God IS Bigger

Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV) “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

In my quiet time this morning, God gently reminded me that He is bigger than any problem I have or will ever have. Today is a day to remember the events that transpired 12 years ago in our nation. As I sat this morning with my Bible in hand, I reflected back on that day.

On September 11, 2001 the United States faced a devastating blow. I’m sure all Americans remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. I know I sure do. I was a software applications instructor at the time and was just getting ready to go into a class. “Did you hear? A jet just flew into the World Trade Center.”

“What?” No I hadn’t heard. I had been busy getting ready to teach.

In the next few seconds the office phones began to ring. You see, I live and work in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. This area is home to the world’s largest Naval Station and is home-port to the Navy’s Atlantic fleet. On a daily basis we had men and women of our armed forces in our classrooms learning to use various software programs. It seemed none of our military students were going to be able to make it to class that day. My boss rolled a TV into the center of our office and we watched the devastating events for what seemed like hours.

But you know, as devastating and as "big" as the events of that day were...GOD was and is still BIGGER than all of it. Each day that goes by God is:

• ·        close to the brokenhearted
• ·        healing the sick
•                frees/rescues from strongholds
• ·        restoring the ruins long devastated (Isa. 61:4)
• ·        making a way in the wilderness and rivers on dry land (Isa. 43:19)

I pray you find encouragement today in whatever it is you’re facing – remember GOD IS BIGGER!

Isaiah 41:13 (NCV) I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’

The Bunk Bed Incident

My son was playing around in his room on the top bunk a few weeks back. I reminded him that the top bunk really wasn’t an ideal place to play…but that must have fallen on deaf ears. As he was playing, he pushed his leg through the wooden railing surrounding the bed. When he tried to pull his leg back through it didn’t work. He was stuck. He did try to “unstick” his leg for a few seconds, but the more he tried the more anxious he became making the entire situation worse. He was afraid he’d be stuck “forever”.

As I read through a few chapters of Isaiah this morning, I thought back to my son's situation…especially when I read Isaiah 40:10a. I like the way the Message paraphrases the verse:

“Don’t panic. I’m with you.”

DON’T PANIC! My son was doing just the opposite, he was panicking! Truthfully, I find myself doing the same thing. Current circumstances have allowed fear, anxiety (panic) and worry to rear their ugly heads and leave me just like my son was that day…afraid to move. I allowed myself to get so wrapped up in various situations that I completely lost sight of where my strength and help actually come from. Isaiah 41 – 43 opened my eyes to see the truth this morning.

I don’t have to be plagued by fear, worry and anxiety. According to verses throughout the three chapters of Isaiah, my God is with me. I am certain of it…because the rest of Isaiah 40:10b assures me of that truth.

“There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength.

I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” [emphasis mine]

I see this now as I think back to the “bunk bed” incident. My son was afraid because he felt trapped and couldn’t get out of his current circumstance on his own accord. Isn’t that how most of like to handle life’s little (or major in some cases) circumstances…on our own and in our own strength?  I know it’s true for me. 

That day, when my son cried out for help, I saw the situation from an entirely different perspective. Within a matter of seconds, I was able to “free” him from the fear and anguish of his circumstance. In just a matter of minutes, he was laughing and playing (not on the bunk bed) as if nothing ever happened. 

What I’ve learned is I am just like him; I try to "get free" on my own before even once asking for help. But that's not helping anything at all. I can’t do anything apart from Christ. God is my loving Father; I can be assured of His strength, help and victory over my fear, my worry, and my anxiety. He is with me…and He will never leave me.

Today, I think I am going to remind myself of this important truth by going back to a song I used to sing during praise and worship a few years back. It’s a great way for me to remember that I can’t do one single thing WITHOUT Christ.

Apart from You (Todd Fields)

I can’t do anything, I can’t say anything

I can’t face anything, apart from You

You are everything, so my soul will sing

I’m not anything, apart from You

Lord Your life is the air that I breathe

Every promise You’ve given sustains me

There is nothing on earth that I need

But to be with You

What do you reach for when times get tough?

Proverbs 7: 1 – 3 (NIV) “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

In the verses above, the writer is encouraging his son to remember everything that he has said. He tells his son to treasure his commands and obey them so he (the son) will live. When you treasure something what do you do? Let’s say you’ve been given an award or certificate of achievement. Are you going to read it once and throw it in a drawer never to be seen again? Chances are, probably not. You’re most likely going to hang it up and read it over again and again.

This is what we should do with God’s word, not that I’m suggesting hanging your Bibles on your walls, but there are many “treasures” of scripture in the Bible that can help us through whatever situation we’re facing.

Proverbs 7:3 says to “Remind yourself of them; write them on your hearts as if on a tablet.”

Want to know how to deal with a situation in your life? Go to the word of God and find the answers there. Whenever I am struggling with an issue, I like to look for the truth about the issue in God’s word. When I have found scripture telling me what the truth is, I write it down in a small notebook I carry around with me.

When I’m having a bad day, the notebook is what I reach for first. I find reading through a few of the scripture verses reminds me of the truth and God’s promises. Just a few moments in my notebook and my focus is back on Christ and not caught up in the “stuff” of this world.

So, what do you reach for when time get tough?

Related reading: John 14:15; 1 Timothy 4: 7-8; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Cor. 15: 57 - 58