"STILL" WORKS

 

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

He was reeling.  Tears flowing.

Shaky. Nervously pulling his glasses off and then on.  Not sure what to say.

He had been a faithful servant, a communicator of the truth; a shepherd no less and now “HE” was the lost sheep. No direction. Options dwindling. Confused and bewildered.  He was convinced that GOD had pulled a fast one and it had left him stunned, staggered and empty handed.

It was hard to watch let alone counsel.  I mean what do you offer to someone who without warning has it all “stolen” away?  What do you say when he says they call the “other fella” dad and she wants all the stuff?  What do you say when he says he has been stuck searching for “what went wrong” for the last few months?

What do you say? This is what I said.

GOD is STILL GOD and it is time to be STILL.  That is all we can say.

One of my dearest and favorite people on this big blue ball is my sister Anna.  I deeply treasure her, her amazing testimony, her spirit and her life.  She truly inspires me. 

And yesterday it was HER testimony that was the ticket for this reeling and abandoned soul.  It was her testimony of steely commitment that would be the truth this one who felt as though everything had been stolen would need to hear.

I recounted Anna’s story of standing at the window watching the traffic, feeling as if not just her husband but GOD had abandoned her.  I recounted her tears. I recounted her desperation.  But most importantly I recounted HER BREAKTHROUGH!  That in spite of all that was seemingly crumbling around her, GOD was STILL GOD and SHE needed to be STILL!

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God…

That was the WORD my new friend needed!  For when we turned our focus from the circumstance to the CROSS something amazing happened.

The tears stopped. 

 

The possibility for a fresh start began to seep in.  The devil’s grip on him loosened.  A new hope bubbled to the surface and fear began to dwindle.  As his focus changed from the circumstance to the TRUTH, his soul began to find rest and freedom in that truth.  He just needed to BE STILL long enough to allow GOD to reveal it!

We all go through times like Anna and my friend; times when life washes over us like a huge tsunami crashing against the shore.  But when that happens, we must learn from Anna and be still.  We must pause and remember that regardless of how awful the circumstances may be (homeless, pending divorce, betrayal and hurt for my friend) GOD is there, GOD is loving, and GOD will respond!  Our job is to be STILL and call on HIS name.

Psalm 107:6-8

Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.

He got you out in the nick of time; He put your feet on a wonderful road

that took you straight to a good place to live.

So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.

Perhaps today your condition is as this beleaguered shepherd's; perhaps even as bleak as Anna’s, don’t let it wash you over.  Be STILL. Call out to GOD.  He will snatch you up in the nick of time, show you mercy and love and put your feet back on a hope-filled path!

Jeremiah 30:17

For I will heal you. I will heal you where you have been hurt,’ says the Lord…

 

I love you all!

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney