I took my daughters to the beach for a few days during the lockdowns and the trying times of Covid. South Carolina did not have the same restrictions as North Carolina. We were able to enjoy a couple of days in the fresh ocean air. An activity I look forward to while at the beach is renting a bike and riding on the sand as the water washes ashore.

The best time to ride was in the morning before the beaches became crowded and the sun was too hot. One morning I was riding and enjoying the beautiful soft sand on one side and the breathtaking ocean on the other. The peddling was soothing and relaxing. I was riding against the wind. I chose to go that way because it was morning, and I was rested and had energy. As I rode, peddling became increasingly more challenging and slower. My legs began to ache, and I was getting out of breath. It was becoming a struggle, and I no longer felt peaceful or received enjoyment from this experience. I was enjoying the scenery, but I was getting tired and was only focusing on how long I would ride before I gave up and rested for a while. I rode until I saw some logs I could sit on and regain strength. As I sat there, the cadence of the waves soothed me and restored my energy. I started to relax and enjoy the beauty of where I was. My heart rate slowed to almost in time with the waves. People were out walking, and dogs were playing in the water. People were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the beach.

After a while, I felt rejuvenated and picked up my bike to start the journey back to the hotel. Now the wind was at my back. The return ride was delightful. I smiled as the children were so excited to be on the beach. Parents called after the little ones to stay close, and I smiled, remembering when I was with small children on vacation. I was not experiencing any struggle, just plain enjoyment.

This experience reminded me of life. Sometimes we set out on a journey, not realizing the struggle ahead. It becomes increasingly more demanding and less fun. We concentrate on the difficulty, not the beauty of life surrounding us. We are still determining where this challenging journey will end or when we will get rest. We may concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. In my experience, the struggle does cease, at least for a while, and we get to rest. The one authentic way that I have received this blessed rest is to come under the care of God. Here is where I will receive rejuvenation for the journey ahead. Often after a struggle, we may experience a time of renewal, the wind at our back. We start to enjoy the scenery around us, remember past blessings, and are in a good place enjoying life. Why don’t these times last as long as the hard times? My bike ride that morning was the same distance going and returning. However, one seemed shorter than the other. Life is like that, also. Good times may last just as long as the bad, but instead of focusing on the journey, we can focus on the beauty around us along with the joy and blessings of the experience. If I concentrate on the good and the pleasures, the struggle and the hard times won’t outlast the good times. The hard times are actual. My muscles will get a good workout. I will struggle, but like my legs gaining strength, my faith will gain durability as I go through the valleys and depend on God to bring me out the other side. If I keep going and do not give up, I will build endurance for the future struggles I will experience.

The Bible has many examples of people learning perseverance through trial. A few examples are Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, the disciples as they spread the gospel, David, Saul wanting to kill him, and Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. They could only persevere because God was with them. They relied on God’s strength, not their own. The Bible also gives many promises of God’s power being with us. Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” This verse is a beautiful blessing to hold onto while our endurance is building. Philippians 4:13 also points to the fact that the power of Christ in us is all we need to run with endurance during the trials and difficulties we face. It is Christ in us that sustains us and empowers us to keep going when we want to give up. Our challenges are not just for us to endure and get through. These experiences can grow us and change who we are. It is not just about getting through something but being a stronger person of faith on the other side.

I told my daughter how much I enjoyed my morning ride. She wanted to go with me the next morning. It was another beautiful day, and we started full of energy. After a while, she had the same reaction I had the previous day. She said to me at one point, “I can keep going, but I just need to know how much further”? In other words, she was getting tired and wanted to know when rest was coming. Riding with her reminded me of journeying through life with God. He knows when rest is coming and when circumstances are going to turn around, so the wind is at my back. I have said something similar to God, “I am tired; how much further?”

Thanks to all the bike riding I had been doing, my endurance was building, and I could have kept going. However, we decided we had gone far enough and stopped to get some rest. We sat and enjoyed each other’s company and the beauty of God’s creation. I can also sit and enjoy God’s company during my endurance-building times. God is always with us, and Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, “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”.

After a while, we turned around and rode back to the village. We rode along, talking and storing the beautiful memories of time together and the blessing God had given us of time and beauty. We also were headed to a little coffee shop for croissants and muffins; we may have ridden a little quicker! I have been to the beach a few times since this trip. Every time I ride on the beach, I remember these two days like they just happened. They remind me of the importance of building my faith and strengthening my endurance. I learned to see God in all circumstances through a bike ride. He is present in times of struggle and times of ease.

I was watching my two dogs play one day. Newton, the little one, was antagonizing the larger one, Max. Max eventually has enough and goes back at him. This “play” continues until Newton gets scared and runs to his crate for protection from Max. Newton senses how much Max will take and then runs for cover. Once Newton feels safe again, he ventures out and aggravates Max again. Eventually, Max walks away and goes to another room to get some peace from Newton.

 And the playing starts all over again.

Watching them, I thought about myself and where I find shelter. Unlike the dogs, I don’t deliberately antagonize Satan to get him to play with me. But, then again, I don’t realize I am enticing Satan to wrestle. Perhaps, I am leaving myself open to attack by participating in particular behaviors that are leaving me open to attack or enjoying the company of people whose relationship looks innocent but is leading me spiritually or mentally down a destructive path.

Max could have hurt Newton if he wanted to. He has a sweet disposition and, on some level, knows how far to go. Satan also could hurt me. However, he is not sweet and aims to destroy me. He will not back off and go somewhere else to get peace. I must run for cover instead of staying in the fight, thinking I am big enough to overcome a larger enemy.

