WHATEVER THE STORM
HE IS LORD OF THE STORM
IF HE SENDS IT TO HIS CHILD, HIS PURPOSE IS ALWAYS GRACE
IF HE ALLOWS IT FOR HIS MYSTERIOUS PURPOSES,
HE HAS AN ULTIMATE PLAN FOR GOOD
Over the next two weeks let us consider three kinds of storms:
- Daily storms we experience when we cling to idols
- Monster storms we experience when we cling to idols
- Storms we do not understand
1. DAILY STORMS WHEN WE CLING TO IDOLS
Last week “Laura-dancer” honestly answered the question: “When do you flee from God?” with:
“Wow — probably daily.”
Rebecca vulnerably shared the jealousy she felt when a new young worship leader was so talented — but quickly, she realized her idol temptation, repented, and was able to enter into worship with this leader.
As we are seeing more clearly into the murky waters of our souls, we are seeing how we are daily tempted by idols, and when we succumb, “forfeit the grace that could be ours.”
For the last two weeks I’ve been helping my grand-daughter Emily prepare her high school senior thesis speech. She is graduating as valedictorian of her Christian classical senior class. She has become passionate about how America has changed its perspective toward immigrants from an open “Golden Door” that proclaimed “Give me your tired, your poor…” to a very closed and cold attitude toward immigrants. Emily’s content was so strong, but not her delivery. Why? She is naturally reserved, uncomfortable with the spotlight. (As a toddler, she turned to us before she went to her new potty chair and said, “I’m going to potty — but I don’t want you to cheer and clap.)
But I knew there was something else holding her back. The idol of approval — the fear of man. I told her how Keller used to look at his congregation before he preached and say (silently) “You are not my life — Christ is my life.” Emily nodded, and yet, I still saw her retreat, and fail to connect with me when she spoke, quenching the Spirit. She was forfeiting the power that could be hers. She was also daily, in great angst about her speech. She wanted to do well, but worried she would not.
The day before she spoke we practiced again — and I said, “Emily — I know you care about what you are saying. I know you want them to care about this. THINK ABOUT EVERY WORD YOU ARE SAYING WHILE YOU ARE SAYING IT. Not only will that help you feel what God feels, it will help you forget about yourself. DO IT AGAIN — AND THINK THINK THINK ABOUT THE WORDS.”
Suddenly she locked eyes with me and passion rose in her. She began with the words on The Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor…” but it was different. A burst of light breaking through the dark clouds. What happened? Instead of thinking about herself and what others were thinking of her, by thinking about the words, she was setting her affections on God, on what He cared about, and she was transformed. I saw it before my very eyes. And that can happen to each of us moment by moment throughout the day. As we allow ourselves to be passionate about what He is passionate about, our fears and gloomy doubts are expelled.
I wanted to weep. I was flying to Virginia when she gave the actual speech, but her dad texted me: SHE WAS SO PASSIONATE. IT WAS TREMENDOUS!
And then she e-mailed me afterwards: “Grandma — I want to go into missions this year before college. I know it.” I wept again. Passion rising… the power of God breaking the fears that hold us back…
Many of you shared how letting go of an idol brought the sun out. Chris S. shared a story of her drawer being short on St. Patrick’s Day — fearing suspicion — but then reminded herself her identity was in Christ. She wrote: “My identity is hidden with Christ in God, no matter what misunderstanding or failure might befall me, no power of hell or scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand. What relief there is in that!” Getting our identity from Christ — not from man — and not even from ourselves is huge. Both Renee and Susan had an epiphany of understanding about this last week and articulated it beautifully.
Daily, whenever we are aware of an idol temptation, we must turn and surrender to Him, and we will experience grace. It may be a quick fix, as with Emily and Chris, or it may take time, but it will come.
He is Lord of every storm.
2. MONSTER STORMS WHEN WE CLING TO IDOLS
Monster storms threaten to wreck our whole lives. They are especially grievous when we know, as Jonah did, that they are a direct result of our clinging to a worthless idol: that they have, indeed, been sent by God to bring his erring child to his senses.
Four years ago on Mother’s Day I got the surprising news that my nephew, who has always been a favorite of mine, was going to prison in Texas for four years for doing something “stupid and wrong” (his words). This week marked the end of those four long years and he was released and reunited with his wife and three young children. He knew that it was a storm sent by God and responded immediately in deep repentance. Though we felt his sentence severe, he did not. Though we were deeply grieved by the treatment in Texas prisons, concerned he might be a victim of violence or succumb, as many do, to the 130 degree summer temperatures. But he took it without complaint. When I visited him in prison, I thought, What a godly and humble young man.
This week he was released to his wife and three young children. He wondered if he would ever see them again, if he would survive, if he would ever see his home again, and is tearful and so grateful. Though there are many challenges ahead, he is a transformed man, and is experiencing the power of God, no longer forfeiting the grace that God longs to daily give him.
And as so often happens, a storm sent by God to His child will impact all who love that child. But our amazing God can use that for good. My nephew’s storm hit his whole family and others as well. But those who have run to God have been changed for the good. I know that before my nephew went to prison, my prison ministry was lacking in passion — and now I am seeing inmates more and more as God does and I have PASSION.
He is Lord of every storm.
3. STORMS WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND (Next Week)
MY NEWS — AND HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Before we plunge into our study, I will share my personal news, which also explains why I must do a two week study right now. (The first week has more homework than the second, so if you want to slow down more this first week, go ahead.)
Last week my daughter Sally called me with some concerns the doctors had concerning her pregnancy. They said the baby was very small — at the 11th percentile. The baby was also breech, so they planned to try to turn her. But then Sally’s water broke.
Had we lived a century ago it would have been a fatal scenario. I wept to think of that and thanked God so for modern medicine and the C-section that rescued them. How thankful we are for His mercies. Sadie was a gift after years of infertility. Claire’s life was rescued by modern medicine. Mercy. Mercy. Mercy. I am here with them now and filled with gratitude. Thank you for your prayers and love.
I also have a renewed appreciation for mothers — this brings back so many memories — dealing with sensitive children’s feelings, with the constant clamoring for needs to be met — with the mess and the multitude of tasks — all to be done calmly and with gratitude! I used to get bent out of shape on Mother’s Day because I expected GREAT ACCOLADES and didn’t always get them. The children were too little, and for the first several years Steve didn’t relate because “I wasn’t his mother!” (But he soon realized it was a day he needed to fuss over me!) But whether you are recognized or not, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS AMAZING, and God sees and is pleased with even a cup of water given to a little child.
We are also so blessed if we have physical or spiritual children. This is a special day. Happy Mother’s Day to every mother reading this blog. And for those of you who are not mothers, but long to be, I pray God will give you the desires of your heart or change the desires of your heart. I know this is a hard day for you.
WEEK ONE:
SUNDAY/MONDAY ICEBREAKERS
1. What thoughts do you have about the opening and why?
2. Share one reason you are thankful for your mother.
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study
DAILY STORMS WHEN WE CLING TO IDOLS
Both Emily and Chris had to overcome the approval idol, the “fear of man.” How did each do it and how does either speak to you?
3. Read 1 Peter 3:14-15 in this Good News, or in your own translation:
Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.
A. What reassurance is there in the first part of this verse?
B. But if we do suffer, what reassurance should still help us overcome the fear of man?
C. Is this fear of man, this need for approval, an idol in your life that daily tempts you? Explain, and then speak the truth to your soul.
4. A second idol that tempts us to forfeit grace is control or power. I myself often want to “fix” people, instead of trusting God. I often think of the example of Christ — who faced so much more. Read 1 Peter 2:21-23 and explain how Christ was able to do this.
5. How could this help you overcome your control/power idol? Be specific.
6. A third idol that daily tempts us is comfort/security. Rebecca’s testimony in regard to food was that she had to stop running to food and start running to God. She read books that helped her grow in intimacy with God. She also had to endure pain, but then experienced peace and freedom. How does Hebrews 12:1-2 speak to this?
Monster Storms When We Cling To Idols
7. Read Jonah 2:1-4 again. Who sent the storm and why, do you think?
8. This week I’ve been reading to Sadie and she has a book about Jonah. I find so many children’s books distort the real story, wanting to make all the Bible characters simplistic heroes. Sadie’s book said, “Jonah loved God but he was afraid of the Ninevites so he ran way.” This makes Jonah sound nobler than he really was. According to Jonah 4:1-2, what was his real reason for fleeing?
9. In the same way, though I love this little girl and her telling of Jonah, in the beginning of the story I see the author of this children’s version made the same error — but the rest is great. Watch and comment.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxfo-7mW74g
Thursday-Friday: Keller Sermon
Listen to this in the series: They Greatly Feared. If you are purchasing this individually instead of in the set, then go to this link
10. The stormy sea (What do storms reveal about every human heart?)
11.The religious sailors (Why doesn’t their religion help them?)
