When you've been wronged.

Genesis 16: In summary, Sarai (not yet Sarah) and Abram (not yet Abraham) were still waiting on Sarah to get pregnant as the Lord had promised. Sarai gets too impatient and tells Abram to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar. Abram sleeps with her (my thoughts here would fill an entire book) and Hagar gets pregnant--TA-DAH!  Sarai gets jealous and Abram tells Sarai to do whatever she wants with Hagar (this would make it on Docter Phil). Sarai mistreats Hagar (details not mentioned but we can imagine "Mean Girls" would fit the bill) and Hagar flees.  The angel of the Lord goes after Hagar and finds her by a spring in the desert. IMPORTANT! God pursues us and is with us in deserts...remember post 1?  Do you know what the angel tells Hagar to do when He speaks to her? He blesses her, but first he tells her to go back and submit to Sarai.  Hagar had been wronged, but her response shows she understood something very important for us. Hagar gives the Lord the name "The God WHO SEES".  She knew the mistreatment wasn't overlooked. We are mistreated/wronged on many occasions and many levels in relation with people. Do we, like Hagar, have the knowledge of the living One who sees?  If we do, then we don't need to seek out retaliation, get the last word, or win every argument because we know the just God of the Universe sees. But remember He called Hagar into submission AND THEN blessed her.  Where in our relationships this week can we let go of pride and walk in more humility knowing God is the One who sees? He sees every sacrifice you make and you don't have to fight for yourself (Ex. 14:14).

Better is one day.

Ten weeks into 40-hours weeks and I was exhausted, stressed, God wasn't pouring our relief like I expected, and I needed to just get away.  Have you been there? I wanted to go to the beach, preferably, but the mountains were looking good--whatever I could talk mom into (grad school default). I was in church shortly after this planning escapade and Chris Tomlin's "Better is One Day" was sung during worship. The song is based on Psalm 84:10, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." I sang and sang and God ever so gently whispered to my heart "Do you believe it?" Duh--I'm singing it! Then He said my heart, "Then why to you need vacation? Come to me. Better is a day with me than a thousand days at the beach." OH, so David was serious? Could God really relax me like a weekend trip to the beach? He could. It takes waiting in the presence of God and getting away with Him, but He always comes through when I trust Him enough to take Him up on it. A few intimate words from Him can soothe our hearts better than a thousand ocean waves.  What do you need, Beloved? Is it comfort, relief, security, peace, or joy?  Do we believe the lie that something in the world could satisfy us? Don't we end up in the same empty place over and over when we go to those things? In a week, I'm sure I would be ready for another beach trip. Let's go sit at the throne of God until He provides whatever it is we need. We will continue to be filled  (Is. 55:1), and I'm pretty sure the One who crafted us knows exactly how to fill us.

Valley girl, Valley God.

"The man of God came up and told the king of Israel (Ahab), 'This is what the Lord says: 'Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver the vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord." 1 Kings 20:28

The Arameans claimed that Israel's god was only a god of the hills  and if they could attack Israel in the plains, then they could defeat them.  What is God's response? He IS the God of the valleys. He's the very same God in our valleys and lowest of places, Beloved. It is His very identity to go the lowest places and bring us to victory. He is in the valleys with us! As much as painful days and the hardest places in life hurt, we must believe that His promise of deliverance and victory is as true for us as it was for the Israelites. Do we trust that He is orchestrating our valleys, though they may hurt? This trust frees us to praise Him and walk in joy, even in tears. I believe that is why James says to rejoice when we face all sorts of trials because we know the testing of our faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work in us so that we are mature and complete, not lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). He knows exactly where you are and how He's going to bring you to victory. Can you rest in that?


Beloved, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13)."