I don’t know about you, but I am starting to feel like Tom Hanks in “Castaway” talking to my basketball. “Well, Wilson, what are we gonna do today?” Then we would have a fight and I would end up swimming to save the life of my only friend. Oh, well, the human mind is a strange place.
It would be difficult to place blame on anyone in our current crisis. Who imagined that #toiletpaperarmageddon would be a thing? It’s a good thing that real Christianity tends to prosper in challenging times.
God transforms our minds as Christians. We learn to acknowledge circumstances, but not be controlled by them. We retain power and responsibility for our thoughts, decisions, and especially our faith.
Bible Examples of Believers Saying What God Was Saying
Romans 4:20 (NLT) Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
Abraham lived according to the promises God made to him. His circumstances certainly opposed his beliefs. But, he refused to stop believing God’s Promise!
David declared that Goliath was going down before the battle began. No one really thought David was going to win that little skirmish, but he did. (1 Sam 17:45-47)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fearlessly claimed that God would protect them, or He wouldn’t. Whether or not God’s deliverance came was irrelevant. They chose to believe in God rather than their troubles. (Daniel 3:17-18)
Jehoshaphat is a favorite. An enemy that he had shown mercy to in the past came against him to destroy him. When he went to God over it the word received was, “God will deliver you.” Jehoshaphat’s response was to go into battle with the choir leading the way. Their job was to praise God for the victory that had not yet come! (2 Chronicles 20:21-22; 24)
The Bible is filled with stories of those who chose to rehearse God’s Promises. The details of their present troubles they left to unbelievers.
Dealing With The Nasty Now and Now
It’s okay to Acknowledge the Situation. No one is suggesting that difficult times don’t limit, inconvenience, and even torment us. We are not trying to ignore our problems or the state of the world. Many believers in the Bible died declaring God’s promises. Even though they did not get to see God’s Word fulfilled, they still believed. They loved God and others so much they were able to declare a future that someone else would enjoy.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) For we live by believing and not by seeing.
It’s important to keep the situation in perspective to Eternity and God’s Power. We are limited in our knowledge. We are also limited in the comprehension of what we do know. Often we fail to realize that God has considered far more than we are even capable of knowing. Also, God is so powerful that He is able to make any horrible thing to accomplish wonderful things. (Romans 8:28)
So even though we live in trying times, we live by the promises of God. He is faithful. He is powerful. Nothing escapes His attention and care. He does not cause bad things to happen, but He knows all that is coming and is preparing to wring from it real goodness.
Learn To Say What God Is Saying
Romans 10:14-15 (NLT) But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
God IS Speaking (Hebrews 12:25) and someone needs to declare what God is saying. If no one declares or proclaims the goodness that God is declaring of right now, no one will hear. People will not learn that God is Good and He is available in this moment.
Here are a few declarations form God straight out of the Bible.
- Today is the Day of Salvation! 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)
- So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. Hebrews 4:7 (NLT)
- Today is a day of JOY! Philippians 4:4; 1Thessalonians 5:16
- Today is a day of PRAYER! 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Today is a day of Thanksgiving! 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Here are some declarations that are easily supported with The Bible.
- Our prayers are powerful and effective (James 5:16b).
- God richly supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19).
- We are dead to sin and alive to live with power (Romans 6:11; 2 Peter 1:4).
- We are under supernatural protection (Psalm 91).
- We are empowered to bring God encounters to other people (Mark 16:17-18).
- Through Jesus, I am 100% loved and worthy to receive all of God’s blessings (Col 1:12-14).
God’s Plan isn’t often easy to see. The writer of Hebrews tells of a great number of people who suffered, struggled, and even died. They never stopped living by God’s promises. They never let their circumstances have the last word.
Hebrews 11:38-40 (NLT) They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
We can be the person saying what God is saying in any situation. We can “preach” the Good News. Why not bring the beautiful message that God is Good. Share that Jesus has come and that today is the day of Salvation!
Talk About It…
- What are your first thoughts regarding today’s topic? Please share with the group.
- What are some surprising developments in the last year? What good does it do to rehearse life’s inconveniences?
- Of the four Bible stories mentioned, which is your favorite? Why?
- Discuss or consider some healthy ways to process your current difficulties. How could we keep our troubles in a proper perspective? How is God bigger than our trials?
- Discuss some of the declarations listed in the guide. Which do you like and why? Which could you share with someone today?
- How could we keep our circumstances from having the “Last Word” in our daily experience?
- Is there anything in today’s topic that you would be excited to share with a friend?