12. The willing substitute (How do you deal with fear?)
Saturday:
13. What is your take-away for week 1?
WEEK 2. STORMS WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND
I do not understand why Joyce’s husband left her when her child with so many physical needs was born. I do not understand why Chris’s son was assaulted and died. I do not understand why Elizabeth is plagued with physical pain that feels like fire ants all over her body. Each of you, I know, has experienced a storm you do not understand. Jesus makes it very clear that not every storm is a result of personal sin, but that it can be used to reveal the glory of God.
And so part of trusting God is to accept the mystery of suffering, and to know that in the end, He will do all things well. That even perhaps, as Tolkein says, “Everything sad will be untrue.” These mysterious storms we will consider in this 2nd week of this study. But we know: He is Lord of every storm.
Perhaps the worst storm our country has endured in the last twenty-five years is 9/11.
In God’s providence, Keller began preaching on Jonah two weeks before 9/11. A story that talked about what happens to us when we are overcome by hatred and fear. During that week Redeemer had a special service — and that is part of the Jonah package. It is also a free sermon.
This is the whole service following 9/11: LINK
Also for those who are interested in another message, this is one that ministered to me deeply in the midst of my worst storm — my husband’s death. It is called “Heman’s Cry of Darkness.” We will look at Psalm 88 this week. Here is the link — it is 2.50 so it is optional:
(A funny story with this sermon. One time our own dear Anne, our nurse from Carolina (I think South) was going through a terrible time and I recommended this sermon to her, but she had it in her mind that I wrote Haman instead of Heman. So she listened to a stern sermon about Haman and the sin of pride. (It was as opposite as you can imagine to the soothing message I wanted her to hear.) But vulnerably, and I will always remember this about her, wrote: “I needed to hear that so badly.” Her humble heart is one of the reasons she is so mature.)
SUNDAY/MONDAY ICEBREAKER
1. Find one or two comments that stood out to you from your sisters’ comments last week and explain why.
2. Each of you has no doubt experienced a storm you did not understand. Yet if you look back, you may also be able to see ways God prepared you for that storm. If so, share something about that.
Monday-Wednesday Bible Study
Last week the sermon showed us how religion fails us in the midst of fear, but the “greater Jonah” never does. I want you to begin to contrast the first and second Jonah. Read again, Jonah 1:1-6 and also Matthew 8:23-26.
3. Find all the similarities in the two stories that you can.
4. Find all the differences — and why “the greater Jonah” is One we can trust in the fiercest storm.
5. Psalm 88 is one of the two psalms of lament that do not close with trust in God. Derek Kidner explains that even God understands that there are going to be times when our pain is too great to end our prayer with a resolve of trust. This ministered deeply to me, that God should so understand and forgive our weakness. Read Psalm 88. Find the lament, the despair — and see the graciousness of God to us when we rail at Him, the giver of every good gift. In miniature I’ve seen that a bit in 23 month old Sadie this week — as she is upset with Sally for having another little girl. She doesn’t understand and she cries — and Sally simply holds her and reassures her of her love. If anything quickens you in Psalm 88, share it here.
Thursday/Friday: Listen to one of Keller’s sermons listed above and share your thoughts.
Rebecca found the link to Heman’s Cry of Darkness as a free sermon!
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/hemans-cry-darkness
Saturday: What is your take-a-way and why?
632 comments
I listened to the sermon from last week – really good! It is one I could recommend to those close to me who don’t understand my belief in eternal security.
Rebecca found a FREE link to the sermon many of you are listening to this week — sorry I didn’t find it sooner!
Rebecca found the link to Heman’s Cry of Darkness as a free sermon!
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/hemans-cry-darkness
Good job Rebecca!
Thank you, Rebecca…I’m listening to it now 🙂
3. Find all the similarities in the two stories that you can.
Jonah & Jesus both boarded boats
There were great storms, threatening to sink the ships
The sailors and the disciples thought they would drown because of the storm
Both Jesus and Jonah were sleeping and were awakened
4. Find all the differences — and why “the greater Jonah” is One we can trust in the fiercest storm.
Jonah was fleeing from the Lord, Jesus is the Lord
The sailors cried out each to their own god, the disciples went to Jesus, God incarnate
Jonah was saved by the mercy of God, Jesus was in control
We can trust Jesus in the storm because He allowed it, He sometimes sends it even. He has a purpose for it, He is in complete control of it, we can trust that he knows what He is doing even when we are frightened and understanding is not possible, we can ‘in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths.’
Find the lament, the despair — and see the graciousness of God to us when we rail at Him, the giver of every good gift. In miniature I’ve seen that a bit in 23 month old Sadie this week — as she is upset with Sally for having another little girl. She doesn’t understand and she cries — and Sally simply holds her and reassures her of her love. If anything quickens you in Psalm 88, share it here.
The Message
Psalm 88:3 I’ve had my fill of trouble; I’m camped on the edge of hell.
Psalm 88:9 blinded by tears of pain and frustration. I call to you, GOD; all day I call. I wring my hands, I plead for help.
The analogy of Sadie speaks to me. She does not understand, she is just reacting, she can’t see now what a good thing to have in life a sister can be.
We don’t understand why there is such suffering in life. Why He seems to lead us out into the wilderness and leave us camped at the edge of hell. If God is good and in control and He loves us, then why, why, why would He not make all things work together in a way that makes sense to us?
Because we don’t understand, we must trust, we must quiet our souls with the truth that he loves us so very much, and He knows just what He is doing. We must have faith, and set our hopes on our eternal home, when we will see in full what we can’t hope to comprehend now.
So Good, Chris!
Chris-this spoke to me so much-such weight, coming from you:”If God is good and in control and He loves us, then why, why, why would He not make all things work together in a way that makes sense to us? Because we don’t understand, we must trust, we must quiet our souls with the truth that he loves us so very much, and He knows just what He is doing. We must have faith, and set our hopes on our eternal home, when we will see in full what we can’t hope to comprehend now.”
It was like when I read God of All Comfort–there is so much more weight to the heartfelt words of someone who I know has endured a real storm, and who isn’t a candy-coating-plaster-a-fake-smile-type! It encourages me. I’ve been thinking more about heaven lately–oh if we only knew…I imagine being so frustrated with myself when we are finally there and I see how tiny this life is in comparison!
“Because we don’t understand, we must trust, we must quiet our souls with the truth that he loves us so very much, and He knows just what He is doing. We must have faith, and set our hopes on our eternal home, when we will see in full what we can’t hope to comprehend now.”
All I can say is wow! This is good.
Thursday/Friday: Listen to one of Keller’s sermons listed above and share your thoughts.
They Greatly Feared:(part one)
Two reasons Jonah runs; fear and anger. The stormy sea – reveals in our hearts that we are all God needers. Mark Twain quote “I prayed, I prayed like a coward, I prayed like a dog.” He was a skeptic but in the storm he cried out. Paul says in Romans 1 there are no skeptics…deep down inside we know there is a God.
The sailors are being pushed in the storm…they get religious, call out to their gods, but then switch to Yahweh. To Jonah “Have you got a god? Because ours aren’t working!” They didn’t have the concept of an eternal God, but that every created thing could be worshipped. They picked one god. (polytheistic) Those who live for materialstic things are defenseless in the storms, because their gods sink with them.
You may not deal with your fear very well by becoming religious in general. “I’ll be so good He has to protect me now.” Tell us the rules to keep us from drowning. General religion just opens us to more fear. God wants us to love him without ifs. What is on the other side of “if”? Our real god. Which will sink with us.
Jonah is saying, “I’d rather die than be picked up.” He is starting to come to his senses not because of God, but because of them. Might only be pity at this point, he’s looking at them in love. When they throw him in, the sea becomes calm and the people on the boat get more fearful. They feared the Lord. Psalm 130 vs. 4 …”there is forgiveness there, and I fear You.”
Great thoughts, Anne!
Good, Anne.
So interesting how he would rather cling to his idol than live!
1. Find one or two comments that stood out to you from your sisters’ comments last week and explain why. (From Elizabeth on the 19th of May)
“So for me, one who has tended towards fear at times, I am daily reminding myself—the worst thing that could ever happen to me, can NEVER happen—because Christ took care of it already. I’m finding a new peace in that. “What does my pain matter? But then I hear myself, and say–that is not my Lord. My Lord IS the Lover of my soul. He adores me, He chose me. He grieves with me–but its not over yet. He’s still weaving…and I have to hold on tight to what I know about Him, and believe that He is still creating His masterpiece-because that is Who He Is
I don’t need to explain why this is a favorite comment, as it says it all in the comment!.”
2. Each of you has no doubt experienced a storm you did not understand. Yet if you look back, you may also be able to see ways God prepared you for that storm. If so, share something about that.
Just like Julie, God prepared me for my second marriage, by him not being there to help me raise our kids. He was always gone. So I was use to it, being alone with my kids, when he left me.
Also,I have thought about my mom’s abuse from a very mean Aunt that raised her from a 2 yr old to 19 yrs, because her mother died and all 3 little girls/baby was given to relatives to raise untill the dad could manage somehow. The other two sister’s were given to other aunts (nice ones) and returned when the dad remarried. But she would not return mom as she wanted a slave! Mom was beat and still had scares on her face at 89 yrs, when she died, 3 yrs ago. Her dad tried to get her back, lots of times, to no avail.
