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God is our Reward, The Source of all Joy

The Monkey Trap

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Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46)[1]

Troublesome monkeys have been known to be caught with a simple trap which plays on their unwillingness to open their hands. A coconut is hollowed out with a hole just big enough for the monkey’s hand to fit in. Sweet rice is placed inside. When a monkey reaches in and grabs the bait, their fist is stuck in the hole. Unwilling to open their hands and give up the prize, the monkey is trapped and eventually caught.

We can learn from their ignorant stubbornness. We’re to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind. But we can be fooled into loving the good things of life above Him. God wants us to experience Him as our highest Joy. When we hold tightly to earthly idols, our hearts are trapped and limited to fleeting, temporal joys. We’re unstable and tossed into the changing seas of circumstance. But we need to know  God is at work in us to conform us into the image of His Son and to free us into the complete Joy of knowing Him as our Pearl of Great Value, worth all we have.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; (Romans 8:28-29)

The ‘good’ God is causing in our lives may require the violent prying away of the sweet rice we clutch in our hands. It may hurt, but it’s for our greater good. It might seem unloving, but as a parent protects a child from harm, God is at work in His children.

For Paul, he needed to learn to not depend on himself. See what he wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9.  For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

What’s keeping us bound up in the monkey trap? Do we depend too much on ourselves? What are we afraid to let of go because we don’t think we’ll be okay when we do? Among other things, I’ve needed to let go of self-effort, family, success and peace as the world give it. When I value these things above God, I’m trapped. I can feel discouraged  and the flow of joy being drained from my life.

See Peter’s conclusion of this process toward the end of his life: In this (our Living Hope and Inheritance) you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which]is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (I Peter 1:6-9)

When we understand God’s greater purposes for our lives and grow in our realization of His eternal love, we’re infused with courage for the trials we face.

 Lord, please continue to show me things I’m holding onto which keep me trapped to this world. Like Peter, may I embrace the trials which chisel me more and more into Your image and reveal the utter joy of Your presence. I know You love me and have my better good in mind. I open the hands of my heart to You.  

[1] All quotes from Scripture and from the New American Standard version of the Bible (NASB)

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post once a week. Thank you for reading. 

Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

God's Greater Story

Peace, Joy and Abounding Hope

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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NASB)

It’s been a battle this week to stay on higher ground. My prayer is to set my mind on things above and orient my life around God’s greater story, but lately, my heart’s been more invested in my circumstances and how my life’s going.

When this happens, I lose perspective and go into survival mode. I have little regard for others and am more concerned with how I’m doing.  I wrote the following in my journal:

As I got off work today my mood was sinking. It lingered as I dropped by Publix on the way home. The cashier, named Gage, was super joyous in his conversations. Normally, this is how I feel, but my gloominess was a stark contrast to his exuberance.

In recent years, I might have doubled down in self effort, wearing myself out trying to slay each hindrance to my happiness. But very difficult trials over the last few years have taught me that sustaining Joy can’t be found in how my life’s going. God, in His severe mercy, is peeling away my vice grip on worldly happiness and redirected my heart towards Him. Through circumstances I would have never chosen, I’m realizing my total completeness is in Christ. I can’t count on anything to controlling my feelings of well-being but Him.

My interaction with Gage reminded me that I’d lost sight of this life changing truth in the midst of day to day grind.

Asking God to recalibrate my heart. I got alone and read Romans 15 from our church’s reading plan. These words opened my eternal eyes:

  • Be about the good of others for even Christ didn’t please Himself.[1] As I hurriedly, transferred the items from my cart to the revolving rubber surface for Gage to scan them, I really had no concern for him. I wanted to be left alone in my gloominess. Gage’s kind words awakened me, revealing I was focused only on me, a joy sucking place to be.
  • Filled with all Joy and Peace, abounding in Hope in the Holy Spirit.[2] This whole incident fills me with Hope. Even when the battle before my eyes drains me and cause me to lose sight, God is with me. No matter what I face, He is my Peace, my Joy and my lasting Hope.

Lord, gloominess and difficulties cause me to long for You all the more. When I seek you in my darkness, Your splendor explodes into brilliant Peace, Joy and Hope within me. Please keep me focused on You. Thank You for sending Gage to awaken me from my stupor. May I see every event in life as an opportunity to do the next right thing, to speak Your words and serve in Your strength. May I live life fully from You and for You; all for Your glory. Amen.

[1] Romans 15:2-3

[2] Romans 15:13

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post once a week. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

Choosing Joy, Eternal Joy, Joy in Trials

Yet will I Rejoice in the Lord

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Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail  and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.  God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on my high places.  (Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV)

Wrightsville beach. One of our favorite places to get away and replenish. The warmth of the sun, the cool breeze of the coming fall, the constant rhythmic sound of the surf, the expanse of the ocean against the light blue horizon. Delightful. A small butterfly lands on my bride’s finger, a kiss from her Father in a moment when love was hidden.

For most of my life, I’ve seen problems as negative. However, I’m learning a new perspective. James tells us to, “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds in trials,”[1] but these verses, and others like it, are hard to get my heart around. Trials, hardships and problems don’t seem to correlate with joy.

