1 Kings 18:7-12
Take a look around you, we can all make a long list of problems that are weighing us down. From not enough time to get every kid to practice or games, to financial hardships, to dealing with family. Struggles are always around us, but what if our struggles do not have to determine our faithfulness to God? All too often as humans we tend to focus so much on our struggles that sometimes we forget to remain faithful. Why is church attendance often the first thing to go from the schedule when schedules get crazy and take control of our lives? Or perhaps not giving to God when finances are tight yet living with “extra” things or wants. I write this not to shame but to really make us stop and understand there are always struggles around us. How do we allow it to reflect our faithfulness to God?
As we read in today's passage, we find that Obadiah was trying to follow God while surrounded by pressure and fear from a wicked King. Obadiah had risked his life by hiding God’s prophets and yet Elijah gave him another task. I Imagine Obadiah was afraid. However, we can learn a valuable lesson from him that being scared in our struggles does not mean you are not faithful. He knew what Ahab and Jezebel had done in the past and was worried what would happen to Elijah. Even in our lives all too often we let the past keep us from stepping out in faith and trusting God with the present and future. So, I ask you this question: When struggles hit do you remain faithful? Maybe you struggle with knowing how to remain faithful and that is okay. It starts with the character, who are you when no one is watching? Doing the right things is not going to eliminate fear or struggles, but they are going to allow us to remain faithful. When struggles surround us and we keep on doing what we are called to do, we are able to understand that God is still working, even though we may not see it. What looks like chaos to us, is nothing new to God.
Start today: What struggles are you letting control your faithfulness? How can you let go of them and give them fully to God?
As we read in today's passage, we find that Obadiah was trying to follow God while surrounded by pressure and fear from a wicked King. Obadiah had risked his life by hiding God’s prophets and yet Elijah gave him another task. I Imagine Obadiah was afraid. However, we can learn a valuable lesson from him that being scared in our struggles does not mean you are not faithful. He knew what Ahab and Jezebel had done in the past and was worried what would happen to Elijah. Even in our lives all too often we let the past keep us from stepping out in faith and trusting God with the present and future. So, I ask you this question: When struggles hit do you remain faithful? Maybe you struggle with knowing how to remain faithful and that is okay. It starts with the character, who are you when no one is watching? Doing the right things is not going to eliminate fear or struggles, but they are going to allow us to remain faithful. When struggles surround us and we keep on doing what we are called to do, we are able to understand that God is still working, even though we may not see it. What looks like chaos to us, is nothing new to God.
Start today: What struggles are you letting control your faithfulness? How can you let go of them and give them fully to God?
Posted in Devotional