Mom could of easily been a mean women like her aunt was, because that was how she was raised, but she was completely opposite, and showered us 4 kids with love. So I never knew about abuse, untill I married at 17yrs old, to my high school sweetheart. He was in Viet Nam serving his country and on leave when we married. He had killed over there and when he got out of the service, he had many nightmare’s and was abusive to me. He would go into a rage and strangle me against a wall or floor, but God kept him from completing the job. I was not a christian then or raise as one, but God was protecting me.
The thing I was thinking about, was if I was abused as a child from mom (who was abused), I would of been use to it and thinking I deserved it probly, or been an abuser myself. Does that make sence at all? I’ve only thought of this since Dee ask us about our mothers. But sence I was not use to abuse, I got out of that marriage (of 9 yrs) before he killed me. So God prepared me for that storm, by not accepting the abuse my husband put me through, because I was not raised that way. Instead, God lead me to him through my sister-in-law back then. She was raised a christian (her mom was Marva Newquist, Dee)
So this was all in God’s plan, as I look back, almost 40 yrs ago! I experienced this storm, so I would turn to my sister-in-law for help and advice, which led me to God and my salvation! So Thank You Lord for my storm back then, which prepared me to run from it and run to you, Dear Jesus! Confused Yet?!
I can’t really stay on long–but wanted to jump in and say to Joyce–thank you for sharing your heart and pain with us. You have endured so much–and to see the kind of woman you are–thoughtful, compassionate, prayerful–oh it just encourages me so much. You truly are such an example of how God can use such terrible trials to refine us into daughters who reflect His glory. I love how you are able to see the Light shine through darkness. I love hearing how God brought your sister in law to pull you out your storm. When I read all of this–I pictured you engulfed by waves in a stormy sea–and Hid hand reaching down to lift you up and pull you into His chest. And we here get to be blessed by all He has done in your life. You are a treasure, Joyce. I’m so thankful to have met you here.
Wow Joyce, I agree with everything Elizabeth said. You have been through so much in your lifetime. Yet, you are not bitter, unforgiving, nor angry. You remind me of what Keller said about being able to forgive – you see what Jesus suffered for you as “weightier” than your trials (and that’s not to say that yours weren’t very hard) but you love Him more than to hold onto bitterness.
Not many women could overcome all that you have.
What a story! How beautiful that God protected you and how lovely that you are who you are today 🙂 god is refining us into precious gold and you are no exception. You are wise beyond your years and I appreciate being able to know you on this blog!
That was beautiful Joyce! Not at all confusing, a wonderful testimony. I hurt so thinking about your moms abuse.
Joyce — I think you would have become an abuser had it not been for God’s grace rescuing you through your sister-in-law. How interesting Marva was her mother — Marva, a lovely woman. God intervened to stop the self-destructive behavior. You are the one in whom the chain was broken. And such a gentle woman you are.
Wish I could give you a hug! Your testimony is so wonderful! As Dee says, the chain of abuse has been broken through you – such a wonderful powerful miracle!
Wow Joyce, your testimony is powerful! God reached down and pulled you out of deep waters.
I can relate to what your share about being fearful. It has been huge for me and I have already shared how the Lord set out to deliver me and has done so. I still struggle sometimes though. I get fearful when things happen to remind me of my mother’s dementia, especially when I have difficult days. Lately I have been bothered. Wednesday morning I was in my car waiting for a van to work. I had a Mom’s in Prayer sheet from the day before and thought I would use it for some prayer time as I waited. My eyes went straight to Isaiah 46:3&4. When I looked it up here is what it said: “Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of The house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth, I will be the same until your old age, and will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear you and save you. It still brings me to tears.
Thanks for sharing that, Anne, I like this part…”I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear you and save you.”
I know how painful it was to talk about your mother’s dementia, but you helped me so much when my sister-in-law, Mary Kay was dying of the same thing. Thank you so much, Anne
Joyce, as you look back on Mary Kay’s death, are you able to see God’s faithfulness to her?
(Week One) Keller Sermon
10. The stormy sea (What do storms reveal about every human heart?)
Keller said that as a class, sailors are not terribly devout, but when the storm comes, each cries out to his own god. Storms reveal that deep in our hearts we are all God-knowers and God-needers. Liked this – that this involuntary reflex to pray, to cry out, that people find in their hearts in times to darkness and trouble is not evidene for the skeptics for the existence of God, but it is evidence FROM God against the existence of skeptics.
In times of storms, you see that you are a fragile, dependent, contingent being. You really know who you are – not when you can deliberately act in a way that you think you want to think of yourself as or you want others to think of you as, but when your reflexes are engaged, your instincts.
11. The religious sailors (Why doesn’t their religion help them?)
The sailors frantically cry out to their gods, and when that doesn’t work, they go to Jonah and say ours aren’t working, try your God! The sailors are “getting religious” but it isn’t helping them because they do not KNOW the true God. They just want to appease Him, whatever it takes, to save themselves. They’re grasping at anything.
People are like this today. Disaster comes into their lives, and a person will get religious; going to church, praying, trying to obey the commandments. They think if they get it right, they will please God and then He’ll keep them safe or take-away the calamity.
The sailors were bargaining with God; people today bargain with God. They say, “God, I’ll do anything You want if…..”
What they’re missing is, God wants us to love Him without any “ifs”. Keller said that what is on the other side of your “if” is your real god. It is a created, finite thing, and it’s in the boat with you, so to speak, and subject to the storms of life and it will sink with you, so you will always be afraid.
12. The willing substitute (How do you deal with fear?)
It was really neat to think about how Jonah may have been turning his heart back in the right direction as he saw the terror of the sailors and felt compassion for them. He sees them suffering for his sin and he begins to think of others and not just himself.
The sailors, after they threw Jonah in the sea and the storm calmed, experienced great fear, but it was awe, reverance, for God.
The way we deal with fear is to get the right kind of fear. 1 John 4:18 says that perfect love casts out fear. That perfect love is the love of Jesus Christ who became the willing Substitute for me, who went under, not the waves of a storm at sea, but under the wrath of God’s punishment and justice. He knew that was the only storm that could destroy me.
Now I understand better what Jesus meant when He talked about Jonah and said that “a greater than Jonah is here.” Jonah sacrificed himself for the sailors, Jesus sacrificed Himself for every person who ever lived or will live – the Ultimate Jonah.
If Jesus would do that for me, certainly He can handle the “small stuff” that I am afraid of happening to me.
I like what Keller said, that “I have to inhabit my doctrine”. It’s more than intellectually knowing. If we persevere in prayer and reading the promises of God and hold on, we are moving our house a little more onto the rock each time.
I loved that phrase too “inhabit our doctrine” — and I see you doing that.
13. What is your take-away for week 1?
Well, I’m thinking of the idols: power/control, approval/affirmation/fear of man, and comfort/security. If I think of them as real little statues, like ancient people had their gods and they took them with them, like the sailors had them on the boat; and my daily life is like being on a boat. If I keep everything calm, but that means I’m working, working, working really hard to get approval, or running to other things besides God for comfort and security – my boat is always under threat of becoming unstable. If I’m looking to a person to meet my needs for love and approval, and they don’t, the boat starts to rock. If I don’t get my way, a storm is brewing. It’s not a great way to live!
But if I have Jesus in my boat, I have smooth sailing. When I run to idols instead of Him, it’s like I’m tossing Him out of the boat and depending on things that are going to sink with me.
Boy, Keller sure kicked me in the butt with his sermon on Heman and psalm 88! I never thought of it as a way for Him to acknowledge that we are pained; that Jesus totally got the suffering; that the last bit of the psalm says that even darkness was his friend; that the world was in darkness the day Jesus was crucified. WOW. I am speechless with this sermon! Thank you Rebecca for finding this sermon for free 🙂
Yes, I love this sermon too, Susan. I’m taking notes and listening to it over and over!
I meant Laura, it really makes me think about the darkness and how Psalms 39 and 88 ends with “no hope”.
I know! AND He didnt remove it from the bible! He kept it in so we would know. It makes ms want to cry. I thought it was just a “whiny” psalm.
Laura-Dancer, 🙂 I wasn’t expecting to find it for free-normally the ones that cost you can’t also find them for free on the Church’s website. I bought it a few years ago, but failed to download it and it expired and I couldn’t access it-So I looked online instead of purchasing it again, but would have purchased it again anyway- God is amazing!
Laura Dancer-Oh and I love how God spoke to you through it! You made me laugh with your opening line! 🙂 Love who you are!
Oh Laura-dancer — you make me smile. But I’m so glad you got it. You are getting more and more and more and I rejoice.
Amen to Keller kicking butt! 🙂 Love that you are “getting it”. I rejoice with you in your amazement! It is so great to watch each other grow!
