When life feels unbearable, like a death sentence, we have a God Who still gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that (He has promised) as if they (already) existed.
This is one of the most vulnerable letters written by one of the most powerful leaders in history.
We all face the same enemy.
We all experience days when we feel like we were hit by a semi rig; Days when bad (tragic) news, a terminal diagnosis, a failed marriage, an unemployment situation or financial disaster seem like a hopeless death sentence.
This past week, a very close family in our church lost their daughter and unborn granddaughter in a span of 48 hours. Their daughter, Dana (who was like a goddaughter to me) went into the emergency room 8 months pregnant because she could no longer feel her baby moving and was later told that the baby had passed away in her womb. Her platelet counts were critically at 9,000 (they should have been at 250,000) and as a result, she had to have a natural childbirth of her baby for fear she would bleed to death.
Twenty four hours later after delivery, Dana Crawford, at the ripe age of 25, was gone.
What do you do when circumstances are so relentless that you don't know how to stop them?
How do you respond when things don't go your way? How do you explain the unexplainable things that have devastated your life?
What do you do when you don't have an answer for why misfortune and calamity has hit your home, workplace, industry or church?
When we get to heaven, undoubtedly, we will all have some questions for God for some of the things that happened in our lifetime that just don't make sense.
Until then, He has a question for us:
"DO YOU TRUST ME? Are you willing to be vulnerable enough to let me carry you during seasons that you cannot carry yourself?"
Sometimes we don't realize all we need is God, until all we have is God.
But Savior, deliverer, restorer, redeemer, helper, comforter are all intrinsic characteristics of God.
His very nature demands that you need Him. And those that never acknowledge a need for God will never find God.
It is only when we are vulnerable to Him that He says:
"Child, My strength is made perfect. My grace IS sufficient for you. I am the "Father of sympathy" a Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby); I will never fail or forsake you; I will lead you to the Rock that transcends this mess you are in. When you are crushed, weighed down and in despair, I will rescue, save and comfort you with the peace of My Kingdom that is present (with you) at times, in all circumstances, whatever comes."
If you want to act as if you can do it (all) by yourself, God will let you.
If you want to appear as if you have it all together, then you already have your reward.
It's funny; most relationships fail because one or both persons refuse to be open and vulnerable to the other consistently.
Are you vulnerable before God?
When you hurt, feel alone, or confused, do you tell him? RIGHT NOW, Christ is looking for an opportunity to heal and restore you, but He is gentleman. You must invite Him into your boat during your storm.
Today, that circumstance that seems like death row is resurrection row for the believer.
Jesus said: "Just as the Father raises up the dead and gives them life [makes them live on], even so the Son also gives life to whomever He wills and is pleased to give it." (John 5:21)
Christ is pleased to raise you today. In Isaiah 60, God declared:
"ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; and instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. [Instead of the tyranny of the present] I will appoint peace as your officers and righteousness as your taskmasters. Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders, but you shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. Your sun shall no more go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended."
I declare that your worst days are behind you.
I command you to live vicariously for others; to stand unwavered and unshaken, with a joyful and confident expectation of good.
You see, the only way to help people beat a depression is to beat yours.
So ARISE, shine; YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.
If you would like to donate to the Dana Crawford Memorial Fund, you may send donations to:
The Charita "Dana" Crawford Memorial Fund - Account No. 902262000 c/o Westcom Credit Union, 8800 Valley View St, Buena Park, CA 90630.
