The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: CONFUSION (07/20/23)
Work out my salvation with fear and trembling, Lord? Really? What about all the times You said, “Fear not?” I know fear of You is the beginning of wisdom, but You also tell me I’ve not been given a spirit of fear! And work out my salvation? You said it’s a gift—nothing I can earn. Oh Lord, I love reading Philippians, but this statement is so confusing. I stumble over it at each reading. Augh!

Putting my Bible on the nightstand and turning off the lamp light, I squirmed around on the pillow, looking for a comfortable position, trying to turn off the confusion that could rob my much anticipated bedtime of peaceful sleep.

Sometimes my dreams will seem to give me insight into a problem, but then the dream dissipates instantly upon waking—before I can remember the problem or the solution. Very frustrating!

But this particular morning I woke up with two words echoing in my head. I quickly reached for my neglected journal, hoping to write down the two words before they slipped from my memory. Awe and anticipation. I felt myself grinning, grasping the gift of God having counseled me in the night—in my dream, giving me clarity! I love it when He does that!

Somehow I knew the Lord was translating fear and trembling for me: Work out your salvation with awe and anticipation . . .

Pen in hand, hoping to hear more. I pondered those words, listening for what God wanted me to hear, to understand, to remember.

Oh! That kind of fear . . . awe of God’s Spirit living in me, reverence for the awesome reality of Christ in me. Deep within. So, needing to be stirred up and worked to the surface where my salvation can shine with God’s glory. His presence is invisible and the working out seems so slow, but the Lord encourages me to tremble with awe, eagerly anticipating the promised reality— present and future fulfillment of Christ in me. My pastor’s forgotten illustration of trembling as a child in anticipation of Christmas morning surfaced. That kind of trembling! Eager anticipation of desired gifts.

But what is my work? A recent conversation with my daughter-in-law came to mind. She described a vision the Lord gave her of her being like a well and Jesus being the water. She sensed the Lord urging her to lower the bucket, going deeper and deeper, not giving up until she drew up refreshing, life-giving water. That is her work. I’ve given this much thought. He is our salvation. His Spirit is deep within and our work is to rejoice, to draw from Him His life, His resurrection power—in faith, in awe, in anticipation of being changed into His likeness.

My muddled, frustrated confusion dissipated as the Lord patiently clarified this verse for me. I should have kept reading the night before, instead of turning the light out on my confusion.

“It is God who is at work in you, both to will and work for His good pleasure.” There’s nothing confusing about who actually accomplishes the work. This is good news, the gospel beautifully illuminated.

Thank you, Lord, for turning on the light, for calming my confusion.

Philippians 2:12-13
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 314 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
07/27/23
Isn't it a marvelous and refreshing feeling when the LORD suddenly lets the Word unfold before you, shining His light into full understanding?

Thank you for sharing with us.

God Bless~