Unfulfilled Expectations
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV)
The little boy woke up early on Saturday. He wasn’t exited about watching cartoons or playing video games today, no, he was going fishing with his Dad. He had waited for this day for two weeks. He remembered the night when they were eating dinner and Dad had promised him that they would go fishing and today was the day. He got himself up, did his chores and even had his tackle box and pole ready to go. This was going to be the best day ever! Time passed and he didn’t hear any noise from his Dad’s bedroom. They usually got an early start maybe Dad was sleeping in. He sat on the porch dreaming of the fish they were going to catch and the great time he would have talking to his Dad and comparing their trophies. The morning was slipping away when Mom came out the front door. He jumped up ready to go when the words fell on him like a rock slide crushing his spirit. Dad had to go into work this morning and left before he had gotten up. There would be no fishing, no talking, no special moments spent together.
We have all experienced the sadness of unfulfilled expectations. Those moments when we were let down by someone that we thought we could trust. It might have been a parent, an employer, a co-worker, or friend but no matter who it was, the moment is easy to recall; it was if our boat was capsized on the sea of life. Sometimes those disappointments could have been avoided, sometimes the person could have chosen us over someone or something else but they didn’t and it hurt. Sadly, in some lives there is a litany of unfulfilled expectations that scar the fabric of our souls and leave us insecure and unwilling to trust anyone.
These unfulfilled expectations can leave us angry and that anger can lead to bitterness. Our view of the world becomes jaded and we find it hard to put our hope, our dreams, and our heart in the hands of others. People can’t be trusted so we turn inward to ourselves and believe that we are responsible for our own happiness. This manifests itself in many ways but the driving force behind all of the behaviors is that we feel insecure and compensate by placing our trust in money or possessions, perhaps we throw caution to the wind and “live for the moment” never finding any hope for tomorrow. But in all of this the most tragic part is that the enemy subtly steals our faith. We cannot put our trust in a God that allows us to suffer.
The essence of “el hanne eman”, The Faithful God is faith! We can trust Him. Satan loves to play the shell game with us. Moving the shells around on the table, diverting our eyes, and deceiving us into believing that God is playing tricks on us and He doesn’t have our best in mind. Isn’t that what Lucifer did in the Garden of Eden? He convinced Adam and Eve that God wasn’t faithful, you just can’t trust Him. He is hiding something from you. He knows that if you eat of that fruit you will be like Him! So don’t listen to God! Go ahead and eat. Attacking God’s faithfulness to us is the most effective way of destroying our relationship with Him.
We walk by faith and not by sight! If we can’t trust God with our lives then we won’t give our lives to Him. Knowing that God is working, even now, to bring about His will requires us to trust Him when we cannot see where life is taking us. We must understand that His love for us will never fail. Our God is holy, righteous, and in Him there is no shadow of turning. We have a firm foundation on which to stand and are built on nothing less than His Truth. Like the little boy who didn’t understand why his Dad had to go to work we often miss the bigger picture that God is working on because we are self-absorbed and see only our needs, our desires, and our passions. Believing that God is for us when things don’t work out the way we had planned allows us to take another step in our journey of faith.
Showing posts with label Bitterness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bitterness. Show all posts
Friday, January 17, 2014
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Liquid Nails
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 (NIV)
Watching someone you love be overwhelmed by bitterness and hatred is hard. The process is often like watching a building deteriorate and fall apart. It doesn’t happen overnight. Admittedly we often are too busy to see the warning signs or like the ostrich we stick our heads in the sand and ignore the danger. Inevitably the collapse is going to occur. The cancer of the soul will eat away at their strength until they can no longer keep up appearances and it happens. The anger and resentment boils over demanding that everyone pay attention. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Thanksgiving Day is really a day to remember. To take only one day and fill it with thankfulness is folly. Instead let it be a reminder that we should be thankful every day, that in everything we should give thanks. We must teach our children that most important character trait – gratitude. Learning to appreciate the kindness afforded us by others helps to prepare our hearts to worship God. If we cannot value the time, effort, and finances given to us by our earthly parents and friends, then we will never truly appreciate the wondrous gifts that our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us. When we look back at the desperation of our souls and know that while we were without hope Christ died for us it doesn’t just make us thankful on Sunday. True gratitude makes our hearts overflow daily with love and honor for the sacrifice God made for us.
