thorns? or mountains?
"Can prayer really move mountains?" was the title of the blog post. Well can it? To be honest, it's pretty simple for me to slip into a place of acceptance with my biggest mountains. Especially when those mountains have been so prayed over, so thought about and yet remain so immovable, so overwhelming and so life consuming.
"Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen." Mark 11:22-23 NLT
I believe and take God at His Word. I just do. He is trustworthy. He is true. His Word is flawless.
So then, what if those seemingly immovable mountains aren't really mountains? What if those life consuming mountains are really more of thorns? What if those prayed over and thought about and overwhelming mountains are just thorns? Things to deal with, cope with? Things that won't necessarily be overcome or moved? Things that drive me to a place of weakness and dependance on Him? Things that ground me in His moment by moment and breath by breath grace?
"Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Thorns? Or mountains?
Like the friends we all have who struggle with infertility? The life absorbing pressure of anxiety? The darkest depths of depression? The all consuming world of self doubt? Untimely death (isn't all death untimely though for those left behind)? Sickness that doesn't always rob us of life but can rob us of living? Unsaved and seemingly unreachable loved ones? Betrayal from within His church?
What of it all?
"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 7:9b
Choose to stand.
Standing in my faith has been from many different positions. I've been flat on my face, thrown down in complete disregard of what others see or think. I have stood on my faith while sitting on my rear because my tired soul and body weren't able to bear the weight. Then there have been the times that I have stood but with weak knees wobbling and body trembling. There have even been times of blatant stubbornness where I stand with feet dug in, arms stretched high and palms open to receive. But more often than not my standing on faith has happened with white knuckles clinging to His Word and tears streaming down my face.
"But He gives us even MORE GRACE" James 4:6
Standing in faith doesn't mean perfection.
"It's true. Life hits us hard. It's tough to keep breathing, impossible to stand. But we can always fall on our knees. We can always lay prostrate. We can always cry out to God." Abby Alleman, "Can Prayer Really Move Mountains?"
This morning I was reading in Mark 9 where Jesus heals the demon possessed boy. "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can." (verse 22). That's what the desperate father said to Jesus after the disciples tried and failed to heal his son.
How often is this how we approach God? For real. I mean, perhaps we mask it under "Your will be done" but in all honesty our hearts are aching and broken and the doubt is heavy and raw and real.
"What do you mean, 'If I can'? Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" " (verse 23 and 24)
I must choose to lean into His grace. Even if that leaning in lands me flat on my face. He has enough grace to handle me. (Pssssstttt.... He has enough for all of us. "He gives us even more grace" James 4:6)
I must adamantly choose to believe God and who He is and what He is capable of. He says anything is possible. And that means that anything is possible.
But He is not a genie-in-a-bottle God. I can pray and pray and pray, but I cannot make Him do what I want. (Praise the Lord.) Even if it will relieve my pain. (Praise the Lord.) Even if it is all that makes sense to me and everyone else that I have rallied up on my side. (Praise the Lord.) His ways are higher and they most likely won't make a lot of sense to my finite mind.
" 'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.' " Isaiah 55:8-9
Stand in my faith. Stay in His Word. Believe and trust His promises. And know His heart. His heart for me. His heart for others.
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:1, 4
Should I even keep praying then? If it is not in my control? If I can't distinguish between my mountains or my thorns?
I wanna answer that by popping back in to Mark 9:29 when Jesus answers his disciples who are confused at why they couldn't cast out that demon when they tried.
"This kind can be cast out only by prayer."
"Never stop praying." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
They might be mountains that eventually move. And if so, to God be the glory!
They may be thorns that press me into His grace. And if so, to God be the glory!
No matter what they are. His heart for me is unmoving. His love for me is unchanging. His ways are trustworthy and higher. His truth is all powerful. He gives more grace. And He will be glorified no matter the mountains or the thorns.
"For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory." Romans 11:36
"Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen." Mark 11:22-23 NLT
I believe and take God at His Word. I just do. He is trustworthy. He is true. His Word is flawless.
 |
| Nine year old Jade looking out the window of the Kodiak in PNG |
"Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Thorns? Or mountains?
Like the friends we all have who struggle with infertility? The life absorbing pressure of anxiety? The darkest depths of depression? The all consuming world of self doubt? Untimely death (isn't all death untimely though for those left behind)? Sickness that doesn't always rob us of life but can rob us of living? Unsaved and seemingly unreachable loved ones? Betrayal from within His church?
What of it all?
"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 7:9b
Choose to stand.
Standing in my faith has been from many different positions. I've been flat on my face, thrown down in complete disregard of what others see or think. I have stood on my faith while sitting on my rear because my tired soul and body weren't able to bear the weight. Then there have been the times that I have stood but with weak knees wobbling and body trembling. There have even been times of blatant stubbornness where I stand with feet dug in, arms stretched high and palms open to receive. But more often than not my standing on faith has happened with white knuckles clinging to His Word and tears streaming down my face.
"But He gives us even MORE GRACE" James 4:6
Standing in faith doesn't mean perfection.
"It's true. Life hits us hard. It's tough to keep breathing, impossible to stand. But we can always fall on our knees. We can always lay prostrate. We can always cry out to God." Abby Alleman, "Can Prayer Really Move Mountains?"
This morning I was reading in Mark 9 where Jesus heals the demon possessed boy. "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can." (verse 22). That's what the desperate father said to Jesus after the disciples tried and failed to heal his son.
How often is this how we approach God? For real. I mean, perhaps we mask it under "Your will be done" but in all honesty our hearts are aching and broken and the doubt is heavy and raw and real.
"What do you mean, 'If I can'? Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" " (verse 23 and 24)
I must choose to lean into His grace. Even if that leaning in lands me flat on my face. He has enough grace to handle me. (Pssssstttt.... He has enough for all of us. "He gives us even more grace" James 4:6)
I must adamantly choose to believe God and who He is and what He is capable of. He says anything is possible. And that means that anything is possible.
But He is not a genie-in-a-bottle God. I can pray and pray and pray, but I cannot make Him do what I want. (Praise the Lord.) Even if it will relieve my pain. (Praise the Lord.) Even if it is all that makes sense to me and everyone else that I have rallied up on my side. (Praise the Lord.) His ways are higher and they most likely won't make a lot of sense to my finite mind.
" 'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.' " Isaiah 55:8-9
Stand in my faith. Stay in His Word. Believe and trust His promises. And know His heart. His heart for me. His heart for others.
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:1, 4
Should I even keep praying then? If it is not in my control? If I can't distinguish between my mountains or my thorns?
I wanna answer that by popping back in to Mark 9:29 when Jesus answers his disciples who are confused at why they couldn't cast out that demon when they tried.
"This kind can be cast out only by prayer."
"Never stop praying." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
They might be mountains that eventually move. And if so, to God be the glory!
They may be thorns that press me into His grace. And if so, to God be the glory!
No matter what they are. His heart for me is unmoving. His love for me is unchanging. His ways are trustworthy and higher. His truth is all powerful. He gives more grace. And He will be glorified no matter the mountains or the thorns.
"For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory." Romans 11:36
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