The Old Testament gives many examples of men of God finding shelter in caves while fighting an enemy or fleeing for their lives. These occasions demonstrate the wisdom of knowing when to hide and when to confront. In I Kings 19, Elijah flees for his life and eventually sleeps in a cave in Horeb, the mountain of God. Another example found in 1 Kings 18 is Jezebel was killing prophets. Obadiah took 100 of the Lord’s prophets and hid them in two caves, 50 in each. Lastly, David was on the run for his life from King Saul and took refuge in caves. (1 Samuel 24). In all these examples, people had some fear and found shelter in hiding in caves. They experienced God’s protection, encouragement, and strength in these enclosures.

I have never been on the run for fear of my life. So, why do I find myself looking for safety and protection? There are many things, other than my physical life being in danger, I want to hide from or may need protection. For instance, how do I find refuge from emotional danger or fears? Do I hide from the heartache of unfulfilled dreams, or hide my heart, by shutting down relationally when someone hurts me? Do I get discouraged and want to give up like Elijah? At time, I look for the nearest hiding spot when I experience these events.

Not all places of refuge are created equal. Some may bring more heartache than peace and protection. I may close myself off from opportunities or situations that may look scary but are, in fact, occasions to let my light shine for God and his glory. By shrinking back and hiding in my self-doubt, I am not fully living for God. Satan has scared me into a cave of my own making. In this cave, the walls will feel like they are closing in on me, and I will not experience the protection of God as I would if I took refuge in him.

When I feel scared, lonely, or generally chased by Satan, I must look to God as my refuge and strength. Elijah ran when he was afraid, even though he had just experienced the power of God on display. Why? One reason was he was exhausted. My thoughts will be clouded when physically or spiritually exhausted, leading to more significant anxiety. When I rest, I remember that I can do everything through Christ, who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Elijah was also alone in the wilderness. I need Godly people to encourage me in the truth of God and that he is the ultimate protection from anything I may face, either physical, emotional, or spiritual. Self-pity or self-doubt is a tool Satan uses to chase me when my defenses are down. I must remember that I am a child of God, the Most High King (Galatians 3:26-29). And lastly, Elijah was discouraged. He just experienced this amazing miracle, and now he is on the run for his life. I have thought at times, why does God allow specific experiences or not let experiences happen? These thoughts lead to discouragement and, if not appropriately handled by going to God, will eventually lead me to depression. Once depression sets in, Satan sits back and waits. He knows, from previous times, not because he knows the future, that this emotion will keep me locked away and not enjoying the life God has for me to the fullest. If I stay in the place of hiding, Satan has won this round.

Looking back to Newton and Max, I realize my 2-year-old puppy has better instincts than I do. He knows to run for refuge before he is in real trouble. He sees Max is on the offensive and runs before he gets hurt. Why don’t I recognize the signs of Satan coming after me and run to the safety my Savior offers? I wrongly think I can handle it on my own. When I feel overwhelmed, afraid, pressed down, or self-pity, I must run to my knees and pray for God to help me. Memorizing scriptures of God being my refuge would also help. (Psalm 91:2, Proverbs 18:2,10, Deuteronomy 33:27, and Isaiah 25:4). I need to hide in the shelter of my God. I may need to rest, open up to Godly friends for help and realistically look at the situation so that discouragement and depression don’t set in.

 Every day we are in a battle. We participate in a fight, but it takes place in the heavenly realm. I find great refuge in putting on the whole armor of God every morning. I imagine being in a war room and suiting up for going into battle and mentally seeing God placing his armor on me. Every day take “the belt of truth and buckle it around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:14-18) The caves we run to for refuge can offer us protection from attack or fear, but if they are of our own making, they may be a refuge of isolation and bondage. I need to find my refuge in the Lord only. Sometimes, life circumstances, fears, anxieties, or emotions send me to a “cave.” During these times of hiding, I need to call out to God as David did in Psalm 142 and let God bring me out into the safety of His presence. He is my rock and fortress, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)

Have you ever thought about guardrails? The U.S. Department of Transportation states that guardrails are “first and foremost, a safety barrier intended to shield a motorist who has left the roadway.”

We have all seen guardrails over bridges, in the medians of highways, and on many roads we have traveled. They appear when road conditions are dangerous. My son attends college in a mountain town in N.C. The drive is breathtaking. However, there is one area where, in dense fog, you are in danger of going over the side of the road if you take a curve too quickly. Thankfully I have never had to use guardrails, but it is reassuring to know there was something to stop me in case I need it.

You may be wondering why I am thinking about guardrails in such depth. The other day I was taking my morning walk on a road, I don’t usually walk on. I noticed a guardrail on the opposite side of the street. It seemed odd since this was a residential area with no hairpin turns, soft shoulders, and other seemingly dangerous road conditions. On my way back, I walked past this barrier and noticed a significant drop-off that I could not see from my perspective on the other side of the road. Someone who has done research knew to place protective barriers here.

I started to think about guardrails for my life. Do I recognize barriers God has placed around me to protect me from hazards? Do I think I don’t need God’s roadblocks since, from my perspective, everything looks fine, and I can’t see the hidden danger? Do I see the protective device and ignore it because it doesn’t fit my current plan? What kind of guardrails do I need? Would I benefit from physical barriers only? What about spiritual and mental fences? Could I learn to embrace the protective guards in my life, like when I come home from seeing my son at college and realize the safety they offer?