3. Find all the similarities in the two stories that you can.
Similarities: in boat, great storm, Jonah and Jesus asleep, sailors and disciples afraid they would perish, someone woke both Jonah and Jesus, all wanted rescue
4. Find all the differences — and why “the greater Jonah” is One we can trust in the fiercest storm.
Differences: Jonah trying to flee from the presence of the Lord, but the disciples had the presence of the Lord with them; sailors cried out to their gods but the disciples turned to Jesus; Jonah was disobeying God, but the disciples were obeying God; Jonah had to be thrown overboard for the storm to stop, but Jesus rebuked the storm and calm came immediately
5. If anything quickens you in Psalm 88, share it here.
In the psalm, the expressions of despair and desperation pile one on top of the other throughout the whole psalm – troubles, horror, terrors, near death, cast away, wrath, assaults, flood. However, the verses that speak of him calling out to the Lord, every day in the morning, leap off the page to me. It is amazing that in the midst of all that pain why he doesn’t just “curse God and die”, yet he does not.
Good morning, Diane! I love this…
“In the psalm, the expressions of despair and desperation pile one on top of the other throughout the whole psalm – troubles, horror, terrors, near death, cast away, wrath, assaults, flood. However, the verses that speak of him calling out to the Lord, every day in the morning, leap off the page to me. It is amazing that in the midst of all that pain why he doesn’t just “curse God and die”, yet he does not.”
Where is our hope if we cursed God and died? We would have no hope. Our hope is God.
Notes on the sermon on Heman and Psalms 88.
Satan asks God…”Does Job serve God for nothing?”
Altho we say, “Your darkness is my closest friend.” We are still saying it to God! We are still with God! Staying with God even tho we are getting nothing out of it. That means Satan has been defeated!! Praise God!
Derick Kidner said, (about Psalms 39 and 88) “The very presence of these prayers in scripture, are a witness to God’s understanding. He knows how we feel and speak when we are desperate.”
Dark times can be when I come to understand and the best time to learn and really see the patience and grace of God, not in times of prosperity and happiness.
It is especially in times of absolute darkness, that you don’t even feel God’s presence. Those are the times of supreme opportunity for us to become a brave, great heart. You make that choice…to stick with God and serve him for “nothing” or not to serve him at all.
Jesus was truly abandoned but he is never abandoning us…He is with us!
This darkness can happen to a believer…it doesn’t mean your lost. This darkness can happen to someone who does not deserve it…that doesn’t mean you have strayed.
This darkness can happen at any time as long as this world lasts, because only in the next life will such things be done away with.
And this darkness can happen without your knowing why, but there are answers and there is a purpose and eventually we will know it!
I thank you, Dear Jesus for the absolute darkness I felt without you many times…but you were always there with me and I never felt abandoned.
Help me to serve you for “nothing”, but to love and praise you with honor. For this means that satan has been defeated!!
Praise God!!!
Joyce,
I love your sermon notes, and you thanking Jesus for the “absolute darkness I felt without you many times…but you were always there with me and I never felt abandoned. Help me to serve you for “nothing”, but to lvoe and praise you with honor. For this means that satan has been defeated! Praise God!!!”
You are an amazing woman of God, Joyce!
I love your sermon notes, Joyce. Wasn’t that sermon incredible! I fully agree with Susan’s comments! You are such an inspiration to me. And thanks for the response to my notes. I fully agree with you. We have no hope apart from Jesus. Praise Him.
I see you noticed how late my notes were. It was actually 2 or 3 hours later here. I couldn’t sleep and finally got up and sought some comfort by studying Scripture and listening to Christian music online. It was finally after 4 a.m. here before I went back to bed and slept. Hard emotional struggle night but God is my comfort. I may get to be a night owl like you. 🙂
It was comforting to know one of my sister’s was up late with me, Diane:)
Week Two
1. Find one or two comments that stood out to you from your sisters’ comments last week and explain why.
It was this, from Elizabeth: “When I really find myself in fear, it’s usually, for me, because I’ve forgotten who He is. I start thinking like He doesn’t really care or He’s somehow heartless about it….But then I hear myself, and say – that is not my Lord. My Lord is the Lover of my soul, He adores me, He chose me. He grieves with me.”
It’s the part, “That is not my Lord”. When those negative thoughts and doubts come, those voices that say He doesn’t love me, doesn’t care, isn’t listening – this is a wonderful truth to speak to my soul – “That is NOT my Lord”. That is not His character.
Amen to both your comments, elizabeth and Susan. “”That is NOT my Lord”. That is not His character.” Love it! So basic and sooo profound!
Yesterday morning I listened to Keller’s Psalm 88 Heman’s Cry of Darkness. This was another ‘wow’ one. I listened to it a long time ago and when I listened again God pulled out new layers.
These are the things Keller said that stuck out to me:
“Darkness both spiritual and personal can last a very long time. Psalm 88 teaches us that you can pray, pray, pray, call out to God, live rightly and be absolutely plunged into both outside and inside darkness. You can do everything right and have everything go wrong and it can be that way in your life for a long time and not even have a sense of God for a long time. American Christians are so naive about this. Jesus was a good person but he didn’t have a very good end. Naivete is a big a danger as trouble itself. This psalm can give you a wise heart-you can say, this will happen.”
“He knows how we talk (pray) when we get like this-it doesn’t matter, he is still our God. God is saying, I am your God, not because you put on a happy face this morning, not because you say everything just right, not because you do everything right, not because you always speak reverently to me. I am your God because I am a God of Grace despite all the things you do wrong, I am your God.”
– This was so comforting to me! I so need His Grace every day.
ore from Keller sermon on Psalm 88
“Even though he is yelling at God and despondent he is doing it before God. He is staying with God even though he is getting nothing out of it, he is staying with God for nothing. ….If you do that, you have defeated Satan and you are growing into somebody-because when the darkness lifts or lessens -you will find the pressure and that choice to stick with God will have turned your heart into something wonderful as pressure turns a lump of coal into a diamond. Only in times of darkness have I seen myself as someone who serves God for nothing. It is only in times of darkness you get an indomitable soul-a soul that can’t be dominated or daunted.”
Here is the part that impacted me and comforted me:
“Jesus got the ultimate darkness that Heman thought he had gotten but he hadn’t. Jesus got the real wrath-he was truly abandoned…If Jesus didn’t abandon you in his ultimate darkness why would he abandon you in yours?”
“there is an answer to the Psalmist’s question-in the very middle he says do you show your wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Our answer is YES! He took our penalty and sins on him and some day this will happen-you can’t know that resurrection is coming and be in utter darkness. If you know the resurrection is coming it is impossible to be in utter darkness.
This darkness can happen to a believer-it doesn’t mean you are lost-this darkness can happen to someone who doesn’t deserve it-it doesn’t mean you have strayed. This darkness can happen without your knowing why-but there are answers, a purpose, and eventually you will know it.”
My thoughts on Keller’s Sermon:
Long term inner and outer darkness can happen, and will happen to me at some point. God desires that I cling to Him in the midst-engaging with Him regardless. He won’t leave me, ever.
He didn’t abandon me in His ultimate darkness on the cross when He was being abandoned by God, so why would he all of a sudden abandon me in the midst of my darkness? This is faith in the middle of the storm-to cling to Him and to this truth. I am His and that is bigger than my darkness-it is HUGE!
I can have confidence that even though he ‘seems’ absent he isn’t, YET it is okay to not sense His presence-to struggle with it and tell him I am. I can’t help but get the picture out of my mind of Jesus on the boat with the disciples and how he didn’t punish or abandon them when they lacked faith, he was teaching them this truth in the midst of the storm-and as time went on with each darkness the Disciples grew from lumps of coal into beautiful diamonds.
Love how you found new layers, Rebecca.
Your words help me to understand Keller’s sermom even better, Rebecca…Thank You.
Laura-Dancer
I saw your comment to me in my e-mail about sitting shiva and giving me a hug thank you for that… 🙂 and thank you for understanding!
I loved the sermon! so glad to have the free link!!! thank you!
I have used it to share with my friend who is my storm right now …. you see, her daughter, a girl I helped to homeschool and raise throught her parents very messy devorse that involved a lot of mental illness on both mom (depression) and dad (bipolor and borderline personality disorder) is just now sharing with her mom and I that she was raped a year ago. her mom, shelly, has gone numb, hardly able to speak or look anyone in the eye. this seems to be the last straw of a VERY hard life. shelly wants me to be able to “fix” sarah (daughter) but we all know I AM NOT GOD so my prayers and moral support and encouragement to get help are all I can do. Im trying hard to be shellys friend and help sarah at the same time. Sarah is 21 and in college and is at my house for the weekend (her mom lives in the same town) because she can’t handle her moms not handling this. Im expected to be the all knowing strong one and I just am not.
please pray for Sarah, there is a LOT going on, lots of lies over the last year and lies give satan a foothold. she is a very strong Christian girl who loves God with all her heart but is very messed up right now, her not dealing with this has made her fiance break up with her… it would take a book to explain it all, i wont but please pray with me, this is a MESS! I know I can not fix any of it, I can only pray and love…..this is why I have not been on much, have read and listend to the sermons, the comments are jsut a little mroe then i can do right now but please know I pray for all of you, thanks to joyce’s “snapshot” of what needs prayed for!!!