In Habakkuk’s day the Lord raised up the Chaldeans, on horses swifter than leopards; horsemen bent on violence, swooping down like eagles to devour.[2] But He gave Habakkuk strength, raising him up to high places above the fray. From this place of God’s perspective, he declared his intension to rejoice in the Lord, come what may.

This is the perspective we all need in the midst of troubles we know will come. On the night before he died, Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33b NASB)

God has used some of our recent difficulties to teach me to cling so desperately to Him. In each hardship, I’m discovering more of Him. l don’t like these troubles, but I’m learning that Joy can sustain me, if I invite Him in.

On the ride to the beach we listened to a message from Graham Cooke[3] called the Language of Heaven. Cooke mentions that with every problem there are built in opportunities to experience God more fully. He says we should ask the question – What aspect of God can I realize now that I couldn’t have without this situation? He mentions that Joy always accompanies our experiences with God; the Lord is fullness Joy.[4] Cooke challenges us to begin and end each day with celebration.

I want to live my life this way, like Habakkuk, always looking to the Lord for my strength. I want to rejoice in the Lord always, even in situations which are like nightmares. I want to walk with Him on the high places of His eternal perspective, orienting my life around a story which is far more important than my pleasant circumstances.

Lord, right now I celebrate you. In the midst of very hard situations which linger, I seek You. You’re teaching me that Your love completes me. Being loved by you is my identity. You are all I need, my Peace, my Hope, my Joy. Please teach me to look at each new problem as an opportunity to be “upgraded[5]” into a deeper experience with You. I know, in Your sovereignty, You will provide “opportunities” for me to depend on You more. Please help me see all of life, especially the hard times, from Your viewpoint and trust in Your greater good for me.

 

 

 

[1] James 1:2

[2] Habakkuk 1:6-9

[3] Graham Cooke, The Language of Heaven – https://youtu.be/mi6nZA2wUqo

[4] Psalm 16:11b

[5] Word used by Graham Cooke.

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post once a week. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

God's Greater Purposes

God Himself is Our Very Great Reward

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“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,   your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1b NIV)

Abram was called from his home, from his relatives, from his father’s house. [1] God promised Abram he would have descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth.[2]

But Abram was afraid. He and Sarai were childless. How could God do what He’d promised? Circumstances didn’t match what God said He’d do.

Later God would make a covenant with Abram and change his name to Abraham (father of many nations). God blessed Abraham and choose to make him into a great nation, not just physically, but spiritually. Through Abraham, God would bring forth His Son to die in our place and usher in His eternal Kingdom.

Abraham saw glimpses of God’s coming kingdom, but many things were unclear. In Gerar, because he was afraid, he lied about Sarah being his sister.[3] Later, after Isaac was born, God tested him, asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Abraham obeyed, trusting in an eternal story he didn’t understand.

God has an eternal story for us. He’s working to show us He Himself is all we need.

God is our Very Great Reward. He’s who we’ve been looking for all our lives. To the degree we understand and grow to love Him, eternal Peace, Hope and Joy will be a part of our days. God is at work for our greater good. He is working to unlatch our hearts from anything or anybody we love more than Him, but this process can be very difficult.

What are we afraid of right now? Has the unthinkable happened? If God is our Great Reward, can even the worst news take away our Joy? When all is stripped away, will we sink deeper into His love; or will we be afraid?

At Embassy Suites finishing out a birthday get away with my bride. Headed back to the room I pass Felicia from housekeeping. She asks how I’m doing. “Fine,” I say, really more as a salutation, “How about you?” I ask.

“I’m awesome!” she says with a big smile. Not expecting such an exuberant answer, I stop and chat. I learn her condition has nothing to with what’s going on in her life. It comes from her trust in King Jesus and His plans for her. God is teaching her that He is her Shield, her Very Great Reward.

Lord, my heart is full. I know you are my Very Great Reward, but there are things on earth which compete with You. Guide me into full surrender. Like Felicia, help me learn to be awesome because You’re Awesome. May I be filled with thanksgiving because You’re in charge of my story. Help me trust, even in the midst of life’s difficulties. You are my Shield, my Very Great Reward. I will not be afraid. Amen.

[1] Genesis 13:4

[2] Genesis 13:14-18

[3] Genesis 20

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Rob Buck

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains

God is our Reward, The Goodness of God

What is Good?

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I’m on our back porch enjoying the breeze of a chilly spring morning. The flowers are blooming, the trees are just beginning to bud and the grass is greening. I’m soaking in the spender of “now”.  A few birds visit our feeder suspended above the wooded path to our barn. A steady flow of cascading water from our fountain forms the background rhythm for their melodious songs.

I rest in the goodness of God. When I’m present with Him, the troubles of my life are out of view. Because He’s good, I’m good.

However, when I remember my present difficulties, if I’m not careful, they can suck the good right out of me.

Psalm 73 tells a story of a man  who’s dealing with a crisis of belief. Things are not going well and he really doesn’t know what to do.

