Tag: habakkuk

Stress, Uncategorized

Prince of Peace

The Kedge Anchor

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com

It’s Christmas in July and so let’s celebrate our freedom and Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6. We all long for peace in this chaotic world. We don’t have to go far or look far to see the chaos in society today. There’s enough external chaos to distract us and keep us in an anxious state. Then let’s admit it, we can create our own chaos. A slip of the tongue, posting something we shouldn’t, not doing something we should or shouldn’t can all be the beginning of chaos. For myself, I don’t have try. Words slip out or I may misuse a word with unintended negative meaning, I’m horrible at math so I can send our checkbook in a downward spiral, not having my priorities straight, that’s just what I can do make my life a little chaotic.

Perhaps you have kids all with different activities, maybe you have over committed yourself at work or at church leaving you no time for family, for yourself or more importantly for God. Housework piles up, work piles up, maybe you’ve been so busy you forgot to pay the water bill. Life in itself happens. Turn on the news or open a social media app and the chaos surrounding us can be overwhelming, discouraging, leaving us to wonder is there any hope? We don’t need to look for chaos sometimes we create or it finds us.

But what we all are searching for is peace. We want order in the chaos. We may not be able to control the chaos in the world, but we can have peace in the chaos in our lives. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6 -“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” I heard something the other day that I thought was interesting. I was watching the Bible (Season 3, Episode 8) Rountable on The Chosen app, Rabbi Jason Sobel refers to Genesis 1:2, he references the Spirit of God hovering over the deep when the waters were in chaos in the beginning and Matthew 14:26-33 where Jesus walks on water. He says in a “sense the storm represents the chaos in the beginning.” I highly recommend watching this Roundtable episode, at approximately 24:42 Rabbi Jason speaks of this. I believe that the Trinity was there creating the world. Jesus the Prince of Peace was there bringing order, peace to the chaos.

We are all looking for peace in our lives. I know many people are dealing with and struggle with anxiety, that alone creates chaos. They don’t need to look outside of their own hearts to see chaos and experience. Peace sometimes can be something we see as unattainable, almost impossible. But we can have peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father. We can pray for peace and God will give us peace. It’s been said that we shouldn’t pray for patience because God will send us situations to test us in patience. Does God test our peace if we ask for it? We may still struggle but that’s on us because we are sometimes reluctant to surrender. I don’t believe God will create disorder and chaos in our lives to teach how to have peace or to test us. We create the chaos. Adam and Eve created chaos in the Garden. God will use the chaos and disorder we create or whatever is around us to grow us or call us closer to Him. If we ask for peace, God will lead us to it.

The Bible tells us “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14. We are to seek and pursue peace. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, then we should be seeking Jesus and pursuing Him.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

Matthew 5:9

Here are some verses:

John 14:27 – “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (ESV)

John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)

Isaiah 26:3 – You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (ESV) (this is where I believe we need to surrender and fix our hearts and minds on Jesus).

Judges 6:24 – “And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the LORD is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.” (NLT)

Philippians 4:17 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (ESV)

Psalm 29:11 – “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” (KJV)

Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams… “

This is what I have learned about prayer. Sometimes praying can be dangerous. Be careful what you pray for. While I don’t think God would lead us to chaos, I do think He will use the chaos that is already around us or the chaos we have already created for ourselves. He may open our eyes to it or make our hearts more sensitive to it so that He can work peace through and in us.

God is sovereign and will use anything to get our attention. He also doesn’t answer prayer as we expect Him to. Read the book of Habakkuk. God didn’t create the evil, He used the existing evil to defeat the evil surrounding Habakkuk. Not what Habakkuk expected. But I believe we can ask for peace and God will use the chaotic situation around us or in to draw us to Him or draw us even closer to Him. I don’t believe He will lead us to chaos and disorder. I could be wrong, but will He test us in trying to have peace? Like salvation, peace is there, we need to ask, we need to surrender. He leads, we need to follow. We may need to surrender and that may be something He is trying to teach us, there may be other things He could be trying to teach us. He could be leading us to “peaceful streams” and “green pastures” and we are the ones not following the right path.

We are free to celebrate Christmas anytime of year! So let’s celebrate the Prince of Peace, seek peace and pursue it!

Uncategorized

“Wonder and Be Astounded“

The Kedge Anchor


A few years ago I read a book titled, Amazed and Confused by Heather Zemple. The book is based on the book of Habakkuk about his determination to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and how his expectations didn’t line up with God’s actions. Habakkuk wasn’t afraid to ask God questions about the evil and injustices he saw. How could a good God allow bad things to happen to good people? I think we all have asked that question at some point.
Habakkuk pleaded with God for revival in the hearts of those who were faithless and return back to God. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a
work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (1:5 ESV). God’s vision was one of warfare and exile. Not what one would expect from a “good God.”


The part about our expectations and God’s actions hit me. How often have you been in a situation where you are always thinking of a way out or a solution. “Maybe if I did this, “ or “Maybe if I try this,” or “What if I said this?” often mulling over and over in your head how things could possibly work out even after hours and days of praying. Exhausting, right?