Cyndi, I SO SO admire you-your heart for others-your sacrificial giving-selfless giving in action. So much like Jesus, so even if you don’t come every day on the blog-when you do, there is always something I can take away-always encouragement in and through your life. I also like your posts on f.b. and would love to just hang out with you-you would be a lot of fun and an encouraging person to be with at the same time! 🙂
Rebecca!!! I am working on my pride idol here!!!! you just better stop:-) thank you very much for you kind workds, they were a great encouragement for this weary soul! I would love to hang out with you too. I have very little time for friendships and my best friend lives 8 hours away, I have a friend that calls me a foul weather friend 🙂 I seem to only make time for my friends when they need me…not a good idea but life with 5 kids is busy!
thanks again sweet friend, have a wonderful day! @10;30 eastern time I will be meeting with shelly, sarah and 3 other friends to try to help, prayers are coveted!!!
Father, we lift Sarah to you and ask that you work in her heart, her mother’s heart, and give your peace to Cyndi.
Oh my, cyndi. Praying!
praying cyndi–your heart humbles me–love how you love the broken
Cyndi, I’m praying for you and for Shelly and Sarah and her dad also. You are a magnet to other’s because of your witness and example. I can understand how they are drawn to you, but I know this puts alot of stress on you. I’m praying for answers for them and that they would run to Jesus, in their pain. Praying for wisdom, comfort and peace, for you to help them.
Cyndi, How did your meeting go, or have you had it yet?
Blessed by all your notes.
I’m flying to Kansas City for the weekend (the mysterious woman in sunglasses) to work with Emily on her Valedictorian speech (another speech) to give tonight! I’m praying she will overcome the fear of man again through the power of God!
Hope you each get a break somehow this weekend — sweet time with the Lord…
How are you feeling, Dee…hope no headaches or long term effects from your bad fall. Praying for your safe journey. Blessings with Emily! Praying she does good!
Praying for you, Dee! I had to smile at the sunglasses!
Thanks Joyce and Susan. I’m doing much better!
I just listened to the sermon. It is so powerful. I will listen to it again tomorrow. Every point resonated with me. I’ll be able to share more clearly, once I’ve had time to process what I’ve just heard. Wow!
I ended up sending an email to all of my co workers and telling them that I’m being treated for major depression and anxiety and that my friend was only trying to be supportive. I REALLY didn’t want to tell them. I don’t want their fake sympathy or their apathy either. I did it only to spare my friend further pain, if possible.
I have to admit to you all that I don’t want to forgive them (God already knows this). I know that I am being like Jonah, but when I spend hour after hour, day after day with them it eats me up and I cannot truthfully say that I have forgiven them or want to, although I know that I need to. So many people have told me to find another job, but I know that this deep down sin problem will follow me wherever I go.
Praying for you, Dawn. I am sure sending this email was really difficult. Sometimes actions precede feelings. I pray that some of your coworkers will respond truly sympathetically and that this will open a door to in-depth relationships and forgiveness. Yet I feel that some will not understand and so may the Lord give you strength to forgive anyway and move on with life. It is interesting that you identify with Jonah in this. May God give you his heart in this matter.
Praying for strength, wisdom and peace in this matter, for you, Dawn. You are so compassionate and giving. Please take care of yourself first, tho. Love you!
wow dawn, such maturity in this “So many people have told me to find another job, but I know that this deep down sin problem will follow me wherever I go”. I’m praying your humble honesty towards them will melt some “ice” and bring healing–so sorry you have to go through this.
Praying for you, Dawn. This is so hard. I see a lot of maturity in you, too, in that you know if you don’t deal with the “deep down sin problem” it “will follow me wherever I go.”
Lots of honesty and insight into yourself, Dawn. What you see so many of us never wake up to see.
But I am so sorry for the pain and agree with my sisters’ comments to you.
Dawn, just read this-so good. I too see maturity in your honesty with yourself. I think it was good that you told them about your situation for your friend’s sake and perhaps now this problem will not carry on at work. Sounds like you don’t need that extra pressure or issue going on right now.
Thursday/Friday: Listen to one of Keller’s sermons listed above and share your thoughts.
The 4 messages in Psalm 88 all help me hang on in the midst of my storm: 1) darkness can last a long time; 2) times of darkness are often the best place to learn about God’s grace; 3) times of darkness can be the very best situation to make you a person of greatness; 4) darkness can be relativized. I am glad God does understand and does not condemn even our blind flailing about in what seems to us utter desolation.
Here are some of my notes:
Here is a man who prays and prays and does everything he can and he is still in darkness. This psalm, at its heart, is giving us this tough message: You can be a good person, you can pray like crazy and have everything go wrong, and have no sense even of the presence of God in your life for a long time.
You say, What? Doesn’t the Bible say is always working everything out for good, that God has a purpose behind everything? Yes. The Bible also says that you may go all of your life and never have any idea what the good purpose is. Something horrible may happen and you may never in this lifetime know why that is. That is to be in darkness.
The psalmist is saying bluntly, “Saying, I want to praise you, declare your faithfulness to the world, but how can I when I am being trampled to the ground, deserted and killed? Don’t you want me to be able to praise you? Then why are you not answering me?” But he gets no answer. He is mad. [My comments: Sometimes I feel similar. I wonder how I can be used by God when I feel discouraged or even so totally not “with it” spiritually. I don’t “feel like” serving and yet out of obedience I do and sometimes it amazes me how God works through my weakness and admission of weakness.]
More Keller: Many people would say he is either speaking blasphemously or at least exaggerating by saying “You have never been there for me.” But this only makes this greater evidence of God’s grace. He is saying, “God, the pitch darkness is of more comfort than you.” [Wow! That kind of honesty gives me such comfort!]
By keeping those prayers in the Bible God is saying he understands. It doesn’t matter. He is still our God. He is saying, “I am your God, not because you put on a happy face each morning, not because you say everything just right, not because you do everything just right. I am a God of grace in spite of all the things you do wrong.”
Job starts with Satan taunting God. “Does God serve God for nothing?” Satan is pointing to devoted believers in God. “They are only serving you because it pays. They say I am serving God, my neighbor, the poor. But they are really serving themselves. What an accusation by Satan. It is basically right.
He is screaming and despondent before God. Yet, everything is prayer to God. He is still with God, even though he has gotten nothing from God. That means Satan has been defeated. Something has happened to God in the darkness. Even though he is getting nothing out of it, he is staying with God for nothing.
When, and Almost only when you go into dual darkness, darkness where not only things are happening bad outside, but inside you don’t even sense God there, where serving and praying gives you nothing. A great choice comes to you. God says, “Now we’ll see finally whether you got in this relationship for serve me or basically to get me to serve you. Now we will know because I am not serving you.” If in that situation, in the darkness, you just hold on. You may say, “God, I don’t like you. I don’t understand you. I’m mad at you. But I am not going anywhere. I am going to pray, and I am going to serve, and I am going to obey as best I can, because you are God; not because you are my servant, not because you do nice things for me. You are God and I am not. I am going to be with you.” If you do that, like this psalmist, you have defeated Satan.
When the darkness lifts or lessens (and it will) you will find that that pressure and if you make that choice to stick with God, in the darkness, it will have turned your heart into something wonderful, like pressure turns a lump of coal into a diamond. You will have a soul that cannot be dominated or daunted.
I loved the Lord of the Rings story of Sam. If you know the story and what Sam and Frodo had been through up to this point, it is so appropriate. “But even as hope died in Sam or seemed to die, it was turned into a new strength. Sam’s plain hobbit face grew stern, almost grim as the will hardened in him and he suddenly felt through all his limbs a thrill as if he was turning into some creature of stone or steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could ever subdue.”
I appreciated his last point the most. When we are in what seems to us utter desolation, it is important to remember that it is not. Jesus entered utter desolation for us – complete separation from God, complete darkness was his only friend. He did this to rescue us. He was our ultimate Jonah – throwing himself into the storm to keep us from drowning.
Keller: For God to forgive us for this inordinate self-centeredness, this messing up his creation and trampling on each other, and turning away from him, he came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ and he paid the debt himself. He took the ultimate darkness and the ultimate wrath so our darkness is only apparent. Jesus was really abandoned so you could only feel abandoned but you are not.
Because of Him we will have future calm and can have inner calm now in knowing his loving rescue.
Jesus was truly abandoned but he is never abandoning us…He is with us!
Diane–thank you for these great notes. I listened today but could not take detailed notes–it helps me to have yours. I love this too–“When the darkness lifts or lessens (and it will) you will find that that pressure and if you make that choice to stick with God, in the darkness, it will have turned your heart into something wonderful, like pressure turns a lump of coal into a diamond. You will have a soul that cannot be dominated or daunted.”
Such a good reminder that the darkness does lessen…and that He is using it.
Thanks, Joyce and elizabeth. I appreciate that you took the time to read my notes. I thought it was a great sermon and it was difficult to decide what to leave out in trying to summarize. I wondered if anyone would take the time to read my lengthy notes. (And this is just the abbreviated version. I found myself wanting to take every word down.)Glad it helped you!
I used to really appreciate your detailed notes, elizabeth. I’m sorry you are having such a difficult time taking notes now and doing other things because of your pain.