Guardrails offered in Proverbs keep us on the straight and narrow path. Like physical guardrails to keep us from going over the edge, God has given us spiritual guards to keep us safe and secure as we travel through this life. God has given us these fences for our protection. Many of the kings of Israel and Judah (1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles) ignored God’s offers of protection and guidance. Most generations of kings were more wicked and disobedient than their predecessors. Occasionally, a king came to power who feared the Lord and obeyed God and his ways. These kings were blessed, while the others were not. Paying attention to guardrails and avoiding dangerous behaviors, attitudes, feelings, and thoughts can bring us peace and safety.

There are many different areas of our life where guardrails would be helpful. We could all benefit from barriers to our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. I have been thinking a lot about guarding my heart and mind. In my opinion, I either make good or bad decisions in these two areas. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” I love the image of the helmet of salvation to guard my mind. (Ephesians 6:17). We must be careful of what we allow in our mind by what we read and view. Our feelings can also take root in our minds and sway our behavior. A few guardrails for our hearts and mind would be to pray constantly for wisdom, discernment, and strength. Also, read the Bible, memorize scripture, be careful of the people we socialize with, have a grateful spirit, and take our thoughts captive. We can also ask the Lord to renew our minds. Scripture has many examples of God telling us the best way to live. Reading a Proverb daily to gain insight into the wisdom of Solomon may be helpful. Romans 12:2 says, “do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will”.

God may remind me to pay attention to the guardrails He has set up to protect my journey, even though I may not like the barriers. Adam and Eve just had to do one thing; not eat of the tree of knowledge (Genesis 3). They had to pay attention to one guardrail. Satan entered the garden and lied to them. They crashed directly into the guardrail and condemned humankind to this sin-filled life we all live now. Thankfully God has a redemption plan and a ramp back to living for Him. He sent his only son as a sacrificial lamb so that anyone who calls on Jesus’ name for salvation will live eternally with God in Heaven.

It is so essential to guard our minds. Satan is sly and devious and attacks us in our thoughts. Suppose he can get us to doubt God’s love for us, faithfulness, truthfulness, or any of God’s characteristics. Once we go down that path, we will run headlong into danger. Setting up barriers to guard our minds is vital to escape Satan’s lies before a dangerous situation occurs. One way to set up a guardrail is to know God’s word. Part of the armor of God (Ephesians 6) is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The sword is the only offensive weapon in the full armor. We need to use this weapon with precision and wield it against our enemy to destroy the lies he tells us. If we know who God is through his revelation in his word, we will know when Satan is lying to us about God. If we have committed scripture to memory, we will have many guardrails in place so that when a situation comes up that looks enticing to us, we can see how it compares to what scripture says. There are guardrails throughout the Bible to teach us about right living, thoughts, and attitudes. Jesus spoke of how to live in the gospels, and Paul gave us direction in his writings. Colossians 3:5 says, “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.”

Rebuilding guardrails after an accident must happen. After we crash into our barriers, we need to ask God for forgiveness. Through his forgiveness, we can reconstruct our guardrails because while living on earth, we need these protections. Because our journey on earth is filled with dangerous and scary situations, there won’t be a day that we don’t need protection from our wayward thoughts and actions or the devil’s schemes. God is the anchor for all our guardrails. Otherwise, they may give way when a collision occurs. I want to look at the barriers God has placed in my life as freedom-giving, not life-restricting. Many areas of my life need protecting, and I pray for wisdom to know when I am approaching danger.

Thank God for the guardrails he has set or inspires us to set for ourselves. With these protective barriers we may avoid ending up in a ditch and needing to climb or be towed out. There is restoration through God’s love and mercy, but I will have to live with the consequences of my choices. God, in his mercy, offers a better, more free way to live. A life with less damage and scars from the wreckage that, on my own, I will inflict on my life. This world encourages me to go faster and faster and live more dangerously each day. So, I want to sit on the guardrails God has placed in my life and find strength and power in them.

One of my favorite memories with my oldest child is putting jigsaw puzzles together. Early on, I discovered her love of puzzles. We started with the big chunky wooden puzzles and moved on to cardboard puzzles with more pieces. She caught on quickly and was soon doing puzzles without help from me.

I was looking for something to do on Christmas and thought it would be fun for the family to work on a puzzle this Christmas. Also, we could start a new family tradition for Christmas day. Only Abby, my oldest, and I were interested in this activity. So, while I was preparing dinner and putting it in the oven, she and I began a new puzzle.

We started by taking all the pieces out and sorting out the frame. Admittedly, Abby did a lot of this work while I was cooking. Time wore on, and the border was almost complete. She looked at the box top and decided what area she wanted to work on next. I kept popping in and out and needed a strategy for working on the puzzle. I just took random pieces and tried to help. I sorted pieces according to color. I tried to put some pieces together. Some looked like they would fit, but looks can be deceiving, and they did not go together. Back into the pile, they would go. Abby was making significant progress with her strategy. I was getting discouraged. Nothing I was doing was working. I wanted to give up. She was excited to keep going. She stopped what she was doing and came over and helped me. That encouraged me because I was no longer alone trying to make sense of random puzzle pieces.

As I was sitting there looking at the same handful of pieces, I thought about how this is how my life is. I have several of the “pieces” of the puzzle of my life. I know they all fit together, but I cannot figure out how. I can force pieces together because it makes sense that they should go together, but it is not the perfect fit. I keep trying on my own, only to be discouraged when it does not work out.

