Trust… in the Mighty Hand of God

Trust . . . in the Mighty Hand of God

A True Story

She was told to never walk on the Indian path, but the sisters decided to race home after they spent the day at Gerritsen Beach in Brooklyn; the forbidden path promised a shortcut. She felt quite confident in her independence (at the rough age of 12) to win the race, so she separated from her sisters and speedily began her journey. In what seemed like a moment, she was stuck; quicksand engulfed her body and she knew it was a desperate situation. She clung to the one patch of grass in reach. The sand covered her entire body, to her chin, with the exception of the one arm that clung to the grassy patch as her lifeline. She can remember the face of a neighborhood girl watching in horror from a distance. The little blonde eye-witness ran away.

A young man in his twenties came to the scene. Who was he? Did the little blonde girl send for him? It didn’t matter to her because as their eyes met, she knew he was there to help. He said, “Give me your hand.” Her eyes widened to suggest that there was no possible way that she would let go. What if he didn’t grasp her hand when she reached? What if she would sink entirely?

What other choice did she have?

She must trust. Adrenaline pumping, heart-pounding sensations radiated throughout her body as she approached the moment that took all of her internal strength and focus to accomplish. This was her crucial moment, a now or never deal. She trusted. She let go and she reached up.

He rescued her.

She remembers barely muttering the words “thank you”
as she trembled with a rush of emotion

…and continued her journey home.

She is my nearly 90 year young grandma.

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“God desires for His children to trust His Mighty Hand.”

I’m not Alice in Wonderland, nor Dorothy in Oz. I don’t always desire adventure or want to explore. I don’t think I would’ve ventured down the forbidden trail of quicksand as my grandma attempted. The unfamiliar places of life overwhelm me. I long for assurance, security and peace in the journey far beyond adventure and exploration. I want to victoriously overcome and not cave to the overwhelming possibilities or fears of the unknown. I’m willing to learn lessons along the way to a destination, but oh yes, I want that assurance and security!

Is it possible? This life is full of disappointment, unexpected struggles or loss, and full of hurting and sinful people that hurt others. Everyone experiences the painful, the hurtful, the heart-breaks… and the result is lack of trust. It’s difficult to trust in an un-trustworthy world.

I can not trust in man alone (because there will be disappointments),

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.”(Jeremiah 17:5, NIV)

nor can I trust the best provisions of man for the fulfillment of the deep longings in my heart, including that assurance and security I so much desire!

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”(Psalm 20:7, NIV)

I’m a child of God settling my life and heart in the palm of His Great hand.

Do I trust Him?

Jonah in the whale; Daniel in the lion’s den, Joseph in slavery and prison, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace; the disciples as they watched their leader die on a cross…

I’m sure the characters felt overwhelmed and fearful, but when everything else was stripped away, what choice remained?

Trust God or not?

Job piercingly states,


“though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15, King James)

Be His friend unto death, or not?

The once highly favored and successful Job had all stripped from him, including the lives of his family members, his property, his health, and the loyalty of his friends. He stood falsely accused of unconfessed sin that his friends claimed must be the reason for his loss and pain. His friends didn’t trust him and didn’t encourage him. Job could’ve lost all hope. He knew that God could allow him to die, but he put his trust in God, maintained his position of integrity, and continued to plead with God. Job sought to understand God, and God granted revelation of Himself to Job.

Job’s depth and understanding came with a great price, but God chose to honor His faithful servant and doubly restore all unto him.

God is with His faithful servants in the beautiful places of deliverance, restoration and blessing. He seeks to be honored and glorified in the lovely seasons of life.

God is with His faithful servants in the ugliest of places… in the belly of a whale, in the den of lions, in slavery and prison, in a fiery furnace, in false accusation, in grief, in loss, in illness, disappointment, and sinking sand. He wants to be trusted. He wants to be honored and glorified as He’s trusted and called upon.

In this life, can I trust God is a Healer when He hasn’t healed me or someone I love? Can I trust He answers prayers while in waiting for the answer? Can I trust He is good when the bad happens?

How can I trust Him? The only way to trust Him is to spend the time knowing Him. Faithful prayer and Bible reading is the way to the secrets of His heart. Trust can not be built in any relationship without the time dedicated to the other person. It’s the same with God and it will be difficult to trust Him if I don’t know Him. I read in His word the sweet encouragement to call on Him in the day of trouble. I know His word on the matter; I see His heart in the matter. He wants me to call on Him in trouble … so indeed, I will!

