What If?

February 18, 2021

What's shakin'? Most everything around you? There is a whole lot of shakin' going on around us, huh? We may smile at the lyrics and visual going through our mind now; something about a chicken and a barn, and can you see the piano? (some of you will have no idea to what I am referring) Those lyrics and catchy tune may bring a smile, but the things that have been shaking around us the past year have likely brought more tears than smiles. What have you been doing in the midst of the shaking?

When we look around us we can see all kinds of reactions to the shaking. We can see and hear the fear, the judgement, the hatred, and the division. We can also see and hear the kindness and expressions of compassion and genuine concern at times. Confusion seems to be running rampant. What or who is one to believe amidst all the conflicting reports and information? Have you found yourself leaning hard one way one day and then leaning the opposite way another day? How does one step firmly when everything is shaking?

Who or what to believe? What if we simply believed Him and lived like it? Maybe you are thinking, I do. Oh, I do. James 2:19 tells us You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.

In Isaiah 54:17 we are assured, No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the Lord’s servants. Their victory comes from me,” declares the Lord. If we believed this and LIVED like it, how might our current lives look different? Would our minds be a little freer and clearer without the vengeful responses we have created (maybe in thought only; not deed) for those who have gossiped or told untruths about us or ours? Would we feel a little lighter trusting that the Lord has a prepared victory instead of scheming our own?

The psalms reassure us, yet how much self induced anxiety have we muddled through in our lifetimes? Psalm 32: 8 I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!” He tells us again in Psalm 37:23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. What if we lived with the assurance that the Lord is guiding, advising, ordering, and even giving us HIS all seeing eyes as our guide? What could that look like practically in our lives? How much time could be redeemed and how much second guessing and doubt could be replaced with joy knowing He is making our steps firm? Double mindedness could be laid to rest and confidence could replace confusion and even fear. This could be life changing for many of us.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Read that again. He doesn't promise to make "it" tolerable. That difficult coworker? He will perfect it. That broken relationship? He will perfect it. That depleted bank account? He will perfect it. That deep, long ago hurt that still frames your thoughts? He will perfect it. If it concerns you, He is in the process of perfecting it. What if we lived as though we truly believed that El-Elyon is even now putting the finishing touches on those things nearest and dearest to out hearts? Could we even imagine the peace? How could our waking thoughts be transformed each and every day if we truly believed that no matter what we confronted on any given day was being perfected by Him?

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? What if we lived this? What if we lived our lives in such a way that this truth was reflected in our thoughts, our words, our attitudes, our actions? How would our thought lives transform if we didn't feel the need to "justify" ourselves? How much energy do we expend thinking of words and conversations to "set others straight?" How many times do we replay over and over in our thoughts the interactions we have with others? What if we believed that every fiery dart sent our way was barely even an ember and couldn't hold a candle to our God? That pink slip? God is for me. That closed door? God is for me. That devastating prognosis? God is for me. That smirking, sideways glance? God is for me. That intentional, cruel word? God is for me.

What if we took Him at His Word?