Abby would get so excited when she had success with her pieces. I was sitting near her, and I could see her progress and hear her excitement. At times this only further discouraged me. I was happy she was doing well but frustrated with my progress. Sometimes I feel this way in life. Someone near me may be having great success, and everything falls into place. I am very happy for them. However, when I look at how I am doing, I may get discouraged because I still have all these pieces of my life floating around, and I am not making progress in putting them together. We are all involved in each other’s lives. When my friends do well, I can rejoice with them. We are blessed to have people to go through life with and should celebrate everyone’s successes. Eventually, I started to have success on my section of the puzzle. And Abby was encouraging me in my success. Ultimately, we all see how the pieces of life fit together.

The thing to remember is to keep going and not give up. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. It is up to God on the timing or how our life pieces fit together, not us. We like to think we are in charge, but we are not. The Bible has many references to God being in control and not us. A couple examples are Proverbs 16: 9, which states, “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. And Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

I realized that Abby had more success than me because she was looking at the picture on the box. I could have looked at the box top, but I thought I knew what I was doing. Having the picture helped her sort pieces, so she knew the general area they belonged. Then she could look for similar puzzle pieces. Once she had pieces that went together and the general idea of where they belonged, it all fell into place. I don’t have the “box top” for my life. But I know the One who does, and I need to look to him for revelation. If I look to God, the author of how all the pieces of my life will fit together perfectly, I will not become as discouraged, and I will be able to keep going on the days that nothing seems to work together.

Once I started looking at the box top, I had more success. I could even find some of the missing pieces for sections Abby had almost completed. I thought about how God can use us to complete a work that he has started in someone else. We are not alone on our journey; sometimes, we need others to come alongside us. And sometimes we need to help other people. Abby and I had so much fun working on this jigsaw puzzle. It can be this way in life also. We can have more fun if we allow others to come alongside us and join us on the journey.

We finished the puzzle. However, when we finished, we realized two pieces were missing. It was poetic with my reflections on my puzzled life. I am missing parts of my life, but God sees the whole and will fill in anything missing in His time. We can be confident of this because of the promise in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.“ It is okay to have missing pieces and allow God to fill the void in His timing. Putting puzzles together is a process. Sometimes long and discouraging and sometimes quick and easy. Regardless of how long it takes, piece by piece, our lives become a complete picture.

Each experience and day are a piece of the puzzle of our life. We can’t see what a day holds, but we, as children of God, know the One who has completed the picture of our life. We are working to fit the pieces together with his Spirit to guide and help us. God is our perfect puzzle expert. He sees how everything fits together. God has already seen the beautiful, complete picture of our journey. He has the “box top” and knows where each piece fits. He may work on our borders and then move on to other areas of our lives. Sometimes our life may seem chaotic because God is moving around and working on different sections leading to a complete picture. My role is to be patient and willing to wait for him to collect the pieces to work on the puzzle.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Abby working on our Christmas day puzzle. There were frustrations and setbacks, but each delay was worth it. I got quality time with my daughter. I also got personal growth in learning not to give up and quit when the process was not going my way. I want to thoroughly enjoy time spent with God as he works on putting my pieces together to complete his plan for my life. I am confident that any delays and setbacks will be worth it when I allow God to be in charge of the timing of the complete picture.

Recently I was on a flight. While we were waiting to take off, the pilot came on the overhead speaker and told us that 30 minutes from our destination, he expected to encounter some turbulence. He didn’t expect it to be too bad but instructed us to stay seated with seatbelts fastened.

I was not concerned about the possibility of unpleasant conditions ahead. I trusted the pilots to know what they were doing to get me to the destination safely. I sat back, read for a little while, and eventually took a quick nap.

As predicted, 30 minutes from landing, the plane encountered turbulence. Also, as expected, the bumps were pretty decent. The passengers around me did not even look up from their computers or phone screens. Everyone seemed to trust the pilots to know what they were doing and believed we would land safely.

I had no problem trusting the pilot during this flight. I asked myself why it was. I did not even know this man; to the best of my knowledge, I had never been on a flight where he was the captain. But because he had training and, I am assuming, years of experience, I sat back and continued to read my book.

Is the reason no one was reacting because the pilot warned about the unstable air in front of us, and we had blind trust in a stranger?

After we landed and were taxiing to the gate, I started to think about turbulence in my life. Bumps can enter my life and throw me into a tailspin if I let them. Do I sit back and relax, knowing God is in charge, or do I fret and worry the whole time in anticipation of the difficulties ahead? How do I react to instability that enters my life? Jesus tells us that we will face trials and tribulations (turbulence) in our life (John 16:33). He warns us that we will encounter difficulties before we reach our destination.

As with air turbulence, some things that cause instability in my life are predictable. At times I can see the storms brewing in my life like an air traffic controller can see storms on the radar. There may be obstacles or people that, when I am around them, I may begin to feel turbulent like land formations can cause disturbances for planes. And there are times when I generate my own turbulence through my attitude and actions, like an airplane itself, causing shifts in the air around them as they fly. Also, I can unintentionally cause turbulence for someone around me.

King Saul hotly pursued David and wanted to kill him. David knew he would be king, yet he was on the run for his life. David cried out to the Lord for mercy and protection. In Psalm 142:4-5 he states that he is alone with no one for refuge and that the Lord is his refuge and portion. Psalm 57 also reflects his taking refuge in the shadow of God’s wings until the disaster has passed. Later, David is on the run again from Absalom. I believe that because of his earlier turbulent times with King Saul, he could trust God and his protection during this time. Even though the people were surrounding him, and they may not believe God would deliver him, David believed and trusted. He was so confident that, as Psalm 3:5 states, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me.” He relied on God to the point of such peace that he could sleep. Although I am not hotly pursued by people wanting to kill me, I can learn to trust God and have peace as David did. Peace in turbulent times is possible.

