"House Hunter"
Persevering through Pressure.......by Chuck Swindoll
Doubts often steal into our lives like termites into a HOUSE. These termite-like thoughts eat away at our faith. Usually, we can hold up pretty well under this attack. But occasionally, when a strong gale comes along—a sudden, intense blast—we discover we cannot cope. Our house begins to lean. For some people it completely collapses. It is during these stormy times, during the dark days and nights of tragedy and calamity, that we begin to feel the destructive effects of our doubts—running like stress fractures through the structure of our lives.
For me, there are times when the intensity of doubt reaches maximum proportions.
One such time is when things I believe should never happen, occur. There are times when my loving, gracious, merciful, kind, good, sovereign God surprises me by saying yes to something I was convinced He would say no to. When bad things happen to good people.
Doubts also increase when things I believe should happen, never occur (the other side of the coin). When I expected God to say yes but He said no.
Joni Eareckson Tada (and a thousand like her) trust confidently for awhile that the paralysis will go away—that God will say, "Yes, I'll get you through this. I'll teach you some deep lessons, and then I will use you with full health in days to come as I heal you completely." But God ultimately says no. When we expect Him to say yes and He says no, doubts multiply.
Other situations in which doubts grow takes place when things that I believe should happen now, occur much, much later. Of all the doubts which creep into our soul perhaps few are more devastating than those that happen when we are told by God, in effect. "Wait, wait, wait, wait . . . wait . . . wait!" All of us have wrestled greatly with His timing.
These "pressure points" provide a perfect introduction to the verses in Hebrews 6. This is that great chapter that begins with a strong warning, continues with words of affirmation, and closes with words of reassurance and ringing confidence. It addresses the Christian hanging on by his fingernails as he feels himself sliding down the hill. It shouts: "Persevere! Hang tough! Be strong! Don't quit!" Even when God says no, and you expected yes. Even when He says yes, and you anticipated no. And especially when He says to wait, and you expected it now.
If you're in that painful "space" right now, my word for you is: persevere! Hope in God—this is not the end.
If you're in a painful "place" now, persevere! Hope in God; this is not the end. —Chuck Swindoll Hebrews 6:18
"House Hunter"
Persevering through Pressure.......by Chuck Swindoll
Doubts often steal into our lives like termites into a HOUSE. These termite-like thoughts eat away at our faith. Usually, we can hold up pretty well under this attack. But occasionally, when a strong gale comes along—a sudden, intense blast—we discover we cannot cope. Our house begins to lean. For some people it completely collapses. It is during these stormy times, during the dark days and nights of tragedy and calamity, that we begin to feel the destructive effects of our doubts—running like stress fractures through the structure of our lives.
For me, there are times when the intensity of doubt reaches maximum proportions.
One such time is when things I believe should never happen, occur. There are times when my loving, gracious, merciful, kind, good, sovereign God surprises me by saying yes to something I was convinced He would say no to. When bad things happen to good people.
Doubts also increase when things I believe should happen, never occur (the other side of the coin). When I expected God to say yes but He said no.
Joni Eareckson Tada (and a thousand like her) trust confidently for awhile that the paralysis will go away—that God will say, "Yes, I'll get you through this. I'll teach you some deep lessons, and then I will use you with full health in days to come as I heal you completely." But God ultimately says no. When we expect Him to say yes and He says no, doubts multiply.
Other situations in which doubts grow takes place when things that I believe should happen now, occur much, much later. Of all the doubts which creep into our soul perhaps few are more devastating than those that happen when we are told by God, in effect. "Wait, wait, wait, wait . . . wait . . . wait!" All of us have wrestled greatly with His timing.
These "pressure points" provide a perfect introduction to the verses in Hebrews 6. This is that great chapter that begins with a strong warning, continues with words of affirmation, and closes with words of reassurance and ringing confidence. It addresses the Christian hanging on by his fingernails as he feels himself sliding down the hill. It shouts: "Persevere! Hang tough! Be strong! Don't quit!" Even when God says no, and you expected yes. Even when He says yes, and you anticipated no. And especially when He says to wait, and you expected it now.
If you're in that painful "space" right now, my word for you is: persevere! Hope in God—this is not the end.
If you're in a painful "place" now, persevere! Hope in God; this is not the end. —Chuck Swindoll Hebrews 6:18