I have learned there is two parts to walking through a trial and expecting an outcome. One, is waiting. Ugh I know. Habakkuk wasn’t afraid to pour out his heart to God asking questions why and how long to the injustices he saw, Habakkuk 1:1-4. (I encourage you to read Habakkuk, read some commentaries along with it, it’s only four chapters). Chapter 2:2, God instructs Habakkuk to write down His answer to warn others. God is telling Habakkuk in verse 3 to wait, wait for what He is going to do. I think it’s helpful to write down our prayers and requests in a journal and document when and how God shows up, so that we can look back and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. The hardest part about verse three, is wait. Ugh how hard is that?! Especially when it comes to injustice, we want results NOW!


Recently my husband and I were praying for a situation where he works. Everyone was pretty much unhappy and grumbling. I began to pray a dangerous prayer and ask God to work so that his workplace would be a blessing to everyone there and the community. Not long after that four people quit!! Not what we were expecting, maybe some changed hearts and attitudes, raises perhaps is what we were looking for. But God replaced those people with others who had better attitudes and wanted to work.


So we may find ourselves in a situation where we just don’t know how we are going to make it through. We have more month than money or a relationship is broken and it seems like a resolution is not going happen, we need and are looking for a miracle. We play over and over in our head various outcomes. We try to predict how God will work. Anyone else do this, it is just me? Do you find yourself predicting an outcome in detail? I do and it hasn’t worked for me, ever. All it does is frustrate me and causes me to doubt, a trap by our enemy.
Then God lovingly reminds me, Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.” “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” – Psalm 115:3. God is sovereign, He sees the big picture. What appears to be unfair
to us now, God is delivering us grace. That can be a hard pill to swallow. Through all the injustices we see now, all the heartbreak, God sees, He knows what He is doing. We need to have faith and trust Him.


The other thing I have learned, that when I am in the middle of doing life, living, doing
the things God has placed before, housework, making art, caring for someone else in need, noticing needs in others, anchoring in Jesus, actually letting go and letting God do His work, that things work out better than I can imagine. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV). When I am not mulling over and over possible outcomes and not worrying, God will reveal His answer. Not. An. Easy. Task. I am still learning how to do this and I am seeing how God works without my trying to take over. My outcomes never line up with God’s. My expectations and God’s actions are never the same. It’s never what I expected, it’s always better, but sometimes I am confused by the outcome. That’s ok because, Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,…”


So I am learning that the only expectation I need to have is to expect God to work things out, for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). It may not be the outcome I am looking for but God is sovereign and He sees the big picture. All we need to do, or learn to do, is trust, be obedient, remain faithful and faith-fueled. Stay close to God, it makes the wait easier.


Here’s something to think about, what is the difference between grace and fairness? What we think isn’t fair could be God being gracious and what we think isn’t grace could be God being fair. Romans 11:34, “Who can know the mind of God…”


Scripture verse to memorize – “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” – Habakkuk 1:5

Uncategorized

Is God Fair or is He Gracious?

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

How does it make you feel when you have worked so hard for something only to not achieve it or just fail at it. Perhaps you were working hard for a promotion at work. You stayed late when you had to without complaint, went above and beyond to prove your abilities, you were honest and loyal and someone else who was far less experienced and than you got the promotion. Hardly seems fair.

Maybe all your friends are getting married and having babies and you are having a hard time finding the right guy or girl or experiencing miscarriage after miscarriage. You take care of yourself, eat healthy, exercise, and still no baby. Or maybe it’s your marriage. Your friend’s marriage crumbled but now, they are back together but your marriage seems like there is no hope that any reconciliation is possible. How is this fair? But it happens and God allows it. It seems like the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Life just isn’t turning out how you had planned. Sometimes God’s actions clash with what we expect.

Habakkuk saw injustices happening and what appeared to be the evil ones succeeding. Read the book of Habakkuk, it’s only four chapters. In this book, God offers hope, as He always does.

Habakkuk makes no bones about complaining to God and asking questions like, why and how long. Habakkuk had to posture himself before God. Be it on your knees or not, the most important the posture of your heart – humility. Philippians 2:3-8 offers some insight into the posture Jesus had. Habakkuk also had to be patient and wait on God – Psalm 46:10 – this can be hard but so necessary. I sometimes wonder if “being still” means not frantically worrying and worshipping the problem we face, but instead frantically worshipping our Father. How many times does a solution comes to us when we aren’t thinking about it. For me I could be cooking dinner, driving, reading a book, in the middle of writing a blog post or serving Him and God will hit me with the answer to my problem. Most times, that’s how God speaks to me, when I’m not solely thinking about my problem.

God replies to Habakkuk in 1:5; “Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told …”. Then in Chapter 2, verse 2 God tell Habakkuk to write down His answer to warn others. God is telling Habakkuk in verse 3 to wait, wait for what He is going to do. God will make everything right, but we have to wait. We need to continue to have the right posture and be patient.

God’s ways are not our way- Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.” “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” – Psalm 115:3. God is sovereign, He sees the big picture. What appears to be unfair to us now, God is delivering us grace. That can be a hard pill to swallow. Through all the injustices we see now, God sees, He knows what He is doing. We need to have faith and trust Him.

Here’s something to think about, what is the difference between grace and fairness? Leave a comment below, what are your thoughts?