Another excellent example of attaining peace during turbulence is Elijah. He is on the run for his life. As a prophet, it was his responsibility to deliver messages from God to people. Over the years, he had many altercations with King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. After one particular encounter, Jezebel wanted to have him killed. Now Elijah runs to the desert and prays to die. Elijah experienced another very turbulent time in his life. Once again, God met him in the struggle and supernaturally provided for his welfare. (1 Kings 19)

Sometimes I feel like I am in the desert under a broom tree and may feel like giving up. I can look at the story of Elijah and see God’s faithfulness. This story is a good reminder not to give up during hard, turbulent times. But to sit back and trust the one in charge. God is fully able to deliver me out of any and all situations. He is faithful, and he alone can bring peace during the chaos. The peace he offers will allow me to rest and regain the strength I need to continue.

Shadrack, Meschack, Abednego (Daniel 3), and Daniel (Daniel 6) faced terrible turbulence. They never turned their back or hearts away from their God. They trusted him entirely, even knowing they may die. This possibility was ok with them because their God was with them, and they knew he was worthy of their trust.

Life will be turbulent. That is just a fact of living in a sin-filled world. No matter how beautiful things look, something will always come along that causes bumps and disturbances in my life. These may not be situations that will cause death, but they will be enough to cause anxiety and tumult. I have a couple of choices as I face these times. I can look at myself and the world and try my best to navigate these difficult occurrences. More than likely, I will not have lasting peace. The other choice is to look to God. Because he has given me his Word (The Bible), I can see his faithfulness and unchanging characteristics. He is the same today as when he delivered David, Elijah, Shadrack, Meschack, Abednego, and Daniel. Each of these people was able to face their turbulence, not because of their strength but because of the God they served.

The Bible contains examples of God’s protection, provision, faithfulness, and deliverance. I don’t need to be nervous when turbulent times arrive at my door. I do need to trust and rely on God. Two great scriptures to turn to are: Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” and John 14:27. In John, Jesus said, “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.” Like all the passengers on the plane who were at peace because we trusted the pilot, we, as God’s children, can sit in peace as we navigate life’s ups and downs. We did not rush to the cockpit and tell the pilot how to navigate the unsteady air ahead of us. Likewise, we should not approach the gates of Heaven and tell God how to navigate our life. God has proven over and over he can handle and protect us from what life throws at us. He is worthy of our trust.

Trust God to bring peace in the most chaotic situation. You will find deep, contented sleep as you cast all your cares on the Lord, for he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

All around the globe, on Christmas morning, children (and some adults) wake up and shout through the house, It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas. There is something magical about this time of year. Thanksgiving is over, and we have one more holiday to look forward to until winter’s dull, gloomy days set in. Children and adults get excited about the holiday.

I looked forward to visiting Santa and getting a candy cane as a child. Also, I remember looking out the window of my house and hoping for a white Christmas. The lights on the Christmas tree would sparkle, and the season’s smells permeated the house. My mother was busy making cookies for the neighbors and our teachers. She often had several sewing projects going on also. I did not fully appreciate all she did to give my siblings and me a wonderful Christmas morning. We also looked forward to spending Christmas with family. My parents always gave us a good Christmas day; however, the real reason for Christmas was always front and center.

It is easy to get caught up in all the activities of the Christmas season. The parties, shopping, social get-togethers, baking, and decorating. This year I started to think about advent. Previously I only put a little thought into the meaning of advent. It was just something we did at church leading up to Christmas day. Advent itself is a time of preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth and the preparation for the second coming of Christ. I love how these two events are united in one word. The light of the world came as a baby, just as the Old Testament prophesied (Isaiah 7:14) to save broken and lost people. The Messiah was born. Hallelujah!

He did not come as the conquering hero the Jewish people wanted or expected. But Jesus came as a helpless baby. To grow and become a man who would go to the cross to die for all our sins. He was a servant sacrifice. In all the busyness of life, people forget that he is coming again. We need to be preparing for his second coming. Because, at the time, he will return as the conquering King. He is coming in all the glory that is rightfully his as the Son of God. He is the King of Kings.

Advent is more than just some pretty candles and a few Bible verses four weeks before Christmas. It is a time to look back at Jesus’ birth and forward to his second coming. The first candle of advent represents hope. The second candle is for love, the third is for joy, and the fourth represents peace. Through Jesus, we can experience all these qualities.

I have three children. Their births changed my world, but they did not change the world as a whole. The only birth of a newborn baby boy that changed the world was Jesus Christ. His birth set in motion the redemption of humankind. He was born, lived, died, and rose again in victory over sin and Satan. Because of his life, we also can have victory over sin, death, and Satan. Imagine how God feels when we snub our noses at the gift he graciously offers us. What would your reaction be if you planned and sacrificed for the perfect gift for a loved one and on Christmas morning, they say, “thanks but no thanks,” “I’m good”? I cannot imagine God’s heartache when people reject the gift of his only, perfect, righteous Son for the redemption of their sins. Amazingly his response to unbelieving hearts is more love, not anger. He continues to give people opportunities to repent and accept his gift of salvation.

