May 11, 2009

Hot and Cold

We finally hit spring here in new Mexico but typical to the desert, it is warm during the day and cool at night. It was cool enough this morning that Janet needed a sweater as we met for a ministry meeting.

The fluctuations in our weather at the moment remind me of some people's faith walk. All of us have had times where we felt closer to God than at other times. That's to be expected. I'm thinking of people who constantly run hot and cold, one fire one moment and frigid the next.

I think one of the biggest causes of this problem is confusing emotion or circumstance with God's presence. When they're on the mountain top they feel close to God, when they're not on the peak they feel far away.

The problem with that kind of faith is that we have a distorted image of God. The truth is that God never strays from us and our emotions and circumstances are a terrible indicator of God's faithfulness.

God was with those that Jesus healed. He was also with Daniel in the fiery furnace and Paul in prison.

We need to learn to trust God's Word and character over our circumstances. Sometimes our circumstances are tough because God is teaching us things. Sometimes they are tough because we are being disciplined. Sometimes circumstances are tough and it really has nothing to do with us God is using our circumstances for the benefit of others. Sometimes they are tough because life is hard, but God remains in control.

God repeatedly promises to never leave His children. We're reminded in numerous places that The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Nothing can separate us from God's love.

Romans 8:35-39 NIV
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is there no matter what our circumstances or emotions tell us.

It is easy for us to talk of faith when we're up on the mountain.
Oh, but the talk comes easy when life's at its best.
But when we’re it's down in the valley of trials and temptation
That's when faith is really put to the test.

 Just remember, no matter what circumstances you are facing or what you are feeling, God is still in charge and He still loves you.

Walk your walk and talk your talk, just bring the two together, no matter what!

Walking it out with you and Him,

Darrel Mason

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