Life is not always easy treading. Sure, there are days when the pavement is newly resurfaced, and the journey is smooth. But there are also days when the road you find yourself on is not so smooth. Even the potholes loom large and dangerous. It feels as if you are about to tumble into a deep dark black hole.

Abnormal markers in your routine blood work require further testing, leading to a diagnosis of cancer. Or maybe out of the blue you experience some other major health scare. You or a family member have been battling a lingering illness for a long time and you are worn down and discouraged. A loved one recently died, you find yourself lost and lonely. Maybe you suddenly find yourself without a job. It could be that at the end of the month you have more bills to pay than you have money in your checkbook. Whatever the “hole,” you just cannot seem to shake the feelings of fear or despair. With each new day the vortex sucks you deeper and deeper into the hole.

Or how about this. You have been praying about something God placed on your heart and finally build up the courage to step out of the boat in faith, only to find yourself beginning to sink. You thought that you were following God’s plan, but now you question whether you really did hear from God, or if you simply ate some bad pizza.

Where do you turn when the bottom drops out?

What is at the bottom of that black hole you find yourself falling into? Will it hurt? Fear has taken over and you are waiting for the hard landing. Rest assured that Jesus is there to catch you.

You might be familiar with the story of Peter walking on water. Matthew 14:22-36 tells the story of the disciples in the middle of the lake when their boat got caught in a storm. While it was still dark, they saw Jesus walking on the water and were terrified because they thought he was a ghost. Jesus tells them to not be afraid, but probably to little avail. Peter then calls out, saying, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water” (v.28). You can imagine Peter’s shock when Jesus invites him to get out of the boat!

Let’s pick up the story beginning in v.29 – “Come,” he said. Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Do you see it? When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on the water. But the moment he focused on the problem (winds and waves), he began to sink. So, what happens next? We find these comforting words in v.31 – “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

So, when you are falling head over heels into what seems like a deep dark black hole, and fear has kicked in, know that Jesus is not far away, with His hand extended, saying to you, “I am right here!” Reach out and grab hold!

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We live in a self-centered world. One in which many people see themselves as the center of the universe. The bullseye on the dart board.

Our culture is also one of self-realization (actualization); the need to fulfill one’s full potential. I realize those statements are an overly broad stroke of my paint brush and are intended to simply be a generalization of society as a whole. Psychologist Abraham Maslow puts this idea of self-realization as the final stage of development in his “Hierarchy of Needs.” Maslow said it is, “self-fulfillment to become actualized in what he is potentially.”

I see nothing wrong with the desire to become better versions of ourselves. But there is a danger in striving to be “fully” ourselves. Doing so in a self-focused way, we are essentially saying “I have no need for Jesus.” While society says self-realization, I propose a different approach to becoming our best self: Christ-realization.

A central theme of the gospel message is re-birth: being reborn as a believer in Jesus Christ, becoming sons and daughters of God. This idea of re-birth implies dying to our self-centered self and wholeheartedly seeking the ways and purposes of the kingdom of God. The apostle Paul wrote, “our old self was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6). He also penned these words, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In the Old Testament, God’s Spirit would come and go, empowering certain people for service, but not remaining with them permanently. Examples: Samson (Judges 13:25), Joshua (Numbers 27:18), Othniel (Judges 3:10). Ezekiel (Ezekiel 11:5). As Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death, he revealed the new role that the Spirit would play in their lives – “he dwells with you and will be in you” (in context, John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is not some add-on that super-Christians receive. We all receive the Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

In my understanding, becoming our best self happens through the leading of the Holy Spirit. If we truly walk with Jesus, we become increasingly more sensitive to the Spirit’s activity. Doing so requires a belief that the Father is always at work, in the world and in our lives, and learning to perceive what He is doing and join him in that work. As Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure, He said this to them – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). Our best self happens in following the way: walk of Christ, being guided by the Spirit.

Receiving the Spirit is automatic. Asking to be led by him requires intentionality. If we ask to be guided (controlled) by the Spirit, we are told this by Jesus – “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

Self-realization might help you fulfill your “destiny,” but Christ-realization leads to you fulfilling your God-given purpose. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (a series of questions and answers about basic Christian doctrine) asks the question, “What is the chief end of man?” Or asked another way – “What am I here for? What is my purpose?” The catechism answers that question with this – “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Right now, humble yourself, seek the Spirit’s guidance, and pray these words of David, words he cried out as he fled from Saul and hid in a cave – “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purposes for me” (Psalm 57:2).

Who is the center of your life?

