When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
- 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

During some spring cleaning, I stumbled upon a principle that is true for both cleaning windows and navigating a crisis. While cleaning one side of the glass, it appeared I was removing all of the spots, until I viewed the pane from the other side and saw several spots I had missed. In the same way, when viewing our crises from this side of heaven, we miss much about the Lord and our trials.

In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul likens our understanding – and reactions – to children who don’t fully understand the adult world. When confused or frustrated, I admit I’ve thrown a childish tantrum or two (thousand). Paul’s statement is humbling – our grasp of God’s superior ways is partial and limited.

Now I’m not one who believes we should never ask why. Questioning is healthy and leads to much revelation of the Lord. During my battle with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, I often asked Him why. Still, satisfying answers were sometimes lacking.

Yet one super fine day in heaven, we’ll know God just like He knows us. Our eyes will be opened to unseen realities that we can only imagine on this side.

Until then, we can still love the One we don’t fully understand. We can still praise Him through pain and confusion. There is a strange sense of rest in trusting Him with our unanswered questions. And that’s an answer in itself – He will tell us everything soon enough.

So don’t fret if you “miss a spot.”

Lord, grant us the grace and poise to trust You even when we’re confused and hurting.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea… “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. -Psalm 46:1-2; 10-11

When we feel out of control, we tend to scramble in every direction to regain our grip. When my world was rocked in 2002 by Stage IV metastatic melanoma with a prognosis of days to live, my greatest struggle was feeling so out of control. I thought I already knew I was out of control, and honestly, I did not welcome the proof.

Yet the Psalmist says in Psalm 46, that when our world is crashing down around us, the Lord is a stronghold. We can “be still and know He is God.”  We might call this our “Plan Be.” When our Plan A falls apart, we can just “be,” resting in His powerful abilities, not our frantic efforts.

I believe in being proactive while navigating a crisis. Still, there is a difference between activity driven by fear, and the restful steps of one who knows the “Lord of Hosts” is on his or her side. “Hosts” are the legions of angels that are sent out to help the Lord’s children. John said in Revelation 5:11 that he saw ten thousand times ten thousand or one hundred million angels gathered around God’s throne ready to do His bidding. One thing the Lord does not lack is resources, and mark His word, He “will be exalted.”

The Lord does not guarantee our circumstances will be pleasant on the earth – in fact He promises tribulations. Yet He guarantees that He will always BE there for us during hard times.

In the end, we will look back in amazement at temporary earthly tragedies; His control will be shown to have always been perfectly good and right. For now, we can save ourselves needless stress and grief and just be still.

Lord, open our eyes to Your awesome power and abilities that we might rest in You.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. –1 Peter 1:6-8

I once read about a man who found two cocoons on his windowsill. Both were wiggling – the caterpillars had begun the struggle to break out. He decided to help. He cut the fibers of one cocoon to free the larvae, and left it there. He later returned to find the larvae lying lifeless. The other cocoon was empty – that butterfly launched into the world. He concluded that a larvae’s struggle and stress was a critical step in their transformation into an amazing butterfly.

If you could magically remove all struggles from the earth, would you? Then why doesn’t the One who is able to remove all struggles do so? The reason is because He knows how to deliver life’s best – He uses trials to steer us into a deep love relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. In Him, the love and joy we seek is to be found.

The Lord knows trials hurt – a lot, but if we stick to Him during our trials, we are purified from the earthly distractions that rob us of true joy. Keep meditating on the verses in 1 Peter above. Let Him build your faith to trust in Him and love Him in the midst of your trials.

Lord, show us how You use trials to transform us to new levels in life!

(Third in a series on journeying through desert places in our lives).

O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, Selah. The earth quaked; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. -Psalm 68:7-9

The Lord reigns everywhere; deserts are no match for Him! Psalm 68 is David’s reminder that God was faithful to Israel in the wilderness, so He would be faithful to him, and us as well. In Part 1 of this mini-series, we dispelled the fear of going the wrong direction in the desert. Part 2 focused on God’s ability to march us victoriously; we are not overwhelmed in Him; we are stable and assured, even if our physical body or our circumstances are falling apart.

Another common desert fear:

• Will there be sufficient provisions, like water and food?

In other words, what if I don’t have enough resources to handle my wilderness journey? Desert travelers are often loaded down with worries. “What-if” questions tend to focus on resources.

1) Spiritual Resources – “What if I come to the end of my strength – will I be able to cope?”

2) Material Resources – “Will I/we/they have enough money?”

3) Relational “Resources” – “What will happen if my kids grow up without a mother/father?”

Psalm 68:9 reveals that God “confirms His inheritance when it was parched.” No matter how horrible our conditions, His inheritance, or resources will be sufficient. Don’t let pain, stress, or bad news cause you to panic. Simply rest in Him and trust Him for ALL resources you or your loved one(s) need. He is committed to take care of ANY concerns you have. Twice this passage stresses His “Presence” provides a “rain” or even “plentiful rain.” He provides. During my brutal cancer fight with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, there were several times I feared running out of strength, but my anxiety was  unnecessary. When I needed something, He was there. I’m not saying it was easy to cope; it was really hard. But His presence and inheritance made the journey so much more manageable. Many times, He even made my journey pleasant. Drink the rain.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. -2 Corinthians 4:7-9

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

“For by their own sword they did not possess the land, and their own arm did not save them, but Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, for You favored them. You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name” (Psalm 44:3-8).

Some days just seem… evil. Days when the messages in my head are so negative. I can’t seem to fight them. I think this is what Paul meant by “the day of evil” (Ephesians 6:13). Days of rejection, inadequacies, confusion. Days when I realize I am so vulnerable, weak and losing my grip. Feeling overwhelmed.

Yet He never said I had to fight my own battles. In fact, He said if I did, I would lose. I cannot truly trust in my bow, my schemes, ideas, medicine, doctors, friends, family; it is Him alone. My cry to Him brings my victory. He comes through as I hide myself in His Word. He is my refuge and protection.

I am going to snuggle up in Your right arm, Your Son, and watch as You show Your glory today.

In His Grip, is a weekly e-mail intended to provide inspiration and hope to those fighting cancer.
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Blue Christmases happen. I don’t have raw statistics to prove it, but for those battling cancer, the sense of isolation is usually greater during the holiday season. Cancer takes no holidays. It’s impossible to forget the Christmas that I was diagnosed. On the day before Christmas Eve in 2002, I had a biopsy on a large mass under my arm. The surgeon called to give me the results on Christmas Day. He was heading out of town; I was heading down the road with Stage III metastatic melanoma cancer. So much for peace on my little chunk of earth. There were lots of caring family and friends surrounded me, but I still felt alone.

If you haven’t received your Creator’s indwelling Presence, just receive Him right now. Ask Him to forgive your sins through Christ’s death on the cross. Ask Him to come into your life and live inside of you and be your life source. He will truly answer with His Presence. He is not some distant, smug royal, who sits passively indifferent to our situation. He wants to be involved in your life. In fact, He wants to live inside of you and ride everywhere with you!