Words of Faith

I would love to do something great for God. I would love to be a Billy Graham or Beth Moore, and have the Lord use me in big ways for His purposes. Right now, however, that is not the way my life is working out. The Lord is not using me on the national or world scene. He is not even using me on the local scene. Or is He? Sometimes from where I sit I wonder if I am useful to the Lord at all, and that is just where the enemy of God and our souls wants us. Our enemy (who, by the way, is God’s enemy first, and because we are God’s prized creation, we become Satan’s enemy also, or at least a way that he can get back at God and hurt Him) wants us defeated, discouraged and in despair over our lives and our relationship with our Creator. He wants us thinking we should do more, have more, be “used” by God more, and have a greater place in God’s kingdom. Satan wants us discontent. Our Heavenly Father, however, wants us to be still and know that He is God (not we) and be so close and comfortable in relationship with Him, that we are satisfied in His presence, simply loving and being loved by Him. No worries about if we are “doing” enough. He’ll tell us if there is anything to be done moment-by-moment Just focus on that relationship.

Our enemy wants us nervous about the Lord using us in big ways, but God says to us- be faithful in the little things I send you each day. (Matthew 25:21,23) God gifts our lives with other people each day. They are members of our family, our friends, members of the household of faith, acquaintances, co-workers, etc. We live in relationship with many people, and the Lord has a plan for each relationship, casual or intimate, that He blesses our lives with.

             I love the relationship of David and Jonathan shown in the Scriptures. Hidden in the description of their activities together is the reason God gives us humans each other. Recall that Jonathan is King Saul’s son. He is technically next in line for the throne of Israel. But Saul rejects the Lord’s leadership in his life and kingship, refusing to lead in God’s way. He looses favor with the Lord because of his sin and unrepentant attitude, and God seeks for a King after His own heart. He has the prophet Samuel anoint David the next king.

            Jealous Saul goes on a rampage, determined to get rid of David. In the midst of all this drama, which can be found in 1^st Samuel, David and Jonathan become buddies. We don’t know all the details of their relationship, but the Bible says Jonathan and David became one in spirit, and he loved him as himself. (1 Samuel 18:1, 3-4) They were tight. Jonathan even acknowledges later that David is the true and God-anointed next King of Israel, before him. No doubt they were very close friends “in the Lord” as we might say today.

            Hidden in this story of great friendship is a statement of what friends do, or at least what they are supposed to do. If we look closely at chapter 23 of 1^st Samuel, something important pops out of the text. As mentioned above, Saul is in hot pursuit of David, with the intent of “besieging” David and his men and killing David. (1Samuel 23:8) David flees the area, and keeps moving from place to place (v.13) to elude Saul and his jealous wrath. Then we notice verse 14-16:

David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life.  And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.  (1 Sam. 23:14-16, NIV, emphasis mine)

            Saul’s son Jonathan went to David in his desert hiding place, and “helped him find strength in God.” That is what friends do. That is what our God-given friendships are all about. We are to “help each other find strength in God.” When we think of the friends God has put in our lives, we need to remember that we are friends so that we can help our friend find strength in God. Is that cool, or what?

            Many times we get off the track a little. We think that our friends are in our life for us to help them find strength in us, or help us find strength in them. Sometimes we think our friendships are all about having a good time or entertainment or comfort or challenge, but we leave God totally out of the picture. After all, what do our earthly friendships have to do with God? Well, short of the fact that He places friends in our lives, He also puts them there for a purpose. He puts us in someone else’s life for a purpose, too. While the purpose may be for comfort or fun or encouragement, the underlying current in all friendships is ultimately to help our friend find strength in the Lord. If it is a night out with the girls, a fun shopping trip, the comfort of a hand, shoulder or hug, it is all under girded by the goal of helping friends find strength in the Lord.

            So when we think that the Lord is not using us in huge ways, let’s think again. We may not be on the national or international scene. We may not be on the local scene. We may not be leaders in our church, but if we have a friend, the Lord is using us in huge ways. He is using us to help our friends find strength in the God of the universe. As long as we are doing that with each friend the Lord brings onto our path, the Lord is using us mightily, and we are being faithful to Him in whatever perceived “little things” He brings our way.