One gets the sense that Paul is amazed that “although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him”. How could that be? How could someone turn their back on God? How could they ignore such a great salvation? It didn’t happen overnight. They took the love, the gifts, the blessings, for granted. They begin to feel that they had earned them. They grew to despise the hand that blessed them. The only thing that mattered was self. Pride and ambition began to smother the once humble heart and slowly ate away the foundations of their love until nothing could hold back the rising anger. Scripture tells us that “whom the Lord loves He chastens”. That often quoted Scripture is familiar but if you read just nine verses farther in Hebrews 12:15 it says this,
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
Did you catch that? God loves you and when He sees the rot of pride and self beginning to eat away at your soul He will warn you, chasten you, and correct you but be careful that you don’t fail of the grace of God. The root of bitterness that springs from the ungrateful heart will defile you and eventually your life will collapse around you like a house without foundations.
How important is thankfulness? It is much too important to limit it to one day. Gratitude is like liquid nails reinforcing the bond that holds us together. Apply liberally.
“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Watching someone you love be overwhelmed by bitterness and hatred is hard. The process is often like watching a building deteriorate and fall apart. It doesn’t happen overnight. Admittedly we often are too busy to see the warning signs or like the ostrich we stick our heads in the sand and ignore the danger. Inevitably the collapse is going to occur. The cancer of the soul will eat away at their strength until they can no longer keep up appearances and it happens. The anger and resentment boils over demanding that everyone pay attention. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Thanksgiving Day is really a day to remember. To take only one day and fill it with thankfulness is folly. Instead let it be a reminder that we should be thankful every day, that in everything we should give thanks. We must teach our children that most important character trait – gratitude. Learning to appreciate the kindness afforded us by others helps to prepare our hearts to worship God. If we cannot value the time, effort, and finances given to us by our earthly parents and friends, then we will never truly appreciate the wondrous gifts that our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us. When we look back at the desperation of our souls and know that while we were without hope Christ died for us it doesn’t just make us thankful on Sunday. True gratitude makes our hearts overflow daily with love and honor for the sacrifice God made for us.
One gets the sense that Paul is amazed that “although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him”. How could that be? How could someone turn their back on God? How could they ignore such a great salvation? It didn’t happen overnight. They took the love, the gifts, the blessings, for granted. They begin to feel that they had earned them. They grew to despise the hand that blessed them. The only thing that mattered was self. Pride and ambition began to smother the once humble heart and slowly ate away the foundations of their love until nothing could hold back the rising anger. Scripture tells us that “whom the Lord loves He chastens”. That often quoted Scripture is familiar but if you read just nine verses farther in Hebrews 12:15 it says this,
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
Did you catch that? God loves you and when He sees the rot of pride and self beginning to eat away at your soul He will warn you, chasten you, and correct you but be careful that you don’t fail of the grace of God. The root of bitterness that springs from the ungrateful heart will defile you and eventually your life will collapse around you like a house without foundations.
How important is thankfulness? It is much too important to limit it to one day. Gratitude is like liquid nails reinforcing the bond that holds us together. Apply liberally.
“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Monday, November 4, 2013
In The Smelting Pot
1 Samuel 24:10 (KJV) Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.
David is called “a man after God’s own heart”. There is no one thing that can be pointed to that would fully explain this description but I believe that the story recounted in 1 Samuel 24 helps to explain God’s regard for His servant David. David was on the run for his life. Saul, the King who David had been anointed to replace (but not just yet it would take 15 years from anointing to appointing), was determined to kill him. David and his men were hiding in a cave that Saul went into leaving his guards outside the cave.
For you Bible scholars the King James uses a euphemism in translation, “cover his feet”. As a child, I was always taught that Saul was sleeping. He wasn’t. This was an old English way of saying “answer the call of nature”.
As Saul was preoccupied, David’s men saw this moment as a chance for David to end his suffering and hiding by claiming what God had told him was his when Samuel anointed him King. Now all he had to do was kill Saul and take the crown. When we view our authority as the enemy it is easy to reason this way. We can fight against them and devalue them. Hasn’t God anointed my life? Don’t I hear from God? We can see all their faults and failures (often pointing them out to others) and feel like it is up to us to remove them from their position.
