A Collision Course

So right now I am, oh how do you say, 'Between opportunities'.

This has definitely been a lesson in patience. A lesson in waiting. It was easy in the beginning but now it has gotten down to crunch time. The time when my fear is going to collide with my faith is drawing near. The time has come to take real stock of my faith. To not just recite promises or verses, but to really trust them. Not a time to just rattle off 'cliches' but to take real hope in them. To lean not on my own understanding. To rest on the promises. But what are these. What comfort is there in scripture. This is what I want to look at.

The promise of a constant companion.

Deut 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5. These are familiar verses but they have taken on new meaning. I don't challenge God that His word is true, but I challenge myself to really believe these words spoken to Joshua thousands of years ago. It is easy to recite and say 'We'll you know (name) things are tight, but God has said that He will never leave or forsake us.' Easy to say/type (I just did it) but much harder to actually say 'God, my way obviously doesn't work, you have said it now it's time to believe it.'

Psalms 9:10. A psalm written in the aftermath of the death of a son, yet David pens these words with the conviction that no matter what the trial or tragedy God WILL be there for His people. If I stick to my guns then the Lord will stick to His. But to me the real pick-me up is in verse 11. Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; Proclaim among the nations what He has done. Tell those around you what God has done in your life. How has God guided you through trials. Proclaim it. In the words of Luigi (from my son's favorite movie 'Cars') "I must scream it from the top of some place very high; my excitement." Let the world know just how great God is. My faith is colliding with my fear and that excites me to see what God will do.

The promise of being provided for.

Matthew 6:25-34. These verses are the easiest to quote or remember but the hardest to really trust in. As a man you what to provide for your family. You want to make sure there is food on the table and clothes on their backs and a roof over their head. You want to do that and sometimes we can't. Our plans fail. Our plans leave us wanting. But God's plan don't. When we follow God's will and adhere to His commands then we can truly rely on His words, because, well let's face it at the end of the day that is all that there really is. Again my fear is on collision course with my faith and I couldn't be more excited.

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Do I really believe this? Do you really believe that God will provide the necessities of life? Does God really care?

Psalms 55:22, Nahum 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7 convey to me that God is waiting there for me. He wants me to unload the stress and pain of worry onto Him. He wants me to know that He cares for me. He wants me to know that He is my 'ever-present help in trouble' Psalms 46:1.

There is a song that we sang Wednesday night in the Rock and it's words really challenge me.

When the sun's shining down on me.

When the world's all as it should be.

Blessed be your name.

That's easy enough but the real challenge to me is in the following lyrics:

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say...Blessed be the name of the Lord

Just like in the movie 'Facing the Giants' the question is posed to the wife if she will still love the Lord even if they never have children.

Will I still love the Lord even when time are rough?

My fear and faith are colliding ....Blessed be the name of the Lord!