““And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15, King James)”

There is so much to juggle in life, why not entrust it all to His skillful hand? I stand in a place needing the peace and assurance for the future, for the lives, health, and provision for my husband, children and other loved ones. I can only stand secure when I first let go of my fears; my trust in man; favorable circumstances; any sense of entitlement to the promises of God for having previously suffered and remaining faithful through the trials – I must let go of it all. Absolutely all of it must go, and then I can extend my hand upward to God and allow Him to reach down and rescue me from all that entangles, engulfs and entraps me in lack of trust of Him.

I otherwise feel like I’m sinking fast in sand.

He is gentle. He is loving. He is kind. He sweetly promises and reminds that…

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
(Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)

The great men and women of the Bible first grew in their faith. They developed a strong relationship with God even when they didn’t have all of the facts about what would happen as they moved forward. I love the story of Abraham when he was called to venture into unknown territory. Hebrews 11:8 says that he “obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going.”

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) and trust is knowing the facts and odds are potentially lined up against you, but being willing to take a leap of faith anyway… because God is God. He is the Great I AM. He is trustworthy. Period.

The new seasons of life with unfamiliar territory of emotions and questions require new levels of trust,  but also bring new revelation of who He is. Embrace the opportunity to know Him more and trust Him to guide.

I honestly trust my car gps to get me to my desired destination. Likewise, God is my Guide. He knows the way through life and the secrets of life and the heart. He knows the way to eternity and He provides direction through His word. He promises to lead and guide through life and to eternal destiny. I trust He knows the best path for my life.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”
(Proverbs 16:9, New Living Translation)

He furthermore promises restoration in the next life for all of those that faithfully love, trust, and serve Him in this life. In the circumstances of this life when promises are not fulfilled, we can rest assured that He will fulfill every longing, reveal all things in truth, and reward in eternity.

I want to trust Him right here and right now, so I will seek Him… to know Him… to trust Him.

I will trust in the Mighty Hand of God. I will trust in HIM.

God’s seed:

“For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.”
(Psalm 48:14)

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”(Psalm 31:9)

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Trust in the hand that you reach for

Trust in the hand that you hold

Jesus will never forsake you

He’ll never let you go

(Lyrics from “Trust in the Hand”, Praz Jam)

Peacefully Abide

Peacefully Abide

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

Who longs for peace, rest, a moment of quiet to gather thoughts and reflect?

Refreshing. Relaxing.
Harmonious.
PEACE. 

Seemingly a challenge to achieve in many of our lives as the storms rush, the days pass, life demands, moments slip by, and the world disappoints… yet all the while… the soul craves PEACE. 

It seems that each day I rejoice with one soul while mourning with another. Every day brings a joy and a sadness. In one part of the world, the sun shines while the rains torrent somewhere else. How can one find peace in the midst of inconsistency and a culture of the fast-paced and often chaotic? One might slow down and “smell the roses” to attain a calm, yet that mind can torment in confusion in the midst of sitting by beautiful waters and bountiful roses. In the most circumstantially perfect moments, the soul can stir vigorously in discontent or depression. Contrarily, in undesirable circumstances, one can find stillness of soul. How can a persecuted brother (like Saeed Abedini), grieving Christ-believers (like Saeed’s family), suffering sister (like Terri from diaryofaquadriplegic.wordpress.com), or a dying mother (like Kara Tippets of mundanefaithfulness.com – who recently passed into eternal glory) find PEACE?

Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

We live in a constant state of struggle as humans in a fallen and sinful world. God did not promise a life without disruption or challenge. In fact, Jesus clearly states, “in this world you WILL have trouble.” Many wonder why God doesn’t remove the struggles, the troubles, the days of hard work, the heartbreaks, and the pain …but that is what heaven is for. It is a reward appreciated after seeing the other side of “perfect” and holiness.

[Tweet “How can we reconcile the peace Jesus promises in John 16:33 with the hard saying in Matthew 10:34?”]

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34 (NIV)

Jesus recognized that we would desire peace but that it would be impossible to achieve in a fallen world. Jesus came to bring truth and He knew that evoked controversy, and as a sword divides – Jesus knew there would be division. The basic question exists today,

[Tweet “Are you for or against Christ – the one who overcame the world through His death and resurrection?”]

 

As humans, we must make peace with the fact that this sinful world will bring disruption and trouble but we can rejoice that greater peace is found in the gentle, loving arms of Jesus. His words bring life to the soul, they comfort the deepest parts of the mind and heart.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)peacefullyabide2

I long for the “closet” moments of prayer and reflection where sitting with God’s holy word and a cup of tea (devoid distraction) provides the ideal soul refresher.