David didn’t see it this way. With all human reasoning telling David to attack the King, David refuses and honors his authority. The way we view and treat those in authority over us is directly related to the growth of our faith. When Jesus saw the Centurion, who spoke wisely of those in authority, He declared that in all of Israel He had not seen such great faith. Instead of killing Saul, David secretly cut off a piece of his robe and then watched as his tormenter walked away unhurt. David actually protected Saul from death at the hands of David’s friends.
We could learn a lot from David. In the smelting room of God’s furnace when the heat was applied, David came forth as gold. When we feel wronged do we lash out and try to seek revenge or do we wait on the Lord and show honor and love even to those that despitefully use us? This is perhaps one of the hottest parts of God’s oven but it is there that the image of Christ is brought forth.
David is called “a man after God’s own heart”. There is no one thing that can be pointed to that would fully explain this description but I believe that the story recounted in 1 Samuel 24 helps to explain God’s regard for His servant David. David was on the run for his life. Saul, the King who David had been anointed to replace (but not just yet it would take 15 years from anointing to appointing), was determined to kill him. David and his men were hiding in a cave that Saul went into leaving his guards outside the cave.
For you Bible scholars the King James uses a euphemism in translation, “cover his feet”. As a child, I was always taught that Saul was sleeping. He wasn’t. This was an old English way of saying “answer the call of nature”.
As Saul was preoccupied, David’s men saw this moment as a chance for David to end his suffering and hiding by claiming what God had told him was his when Samuel anointed him King. Now all he had to do was kill Saul and take the crown. When we view our authority as the enemy it is easy to reason this way. We can fight against them and devalue them. Hasn’t God anointed my life? Don’t I hear from God? We can see all their faults and failures (often pointing them out to others) and feel like it is up to us to remove them from their position.
David didn’t see it this way. With all human reasoning telling David to attack the King, David refuses and honors his authority. The way we view and treat those in authority over us is directly related to the growth of our faith. When Jesus saw the Centurion, who spoke wisely of those in authority, He declared that in all of Israel He had not seen such great faith. Instead of killing Saul, David secretly cut off a piece of his robe and then watched as his tormenter walked away unhurt. David actually protected Saul from death at the hands of David’s friends.
We could learn a lot from David. In the smelting room of God’s furnace when the heat was applied, David came forth as gold. When we feel wronged do we lash out and try to seek revenge or do we wait on the Lord and show honor and love even to those that despitefully use us? This is perhaps one of the hottest parts of God’s oven but it is there that the image of Christ is brought forth.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Dirty Sandals
1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Yesterday we discussed the root of rebellion which is bitterness and the seed of bitterness which is unfulfilled expectations. The story of Johnny and his Father can be compared to countless other situations involving loved ones that have not been able to fill the desires and expectations we have projected on them. Husbands, wives, siblings, bosses, and employees have all been disappointed and faced the choice to forgive or to hold a grudge. Then the anger builds and we become even more aware of the deficiencies in our loved ones. Even the NSA could not gather as much dirt as one who is harboring the hurt of disappointment. Soon every word, every look, every non-word, and every look away becomes proof of our foregone conclusion. We have judged the one that hurt us and they are undeserving of forgiveness.
I read this morning a lengthy poster stating that it didn’t matter if you were a man, woman, gay, straight, black, white etc. if you were nice to that person they would be nice to you. This thinking, while it sounds lofty and noble, is unbiblical. God didn’t call us to be kind to our friends and those that treat us well. He called us to love our enemies and to be kind to those that despitefully use us. I have seen those that would feed the homeless and shelter the hurting but could not bring themselves to draw close to their family members. Often the greatest challenge we face is not to love those that we don’t know but to love those that we know the best.