When the Psalm opens up, Asaph is in a bad way. He doesn’t like his circumstances. He’s come close to stumbling and almost slips. He feels as if he’s wasted his time keeping his heart pure. He feels stricken all day long and chastened every morning.

To add to his unrest, envy has crept in. He sees wicked people who are prideful and arrogant, yet they seem to be doing fine.  They’re not in trouble or plagued. They prosper and are even fat, which was considered a good thing back then.

Asaph feels embittered and pierced within, yet he makes a wise choice. He brings his situation honestly before God.

This is the key to what happens next. No matter what our state, no matter how badly we’ve screwed up, no matter how angry we are at God, we should follow Asaph’s example and enter God’s sanctuary.

God is always ready to hear where we are and  the honest condition of our hearts. He can handle whatever we want to dish out. The worse thing we can do is shy away from Him because of shame, guilt or disappointment.

As Asaph  talks to God, his heart begins to shift. Though his feelings haven’t changed, he sees the end of those who don’t follow God.  “Then I perceived their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.” Psalm 73:17b-18

Then in verse 23, a dramatic turn occurs. Talking to God he says, “Nevertheless,  I am continually with You. You have taken hold of my right hand and with Your council will guide me, and afterwards receive me to glory.”

Whatever pit we find ourselves in right this moment. Whatever evidence we see around us that life is not good, we can repeat the above words in sincerity to God, releasing our lives into His care.

Nevertheless, no matter what, God, you are with me. It is You who have taken the initiative to reach out and take my hand and lead me. It is You who guides me along the way until You receive me into Your glory.

How reassuring! This truth can completely change our perspective. It did for Aspah. See what he wrote next:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And beside you I desire nothing on earth.”[1]

By bringing his concerns to God, even his complaints, God performed a 180 degree shift in Asaph’s heart.

Let’s recognize, as he did, that goodness is not in how our lives are going. Goodness is in God’s nearness. God is always with us and He is always good, no matter what goes on in our lives.

Asaph ended his Psalm with words which have become a truth I build my life around.

 “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good.” Psalm 73:28a

Challenge: What circumstance threatens your sense of well-being? In other words, what has to be right in your life for you to be okay? It can be very good things, a good marriage, prospering children, successful career, etc. All these “goods” can never replace the fact that we are good because our God is good. Place the Lord of your life above all of things. He is worthy. He is trustworthy. He is good.

[1] Psalm 73:25

God is our Life, God is our Strength

Finding the Silver Lining

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(Every cloud has a silver lining – John Milton)

 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

(II Corinthians 1:9)

 My boss Frank called at 6:00 am. Slurring his words, he told me he couldn’t teach the computer class our client so desperately needed. He’d been out all night partying. “You’ll have to teach it,” he said.

“But I’ve never taught the class before, Frank,” I strongly protested.  Frank mumbled something and hung up.

Placing the phone down, reality swept through my still groggy mind. This was an impossible situation. I was gripped with a wave of panic. I could either crawl back in bed and quit my only source of income, or teach a three day class covering subjects I barely knew.

Though my chances of success were very slim. I had to try and teach it. My wife and four kids were depending on me.

Later, riding the elevator to the class room on the tenth floor, I prayed. “Lord, you have to do this. I’ll do what I can and open my mouth, but please teach this class through me.”

During every break, I crammed to prepare for the next segment. I kept my Bible opened to the Psalms, jotting down prayers for guidance.

Three days later the class was over. By God’s grace, no one knew it was my first time teaching  it. And amazingly, the marks were good on the evaluation sheets the 23 students had to fill out. God taught this class through me and He was the only reason it was successful.

Month’s earlier, I  prayed for God to help me trust Him more. Looking back, I think this was his answer. The only way I could learn to not rely on me, was to be placed in a situation I couldn’t handle. I learned more about trusting God in those few days than I had in years before.

Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”[1]

“Good” is not just smooth circumstances and good feelings. True “good,” eternal “good” is wrapped up in our nearness and dependence upon God.

Paul was in such dire circumstances in Asia that he despaired even of life.[2] But he saw the “silver lining”.[3]  He knew there was a deeper good in his very hard circumstances. “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”[4] The very difficult circumstances kept Paul trusting in the Lord and not in himself.

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;[5]

A most important lesson we all need to learn is that “good” does not always mean easy. What is truly “good” is what draws us closer to God.

Blessings can come in strange packages.

Our ability to find a silver lining (a reason for hope) in each and every situation is directly proportional to our belief that being with God and depending on Him is our ultimate good.

Lord, I’m so sorry for the times I have longed only for smooth, easy circumstances. I’m learning to experience the joy of your presence in all circumstances. Please teach me to long only for you. You are my life.

 

Challenge: What hard circumstance are you facing? If you haven’t already, surrender it completely to God. Ask him to use it for your good by deepening your awareness and dependence upon Him.

[1] Romans 8:28

[2] 2 Corinthians 1:8

[3] Originally from a John Milton poem referring to light bursting through a cloud, yielding the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining”

[4] 2 Corinthians 1:9

[5] Psalms 73:28