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There are four seasons throughout the year. The meteorological seasons are based upon the annual temperature cycle whereas the astronomical seasons are based upon the position of the Earth in relation to the sun. The four meteorological seasons of spring, summer, fall, winter are each broken down into groupings of three months based upon the annual temperature cycle as well as the calendar. The four astronomical seasons are determined by the Earth’s position in relation to the sun. These four seasons change with the two solstices (sun’s path is furthest north or south of Equator) and two equinoxes (sun directly above Equator). The solstices mark the shortest and longest daylight of the year while the equinoxes are day and night being of equal length. 

While it is still only February, and Mother Nature is probably not yet done with winter, spring is coming! Spring, that lovely season of new life, vibrancy, greenness.  

The seasons of life so often mirror the seasons of spring, summer, fall, winter. Some seasons we feel dormant and dreary. Other times, there is a vibrancy and brightness. Winter does eventually turn to spring. Spring leads us into summer. Summer becomes fall, and soon winter is upon us again. And depending upon the season of life we find ourselves in, our mood, our emotions, our outlook on life, our attitudes, our actions, our thoughts, vary, sometimes greatly. That season called “dark night of the soul” often brings despair and hopelessness. When the grass is green, we tend to have a much better outlook and demeanor than when our life is not so green.

We have a God who is in the business of bringing new life to that which is dead. We are all born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5), and thus, considered dead (Romans 5:12). God gives us new life, through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, when we commit ourselves to him (Ephesians 2:1-5). God can bring rain amid the drought. Today, let’s look at a verse found in the Old Testament book of Zechariah – “Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture” (10:1).

Ancient Israel did not have irrigation systems and was dependent upon rain to water the grain. Farmers relied on the “early or former” rains in October and November to soften the ground after summer’s blistering heat and the “latter” spring rains to ripen the grain. I see this verse challenging us to be bold and ask God to bring blessing and prosperity, even as the soil around us is parched and barren. I also see this verse saying that the condition for receiving blessing and prosperity is that we should seek it from God rather than idols. Idols in this context being any source other than God.

Let me be clear. This asking for God’s blessing upon our lives is not the dangerous and false teaching commonly called the “name it and claim it” prosperity gospel, which says if we simply exercise true faith in Jesus Christ that we will in turn attain physical, material, and financial prosperity. That false teaching is more interested in receiving God’s goodies than it is his goodness.

So, today, no matter what season of life you find yourself in – spring, summer, fall, winter – ask God for showers of spring rain, the bringing of new life. And know without any doubt that even if the rain does not come today, our faithful and loving God is with you during your darkest and dreariest moments of winter. Spring is coming.  

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Do you find yourself in a situation where you feel squeezed? You have done everything in your power to remedy the situation, but you keep coming up empty. You have used up all your get out of jail free cards, but you still feel imprisoned. It feels like you are teetering on a beam high above the skyline and there is no safety net to catch you if you fall. You feel like you have run out of options. You are simply ready to throw in the towel and give up.

Just when you think you’ve run out of options and there is no place else to turn, no place to hide, the good news is that God is standing right there offering you a place of safety and security. It is not simply me telling you this good news; instead, it is scripture speaking these words.

Psalm 46 is a beautiful picture of the security we have in God. It emphasizes two truths about God: His presence and His strength. In verses 1-3 we see a call to trust God in the midst of life collapsing in upon us. Verses 4-6 tell us that we can find comfort in the fact that God sustains us in the midst of life collapsing. And in verses 8-10, we see God offering rest and reassurance. Verses 7 and 11 remind that God is with us and He is our fortress. Now let’s look at Psalm 46. 

(vv. 1-3) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

(vv. 4-6) “There is a river [metaphor for blessing and restoration] whose streams make glad the city of God [people of God], the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is with her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day [God’s mercies are new every morning, Lam. 3:22-23]. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.”

(vv. 8-10) “Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shield with fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

And verses 7 and 11 are the bookends… “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

With God you never run out of options. He is your refuge (fortress/shelter) to hide in, He is your strength, He triumphs over all things, and He offers you rest and reassurance. Just when you feel like you are starting to fall off the beam, high above the pavement, hear these words, “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27a).

God is more than just a safety net. He does not merely catch us. He is our refuge and our strength.

So, today you can have faith and confidence in God‘s readiness to protect you and help you.

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Is it just me, or does it seem that some highways and roads are in a perpetual state of construction. Everywhere we drive, we encounter signs and orange cones alerting us to construction zones, dangerous construction areas, safety zones, new or temporary driving patterns, detours and closed roads. In some places, it seems as if the orange cones are as permanent as the landscape alongside the road. I wish that I owned stock in the companies that manufacture those orange construction cones that are used to redirect traffic.

Despite the constant road repair projects, many roads are still in bad condition. Not only are many roads we drive on full of potholes and rough surfaces, but life also has its rough and bumpy patches. Our path is often also under construction, requiring us to carefully navigate through the orange cones or get off at the next exit and take a detour. The confidence and peace you had as you were cruisin’ down the road listening to the radio has now turned to fear and worry, frustration and discouragement, despair, and hopelessness.

