We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. -James 5:11 (NASB)

Believers and nonbelievers eventually face seasons of trials, desperation, heartache, and grief. But what separates the true believers from all others is simply trusting in, and surrendering to, God’s will. True believers know that life and happiness are not about us, but to bring glory to our creator.

How completely archaic and backward to say such a thing in such a modern world we live in, where anything goes! But God’s will and His character are timeless, which we can witness and learn about in its wholeness by reading all of His Word, from Genesis to Revelation.

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. -Job 2:10 (NASB)

Prosperity preachers teach that to love God–especially with our wallets to their ministries–will result in worldly prosperity and happiness. But this is completely contrary to God’s Word! In the passage above, Job rebukes his own wife, who tempts him to renounce God because his life was going south.

In the Book of Job, Satan comes before God to argue that Job, a blameless man, would turn from God if he were stripped of all he had and loved: possessions, family, friends, health…everything. God allows Satan to try. Though Job could never know the conversations above that led to his trials, he ultimately disproves Satan’s hypothesis.

Job demonstrated that rock-solid faith, like a house built on stone instead of sand, could withstand the worst storms. And in the end, God restored double of what He allowed to be taken from Job.

We may not understand why such terrible storms rage in our lives, but we can always trust and know in His higher thoughts and ways, His greater purpose, and that our trust in Him brings Him the glory when the godless would be blown away. Hang in there, true believer.

Today’s soundtrack

“Thy Will” by Hillary Scott & the Scott Family remembers in song that it’s not about us, but Him and His will…but that His plans for us are good.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. -1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NASB)

This post is written toward the end of a long week, well in the heart of a long season, smack in the middle of a valley. Everyone will encounter them in their walk. But one thing this stubborn agent does is slip back into attacking the climb in my own strength…and eventually, run on fumes till my body will force me to stop.

There were many telltale signs, but one was the constant eye twitch. In this age of information, I Googled the causes of it, and this Web MD article listed the following:

• Fatigue? Check.
• Stress? Check.
• Lack of sleep? Check.
• Caffeine? Check.

It’s so easy to pray earnestly, fervently, persistently, and in all things give Him thanks…but also easy to switch right back to striving needlessly as if He weren’t in our lives. I write this as much for myself as for you or any other believer who can very easily strive as if they were unbelievers: Yes, God calls us to give our best for Him in all we do…but He also calls us to take rest.

I have to stop and think: How am I glorifying Him by trying to do everything by myself? Do people see God at work through me when I do that? Am I really exercising proper boundaries if I don’t say no to every request? Am I remembering to ask Him to guide me on my proper priorities (Him first, all else second)? Did Jesus die for me to live like this?

If you’re a workaholic like me, I invite you to stop with me. Breathe. Talk to God and ask Him to reorient us back in alignment with His goals for us, His plans for us, and His peace…so that we don’t let the frenetic world and its godless demands dominate our walk. God is our walk. May He always be our guide and goal, every step of the way.

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. -1 Corinthians 6:20 (NASB)

If you’re anything like me, you will run yourself ragged, to the point of near collapse, by falling for the trap of busyness: helping everyone else, and never stopping, except to eat and get a few hours of sleep. Over time, this catches up with you, and your body and soul will need rest.

The truth is, when we do this, we’re kind of letting God fuel us while we go about our business. But we’re not really surrendering completely. And I say this from a personal experience of being the number one offender: if I surrendered completely, I would listen more closely to the urgings of the Spirit. Is everything I’m doing, and the manner in which I’m carrying it out, really honoring the Lord? Have I really prioritized Him first?

If I prioritize Him first, then some of my “obligations” would fall away, or He could show me a better way to tackle them. And one obligation I neglect is my own self! Perhaps you can identify.

This is an issue of stewardship. God gave His only Son so that we may be forgiven of our sins and live eternally once we pass from this world. But we sin when we don’t steward our own bodies and souls well. Running them to exhaustion is trying to handle it all in our own strength…and when we do that, we will always collapse under the weight. We sin in carrying a load that the Lord can empower us to carry, while dropping off burdens that we shouldn’t carry at all.

In that respect, “me time” is “He time,” for we honor Him by stopping the nonstop support and busyness to refocus on Him and His priorities. And as children of God, Paul calls us to honor Him in how we steward ourselves.

Whether it’s a book, sleep, a leisurely drive, or whatever floats your boat, carve out little slices of “me time.” Stop, breathe, and recharge with the Lord, a limitless source of strength, joy, comfort, and proper perspective we thirst for as we go out in the world.