, friends and his banker – his response was, “the condition for a miracle is difficulty; the condition for a great miracle is impossibility.” When things seem impossible, when life’s mountains seem insurmountable, do we move in faith or snuggle up under God’s wing and give Him glory for His protection? I’d rather give Him glory for His protection, His faithfulness, and His healing power and might.

Buchan made one more statement at the end of the movie, “Feel this potato, smell it. Your faith in God must be like that – must be real – you can feel it, you can smell it. Your faith in God has got to be …like potatoes.

What will you plant in this season?

“Nothing is impossible with God,” Luke 1:37.

The Battle is Won

If a person’s ears are tuned to hear the voice of God they will hear the sound of the trumpets warning of a battle to come. This is the time to seek His counsel as King David often did, “Should I go up against them? Will you give them into my hands?” David sought God’s counsel before making any moves knowing full well that his enquiries would be answered.

Some of us are not so adept at hearing God’s voice; we’re still practicing, still unsure, or perhaps we are slowly moving into a place where we are learning to trust Him enough to seek His wisdom, counsel and protection.

Too many people believe that every battle is of the enemy; this is not the case. God will send us into battle from time to time, but rest assured that when He does He had ordained us for victory. He is for us and not against us. God will never send you into a battle that you have no chance of winning. He is the Commander in Chief and it is for this reason that at the sound of the trumpet – or when we find ourselves at the centre of the battlefield – we must seek Him and not move, nor be paralyzed by fear, until we are sure we have heard His answer.

Can you hear the trumpet sound? Can you hear His voice? Do you trust that He is for you and not against you? Remember this: if God sends you into battle the battle is won.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:3.