Break through with the Word of God

It was mostly dark, save for a porch light where she stood; it was cold, and most students were sitting on the grass … they did not care, they just wanted to be together.  This was the night Alex was to share her God story, tough as it was, with her peers.  ‘Tough?’  you ask.  Yes, ‘see whether someone grew up bounced in and out of foster care, or in fact, life was more ‘normal’ than that, most of us have some tough things from adolescence that we can readily recall.  I have noticed that 50 yr. old women can still tear up when they remember painful things said or done to them, though decades have passed. 

Alex’s ‘tough’ situation came from her parents’ tumultuous marriage which made for an unsettled, uncertain feeling at home, then the death of two beloved grandparents within a month, and then the night when her dad, locked in his own pain, ‘You are a selfish b__, and I wish you had never been born!’  Suddenly, she felt so alone, so unsure of herself. . .  she kept hearing those words over and over in her mind, and to silence them, she started drinking … yes, drinking whenever she could, though she was just in 8^th grade.   Oh, there was more to her story—sad stuff—but, through a friend, she somehow connected to God, and grabbed onto David’s words:  “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 
For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”1  

Few things in this life are sure . . . even for the Christian.  When push comes to shove, when our world seems to have crashed down around our ears, what is terra firma for us?  What is unchanging?  Okay, maybe only one thing is sure, even for the Christian—the Word of God.  ‘Wait…are you saying that Jesus Christ is not sure?  Are you saying that the Holy Spirit within is not a given?’  No, those are sure, but sometimes our minds falter, our thinking is faulty, and we question the presence of God—we wonder if he really is there—we wonder if he really is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and all-loving . . . while of course, he is there all along!  But the written Word of God is sure.  It is powerful.  It is unwavering, and does not change, though cultures change, customs change, people we love change, God’s Word remains.  It is written in black and white, and we need to devour it.  I love how my Portuguese brother, Joao Paulo, prayed to God yesterday morning, “You write straight, but we bend the lines.”2   Scripture keeps us straight.

The other night I looked across the dinner table at another pretty girl, who, on the face of things, should have ‘the world by the tail’.  But as our food arrived, and casual conversation began to pour out of her 16-year-old mouth, I saw that she was consumed with worry—about many things.  I looked into her eyes, and as I often do, prayed to myself about what I could give her that might set her troubled mind at ease.  Always faithful, the Holy Spirit guided my remembrance, as I tenderly said, ‘Oh, Honey, you are worrying over so many things … things that are robbing you of this time in your life …’ and then I told her how two verses had soothed my daughter’s over-thinking, worrying predisposition, from the time she was very young:  “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.  And the God of peace will keep your heart and your mind quiet and at rest while you trust in Christ Jesus.”2 

These words of Paul’s are brilliant, and offer the formula all of us need: Pray about everything, trust in Jesus, and God will give you peace.  Wait!  And one more thing—be thankful.  From another translation of Scripture: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Word of God comforts, leads, and instructs the children of God.  It also makes it clear that we will experience breakthrough in our lives when we pray.  Oh, how the two go together! 

Grace and Peace,

Christine

PastorWoman.com