Jesus came as a baby, an undisputed fact. He was more than just a baby; he was and is the King of the Jews. Many people at that time were too blind to see the truth right in front of them. His birth was prophesied in the Old Testament (Micah 5:2 and Hosea 11:1), but they did not realize their promised Messiah had arrived. Jesus will return; also, a fact. However, many dispute it. He will return, but this time, he is not coming as a helpless baby but in power and glory as the King he is.  (Revelation 19:11-16) This arrival will not be quiet like the night he was born. This event will be extraordinary. He is not coming to save but to judge. Many people do not believe this fact and will be caught unawares, just as some of the Jewish people of the Bible did not believe Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah.

God’s plan of redemption, for the forgiveness of our sins, was set in motion with Jesus’ birth. Out of God’s amazing love, he made a way through his Son to save us from our sins and a life of eternal judgment. (John 3:16) Not only did Jesus die for us, but when we receive him as Savior, his Spirit comes to live in us. (1 Corinthians3:16; 6:19 and Romans 8:9)

Christmas has become very commercialized. I enjoy a good light display as much as the next person. I also enjoy giving and receiving gifts. I want to avoid getting so caught up in the trimmings of Christmas that don’t remember who I am celebrating. As I look in amazement at the creativity of light displays, I want to reflect on the light of the world. Jesus is more impressive and worthy of my awe than any light show I attend.

This advent season, I want to be more mindful of God’s gift to me. I want to concentrate on the meaning of the four weeks of advent. Because of Jesus, I can have hope, love, joy, and peace. But I don’t want to limit my reflections to Jesus’ birth and forget about his second coming. I hope you enjoy all the lights, decorations, cookies, and time with loved ones this Christmas season. But don’t forget in all the busyness that one holy night 2000 years ago, the world trembled, and the angels rejoiced as the Savior of the world was born.

Merry Christmas!

 I have been in a funk lately. It began this summer when the full realization of being an empty nester started to set in. I did not deal with my feelings but kept pushing through to what I hoped were brighter days ahead. I was confident that as my youngest child began the next chapter of her journey, God would show me what was next for me. I wondered what excitement waited for me around the corner. After all, I had faithfully served my family for 23 years and was sure my next step was coming within weeks because of God’s faithfulness.

That did not happen. My daughter went to college, my son returned for his senior year, my husband went to work every day, and I was alone, in my house, with my two dogs and emptiness. Still, I continued to pray for God to direct me and show me what was next. I worked on projects put on hold during the summer. I would read my Bible and devotionals and listen to Christian music, looking for peace and confirmation that I was not alone and abandoned by the Almighty God. I have good friends; we would meet and enjoy lunch and fellowship. I attended Bible study and a small group at church. Still, every day when I woke up, the drudgery of life set in again, and the struggle would start all over again. This cycle kept me down and discouraged. I kept reading the Bible, and it helped for a while. For some reason, I did not let God’s goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, and provision sink deeply into my soul. I stopped my daily walks in my neighborhood. I did not want to get out even though I encountered God on more than one occasion during these walks.

I woke up one day and decided this cycle was going to end. I was going to renew my trust and faith in the Almighty God. I would not let my feelings and fears over the future ruin another day. I realized that without me even knowing I was doing it, I let evil control me and not God. Satan is sly and patient. Like convincing Eve to eat the apple, I allowed negative thoughts to have more room in my heart and mind than the thoughts of being blessed.

I started retaking walks. It was good to get out around nature. It is so beautiful, with the leaves changing colors and the crisp air greeting me in the morning. One morning I was beginning the walk, and I walked by this tree. One of the branches was bending toward the ground. A considerable number of leaves were still on the branch, and it seemed like the weight was pulling it down. I always thought of myself like that branch, bent but not broken. This thought usually came to me during a struggle or trial. “I was bent, not broken; this trouble had not destroyed me. God is faithful and will help me.” That day when I looked at that branch, I had a completely different thought that changed my thinking. I thought, “I am like that branch but not because of burdens but because of an abundance.” My family is all healthy and doing well in college or their career. My husband loves his job, enabling me to still be available for my children when they need me. I have a house, a car to drive, food on my table, and a loving family. Most importantly, I have a God who never gave up on me or left me. There are many more blessings to recount; these are just a few.

In times of discouragement, feeling blessed may seem like an overwhelming goal. When I am feeling down, it is easy for me to give into the spiral and look at my life with the glass half-empty analogy. It is not always easy for me to get my eyes and heart off the problems and look for the blessings. If I have nothing else, I can always relish the gift of being a child of God, the best blessing anyone can ever have. A gift given to everyone who calls upon Jesus as Savior (Romans 10:13). Starting here will always enlighten me to other blessings. Psalm 32 is a great scripture to look to for inspiration on what to count as a blessing. We are indeed blessed that God forgives our sins and does not count them against those who call upon Jesus as Savior.

We all have the promise of a God who never leaves or forsakes us, a loving God who sees every tear and hears every prayer, and the truth that God will help his children. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Living with the feeling of being blessed instead of the sense of wanting will lead to a more joyful life. Often it is up to me to choose to look at my life as either blessed or not. When I concentrate on the negative, it is almost impossible to remember all the blessings God has given me. Perhaps this is why generations of Israelites were reminded so often of God’s goodness to them and their ancestors. God was with them as they wandered in the desert; God saved them as they crossed the Red Sea and protected them from the plagues in Egypt. God is incredible, and I often forget all He has done for me. I pray that the veil is removed from my eyes and heart so that I can remember all the ways God has blessed me.