Wonderful notes, Diane. I have this on CD and I haven’t listened to it again yet, but your notes are bringing it all back! I liked your own personal comments about “I wonder how I can be used by God when I feel discouraged or so totally not “with it” spiritually…”
I have been asked recently to do a couple of things and I have a whole list of why I am not qualified to do them, spiritually. I guess if I wait until I am spiritually qualified, I might die first!
Such great notes, Diane. Oh I love the Sam quote too — and so much of what you gleaned. Thank you.
Love this, Diane….”Here is a man who prays and prays and does everything he can and he is still in darkness. This psalm, at its heart, is giving us this tough message: You can be a good person, you can pray like crazy and have everything go wrong, and have no sense even of the presence of God in your life for a long time.”
And this….”I appreciated his last point the most. When we are in what seems to us utter desolation, it is important to remember that it is not. Jesus entered utter desolation for us – complete separation from God, complete darkness was his only friend. He did this to rescue us. He was our ultimate Jonah – throwing himself into the storm to keep us from drowning.”
Loved your notes, Diane!
Thursday/Friday: Listen to one of Keller’s sermons listed above and share your thoughts.
Saturday: What is your take-a-way and why?
I got the chance to listen again to the sermon. I wish I could have heard this sermon sooner–weeks or months ago—but in His providence, He knows when I was ready to hear it.
Some more pieces sticking with me–
Diane so clearly quoted it above about the choice we have when hit with dual darkness–do I really love Him for Him–or am I serving and praying to get something?
Jesus was abandoned on the Cross-yet He still did not abandon me—so WHY would He now, in this? If He was going to ever abandon me–He would have then. But He didn’t–why do I think He has in my storms?
And the hotel room analogy—my expectations control my response to the same scenario. If I expected the Christian life to be with trials—I am greatly disappointed. If I believe, as Scripture tells me, I will have trials (yet I am never alone in them), in should change my response. This hit home to my immaturity. I still struggle some with the “but why…” and I am asking Him to really mature me in this. As I listened tonight, I paused it at one point, and cried out to Him. I do love You Lord. And I really do want to love You with that no matter what kind of love—love You because You are God and not for Your blessing…but I am not there yet. I trust He will grow me there gently.
Oh, elizabeth. You touch my heart. You are so responsive to his leading. ” I really do want to love You with that no matter what kind of love—love You because You are God and not for Your blessing…but I am not there yet. I trust He will grow me there gently.” God must really love your heart and He is leading you soo gently. You encourage me to follow hard after God too.
this brought tears, Diane–I felt His love for me through your words as I read this–oh you are a dear treasure to me–thank you
Elizabeth, you are a dear treasure to all of us:)
Elizabeth,
I’m thinking like Diane, that God must love your heart. Listen to what you’re telling Him, “I really do want to love You….”
I just thought of this verse for you:
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you
the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
And oh….the desires of your heart, to love Him more!
Susan, Okay so now God brought this song to me based on what you said. This doesn’t happen too often, so I am going with this-love this song. I used to sing it all the time, but it means so much more to me now!
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood.
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Susan–I read this this morning and have held onto it all day–thank you for this golden TRUTH–makes all else grow dim
If anything quickens you in Psalm 88, share it here.
Psalms 88:15 Afficted and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer thy terrors; I am helpless.
Keller said this verse means “You’ve never been there for me, God.”
Maybe some would feel that way, but I never did, even tho I didn’t really know God, I still felt there must be a God and he saved me.
Please don’t think I’m bringing this up again for sympathy or approval; I’m not, I am just trying to figure out why I felt there was a God! God was never mentioned in our home, as we grew up. I learnt alittle in sunday school, but other than that, I don’t know where it come from!
I think it came from Him, Joyce – it is what is “built into” every human heart. You didn’t know about Him, but He knew you! And He loved you, and He chose you to be His.
Thank you, Susan. I know that is it..so simple..but yet so true.
I am having a small storm and would like prayers. My daughter Sarah will graduate in a couple of weeks. We have waited so long for this day for her. I don’t know if you remember that she struggles with a low IQ and other issues such as compulsive behavior and making very bad choices for herself. She has a learning disability (non-verbal) and to me is kind of on the asbergers spectrum. She just turned 20 and is living at home.
Here’s an example of her making poor decisions: last Sunday night/ Monday morning she finished work at 10 pm and proceeded to take our 10 year old car with no gas and no money, dead cell phone, to Boston 30 miles away from us. She went with a girl who is a horrible influence (just got out of rehab for heroin addiction) and 2 boys. Needless to say, on Sunday night I was worried because I kept calling her and she wasn’t responding (dead phone). I finally fell asleep at 12:15 or so and she calls me at 1:00 saying she is out of gas and had AAA come to give her 2 gallons of gas. My husband said we would come down because she was trying to get the car towed! Lots of money……we don’t have. We went to get her and found the girl with her. I have always told sarah that this girl was trouble and she should stay away from her. I didn’t get home until 3:30 and had to teach teens at 7! She never thinks of others these days 🙁
I haven’t seen her for 24 hours right now and don’t have a clue where she is. I have a feeling she is with the girl again.
I also don’t know if you remember that she wanted to go to the expensive cosmetology school and my husband said she needed to work for awhile first? She works, but not full time. She spends all the money she makes and doesn’t save any. We told her she has to save at least 25 per week or we won’t pay for the college in the fall.
My prayer request: that Sarah wises up and realizes that she needs to be more adult like. That she is safe. That she remembers to save her money and find it in herself to be a productive member of society.
I have a feeling that we are in for a very long storm with this. It makes me sad and I don’t want to think about it. We are supposed to have a party to celebrate and I wonder if she will even come. She is really mean to me these days. Very self centered. It makes me depressed thinking of this situation. I guess God has a plan, I just have absolutely no idea what it is.
Oh Laura, I just read this. Does Sarah have your car? If you think she may not be safe, you could give the license plate/description of car to the police, so they could be on the lookout. I can’t imagine what you must be going through.
Dear Lord,
Please bring Sarah home to her family safely. We know that You know where she is and we ask for Your protection over her. We ask for Your mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Oh Laura Dancer, just read this-love your honesty yet hate that you are going through this storm and yes it is one of those mystery storms- hard to know why. Those who have Aspergers really do struggle with common sense, and with her having a low IQ-this must be so difficult for you all. You have her safety in mind as well as just wanting her to be able to discern these seemingly easy judgment calls, so that she can be independent some day and make good choices. I so hope you won’t be hard on yourself-this is one of those hard, unexplainable storms that as you said, you can’t really do anything about. Oh I will pray, this must be so hard. I can kind of relate as we have two who struggle with common sense-who struggle with organization and thinking ahead and I too am concerned if I think about it-which I refuse to go there in the future-just can’t because I don’t know yet. I can understand why you won’t think about how long the storm will last! So glad to see you are clinging to God in the midst-leaving the future up to him, but I know that can be a struggle when these things happen! We are with you and will hold you up in prayer.
Laura, I’d say your storm is a large storm, not a small one. At least I have Kendra right here with me as she is not able to drive or even walk very far. I can’t imagine not knowing where my daughter was for 24 hours! Kendra gets mean to me sometimes also and doesn’t want me around. It’s her way of breaking free of us and wanting her own independence. But that’s what I want for her too. She just doesn’t know how else to express herself. It sounds like Sarah is trying to break free too. She maybe needs someone, other than her parents to be with her. But not that girlfriend!
God does have a plan for Sarah and we can’t know what that is..but we can trust God moment by moment. I’m praying for Sarah. Hang in there 🙂
Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. She did come home late this morning (thank God) and fell asleep for a few hours. That tells me she was up all night. She didn’t have our car because we told her she could only use it for work now (after the incident).
Years ago I would have been crazy with worry. Not today. This is because I have God with me now. I realize she needs her freedom and I want her to have it, believe me. She went to work this evening and hopefully we will see her after that. Meanwhile I pray.
Laura-so thankful Sarah made it home safe–and even more, thankful for your heart, so trusting Him with her
Laura, I’m so thankful Sarah came home, too. I will keep praying for her.
Laura, yes so thankful she came home! Wow-to see how you are resting in God and not turning to control is sweet-so encouraging to see this!
One thing I found interesting in psalm 88: Heman was a songwriter. He and others write most of the songs in the psalms. Keller said this song was one of only a few (?) that was not really written other than for himself. It was his true feelings. I love that Keller said would Heman ever have thought we would be reading and analyzing that piece of his art 2000 years later in NYC? That was so funny to me! God used Heman 2000 years after the fact to teach us. Heman had no idea.
Laura-Dancer, loved this observation and it is a pleasure to see glimpses of how God is moving in you. Great observation and it made me think- amazing isn’t it how Heman glorfied God in the middle of a storm-wasn’t ‘trying’ just pursuing God-just being intimate with Him. So good.
2. Each of you has no doubt experienced a storm you did not understand. Yet if you look back, you may also be able to see ways God prepared you for that storm. If so, share something about that.
