How do you feel when you come into a crisis, pray for a solution, but a solution doesn’t come so the crisis escalates until it is much worse? Does it seem that God walked away and forgotten to look back?
Sometimes it may feel like that. Recently it’s felt like that for me, bringing new meaning to the old adage, “When it rains, it pours.” But God spoke to me through a bird – or rather, several of them (rather fitting for a birder!).
This is the season of year when bird activity increases. Just this week I’ve watched families of House Sparrows, Robins, and House Finches. One can’t miss them with all the baby chatter, which so obviously screams, “Feed me! Feed me!”
Babies follow their parents around to the point of distraction. Where Mom/Dad fly, Baby flies. Where Mom/Dad hop, Baby hops. It’s a kind of “in-your-face” thing where Baby squawks and wing-flaps frantically to get attention in order to be fed. The parents occasionally poke something into Baby’s beak, but mostly they feed for themselves, teaching Baby by example how to get his own. I even see the parents turning on the youngster and pecking him/her away until Baby gets the idea to look for his/her own food. It may seem downright mean of the parent bird to peck their child away. But if they didn’t, Baby would never learn to find his/her own food.
Scripture tells us that our spiritual life must grow (Ephesians 4:14,15, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:2…). Only, this growth at first appears to be backwards. While Baby Bird learns to do things on his/her own, God wants us to grow up into a trust in Him that depends solely on God for everything in life.
In a life crisis that means that we learn to lay aside the worry, fear, unbelief, and distrust, and approach the situation with calmness, having confidence that we are still in God’s hands and He has everything under control even when it doesn’t feel like it. I can testify that this isn’t easy! But it’s possible.
James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (steadfast endurance). But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing.”
Just as a parent bird will push its young away so they can learn to feed on their own, we may be allowed to go through a crisis in order to grow us to the next level of relationship with God, so that we can come closer to spiritual maturity.
How can we go through these kinds of trials intact? Here are a few starter suggestions:
1. Choose to maintain your connection with God. Even if at first your daily worships seem to be all tears and complaints, don’t stop coming to Him! Do include reading the Bible, though. It gives God a chance to speak to you.
2. Choose to arrange your life during the crisis so that staying connected with God is first priority. That means different things for different people. You may spend more time playing hymns on the piano, or singing praise songs on the way to work, or sitting by a river for a few minutes on your way home to commune with God, or taking time to prayer-walk. It can also mean getting more sleep. Whatever it takes, do it.
3. Choose to praise and thank God. That’s tough. But it is a choice. Find things you are truly thankful for – Jesus, for instance, and His sacrifice that made possible a future life for us with no suffering.
4. Choose to lay the situation down at the feet of Jesus – and leave it there. Even if your loved one dies, you go bankrupt, it feels like your purpose in life has been taken away, choose to surrender it to God and be ok with whatever happens.
Easy? Hardly! But if you want to come out of a crisis more mature, these choices are foundational to anything else you do.
What other suggestions do you have for maintaining your trust in God during a crisis?
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Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.
candice michelle recently posted..realtionship advice
That’s true, Candice! Sometimes we don’t get what we ask for because God knows it won’t be good for us in the long run. And some things will work for our ultimate good in ways that nothing else would have. Only God sees the end from the beginning, and one day He will explain it to us. I’m eager to talk with Him! Meanwhile, we accept, praise, make the right choices to stay with God, and hang on for the ride.
Thanks for your reply Pastor! I really appreciate all your answer from my comment. Thanks a lot!
Candice Michelle recently posted..credit cards singapore
Hi Sherry read your post. Thinking firstly about the birds – they never have an identity crisis – never left wondering whether they really are birds. I think that one of the problems with humans is that they do not know who they are – always doubting, yet trying to be self sufficient. God becomes a last resort as we stumble around the permissive will of God.
Knowing that we are called and wanted is the first step to hanging onto an unseen God even when there is nothing coming back.
I responded to you on FB, but I’ll post my response here as well: You have a way with words, Howard! And I totally agree with what you said. Knowing who we are is the first step. God has made that abundantly clear, but we seem to have issues with it — unlike my beloved feathered friends.
this along with the blog “how to handle sunddenlys” go nicely together…Yes I do believe God is speaking through both these blogs to me. I do go to the Promised of God in his word when I am in a trial and do understand that I am to leave the burden at the feet of Jesus (harder said than done, that is when I know I am not trusting like I am supposed to), I am learning to be grateful in the trial knowing it is for refining!! Growing to be more like Christ is a wonderful thing…must remember the suffering Christ partook on account of me “us”, and know it is ok when suffering comes, because of the Peace we are offered. Have a great day Pastor Sherry!
Eva Popek recently posted..JesusRx woke me up before my dream turned into a nightmare
HI Eva, You know, I thought the same thing when I read the blog on “Suddenlys!” It seems like God is taking a lot of us to the same place of trust in Him and His guidance. You are very far on your journey if you can be grateful in the trial, Eva. Sometimes I can, and other times I have to fuss and fume awhile before I can submit. I’d love to get rid of the “fuss and fume” part, but God’s working on me and I’m on the journey. Yes, isn’t the peace of God wonderful!
Sherry,
Your post leaves me in wonder at the workings of our God and the way He teaches us. As one who is presently in crisis, there is nothing more important than the reminder to spend time with God and to orchestrate our days so that we are able to do so. Making that decision to praise and worship Him is so vital to our being able to stand in victory and it is a lesson that is difficult to learn because it is so opposite from the ways we know in the world. Thank you for sharing your heart and the reminders from the Holy Spirit that we are to trust and rely on Him for our sustenance as He leads us through our valleys of difficulty. May the Lord bless you as you continue in your journey upward.
Jeannie Pallett recently posted..Kingdom Reminders
Jeannie, I’m so sorry for your crisis. As I said to Eva, it seems that God is taking all of us somewhere — fast. This learning to praise through the trial is not something I’ve perfected since, as you’ve said, it’s opposite from the way of the world. But I know the principle, and am getting better at choosing to praise. I will pray for you as you go through your valley. Life is not fun sometimes, but this life is not all there is, and for that I stand in awe of God!
The first image that came to mind with the birds was preparing children to leave home. Probably because I am sending another chick off to college this fall. This post helps me feel as if we’ve given her foundation to face the various crisis situations she’ll encounter.
Suzy Winter recently posted..No Substitutions Allowed
I’m glad this was helpful for you, Suzy! You’re about to face the “empty nest” and that’s not a fun place to be. But God will go with your little chick. He’s helped you train her, and He won’t leave her side for one second.
One great way to deal with a crisis is to see God’s sovereignty and rule greater than the crisis.
There is no wisdom, understanding, or counsel that can prevail against God. His kingdom & dominion are everlasting. Pro.21:30; Dan 4:34-35 There are no limitations to God’s government, nor is there any creature or activity beyond the boundaries of His scepter. The Scriptures declare that the LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty extends over all (Ps.103:19). God’s sovereignty is especially disdained in Western Christianity where individualism, self-autonomy, and democracy are sacred themes. God works all according to His will & none can turn Him. He kills & makes alive. Causes well-being & calamity. – Ep.1:11; ISa.2:6; Is.45:7
However for those who follow Jesus Christ, he works ALL things, ALL things for the good of those who love him. Some things we don’t understand know but when we see him face to face we shall fully know as we are fully known by him now.
Hi Stan, Yes, God works all things for our ultimate good. And because we cannot see as He sees, we may not understand why we are being led down the path we’re going. But with our hand in His, we can rest assured that He who holds our future and who loves us supremely, will give us what’s best. Thanks for visiting!