It’s important to dedicate intentional and planned time with the Wonderful Counselor that He may challenge our hearts toward purity. As we prioritize Him above all things (seeking to avoid distraction as much as possible) and as we desire sweet intimacy, then we are able to see Him in the everyday details of life. My friend, Jessica, wrote a beautiful and truthful post about that exactly and you can read more at Masterscalling …”Purely Seen”.

He becomes the focus and all else fades.

In the moments when I need His grace, when demands of motherhood and duties of life don’t always provide the ideal opportunity to sit non-distracted, I can still embrace His great peace. It’s a time to pray and be thankful in the morn, to engage the family in worship music as we do chores, to let our words and conversations often reflect back to Him, to play videos that proclaim truth as we drive from one homeschool activity to the next, to keep Him the focus of life’s routine, to bring His words alive in life throughout the day.

As His words are written in my heart, I peacefully remain connected to my beautiful Savior. I can pray continuously even if it’s a simple, “Jesus, I need you NOW.”

My soul finds rest and PEACE in Him. And this is learning to

peacefully abide.

 

God’s seed:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (Psalm 119:97)

 

Planting God’s Seeds of Hope

missionzera blessings

 

Brook Joy

Brook Profile-02062016*Brook Joy writes articles on Faith, Life, Culture, and her personal journey with Health (IBD). Brook is a chocolate-loving wife & homeschooling mama (and a Christian for 20+ years)… planting and growing God’s seeds of hope at missionzera.com

 

the first seed (zera)

Zera . . .

the First Seed

The concept of a seed is quite foundational to life. The Hebrew word “zera” is found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:11 (King James Bible): “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed (zera), and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed (zera) is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.”

This is my very first post. You can call it foundational, the first seed of the blog – the zera seed.

(Research credit on “zera” to: Patricia Power at http://www.justreligion.org)

It is of utmost importance to clarify a “type” of Christianity. In the name of “Christianity” there seems to exist a variety of definitions. I will simply state my definition of Christianity; let’s establish a few things first.

My foundation is Jesus Christ. He was present in the beginning of all things; at the time of Creation.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (King James Bible)

Sin entered the world through the first man, Adam. At the point of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, Adam and his descendants (his seed) knew sin. Adam’s seed carried SIN.

In our present culture, some who call themselves “Christians” will avoid the topic of SIN. However, it is foundational to Christianity. Through the Old Testament, men and women struggled with SIN. So, God introduced His plan to the world. He introduced His son, Jesus (the Christ), to the world that He loves…

Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood (full of the purity of God), and conquered death by His victorious resurrection. In the New Testament, Jesus offers a new covenant; His sacrifice represents a path that true Christians must follow – one of seeking to overcome SIN.

SIN separates people from the holiness of God. No one can ever be holy like God. However, those that truly desire to love God will obey His commands (as found in His word) and seek to turn away from SIN, which is called repentance. The message of the disciples was REPENTANCE. John the Baptist lived to preach the message of REPENTANCE.

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2, King James Bible).

If one truly believes in the power of what God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit seek to accomplish in and through people, then he/she will embrace REPENTANCE.

Jesus Christ became the new provisional seed (of the New Covenant) that would spring forth spiritual fruit in all those that would believe in Him.

My definition of Christianity is simple:

Abide by God’s word; believe in what God accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross; and seek to live a life of victory over sin. Maintain a soft heart that embraces REPENTANCE when God reveals something that does not align with His word and truth.

His kindness brings conviction to those He calls sons and daughters. His gentle conviction is a kind discipline – a way of showing His love.

God’s seed: 

Galatians 3:13-14; 16(King James Bible)

13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…”

14 “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

If you would like to begin a journey with God, begin by praying the following:

God, I realize that my sin separates me from you, as you are a Holy God. Thank you for providing your son, Jesus, to die on the cross (with pure and holy blood) to be a holy sacrifice for my sins. I seek to live a life of repentance – one that wants a heart bent towards your Holy word – to obey your word. Help me to live a life of turning away from sins – the things that your word explains as sin. Help me to become a student of the Bible. Help me to find Godly friends and mentors. Help me to seek you to find the next step on this new path of becoming a disciple. I believe Jesus died on the cross AND raised from the grave on the third day – overcoming sin and death. I invite you, God, into my heart and life. Amen.

(If you would like more information or resources, etc… on the Christian faith, please feel free to contact me: missionzera.brook@gmail.co

PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT BY BROOK JOY AT MISSIONZERA.COM, 2016