I don’t like to admit it but I was not prepared for the storm very well when my nephew died. I think my faith was kind of on “autopilot” for a long time, and when he died, I crashed. But because I backed up from God somewhat, and stopped doing Bible study at my church, I ended up here a few months later. I didn’t have close fellowship with anyone at my church, and I found it here when Dee started her first online Bible study. I hope I am learning to “inhabit my doctrine”, and that when the next storm of life comes, I will be better prepared because I know God better and know His character.
Last week the sermon showed us how religion fails us in the midst of fear, but the “greater Jonah” never does. I want you to begin to contrast the first and second Jonah. Read again, Jonah 1:1-6 and also Matthew 8:23-26.
3. Find all the similarities in the two stories that you can.
Jonah and Jesus both got into a boat.
Jonah and Jesus both encountered violent, furious storms.
Both ships were in danger of sinking.
Both the sailors and the disciples were afraid for their lives.
Both Jonah and Jesus were sleeping during the storms.
Both were awakened by frightened passengers.
The sailors wanted Jonah to do something to help the situation, the disciples wanted Jesus
to help them.
4. Find all the differences – and why the “greater Jonah” is One we can trust in the fiercest storm.
Jonah was a prophet – Jesus is God.
Jonah got on his boat because he was running away from God and what God had told him to do. Jonah had to pay a fare to get on the ship. Jesus got on a boat and His disciples followed Him – perhaps He had a “teachable moment” in mind?
The Lord sent the storm on the sea where Jonah’s boat was – Jesus’ boat was on a lake and a storm “came up”.
The sailors cried out to their pagan gods for help – the disciples went to the Lord Jesus for help.
Jonah was sleeping – Keller said it was like being under anesthesia, the sleep that comes from “sin is the sickness unto death”, being so sad you escape by sleeping. Jesus was sleeping, too – perhaps from being tired.
The sailors only had a mere man in the boat with them whom they were looking to to save them, but Jonah could not rescue them, only sink with them. The disciples had God in the boat with them.
Jesus spoke to the disciples and addressed their fear, then He calmed their fear by rebuking the wind and waves and the water became calm. Jesus had complete control over the storm, Jonah had no control.
That’s why Jesus is the “greater Jonah”. Only He has the power to stop the storm or, if He allows it to continue, to keep you from going under. His purpose is never to drown you, and He is with you in the midst of it – He wont sink with you but He upholds you.
Susan–I love how, though you didn’t feel prepared for the great storm of your nephew’s death…He used it–He still had such a hold on your heart. You said you crashed, you stopped reading your Bible…it reminds me some of Heman. Yet you still believed, and He still held you–and then He lured you here. And like you talked about in an earlier post this week–being in a boat…I just picture that your boat was shaken by the storms, and was drifting, aimlessly. And then He gently let the waves draw you here, to His heart. And here you stay, though in your daily life you’ve had more storms, you stay, faithfully here, with Him. Your life is a beautiful example Susan.
Susan, sometime it takes a hugh storm to wake us up out of our deep sleep, but you are a bright streak of sunshine, shiney out from behind the clouds. You bless us all here so much!
3. Find all the similarities in the two stories that you can.
-the storm was great and the danger very real
-the sailors/disciples were afraid
-Jesus/Jonah were both asleep though the storm was severe
-both were viewed as God’s emissary
4. Find all the differences — and why “the greater Jonah” is One we can trust in the fiercest storm.
-sailors asked Jonah to call on God for them
-the disciples recognized that Jesus is God and they called on Him
Jonah had no power of his own to save them in the storm, Jesus did. Jesus calmed the storm by a word from His mouth. Jonah calmed it by sacrificing himself to the waves. I don’t know if this is relevant but Jesus saved them while in the boat and Jonah by getting out of the boat.
Anne, this is why I love your posts-this was a great observation on the similarities: “the storm was great and the danger very real” – I didn’t ponder that much on this-but it is true-just think of really what they went through-almost certain death was right around the corner-not just any storm.
Rebecca, thanks for your encouragement. I love the song below. I had not thought of it in such a long time. I love how the Spirit brings to mind at a time that ministers. This sometimes happens to me with secular songs, kind of like when people see Jesus as the answer in commercials or anything that appeals to the human heart. I have had such a song ruminating this week. If it does not sound too crazy I will share it later ;o)
Anne, 😉 Well i certainly trust your judgment on that-but it sounds interesting!
2. Each of you has no doubt experienced a storm you did not understand. Yet if you look back, you may also be able to see ways God prepared you for that storm. If so, share something about that.
The greatest storm of my life was when my mother had a sudden psychotic episode while Alfred and I were visiting for a weekend. Alfred was in the 2nd grade so it was a while ago. It was the most traumatic thing I have ever been through. From that time on she was ill and it was not pretty.
Often God will bring books to me to read and the first time He did it was a Dobson book called When God Doesn’t Make Sense. At the time I knew it was from Him and I remember sensing that I was in for a storm. For the first time ever, as I read, I began to realize that God sometimes interrupts blessing with storms and that I may never understand why. Sometime after that was when the storm hit. So I think that book was preparation for me for that storm. It helped me to hold onto Him and know that He was there in all of it. For one who is not prepared it would be easy to think that God is not there in the storm.
I have a sense also that this study is preparing me for something. I think that if I am properly prepared I can be an anchor for my family. I don’t know, we will see.
oh Anne, I can’t imagine how frightening that must have been for you to go through with your mom. And the trail of fear something like that could bring. I see in you how your storm has grown in you a heart of such strength and grace.
It was frightening and years before I could see any good in it, but I did eventually see at least part of it.
Dear Anne, I know it was agony to see my sister-in-law go throught the simular dementia, forgetting how to do everything and watching them suffer. Such a horrible storm for you too bear, but I can see the fruit’s of the storm in you.
It’s like the storm, when the peach tree and all the ripe fruit were tossed and turned and blown off and bruised and fell to the ground, but the good fruit was picked up, what could be save and made a sweet, lovely, beautiful peach jam from it. You are that beautiful, lovely peach jam 🙂
5. Read Psalm 88.
Just read it through, and tried to do an online search on Heman. I wonder who he was and what was his affliction. Spurgeon’s commentary suggested that he may have had a disease that was infectious/contagious and perhaps that’s why he was repulsive to his friends and they stayed away. So this psalm could address being in a pit of despair over a physical affliction.
First of all, I am so glad I got to see Dee last night at my Nephew Sam and her Grand daughter Emily’s graduation. Emily did a wonderful job on her Valedictorian speech and the content was incredible too! Dee looked so beautiful despite her fall, but oh it looked like it hurt-thankful I got to give her a hug! 🙂
My takeaway for this week is really that it is okay when darkness stays-beauty will come as I cling to Him through it-even if it stays. I am learning to speak this truth to my soul when Satan tempts me to think He has forsaken me in the midst- Jesus didn’t just die on the cross to save me from the penalty of sin and then leave me alone to deal with my storms-OH NO! QUITE THE CONTRARY-Jesus is in the boat with me, and He experienced the loneliness of all loneliness and He knows how I feel-but I can’t stop there. Here is what blows me away-He wants to enter into my suffering with me daily! HE WILL NOT LEAVE ME-EVER, EVER!
The Christian life isn’t putting on a smiley face 23-7, while doing and saying everything right-putting on a mask. Oh no, life with Him goes much deeper than that-there is a deeper level of intimacy being forged by God through a storm. There can be terror and beauty at the same time in a storm-just like when Jesus was on the Cross-His death was terrifying yet beautiful. There can be such refinement and growth in just trusting and going to Him instead of retreating to my idols-instead of just ‘putting on’. Refinement is a process and often deals with long lasting pain, but we can have His joy and peace in the midst of pain.
This song came to mind-I don’t even know all the words, and I never sing it! I think God brought it to mind so I googled it. I hope it doesn’t give the impression that life will be cheery and our problems fixed when we lean on His arms-but that regardless of how horrible the storm, how rocky and ugly the path, we have Him in the midst. What delight, what joy, His peace in the midst-and our hope in the future-at least that is what I take from it so I will share:
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
SOrry for the short sermon-It was much longer and I spent a lot of time editing! 🙂
So good to see you last night, Rebecca. A treat for me that you were there. You have a beautiful mother too. And oh — those boys! So fun yet so challenging. You are amazing!
Oh Dee, it was a pleasure to see you too-and your family is so amazing. Yes, I was hoping the boys wouldn’t erupt while we were there-I wanted to introduce you to Isaac but I couldn’t find him-he was off eating all the food, sitting in a place where I couldn’t see him. 😉
Oh my — that adds another dimension to your life!
oh yes-Isaac eating too much and my oldest not eating enough-it has been quite the trial. I am thankful Isaac is compliant-I can stop him and help him, but what concerns me is the future-if I let myself go there. I know he won’t want to control himself.
Rebecca, while Isaac has his challenges, I think maturity will make a huge difference in him. What you are teaching him now may not seem to bear fruit but he will be much different as an adult.
Anne–your perspective…from a few years down the road, always encourages me too. Joey update?
