I wanted to thank everybody who has been reading my blog since late last year. I hope that you have been blessed by it and that you have a greater understanding of God, and yourself, than you did before. This is my last blog for the Daily Press and I want to personally thank them for the opportunity to talk about spiritual issues that affect every man, woman, and child locally and around the world.
For twenty-one years, my life was very predictable. I awakened very early in the morning and tried to predict the unpredictable. Life was predictable. The weather, not so. In August of last year, a storm swept in and rocked my life. A mundane life of morning television for as long as I could remember was over. Life had changed. In politics, one can get elected with a platform of “change.” In our personal lives, change is something different. It yanks us from our comfort zone and sends us into the great unknown. It forces us to adopt an attitude of faith in God, or anger toward Him, depending on the soil of your heart.
I believe that change is good even when it hurts.
Yes, I will miss writing my blog, but I know that God has closed one door so He can open another. The day I found out this will be my last blog, a major international ministry called me to ask me to write for them online. That is God! I was pleased. The closed door was followed by an open door within hours. Sometimes, God makes us wait weeks, months, even years before the next door is open. In the end, it’s a matter of trust. Do we trust Him to take care of us? Do we believe that He has the best intentions for us? Do we know deep in our hearts that He has the power to implement His plan in our lives?
There is a great deal of change flooding our country. Some of it is good, most of it is bad. While the Bible teaches that God does not change, He does orchestrate change in our lives to keep us out of the ruts and ditches of life. My hope is that each of you will have your faith built higher and deeper as the winds of change blow in from every direction.
Many of us like to question God about the changes. This side of humanity can easily be seen in my ten year old son, Caleb. Several months ago we were outside doing yard work. The conversation went something like this: “Caleb! Come over here!,” I shouted from the other side of the yard. My son responded with a terse tone, “Why?” That attitude from a ten year old to his father didn’t sit well with me. I wanted to avoid the traditional, “I told you so” line. “Caleb. Your daddy needs you immediately.” “Why?” he repeated. “I need your help, son.” My patience was wearing thin. “What kind of help?” he asked, not budging from his side of the yard. I immediately dropped my rake. “Caleb!” I shouted with a tone that immediately got his attention. Like a shooting star in the night sky, my ten year old boy shot toward me in panic.
“What do you want, dad?” he asked. As I approached him, I could see what had held him up. He had quit raking and was busy pouring water on an ant hill. He thinks floods are cool. “I wanted you.” I said. “Why?” he asked again, not understanding the quicksand that he was drowning in. “Your job is to not ask why, Caleb. Your job is to obey me. I know what is best for you and you are going to have to trust me. I am your father. Do you understand me?” He dropped his head and grabbed his rake and waved goodbye to the floating ants.
When God institutes change in our lives, too many times we are busy asking God, “why?” Instead, ask “What?“ God wants us to trust Him. He is our Father who loves us more than we can possibly imagine. He is trustworthy and much smarter than any of us.
I hope the changes in your life in the upcoming months and years will prove fruitful and not too harsh. I hope that you will trust Him to see you through them so you are wiser, stronger, and more faithful on the other side. When change storms into the scene, stare it straight in the face with faith instead of fear.
Faith comes from God, fear comes from the enemy. Life is a rollercoaster ride! The rollercoaster ride of life is a little different than the average thrill ride. You see, this ride you are blindfolded. You can’t see the track ahead of you. You don’t know when the next hill may take your stomach away. You don’t know how long it is or when it will suddenly stop for good. No matter what part of the ride you are on, change is sure to come, sometimes when you least expect it.
This is where faith comes in.
You are welcome to keep up with me on my website Joncashministries.com. I do a daily devotion on my site in written form and video. If you would like me to come and speak to your church or conduct a revival, feel free to contact the ministry as well.
May God bless you as you learn to obey Him in all things.