In Christ we find God’s example of perfect love and forgiveness. Knowing what we had done and what we were going to do, Christ died for us. I have often wondered how He could love those that were crucifying Him. I believe that in order to complete the redemption of sinful man Christ had to love the Father. More than His love for man, more than His desire to free us, Jesus loved the Father. In the garden Jesus was ready to find another way. The cross seemed to hard and perhaps His 33 years on earth had gotten His sandals a little dirty. Christ was not eager to carry the cross but in that quiet place with God He found the strength to love the unlovable, to die for the uncaring, to pay the ultimate price for those that would reject Him.
When, in our own human effort, we try to find forgiveness and love there might not be a compelling reason. But when we draw close to Abba Father our hearts are filled with His great love. When we trust in God no matter what may come our way, we find that obedience is always better than sacrifice.
Yesterday we discussed the root of rebellion which is bitterness and the seed of bitterness which is unfulfilled expectations. The story of Johnny and his Father can be compared to countless other situations involving loved ones that have not been able to fill the desires and expectations we have projected on them. Husbands, wives, siblings, bosses, and employees have all been disappointed and faced the choice to forgive or to hold a grudge. Then the anger builds and we become even more aware of the deficiencies in our loved ones. Even the NSA could not gather as much dirt as one who is harboring the hurt of disappointment. Soon every word, every look, every non-word, and every look away becomes proof of our foregone conclusion. We have judged the one that hurt us and they are undeserving of forgiveness.
I read this morning a lengthy poster stating that it didn’t matter if you were a man, woman, gay, straight, black, white etc. if you were nice to that person they would be nice to you. This thinking, while it sounds lofty and noble, is unbiblical. God didn’t call us to be kind to our friends and those that treat us well. He called us to love our enemies and to be kind to those that despitefully use us. I have seen those that would feed the homeless and shelter the hurting but could not bring themselves to draw close to their family members. Often the greatest challenge we face is not to love those that we don’t know but to love those that we know the best.
In Christ we find God’s example of perfect love and forgiveness. Knowing what we had done and what we were going to do, Christ died for us. I have often wondered how He could love those that were crucifying Him. I believe that in order to complete the redemption of sinful man Christ had to love the Father. More than His love for man, more than His desire to free us, Jesus loved the Father. In the garden Jesus was ready to find another way. The cross seemed to hard and perhaps His 33 years on earth had gotten His sandals a little dirty. Christ was not eager to carry the cross but in that quiet place with God He found the strength to love the unlovable, to die for the uncaring, to pay the ultimate price for those that would reject Him.
When, in our own human effort, we try to find forgiveness and love there might not be a compelling reason. But when we draw close to Abba Father our hearts are filled with His great love. When we trust in God no matter what may come our way, we find that obedience is always better than sacrifice.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Bitter Waters
1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Johnny worked all day to finish his chores so that he could be ready when his father came home. He had waited all week for this day to come. His Dad had promised to take him fishing and when he came home from work they were going to take the boat to the lake. He didn’t get to see Dad very much and this was going to be a special day. When the boy saw the car pull into the driveway his heart jumped, it was time! His Dad got out and walked into the house without saying a word. Johnny followed him waiting for the word to pack their equipment in the car. Instead, he heard his Dad telling Mom that he was going to Uncle Fred’s house. How could he do that? How could he forget him and let him down? Johnny went in his room heartbroken and determined that he would never trust Dad again.
There are many parts of this story that seem to be left unsaid. Had the Dad done this before? Why did he not keep his promise? Shouldn’t he have taken the time to explain to his son? But life is like that. We are often disappointed with no explanation of why. Life is not fair and can be capricious. We don’t have control over the circumstances that often seem to hijack our lives. But there is one thing we do have control over – how we respond.
I have spoken to many “Johnnies” that allowed an unfair moment in their lives to define them. Inevitably the root of the problem is bitterness. The heart of the one that felt wronged had become bitter. They had expected better and been sorely disappointed. It hurt and they allowed that hurt to fester and grow into a deadly disease that blackens the soul and hardens the heart. Bitterness is the breeding ground of sin and unfulfilled expectations are the walls that define it.
You might be wondering why I am talking about bitterness when our Scripture is about rebellion and stubbornness. The word translated “rebellion” is from the Hebrew word “meri” which the Strong’s Concordance tells us comes from the root word “marah” or bitterness. What a striking picture of the source of rebellion. Bitterness! Rebellion is the fruit that springs forth from the root of bitterness. What good can come from such an evil fountain? Death and destruction are the destination and men are carried away by their own will, not realizing that they have been overcome by the sin of witchcraft.
