Troubles?

John 16:33

"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."

Good morning Zebras,

God has me revisiting the things He taught me a year ago as I once again wait for His direction and provision. Today's z-mail was originally written in May 2009.

Dear Zebras,

A friend sent me a U-tube clip of Art Linkletter’s show Kids Say the Darndest Things. It was very cute, but what really struck me was how prominent God was, not only on the show but in the minds of the kids.

My favorite clip was of a little boy whose response to the question “What would you like to be when you grow up?” was that he would like to be either a bus driver or a pilot. Mr. Linkletter said “Oh a pilot…” and asked him “What would you do if you were in a plane and all four of your engines quit working?” With only a moment’s hesitation the little boy dropped his head and said “Our Father who art in heaven…”

That little boy had been taught that in times of trouble the proper response is to seek God.

For many people we are living in a time where metaphorically all four engines on their planes have failed. They have lost jobs, retirement accounts and maybe even their homes. They have lost the things of this world that they based their security on. And how, as a nation, are we responding?

If we were responding by seeking the face of God I would think that attendance in church would be up as it was after 911, but I haven’t seen that reported in the news.

What is up instead is the sale of alcohol, chocolate and movie tickets, lies and idols that will never give the comfort of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:22 that it is the cares of the world that choke out the Word of God.

Little Zebras, we need to remember that we should not respond to trouble like the world. We are zebras, they are horses. We know what they do not know, that our God is in charge of all things, that everything happening is under His control, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us, and to provide for us the things that we need. We know that trials happen to strength our faith so that we will be mature and complete, lacking in nothing, that this world is not all that there is, but just a shadow of the things that are to come. We know that our focus should be on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, not on the world because He who lives in us has already conquered the world. We do not need to run to worthless idols to comfort us or distract us; instead we need to throw ourselves at the feet of Christ and allow Him to lift us up and encourage our soul.

Love,
Jill