The Time I Almost Gave Up

I came across this video yesterday evening. It really gave me a lot to think about.

Jerry Bridges, a man God has used to further His Kingdom, almost gave up on God?

Jerry Bridges, one of the most prominent spiritual giants/theologians of today, almost let doubt (brought on by Satan) cause him to lose his faith?

It shocked me.

Then, after some thought, I realized that it shouldn't shock me when a fellow Christian - well-known theologian or not - admits struggling with doubt at some point in their life. It's part of the natural, or the "old man" that still likes to hang around after we accept Christ. Satan loves to use this "old man" to try to tear us away from our faith.

Some of us struggle more with doubt than others. It has to do with our God-given personality, our life experiences, our own unique viewpoints.

How, then, are we to fight doubt? How are we to fight Satan's blistering attacks on our relationship with God?

We fight it with truth.

This means immersing ourselves in the Scriptures, digging deep to find the truth found in its pages.

This means surrounding ourselves with people who want to know God's truth.

This means becoming part of a church that is committed to teaching the truths found in God's Word.

This means trusting what God says over what man has to say whenever there is a discrepancy or contradiction between the two. Remember that your "favorite" pastors and theologians can be wrong.

There is nothing wrong with seeking advice from your pastor or a spiritually mature Christian about a spiritual/biblical issue or question. Just remember that person you're seeking advice from is human, too, and is subsequently prone to error - unintentional or not.

Not sure what to think about a particular issue? Confused about a spiritual problem/question you have? Don't take [insert your pastor's name here]'s word for it. Take God's Word for it.

You may be seriously considering giving up on God. Let me ask you to resist the temptation to give in to doubt. Seek godly counsel (with a grain of salt). Most importantly, pore over Scripture to find the answers you seek. Ask God to help you find the answers you need in His Word. He'll do it. You just have to ask.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

John 8:31-32 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

II Timothy 3:16-17 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Hebrews 11:1  

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

I John 4:1-6 

“I believe that in the end the truth will conquer.” 

John Wycliffe

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Swept Away

I recently started a chronological Bible reading program, where you read the Bible in the historical order of events. I've never tried this kind of approach before, so I thought I'd give it a go.

This week's reading plan has focused on the book of Job. It inspired me to write the following . . . poem? . . . song? . . . I'm not entirely sure how to categorize it. Whatever it is, I hope it will encourage you to look to the One Who has all the answers.

Swept Away

 Feels like I’m swimming upstream, I can’t catch my breath

Everything I was holding onto has been swept away

Why have You ignored my cries for help?

Why have I become a burden to You?

Why don’t You take my pain away?

Why do You answer my tears with silence? 

Where did I go wrong?

Don’t You see what’s happening to me?

Remember that my life is a breath

I’m swept away in the blink of an eye

For when a few years have come and gone

I’ll go to where I can’t return

Who will praise You then?

How long will You let them torment me

And tear me to pieces with heartless words?

Can’t You see what they’re doing to me?

Seems like I’m all alone in this battle

Why aren’t You here to protect me?

I can’t keep keeping on like this

It’s too much for me to take

My song has been silenced in the darkness of despair

I will question you, and you will answer Me

Where were you when I made the earth?

Have you commanded the morning since your birth?

Do you know the secret springs of the sea?

Have you walked in the deep places of the earth?

Have you seen the gates of Hell, or touched the windows of Heaven?

Tell me, if you know all this

Where is the way to the dwelling of light?

And where is the house of darkness?

Have you seen where the snow and hail are stored?

Can you send forth rain to nourish the earth?

Answer me, if you can

Do you give the horses their strength?

Is the wild ox your servant?

Do you provide the raven its prey to feed its young ones?

Have you caught Leviathan with a hook, or tamed Behemoth with a leash?

Will you contend with Yahweh, fault-finder?

Will you give an answer, you who argue with God?

I lay my hand on my mouth – how can I answer You? 

I know that You can do all things, and no will of Yours can be thwarted

I’ve spoken about what I don’t understand, things too wonderful for me to comprehend

Now I see You, and I repent in dust and ashes

I’m awe-struck, captivated, swept away by You

Blessed be Your Name!

"Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Job 1:21b

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Facing the Giants

"David" by Michelangelo

"Teenage Boy Kills Local Terror, Goliath." I imagine that would have been the headline article for the newspapers in Israel when David killed Goliath. (I realize newspapers didn't exist in David's day, just my overactive imagination at work here. ;) ) How remarkable that a teenage shepherd boy took down a nearly 10-foot tall military powerhouse that had the armies of Israel quaking in their sandals for well over a month (40 days)! I think it's safe to assume that no one other than David could have imagined how the encounter between the boy with a sling and the giant with the full trappings of war would conclude.  (You can find the full account of this remarkable story in I Samuel 17.)

While it's unlikely that any of us will ever confront a physical giant like Goliath, many (if not all) of us face spiritual giants that are just as formidable and deadly. There names are Fear, Doubt, Temptation, and Pride.

{Fear} This giant is aroused by danger, evil, pain, concern, or anxiety. It hinders us from facing difficult circumstances with faith. It prevents us from doing the right or "hard" thing because of the possibility of failure or rejection.

{Doubt} This giant holds us captive when we question or are uncertain about promises God has given us in His Word. Doubting means that we consider God's Word questionable or unreliable.

{Temptation} This giant rears its ugly head when we are slack in guarding our minds, bodies, and souls from the alluring siren calls of the world to engage in sinful activities or thought patterns that are contrary to the way we have been called to live.

{Pride} This giant comes on the scene when we have an unbiblical view of ourselves, high or low. We can become overly confident in our own abilities or consumed with our failures; both are expressions of pride.

How are we to fight against such formidable giants?

Fight Fear with Faith. Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:3-9; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 56:3-4; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 54:4; Matthew 10:26; Matthew 10:28; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 Peter 5:7.

Fight Doubt with Truth. Psalm 15:1-2; Psalm 25:5; Psalm 43:3; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 17:20; Luke 18:27; John 8:31-32; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 4:25; Philippians 4:13; Philippians 4:19; 1 John 1:8. 

Fight Temptation with Purity. Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 7:25-26; Matthew 5:27-29; Matthew 26:41; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 2:18; James 1:12-14; James 4:7; 1 John 2:14-17. 

Fight Pride with Humility. Deuteronomy 12:4;  Obadiah 1:3; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Psalm 10:4; Psalm 138:6; Psalm 147:6; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 16:18-19; Proverbs 18:12; Proverbs 21:4; Proverbs 22:4; Proverbs 25:9; Proverbs 26:12; Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 2:11; Isaiah 5:21; Isaiah 23:9; Daniel 5:20; Matthew 18:3-4; Luke 14:7-11; Luke 22:24-27; Mark 9:35; Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:1-11; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:2-6.

Ask the Lord to help you identify areas where these giants have taken hold in your life. As He brings those areas to light, it can be discouraging to see how easy it is for them to creep in and take us captive. Just remember: the same God who enabled David to defeat Goliath is the same God who will help you bring down the giants in your life, as well.

"David with the Head of Goliath" by Caravaggio 

Please comment below: What giants have you faced in your life? How has the Lord enabled you to defeat them? What verses have helped you and/or encouraged you in this process?

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