Opening my eyes to see blessings will change how I act and react to everyone I encounter, leading to a much better testimony for God. God blesses me. It is time to focus on those blessings and not let Satan tempt me with what I perceive I don’t have. Heavy snow will bend the branches of an evergreen. However, the snow melts, and the limb bounces back. That is how I look at myself. There may be times when the trials of life weigh me down. Eventually, they will “melt,” and I will bounce back again. During these times of hardship, I must look to God for strength and help while waiting for the melting.

Every day is an opportunity to look at life, as Johnson Oatman wrote in “Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One.” I can choose to see the blessings in the waiting, knowing that my perfect heavenly Father has everything under control. Psalm 103 shows us how to count our blessings by naming them, the truth that God cares for and loves us, and His love is a blessing.

There will always be prayers not answered in the time frame I would like. Or problems or concerns that I would like God to answer or fix. Concentrating only on the issues will make me anxious or fearful. Knowing God’s character, that He is good, faithful, perfect, and truthful, will help me see the blessings in my life and the ways that God has always met every need in his perfect timing. Give God praise and worship for the blessings he so lavishly gives us, whether they are great or small.

Count your blessings. Once you start, you will be amazed at the bounty of God’s goodness to you.

One thing that, when I see it, will always change my mood and lift my emotions is a sunset. I watch in amazement as the sun dips below the horizon—just one last glimpse of that stunning ball of fire. As the sun sets, the sky takes on spectacular colors. It puts on a beautiful display of colors that reaches our senses. Not just sight, but it somehow affects our very souls. Sunrise is equally beautiful but in a subtle way. The light is just beginning to peak over the horizon with slight colors of pink and orange, bringing the darkness of night to an end. When morning comes and the light shines, hope for the day dawns.

Recently, my husband and I traveled, and while we were away, he got some concerning news about work. It was toward the end of the day. This problem was on his mind for the rest of the evening and adversely affected his sleep. The following day, he was still thinking about it, but it didn’t seem so overwhelming, and he had clearer thoughts on how to deal with the issue. He turned to me and said, “why do problems always seem worse at night, but in the daylight, I feel like I can handle the issue?” His statement made me think about a time in my life when I faced surgery and had difficulty dealing with my anxiety. I remember my mother saying, “it always seems worse at night. You will feel better in the morning.”

As I was thinking about this concept, I thought about the saying, “It is always darkest before dawn.” This phrase is quite old, dating back to 1650 when the English Theologian Thomas Fuller coined the words “the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” While scientists reveal this is not true, Thomas Fuller’s phrase leads us to believe that we should not give up on hope no matter how bad life gets. 

We all go through difficulties in life. Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that seem to get worse and worse with no end in sight. These challenging times can make me wonder, how much longer can it go on before the tide turns? I pray for God’s help and deliverance from my troubles, struggles, or anxieties.

Although this idea of darkness and dawn is not scriptural, I do see examples of this idea in the Bible. Matthew 14:24-32 is an excellent example of Jesus meeting us in the darkness. The disciples were in trouble out to sea in the middle of the night. I am sure they were overwhelmed and tired. Jesus sent them out to the other side of the sea. But where was he? It was now the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 am). When Jesus did appear, the disciples were terrified and thought he was a ghost. But Jesus called to them and told them not to be afraid. This miracle highlights that Jesus comes to us during our storms, and although we may still be facing darkness, he brings light with him to calm us and help us. Also, as Peter got out of the boat in great faith and started walking toward Jesus, taking his eyes off Jesus just for a moment, he became afraid and began to sink. This example reminds me to focus on the one who can help me and bring light, help, and hope. Giving into one distraction from the enemy; I may start to sink.

Another example of the darkest before the dawn would be Jesus’ crucifixion and death. The day after the crucifixion was probably the darkest day any follower of Jesus had experienced. The Messiah they hoped for and longed for lay dead and buried in a tomb. But that dark day turned into brilliant light three days later with Jesus’ resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the dead, gaining victory over death, we can have hope no matter what difficulty we face. His victory over death gives everyone who accepts him as savior victory over this world as well.

Why is darkness so scary? Why do I walk a little quicker when out at night and sigh in relief when I get back into my car or house all safe and secure? Possibly because of what happens in the unknown and the fact that I can’t see everything. Evil can hide and catch me unawares. I wouldn’t say I like to walk into dark rooms. Not because I fear what is in there but because I may trip over something or run into an object. Turning a light on can take away all those unknowns. I don’t need the light in the daytime because I have natural light flooding the room through the windows or doors.

How do I turn on the lights when I face dark times in my life? My first step is to stop and pray. Then I can read the Bible and search the scriptures for encouragement and hope. A few verses that come to mind are “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5), and 2 Samuel 22:29 says, “You Lord are my lamp, the Lord turns my darkness into light.” Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” This wonderful verse shows us that finding light in the Bible is possible and should be sought. The Bible points us to God being with us in the darkness. “By day, the Lord directs his love; at night, his song is with me .”(Psalm 42:8). And finally, dark times help us grow in faith and help us on our journey to becoming more like Jesus. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete. (James 1:2-4)

After the sun sets, darkness settles. The world around me takes on a different hue. Artificial lights come on to guide me either on the road or in my house. But it is not the same quality of light. Artificial light will only partially replace natural sunlight. Manufactured lights will only be able to mimic natural sunlight. Just like I will never find true light in things of this world. I will only see the light in my life from God. Situations always look worse in the dark of night. Our anxiety, fears, uncertainty, and a diagnosis that comes out of nowhere all seem worse at night. The conditions that terrify or upset us under cover of night don’t seem as daunting in the light of day. No matter how the light shows up in your life, like a sunset that is bold with spectacular color or like a sunrise with just a hint of morning brightness with subtle hues that bring hope to the day, always thank God for being the light in your life.

