SCRIPTURE: Ezra 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. [Ezra 8:21]
Ezra had boasted to the king that God would protect them if they trusted in Him; now they are moving forward into the unknown, not asking for an armed guard but trusting that God would protect them on the way.
But as part of their “trusting God”, they humbled themselves and fasted before God; in other words, their trust included intense prayer and humble desperation.
They were nervous, even scared, but they prayed and persevered, through the feelings of fear, refusing to let their circumstances and feelings hold them back.
Their hearts were troubled, but they did not let their hearts stay troubled.
They did not give in to fear, they gave in to faith.
And God led them through this frightening journey to the other side; He led them through the valley of the shadow of death, and His rod and staff comforted them along the way.
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [John 14:1-3]
When Jesus tells his disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, He is acknowledging that their hearts are troubled, that they too are afraid and uncertain.
He urges them not to give in to their feelings and fears, but to give in to their faith and hope.
He describes what He is doing for them, that He is preparing the way through this valley to the place prepared for them.
He is going ahead, He will come back, He will lead us along this frightening path to our destination.
Trust me, He says, you will get there!
There may be people who feel no fear, who have amazing peace in God’s provision and purpose.
I admire them, but I am not one of them.
I am more like these people by the Ahava Canal – frightened, uncertain, desperate, needing to humble myself and fast and seek God’s comfort and assurance.
Yes, I believe that God will help those who submit to Him, but I also believe that He requires us to walk through valleys to experience this.
Yes, I believe that the Lord has guaranteed the outcome of this journey, but I also believe that this journey is one that requires faith for the moment, trust in God’s goodness and love.
I am presently working in a situation where we are having to trust God for His provision and protection.
Like Ezra, I have a dream of what God is doing and building through us; but for the moment, the resources are not in place, and the journey to that destination is hard.
Like Ezra, I believe that God will protect and provide; but also like Ezra, I feel the need to humble myself and fast, because the journey is scary.
Trust in God, trust also in Jesus!
I am choosing to give in to faith, not fear; I am choosing to trust my Father, not my feelings.
Its a hard journey, but He will walk me through it, and bring me to His prepared destination!
PRAYER:
Lord, my work here requires more faith than I’ve needed (or sensed that I needed) in a long time. This is a faith-stretching time. Help me to humble myself in dependence on You, to fast with intensity, to trust You and to move forward by faith!
I have been glued to your writtings for almost 5 hours! every time I tell myself this is the last one, but in each one I find something that God is speaking to me about. Specially with this one, since it tells me, is ok to be scared (I was feeling guilty), as long as I keep my eyes on God (not the easiest thing, but not imposible), Thank you!
I can say yes and amen to Norm’s comments.
How great is my faith? Is it replaced, taken over by fear at times? Where do I place my trust? What part of my life is filled with prayer?
During the last few months I can certainly see God’s hand upon the school. Fear was certainly a large element during the quake, yet God did provide and God’s grace was/is good. It was by His power that we were able to do what we did. Prayerfully I go forward each day and He does provide- strength for the day and bright hope for tomorrow. That makes each day a possibility. It is only by His power, His leading, His upholding, His grace, that I am able.
Continue Lord to be the wind beneath my wings.
He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.