            Never underestimate the power of God to use your smile, your touch, your wise and kind words and deeds in great and mighty ways to help someone else on the track, keep them from falling off, and help others find strength in God. No thought, word or deed is too trivial or small. Who knows what will grow out of it? Remember the mustard seed?

And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”

The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.   (1 Samuel 23:16-18, NIV)           

     There was snow in the air by the time I arrived at the meeting place last week. It was just a flurry, but something told me it was not good. There were two meetings that night, and I had to be there until the end. I did have a friend with me, so I did feel a little better. However, by the time the main meeting began, the chairman came in and told us the temperature had dropped from 35 degrees to 28 degrees in the 30 minutes it took to drive there. She had driven over from where most of us had to return to, and suggested we abbreviate the meeting. There was a sense of urgency in my heart.

            When everything finally wound down, I made a quick call to home, letting them know I was on the way, turned off the lights and heat, locked up the building, and tried to de-ice and de-snow my little car. My combination ice scraper/snow brush somehow eluded me, but I did the best I could. The wipers were frozen to the windshield, and we flipped on the defrost and heat and started our 42 mile trek through the storm.

            It was something else. Snow was on the ground, and swirling through the air in every direction. The high beam lights made everything worse, so I kept it on low beam, bent over the steering wheel and tried to see the road. My friend with me helped by offering encouraging words and suggestions on moving to the right or left, as we attempted to determine just where the road was. Those who had gone before certainly must have left tracks in the snow, but they were invisible.

            My wrists were starting to get sore as I clutched the wheel and poked along. I was trying not to hyperventilate, my companion was trying to keep me calm, and offering me slugs from a water bottle to keep me alert. Suddenly I noticed lights in my rear view mirror. They came closer quickly. Then, a scary thing happened. The semi truck barreled up and passed me. I clutched the wheel a little tighter (if that was possible) and prayed that God would keep us both on the road. The semi passed and continued on, and soon his taillights were lost in the swirl, but my friend suddenly piped up…”Look- tracks!”

            There in front of us, were clear tracks-making a path through the swirling night. Suddenly I had tracks to focus on, and a path to follow. Never mind that I could not see anything else around me, I had tracks to follow!

            I kept focus on the tracks. Wherever that truck went, I went, because I was following in its tracks. If it went off the road, I would go off the road the same way, but as long as it kept on the road, I would be led on safely. After a little while, however, I was very aware of all the distractions vying for my attention and focus. The snow swirled more and more; the windshield wipers collected ice and started leaving a swath of unwiped window, in addition to making a weird beating noise as they flapped along.

            This episode reminded me of our life with God and our relationship with Jesus. He does not leave us clueless in our world. He comes to us, walks along side us, and when things get fuzzy and it is difficult to see the way, Jesus takes the lead. He walks before us, and leaves a clear path for us to follow. (Read the psalms, especially 43:3; 25:4-5;85:10-13; 86:11) Whatever the storm in your life, Jesus sees, knows, and is able to lead the way through. He will provide tracks for us to focus on. Whatever is swirling around you at this moment, financial problems, job problems, relationship problems- from births to deaths, to graduations, marriages, and everything in between, whatever is causing your world to swirl with storm, there is hope. There is help. It is Jesus. He will lead you on. You can follow His tracks, and you do not have to worry whether or not His tracks will keep on the road or take you off. You can be sure His tracks will be leading you through the storm, and into His presence. He will whisper to you, “This way…follow me.” (Isaiah 30:21)

            The way will not always be easy. You can be sure there will be distractions along the way, vying for your focus, urging you to change the focus from His tracks, but that is where our friends along the way come in- just like my friend in the car, encouraging us to keep our focus on the tracks and move forward. It is not the speed that counts- it is the way that counts.

            Whatever the storm, we can focus on Jesus’ tracks and encourage others along the way to focus also. He will take us through and keep us close to Him. So whatever the circumstance is that is swirling around you at this moment, threatening to engulf you and take you under, remember there is help. Jesus has left tracks just ahead of you to follow. He has left them in His Word and by His Spirit. They will lead you on and out of the chaos. Seek the encouragement of Godly brothers and sisters, but only after you have found your focus on the Master’s tracks. Godly friends’ encouragement will help you focus, whatever the distractions are. Know that you are not alone. There is One who walks with you and before you. He will show you the way and lead you in it. He will send you encouragers along the road.

            Look…tracks!