With light comes hope.

I have a slight obsession with moisturizers. My family calls them my lotions and potions. I was putting my moisturizer on one morning and looked at the jar. I realized that it was more than half empty. I thought, “wow, how did that happen?” I haven’t had the bottle that long, and I don’t use much of it every morning. I then realized that even a little bit, taken out daily, affects the whole. I mean, that is pretty obvious, but it happens so slowly that I didn’t realize how much I had used. I ignored the amount of moisturizer but just followed my morning routine. And it had been several months since I opened the jar. Time goes by, and before you know it, months have passed.

I thought about life and how this could happen to me on a spiritual level. If I do not try to stay close to God daily, I may slip away little by little. It may be in subtle ways. Maybe I don’t trust God and make a decision that would have been better to wait on. Moses is an excellent example of this. If he had obeyed God and spoken to the rock to bring water out of the rock instead of striking the rock (Numbers 20:8-11), he would have been able to enter the promised land. Perhaps it was frustration with the Israelite people that led him to this action, but it didn’t matter to God. Maybe he was just tired, physically or emotionally. Again, it did not matter. Little by little, his faith wavered, and he didn’t fully obey God. Like Moses, my faith can deplete in small increments, and before I know it, I am taking matters into my own hands. I may not realize how much I am doing or giving, but the reserve tank is getting lower little by little. I need to maintain communion with God and fill up the reserve; otherwise, I will be empty and not know how I got to that point. The same thing can happen with my spiritual life as my morning routine. I must pay attention, not just go on autopilot and go through the motions of bible reading and praying. I must press in and listen to God’s voice. His voice may be encouragement, direction, discipline, or just whispering His presence with me.  

The Bible has several scriptures on God filling us. He fills us with joy (John 16:24), hope (Psalm 63:5-6), peace (Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 29:11), his Spirit (John 16:7), and eternal life (John 10:28-30). The old hymn Fill my Cup, Lord (Jessy Dixon) came to mind. We need to be filled by Jesus to be the light of Christ. The refrain’s last line is “fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.”I know that is what I am looking for – wholeness. I know when something is missing in my life. Where I go to get filled makes a big difference. If I try to fill the holes in my life, spiritually, emotionally, or mentally, by things of this world or by my willpower, I will always come up short. I will be like the woman at the well, going daily to get water to quench my thirst. Like this woman wanting her thirst quenched, we need to turn constantly to Jesus to drink his living water. But, if I take Jesus up on his offer to drink of him for living water, I will never run dry. I must remember to turn only to Jesus and make this my first step to be filled so I can pour out onto the dry, arid land around me. I want to pour out of an overflow, not out of empty. When I am dry and need filling, I cannot be a good image bearer and pour God’s love, hope, and peace into others. No matter how much I want to, I cannot give what I do not possess.

As I was putting the jar away, I thought, what would happen if I could put a little back every day? How long would it take to fill back up? The same would be true about filling as draining. A little bit at a time may not be noticed, but if little by little I put something in, eventually, it would fill up again. Sadly, I do not manufacture moisturizer, so that isn’t possible. However, I can put a little growth every day into my soul. What would happen if I concentrated on just one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit until it became a habit and then moved on to another? What if I had more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)?

Would anyone notice at first if I was just a little more patient or kind? How long would it take before the meter started to go up enough for people to say, “wow, how did that happen?” Would I grow weary and give up if I did not get recognition when I thought I should? I believe this is possible if I grow and change for the wrong reason. If I try to be kinder, gentler, and exhibit more self-control for my glory and good name, I think I will give up before the work is complete. However, if I am doing this so that God can be seen in my life and His light can radiate into a dark world, I think it will be easier to stick to the plan and keep going.

A slow drip will eventually fill up a basin just like a fully turned-on faucet. It will just take longer. Filling up may cost me something. At first, the water bill may not look very different, but that slow drip adds up over time. In the same way, filling up for God may cost me personally. I will have to deny myself some earthly pleasures that do not give eternal rewards. This process of filling may cost me friendships or other relationships. However, over time these changes will pay off with great abundance in my being able to pour out into the world around me and glorify God. He will repay me for whatever I lose on earth. I have rewards waiting for me in heaven that is worth the cost now.

How long would it take to make a difference if I added to my spiritual well every day? I guess that would depend on how much time and effort I put into making changes. I could start by smiling at people I see on my errands, saying thank you to the store clerk, or patiently waiting my turn at the four-way stop. Over time these habits would become second nature, and while it may seem like I am draining myself, I am, in fact, pouring into someone else and filling them up.

I read a devotional in Our Daily Bread on Living Water (Patricia Rayson, September 21, 2022). It finishes with “God’s refreshing Spirit revives us today when we’re life weary. He’s the Living Water, dwelling in our souls with holy refreshment. May we drink deeply today.” This thought was so inspiring to me. Just like freshwater revives droopy and lifeless flowers, when I am limp and lifeless, I want to immediately turn to Jesus and drink deeply of the Living Water he offers. As your well is being drained, like my moisturizer, instead of wishing there was more, drink deeply of Jesus when you are thirsty and watch the Spirit revive your soul. He will replenish what the world is draining, and you will be able to pour out into the thirsty people you encounter.