Many who sit in church every Sunday carrying grudges and resentments are caught up in this deadly journey. They hear the message of hope and long for the blessings of God but refuse to loose their grip on the hurts that have defined them for so long. They stumble in the dark while trying to follow the light, snared by their own devices. Their joy and peace has been subverted and they cannot find it in them to come under the authority of those that have been placed in their lives as a covering. This ultimately leads them to even reject God who is our ultimate covering and authority.
Instead they make up their own God that they can define and control. One that doesn’t require anything from them or lead them through the fire of refinement, and they cling to this false image stubbornly refusing the deliverance that God brings through obedience to His Word.
Perhaps there is someone reading this that has been justifying their hurt. As the Holy Spirit has been reminding you of the one that you need to forgive and go be reconciled with you have once again tried to bury that Divine longing with human reasoning of the many times you have been wounded and hurt. Today you can begin a journey along a different path. One that will lead to restoration and healing, but only if you are willing to lay down those excuses and put away the hurts that have become a cherished part of your life. Don’t let them define you anymore. Instead be transformed by the love of God and learn to live.
Johnny worked all day to finish his chores so that he could be ready when his father came home. He had waited all week for this day to come. His Dad had promised to take him fishing and when he came home from work they were going to take the boat to the lake. He didn’t get to see Dad very much and this was going to be a special day. When the boy saw the car pull into the driveway his heart jumped, it was time! His Dad got out and walked into the house without saying a word. Johnny followed him waiting for the word to pack their equipment in the car. Instead, he heard his Dad telling Mom that he was going to Uncle Fred’s house. How could he do that? How could he forget him and let him down? Johnny went in his room heartbroken and determined that he would never trust Dad again.
There are many parts of this story that seem to be left unsaid. Had the Dad done this before? Why did he not keep his promise? Shouldn’t he have taken the time to explain to his son? But life is like that. We are often disappointed with no explanation of why. Life is not fair and can be capricious. We don’t have control over the circumstances that often seem to hijack our lives. But there is one thing we do have control over – how we respond.
I have spoken to many “Johnnies” that allowed an unfair moment in their lives to define them. Inevitably the root of the problem is bitterness. The heart of the one that felt wronged had become bitter. They had expected better and been sorely disappointed. It hurt and they allowed that hurt to fester and grow into a deadly disease that blackens the soul and hardens the heart. Bitterness is the breeding ground of sin and unfulfilled expectations are the walls that define it.
You might be wondering why I am talking about bitterness when our Scripture is about rebellion and stubbornness. The word translated “rebellion” is from the Hebrew word “meri” which the Strong’s Concordance tells us comes from the root word “marah” or bitterness. What a striking picture of the source of rebellion. Bitterness! Rebellion is the fruit that springs forth from the root of bitterness. What good can come from such an evil fountain? Death and destruction are the destination and men are carried away by their own will, not realizing that they have been overcome by the sin of witchcraft.
Many who sit in church every Sunday carrying grudges and resentments are caught up in this deadly journey. They hear the message of hope and long for the blessings of God but refuse to loose their grip on the hurts that have defined them for so long. They stumble in the dark while trying to follow the light, snared by their own devices. Their joy and peace has been subverted and they cannot find it in them to come under the authority of those that have been placed in their lives as a covering. This ultimately leads them to even reject God who is our ultimate covering and authority.
Instead they make up their own God that they can define and control. One that doesn’t require anything from them or lead them through the fire of refinement, and they cling to this false image stubbornly refusing the deliverance that God brings through obedience to His Word.
Perhaps there is someone reading this that has been justifying their hurt. As the Holy Spirit has been reminding you of the one that you need to forgive and go be reconciled with you have once again tried to bury that Divine longing with human reasoning of the many times you have been wounded and hurt. Today you can begin a journey along a different path. One that will lead to restoration and healing, but only if you are willing to lay down those excuses and put away the hurts that have become a cherished part of your life. Don’t let them define you anymore. Instead be transformed by the love of God and learn to live.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)