by Chad Lewis on May 21, 2009
I have been thinking about this George Mueller quotation a lot lately.
There was a day I died – died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world’s approval and censure, died to the approval or blame of my brethren or friends; and since I have studied only to show myself approved to God.
It seems like I have to go through daily deaths. I have to die to the approval of people and seek to follow the convictions that God has outlined in Scripture and laid on my heart. I sometimes have to make decisions where all parties involved are left unhappy. I have to die to the draw to be “great” in the world’s eyes and seek to be a servant of all. Some days I don’t die to myself very well.
God invites all of us to sit before Him and cast our cares onto His lap. He cares for us. Consider what things you need to die to and then remember, God never calls us to do something He won’t empower us to do. Sometimes death is a slow process and some things we will never be free from fighting while in these present bodies. Always remember that His mercies are new every morning and this battle is worth waging.
by Chad Lewis on January 21, 2007
After living a gazillion places, having a thousand jobs, being up in front of people playing music and speaking, mopping floors, having money and being dirt poor, receiving accolades and awards, and being made fun of, I have realized that none of this earthly stuff is ever enough. One might think that after having experienced earth shattering lows that are so painful your teeth hurt that you would truly appreciate the highs where the whole world seems to be affected by you, but it is never enough and it was never meant to be.
We were created to never be truly filled by anything but God alone. If we believe the Scriptures, God has us where we are for His exact purposes and to fulfill a greater plan. I have seen the green grass on the other side of the fence and moved to the neighbor’s yard only to desire to go back because the shades of green seemed to change.
With all of this, I think of Paul’s words in the epistles. He counted “ALL” loss compared to knowing Christ. He counted everything as rubbish and refuse compared to knowing Christ. And he also found contentment in all things. Whether he was hungry or full, warm or cold, in safety or in danger, in all these places he was in Christ and Christ was in him.
We were not created for this world so the next time you find yourself useless because you are thinking that being somewhere else would solve all your problems, remember that your problems and heartaches will always go with you. However, the God of our fathers will never change and He can meet us in our time of deepest need.
So I write this to myself this morning because I’ve been thinking that the grass is greener right now and my contentment in what God is providing is at a low. But, I will trust in His promises and say along with David, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…” God has made me lie down in the green pastures that He has ordained for me at this time, and I will praise Him for it.
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!
by Chad Lewis on December 15, 2005
My friend encouraged me yesterday. The jist of the conversation follows…
It is O.K. to enter a spiritual fog because we know what we believe. The truth remains whether or not we feel it. It must be grounded in our lives so that we can battle to believe when the darkness comes. We need friends and loved ones to preach the gospel to us each day because we’ll forget the awesome, life-giving truths of it before we go to bed.
So are you in a spiritual fog? I am currently. Even so, I read a quotation from Streams in the Desert that encouraged the socks off of me yesterday. It follows: “We do not see… We are not able to discover any beauty, any possible good in our experience. Yet if we are faithful and fail not and faint not, we shall some day know the most exquisite work of all our life was done in those days when it was so dark.” J.R. Miller
Dear brother or sister, be faithful during these days. Reach out for help and cry out to God to help you believe. The hope of Christ will be an anchor for your soul when days seem darkest. And when you least expect it, the noonday will shine forth gloriously bright and God will show you what He did to glorify Himself in these dark days. It might be in the next life, but it will be worth every tear and heartache.
Journey on Christian and remember that He is leading you further on…
Note: One of the most helpful books I own is a little devotional book called Streams in the Desert compiled by Mrs. Chas E. Cowman. It’s contents contain jewels from Charles Spurgeon, George Mueller and many other heroes of the faith. The entire theme woven throughout is God’s redemptive work in suffering. It has been a friend to me many a lonely night.