Two truths can be made from the reality that life’s potholes and detours are unavoidable. First, Jesus tells us that following Him does not promise smooth travels. Let’s look at what Jesus tells His disciples when they were worried about what would happen after He left them. In John 16:33 we read this, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus makes it clear that life will not always be easy, but that He is bigger than any earthly pothole, and putting your trust in Him will give you peace and help you navigate, sometimes through and sometimes around, the pothole. This leads me to the second truth, and that being God is always with you. He isn’t like the car repairman that you only call when your car needs alignment after driving on roads full of potholes.

Throughout scripture, there are numerous verses referencing God with us. In Psalm 16, David writes this, “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (v.8). One of the many names given to Jesus is Immanuel, with means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23). And in what we call the Great Commission, in which the resurrected Jesus instructs his disciples to spread the gospel to all the nations of the world, Jesus promises, “Surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:16-20).   

As a side note: in that Great Commission passage, in the original Greek, the only direct command is to “make disciples.” “Go,” “baptize,” and “teach” are indirect commands. What does that mean for us today? We are called to make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching.   

When God chose Joshua to succeed Moses in leading the people into the Promised Land, here is what He told them to calm their fears. Turning to Deuteronomy Chapter 31, in verse 3, God promises to give the people victory just had He had done in the past. Then in verse 6, we read these reassuring words, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” And in verse 8 we see a similar message, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

So, today, regardless of the condition of the road you are currently on, or what the road up ahead looks like, rest assured that Jesus is with you and that He can get you through any and every situation you encounter along life’s journey. Will you trust Him fully today?

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I enjoy studying and learning about people, places, and events. You can quickly know what things interest me by looking at my bookshelves. Some of my favorite subjects are anything relating to the 1960s, Watergate, Mafia, Ohio State football. I also love to read church history and theology books.

Our bookshelves are filled with those books as well. When my wife and I moved a few years ago, we packed up sixty boxes filled with books. As those who helped us move hauled heavy box after heavy box, they kept asking, “Ugh, do you really need this many books?” It isn’t just books we seem to accumulate. There were also ten boxes marked “shells.” We lived near the beach and regularly collected shells to display in glass containers throughout our house. 

What things do you enjoy studying and learning about?

I can know a lot about a person without personally knowing them. I can know a lot about a particular subject simply by studying it. I know about the subjects that I enjoy. Knowing about comes from studying. Knowing about is nothing more than an accumulation of knowledge. Knowing about is very different from knowing.

Many people know a lot about Jesus without really knowing him in a personal and intimate way. We sometimes replace devotion with doctrine. We sometimes replace relationship with rules (religion). We sometimes simply check boxes. There is nothing wrong with being well versed in the Bible and well learned in theological things. In fact, both of those are very good things! However, Jesus did not call us to doctrine and rules. He instead invites us into a relationship, one in which we are completely devoted to Him.  

The Pharisees were an influential group during the time of Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees (along with the high priests) made up the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling council of the Jews. The Pharisees were adherents to both the Oral Law as given to Moses and the Written Laws found in the Torah, which gave them the attitude and appearance of superior sanctity. The Sadducees rejected Oral Law and insisted upon a literal interpretation of the Written Law whereas the Pharisees believed that God gave Moses knowledge of what the laws meant and how they should be applied. The Oral Law was written down three centuries later, becoming what is known as the Talmud.

The Scribes, many whom were Pharisees, studied the Law, transcribed it, and commented on it. They were often hired when an interpretation of that Law was needed. Ezra, who was “skilled in the law of Moses (Ezra 7:6)” was a scribe. 

Yet, as “wise” as these groups of religious leaders were, Jesus repeatedly rebuked them for having a religion rooted in pride (doctrine) rather than one grounded in the true worship of God (devotion). In one such rebuke, in Matthew 23, Jesus calls these religious men hypocrites six times. I encourage you to read this entire interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees and Scribes – Matthew 23:1-36. 

Rules are imposed from the outside in whereas a relationship runs in the opposite direction, from the inside out. I believe that when rules (doctrine) are prioritized over relationship (devotion), we soon find that we simply cannot measure up, thus becoming disenfranchised, eventually walking away from both the rules and the devotion. But, when we focus on devotion rather than doctrine, relationship over rules, our obedience comes from the inside out. It becomes something we want to do rather than something we must do. 

So, today, regardless of where you are in a walk with Jesus – maybe still deciding whether to jump in, just dipping your toes in the shallow water, or someone who has been walking hand in hand with Him for years – take up his invitation to “Follow me” and by doing so, you will be on a path that makes you more like him. Your devotion will help you walk out the doctrine.

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