Anne, Thanks so much! I think you are right. I used to have to battle getting my 13 year old to shower and brush his teeth and clean his ears. He used to not care until he started learning that it matters to girls. Even though he is too young for girls!! ;-0
oh this was ALL so rich dear Rebecca! And I love that you posted this song–haven’t heard it in so long, but this will stick “Leaning on the everlasting arms”–LOVE that–His arms, so strong, safe, secure. We can all lean and nothing will sway Him! “There can be terror and beauty at the same time in a storm-” So good
If anything quickens you in Psalm 88, share it here.
I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
This Psalm is very heavy and I am not in a place of lament at this time in life but I like this phrase because no matter what I am going through physically I can spread my hands out to Him, before Him. I am definitely calling to Him in my pain, if I don’t I will give in to fear of tomorrow.
Now we have two weeks or three, of respite and we are both thankful. On another note. my sweet Vergene, who I have been caring for, went down in health two weeks ago and is in a nursing home dying of Leukemia. I sat with her, held her hands and prayed with her for God to be merciful and keep pain away. Such a precious time together. The last time I took her to a dr. appt. a few weeks ago, we were in the car and I began to sing a hymn about Jesus returning for His saints and I had a feeling He was coming to get her soon. She smiled at my enthusiastic song and it prepared me that she wasn’t long on this earth. I love how God used me to reach out to her family with his love. The son told me I had been like family to them and I cried in thanksgiving for God’s love that was shed abroad in me. Continue to pray thar the daughter would reconcile – it is Vergene’s last desire.
Kim–I will pray. Lord, I lift up Vergene to You–thank You for how You have used Kim to minister to her and this family. Lord, I pray today that You would stir in her daughter’s heart. That she would have wisdom from You to have an Eternal perspective in this. That she would lay down whatever pain and bitterness, that she would go to her mother and be reconciled. In Your Name I pray~
Oh Yes, Lord I do pray this along with Elizabeth, that you would help Vergene to be pain free and her last days on earth would be a time of drawing nearer and nearer to Jesus, with much peace and joy. And please work in her daughter’s heart, that she might give her life to you also, before her mother passes away. Thank you, Jesus!
5. The first standout to me in Psalm 88 is v.5:I am like a man without strength, abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom You no longer remember, and who are cut off from Your care.
This is how we often feel in storms, like God is not there and we are just going to die. The fact that Jesus was asleep in the storm sort of reflects that feeling. In v.8 not only is God distant but friends are not there and he is even odious to them.
V.15 From my youth, I have been afflicted and near death. I suffer Your horrors; I am desperate. This poor man has suffered his whole life up until this point. We never see a resolution unless it is in another Psalm. I wonder if he was a leper from childhood.
It is very freeing to realize that if we are in too much pain to turn and trust we can voice our lament to the Lord and He cares. Just as Sally cares for Sadie and holds her. The circumstances do not change but neither does her love. Great word picture.
Great suffering teaches this. Dee, don’t you think that Sally’s great suffering has equipped her to help Sadie in this way?
Yes Anne — you have such a good memory! Sally is an extremely empathetic mother.
My take away is “He is the Lord of every storm”, large or small. Dee said that in the begining of this lesson 2 or 3 times. We learn
and grow spirually through our storms.
I also love this….”EVERY TIME WE CLING TO IDOLS, CLOUDS BLOCK HIS PRESENCE.”
(Dee put that sentence under the picture of the cloud of dust coming down the street, where the houses are.)
Laura – thankful that Sarah came home safe!
I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish up here or not; tomorrow is my son’s high school graduation ceremony in the morning, and then we have everyone over to our house in the afternoon. Busy with preparations – I’m trying to prepare emotionally, too!
Susan–I’ll be praying for your day–that’s a lot of emotions!
Praying for you Susan
Laura-Dancer
I read your post this morning about Sarah and I prayed for you and your family glad she is home safe.
Ladies
I will be back on doing the study tommorrow! Also if you could pray that i would take my thoughts captive I am having such a hard time doing this.. nothing has changes in my circumstances.. but am still really hurt..But i need to let go and forgive.. and I am having a really hard time doing that:(
Thanks Sisters. Love you all!
Love you too, Meg…praying for you!
thanks for your prayers for shelly and sarah! this is going to be a very long healing process….its a mess! praying that the HOLY SPIrIT will give all who are involved super natural wisdom and desernment!!!
Yes Cyndi..praying for that, for them too!
Cyndi, Thanks for the update! Sounds like the meeting didn’t go that well-It sure does sound like a huge mess! Will continue to pray for wisdom and discernment and for turning to Him.
External & Internal darkness, a good person who prays can have things go terribly wrong and have no sense of God’s love and care and presence for a long time
You may never know in this lifetime how God is working it for good
Expectations control how we look at our circumstances
Darkness can last a long time
Times of darkness can be the best times to draw near to God
The psalmist cross examines God, he is angry, he gets no answer
He speaks his true over the top bitter feelings to God, the presence of these prayers in scripture is a witness to Gods understanding, He is still our God, He is a God of grace
When there is darkness inside & outside, there is opportunity, you getting nothing out of prayer or serving God at these times
Satan taunts God, do your believers serve you for nothing? All our worship is self serving, we don’t love God, we serve Him for our own benefit.
Take away their comfort, the sense of your presence, they won’t stay
We all start self centered, with shallowness of character. When things get tough, we rail at God, but when we stay with God, Satan is defeated
Do I serve Him or expect Him to serve me- do I hold on and serve as best I can? If I do Satan is defeated, I can serve God for nothing
Darkness can be relativised, Heman’s darkness turned him into a great artist who has helped many. The darkness he felt was apparent, not real.
How can I know God has not abandoned me?
Jesus got the real total darkness of abandonment, Satan is right, we do exploit God & deserve to have God abandon us, Jesus was truly abandoned so we would only feel abandoned
Jesus died for me and didn’t abandon me in His real darkness, he is not abandoning me in my darkness
The knowledge of the resurrection means we can’t be in utter darkness
Darkness doesn’t mean you are lost, or have strayed
Thank you God for understanding our emotion, for Christ substitution for us & His example for us
I cried the whole message through, I listened twice.
I wished I had heard it before my trial, I told a friend when we were in the hospital that I felt I had been led into the wilderness and abandoned.
I felt that I must have prayed wrongly or had too much odious pride that this was the path I had to walk, I felt so flawed, because of all the testimonies I had heard over the years of people feeling so close to God in the midst of their trials. I didn’t feel His presence at all, I felt alone & bewildered, I prayed, but felt like my tiny inadequate prayers were further
evidence of my being deserving of punishment.
This message was hard because it brought me back to those feelings, but it was hard in a way that was healing. I want everyone I know to listen to it. Thanks ever so much Dee for bringing it to us, to me.
Chris — I’m so so so glad this was healing for you. How thankful I am.
It’s so unfair but when we have experienced the greatest sorrow the enemy comes in and tells us lies. I’m so glad to see the truth bring healing to your soul.
I thought as I listened to the sermon of how Joe Stowell emphasizes the word “know” in Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
He brings out that the verse says that we know it, it does not say that we will always feel it.
This was helpful to me
I am behind in comment reading, I hope to perhaps catch up this evening, have a blessed Sunday girls!
Chris, I am just catching up on the comments. I want to say that you encourage and bless me so. Remember God did what He needed to do to prepare you for your storm. This growth process afterwards has allowed you to be such a blessing to others. If you were “totally prepared” and just shrugged off the storm, you wouldn’t be real and helpful to us. I cry a lot when I read your comments.
Cyndi, I think I missed this situation in comments that I have not been able to keep up with but I will pray about what you have shared here. I know that God is a blue to reach into hopeless messes and redeem them, so I will pray for that.
Elizabeth, thank you for asking about Joey. Our relationship is not what I would like it to be but relationship with his dad is strong, so that is good. He is doing well in school and would like a summer job. I can’t tell what his relationship with God is which is my main concern. It seems we are always at odds. Yesterday I saw a post on Facebook that I felt I had to speak to him about. Instead I prayed. Right away I thought that I should just message him which I did and just asked him if he knew what that acronym meant. I think it was right because it made him think without having to respond to me.
Our Internet was down last night and that turned out to be a blessing. Joey and I have minimal agreement on movies so he does not like for me to pick. I have wanted to see War Horse and so we rented it last night. I felt sure he would like it because of the nobility of the horse. What wonderful creatures they are! He loved it for it had the perfect combination of tenderness and battles. Come to think of it Joey has a beautiful heart too.
I am still thinking about my take away but I think it will relate to the first part of the post and the daily struggle with idols. That is still my difficulty and I see how it blocks intimacy with the Lord. I want that intimacy more than anything. I think the song that I referred to earlier is relevant in this struggle for it just came to me in the middle of the week and has stayed. It is No Time by the Guess Who, circa 1969. It’s kind of a mean song but the lyrics i can remember describe how I feel about idols. I have no time for them.
I enjoyed listening to The Guess Who again. It was great listening to No Time from the perspective of how we should have no time for idols. Thanks, Anne. Hopefully that song will go round and round in my head reminding me of that.