Tag Archives: Live or die

Happy is the one who trusts

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Happy is the man who trusts in The Lord. Psalm 40:4

Happy is the one who never loses faith in me. Matthew 11:6

 

What words come to mind when you think of being happy? Probably you think of peace, serenity, security, trust. We naturally desire these. And yet, while we all seek happiness, we so easily put ourselves in fretful situations where we are sure not to find it!

 

There were certainly times when trust is a challenge. In my cancer journey I was quite familiar with Romans 14:8: Live or die, I win because Jesus is Lord. But what about the in between time when it seems, this is not real living nor death?  That’s when trust is harder, isn’t it? In those times we worry, we fret, we analyze and try to sketch an escape route from our pain. We fight to gain control over what we can never control. We are anything but happy.

 

Sometimes hearing a certain diagnosis brings people so quickly to the very end of their rope they desperately reach out to grasp the only faithful hand, God’s. Others suddenly come to the awareness of the truth of God in such a resilient way, they trust Him inherently. Some who have not built trust in God during times of plenty find it immensely difficult to trust Him in times when everything seems taken away. But it is possible.

 

Big faith or small, we build on the measure of faith given to us. (Romans 12:3) Our trust in people is earned in small measures at first, isn’t it? As you come to trust someone consistently in small ways, that trust grows to bear the weight of heavier matters. Someone who has been faithful in great things bears your deeper trust. And so it is with God. If we can trust “He who did not spare His own Son but gave him freely for us” (Romans 8:32) can’t we trust Him for our daily challenges? If you trust Him with your eternal life, doesn’t it make sense to believe His Word to be true for today’s struggles?

 

If you find it hard to trust God for the outcomes of your problems, look to a moment at a time when you found Him faithful. Ask Him to show Himself to you and trust Him for a glimpse of His greatness. You don’t have to endure your whole life right now. Trust Him to honor His word to give you grace, one moment at a time. It will be an imperfect and awkward dance if you are not used to it. It will seem that you are always wanting to take the lead. But trust a little. And as you find assurance, trust some more. Let God build your trust and find a certain contented happiness that satisfies more than what we find in this world.

 

 

The sum of a life

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We recently took a walk in the cemetery and read the markings on the memorial stones. Some listed the person’s primary role and how they were remembered: “Mother.” “Father.” One had an etching of a golfer which must have been that person’s driving life passion (no pun intended). Some displayed the emblem of a club to which they belonged, some a veteran’s status. Many tombstones record just the names and birth and death dates with a dash in between. Linda Ellis wrote a now famous poem about this all important ‘dash in between’ the dates that represents how we lived our life.*

 

I was soberly reminded of a truth when recently reading an obituary. The sum of a whole life was quickly summed up in two paragraphs. And one of those was a list of those who came before and those who are left to follow, leaving just one paragraph to sum up an entire life.

 

It is probably unrealistic to expect an obituary or tombstone to sum up a whole life. Hopefully, the impact of a life could not be fully captured so simply. But how does one measure a lifetime of ambitions, hopes, aspirations, toil, sorrow, joy, and purpose?

 

How do you want to be remembered? For your hobbies, your belongings, your accomplishments, or that neatly trimmed yard? Isn’t a life lived well truly measured by how it impacts those around us and those who come behind us? Shouldn’t the focus of our life testify to such a great and wonderful God? And if it is lived for God, doesn’t it reach well beyond our own life to encourage those across the globe, those far beyond our familial circle of influence? Those who support GLOW, impact the lives of children across the globe, bringing hope, truth, grace, and practical helps. They change lives they have never (yet) met! (See the Ministries and Giving tabs above.). Those who support children through Compassion International and World Vision have similar global impact.

 

One day, there will be a great meeting in heaven of all whose lives you impacted, for a season and for all eternity. So before someone marks your final date, give thought to how you want to live “the dash in between.” Live your ‘dash’ intentionally today, and all your tomorrows.

 

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted (honored) in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:20-24

 

* See also Linda Ellis’ poem, The Dash, at:
http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html