I don't know about any of you, but at times I tend to want to please people. We all want to be liked. Sometimes, even people with good intentions can direct us according to what they would like to see in our lives..and often that is not the way in which God is leading us. Proverbs 29:25 says "The fear of man bringeth a snare" I think of a snare as being some kind of a trap that we can get caught in, and then feel stuck, with no way out. Pleasing people instead of God can be just such a trap. That verse goes on to say.."But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made safe" Notice it doesn't say "may" be made safe. It says "shall" be made safe.
Even Jesus had to face taking the high road, and risk not being a people pleaser. In fact, He had to face this kind of thing a lot... a great example is found in Matthew 16. Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He must go into Jerusalem and suffer many things, and then be killed..but be raised again on the third day. Peter began to rebuke Jesus, saying "Far be it from thee Lord. This shall not be unto thee". Peter was not understanding what was about to happen. He was seeking to protect Jesus..but if Jesus hadn't suffered and died, Peter, and all of us..would have died in our sins. Sometimes the most difficult trials we face come in the form of someone who is simply trying to protect us, or who doesn't want to see us face the difficulties in life. None of us truly enjoy walking through those hard times...but often, those are the very things that grow us. Those are the very times when our trust increases. Those are the times when God's word comes alive to us and we begin to believe and stand on that word.
The Lord IS my light and my salvation. The verse doesn't say here that he "might" be. It says that he "IS"! In another version, the verse says the Lord IS the stronghold of my life. A stronghold is a tower, a fortress, or a fortified hilltop from which an enemy could be protected. This is what your God IS to you.
The Lord IS the strength of your life. When you are surrounded by challenges and difficulties, you don't have to muster up your own strength. The Lord IS your strength. Maybe you don't "feel" His presence. Maybe you don't "feel" strong. Beloved, do not go by what you feel. Go by what the very word of God says is truth. The Lord IS the strength of your life. Remind yourself of it. Say it out loud. Let the words come out of your mouth, and then as you hear them, let them sink back into your own soul. The Lord IS your strength. He promises this. He doesn't lie.
Wonderful and Godly people are so important to surround ourselves with..but when we are looking for answers..when we need direction..when we are surrounded by trials and need strength..the Lord IS our strength. He is the light that will illuminate the next step that we need to take. He IS our salvation. On that we can trust.
May you all enjoy this long weekend..May you have peace in just knowing that you don't have to handle all the difficult things that may come in your direction..because the Lord IS the very strength of your life!
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