Devotionals

---

I’ve been in a foxhole for a while. Foxholes are highly overrated. They offer protection, yes. But they are dirty and confining and they really offer no distraction from the endless barrage of missiles zooming overhead. They are depression incubators.

The ‘why’ of my hiding out is not as important as the things I’ve learned while in here. First of all, war is hell. Plain and simple. And we, folks, are in a war. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” Truer words were never spoken, except maybe every other word written in red in my Bible. But other than that, that is one true statement.

Birth comes with a guarantee. Trouble. Some of it is of our own making (wrong decisions, sin, and other such things). Some of it hails from the nether world. (“Yes, Virginia, there is a Satan”) And some of it comes from the fact that we live in a fallen world and disease and accidents and natural disasters are part and parcel of that world.

The first thing I’ve learned in the year and a half that my world has been virtually blown to smithereens is that you’re not supposed to compare. Never hold your trouble up against somebody else’s trouble and think, “I’ve got nothing to complain about. They’ve got it soooo much worse.” (unless of course you’re being ridiculously petty). No, I’m talking about trouble that upends your life and causes pain. Someone will always have worse trouble than yours. But denying your pain or your loss or your stress or your fear or your grief doesn’t make you a saint or a trooper. It makes you a person in denial. Be honest with yourself. Admit your pain.

Second, be kind to yourself. Don’t grab the nearest weapon and beat yourself over the head with it for all the mistakes you’ve made or the sin you’ve committed. Really, it doesn’t help. It just gives you more pain. Admit your faults. Take them to the cross and ask God for forgiveness. Then leave them there.

Third, look for the life preserver that’s right in front of you. Yes, it’s there. You may feel as if your boat is sinking in the middle of the ocean and there’s not a blessed soul who knows about it or can do anything about it. But there is. His name is Jesus and His mission is salvation. From sin and from despair. You see, the Bible is loaded with promises. And it’s loaded with stories that describe the kind of man He is. He is one of a kind. He is man and He is God. So He’s not hampered by any limitation. He can do anything and everything to cause your dire circumstances to work out for your good and His glory. He’s well acquainted with what ails us. He knows our frame..how weak we are and how frightened and desperate we can get when the storms don’t relent. So He stays very close. And that’s one Bible promise that has become very real to me. For some reason, I’ve come to learn more about Him in this storm than at any other time in my life. He’s constant. He brings peace. He doesn’t condemn. He plants hope deep in my heart. I’ve learned to reach out and grab hold of Him when I feel as if I’m sinking.

Fourth, don’t talk nonstop about your troubles to everybody. No one really wants to hear about it all the time. They’ve got their own mess to deal with. But find one or two close friends or family members you can pour out your heart to. It’s good for the soul to talk it through and cry sometimes. You need to know that what you share isn’t going anywhere. Also, if you keep speaking about everything that’s wrong, you’ll make yourself feel more hopeless. Find something good to talk about.

Fifth is praise and prayer. I’m not kidding…I feel strongest when I am engaging in one or the other of these two activities. Sometimes I go to early morning intercession at church feeling as though I am about to drop from the burdens I’m carrying, but as soon as I begin to praise my Savior and intercede for what is on His heart, strength just rises from somewhere and I feel I could take on an army!

Six, the arrows are going to fly, my friend. Count on it. Just hoist your shield up high and cover yourself with the faith that is planted in your heart. It may feel awfully small, but it can stretch. Trust me. Just call me ‘gumby.’ My faith has stretched so much in this season of my life. God’s Word is crucial in a battle. Read it. Believe it. It’ll grow your faith and increase your shield. Let those arrows fly. You’ll be covered.

And finally, seventh, believe that there will be an end to this. God promises that His plans for you are good and not evil. He promises a future and a hope for you. Honor Him, why don’t you? Just say, “Ok, I don’t feel as if I can face another day of this. But I’m going to trust You. Mostly because You’re trustworthy, but also because in doing this I’m giving Satan a black eye!”

Oh and one more thing, come out of the foxhole. It’s dark in there. Step into the light…

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE