by Chad Lewis on August 31, 2006
The thorn holds back the veil so I can see my Savior’s face.
I heard the above line in a poem a few days ago. In pondering this thought, I imagine all the things that keep us from an intimate relationship with our Lord. If we were left to our own devices, we would never seek God. We would simply go on god-hunts for all our lives thinking that the next thing would fill the Grand Canyon cavern in our soul that longs for something bigger than we can imagine.
The writer of Ecclesiastes says that God has put eternity in our hearts. We can taste that we were made for something bigger though so often, even as Christians, we don’t believe that God can fill this hole in our hearts.
Then enter the thorn. We hate thorns. We would have a problem if we liked pain or loneliness. But we don’t have to like them to know that they are useful in our lives. We can humbly accept the thorn because it will help us cling to the hem of our Savior’s robe and we will then notice His accepting eyes and open arms. Could this grace be true? Could God send distress? Could that be in His master plan?
There has been no sweeter fellowship with the Lord save when I was in my deepest point of distress. When aching and gut-wrenching agony had crippled my soul, I found my Savior weeping with me. But in the same moment I found my Savior smiling for He knew that this was best. This thorn allowed me to see Him more clearly. I could see better whose I was and that is much more important than who I am. I am beloved. I am Christ’s. I was bought back at the highest price so that I can be a shining jewel for God.
So if you find yourself complaining about your thorn, stop and breathe. Stop and read 2 Corinthians 12 and following. Stop and TRUST. For Gospel transformation only begins when we recognize our need and take it to the Savior. God choose a few ordinary people to change the course of the world. Each one realized their need for Him. Let us glory in our need for it will help us glory in our Savior’s sufficiency.
by Chad Lewis on August 19, 2006
Contentment and patience – these are two difficult words to swallow. Clay and I discussed this just the other day. Sometimes we long to be used so greatly by the Lord and all of life looks like a holding pattern. Sometimes we long for a relationship and nothing seems to be on the horizon. Days go by and all seems to be the same and we wonder if God has forgotten our name. Do we believe that He is in control? Do we believe that He has us exactly where He wants us? Sometimes we need to be reminded of God’s plans because the battle rages against us everyday.
The same night I talked to Clay, my wife and I laid down to bed. I was feeling less than content. She mentioned that we should bypass our usual Bible reading for the night and read a devotion from Streams in the Desert.
So we did. It was a message in a bottle to my soul. I will post it below and pray that it ministers to you as well.
August 16
From Streams in the Desert
I waited patiently for the Lord. (Psalm 40:1)
Waiting is much more difficult than walking, for waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. We enjoy knowing that God builds hedges around His people, when we look at the hedge from the aspect of protection. But when we see it growing higher and higher until we can no longer see over it, we wonder if we will ever get out of our little sphere of influence and service, where we feel trapped. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand why we do not have a larger area of service, and it becomes difficult to “brighten the corner” where we are. But God has a purpose in all of His delays. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” (Ps. 37:23)
Next to this verse, in the margin of his bible, George Mueller made this note: “And the stops too.” It is a sad mistake someone to break through God’s hedges. It is a vital principle of the Lord’s guidance for a Christian never to move from the spot where he is sure God has placed him, until the “pillar of cloud” (Ex. 13:21) moves.
(This excerpt was from the Sunday School Times)
So as we read the above message, let us remember that God is in control. He sees all we were, all we are, and He sees all we will be. In His perfect wisdom and gentle compassion, He is bringing us through the valleys and mountain tops that we need to visit. Even though it sometimes doesn’t feel like it, He is doing a beautiful work in our lives for our best and to His glory, AMEN!
by Chad Lewis on July 25, 2006
This summer has moved by quickly. Ginger and I are working with my dad in Memphis for a few weeks in between a few camps we will be doing some music at during this summer. The heat wave and Memphis humidity have drained us, but it is such a blessing to be able to work with one’s hands (and to have a nail gun.)
During a break one day, I laid down in my dad’s truck and peered up through the leaves of an old shade tree. My mind wandered to the vastness of God’s mind. It seems a little strange to ponder the infinite mind of God. Scientists continue to discover that the universe is bigger than we imagined. They are also finding that things are smaller than we had once thought. All of this is not only known by God, He created it all – He thought it all up.
This same God who knows where every sub-atomic particle is knows the very hairs on our head. I have been humbled lately as God has taken off a few more blinders off of my eyes. I hope they stay off. I see Him working in the good and the bad. Just today, my dad felt led to go to a different worksite. We had not been there for more than a few minutes in weeks. The owner of the house that is being built was on some scaffolding and fell. His leg was broken badly, and we were able to call for help and get him stablized. My wife is a nurse and she guided us in wise decision making. God knew that we needed to be there for him to help.
This is but one small instance in our days filled with God’s amazing Providence. He knows your name and He is caring for you. He is not anxious or worried because He is in control. He knows how everything will turn out. He is our God and He is working.
So let us find rest in Him. Let us realize that patience is needed as we seek Him. Whether or not we are able to do amazing things with our lives is up to Him. His purpose for us is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His face and He’ll take care of the rest. So let us all take this journey of resting in our God. And remember, resting is hard work.
by Chad Lewis on March 28, 2006
William Cowper was a hymn writer during the days of John Newton. Cowper struggled from the deepest depressions and most of his life was marked by darkness. John Newton was a friend and pastor to Cowper and he encouraged him to write hymns along with him as it might be good therapy for the soul. One of those hymns is called “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” The lyrics are listed below.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Though the entire hymn has ministered to many, one line has become more famous than the others. “Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.”
As we walk on this road of life, we often cannot trace God’s hand at work in our lives. We may be in the fiery furnace as the flames blaze out of control. From there, we may find ourselves in the cold, dark room of deepest doubt. In these times, events in life are hard to explain and sin often looks good when we perceive God to be bad.
But the truth remains – God is ALWAYS good! Though He sees you in your heartache or storm right now, He sees how He is going to use this in your life to bring glory to Him and to draw you to Himself. He is working ALL things together for good… (Romans 8:28-29)
Several years ago as I struggled with singleness, I had an impression in my heart during one of my loneliest times. The impression was that even though God was seeing me devestated in my heartache, He was also seeing me in the joy of my wedding day. The goodness of God allowed me to struggle so that I would know Him more and learn to trust His hand.
A few years ago, I lost what I thought was the fulfillment of that promise. But I stand here three years later and am engaged to the woman who is my best friend and helpmate. The frowning providence of God pulling the other relationship away has brought me to this moment of marriage. He is good! He is in control! He is at work and He is smiling because He knows the end result of all of His children – eternity with Him!
