I Will Overcome

Lord, I know that my heart is hurting
And Lord, I know that my soul, it aches
And I know that it seems I'm failing
But I will overcome

I start out each morning with the best of intentions; each day is another chance to do my best and give my all. I intend to do good... but evil is right there with me. Sometimes it seems as though I cannot do anything right. I mean to be productive, but I opt for laziness instead. I mean to be kind, but I end up being cruel or indifferent. It's as though, from the moment I wake up each day, all of life is set against me, setting me up to fail.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

-Romans 7:15

However, when I find my thoughts turning that way, I realize that I have come to accept a lie. I accept that this is 'just the way it is.' But in truth, life was never meant to be this way. We were never meant to endure failure, futility and frustration. The human race was never meant to come to this place, where the wrong often seems so much stronger than the right. We were meant for perfection... but we ended up here. (Genesis 3:1-24)

In truth, life is not set against me. Life is what I have in Christ, in abundant measure, pouring out of His heart directly into mine, so much that it overflows. But I do have an Enemy, who has been set against me and bent on my destruction since the day I was born. I have to remember that Satan wants me to accept that this is 'just the way it is.' He wants me to keep my head down, mind my own business, and endure quietly all the wrongs he has inflicted upon the world.

Well, this may be 'just the way it is', but I know a better way. I know that things can be different--were meant to be different--all along.

"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

-1 John 5:19

Only the world is under Satan's control; I am free from it. I am a child of God. The distress and agony of the world are not mine; to me they are 'light and temporary troubles.' If I can remember that, and hold on to that--to the truth that the world was never meant to be this way, and God understands that we've been thrust into a terrible situation not of our own making--then I can also remember this: Even though it's not my fault, I can still do something about it.

"God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them." -C. S. Lewis

I am reminded of a scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. At this point, Frodo has been put through the wringer. He has felt defeated, and in a moment of weakness, he very nearly gives in to the power of the Ring. At the last moment, Sam pulls him back. All is not lost. But now Frodo has to contend with the crushing weight of guilt and failure... and he finds himself unable. And so, beaten and defenseless, he whispers to Sam, "I can't do this."

"I can't do this, Sam."

"I know--it's all wrong. By rights, we shouldn't even be here... but we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo--the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was, when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer. Those are the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand; I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holding on to something."

"What are we holding onto, Sam?"

"There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"

Satan will only be victorious if I give in. If I give way to despair, then he has won. I have to remember that hopelessness is a lie. A new day is coming, but until it comes, I must persevere. I must live, in defiance of darkness, the best life that I can, giving my all for God's sake. The devil will make sure that I have many chances to give up, but I can still hold on. The One who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

My Anthem

Brave, by Nicole Nordeman

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Week 4: Small Group Emails

(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on February 2, 2009.)

"If you think about something too much, often you will not do it. It's called paralysis by analysis." - Dr. Peter Fernandez

All right guys...

I know we didn't have small groups this Sunday. Instead, we watched the Steelers win the victory over the Cardinals. (Sorry I cannot muster the proper amount of enthusiam... not a football fan, lol.) However, I've still been thinking about our small groups, and the book that we've been reading, and yesterday I heard something that made my heart soar.

I'm sure you have all heard by now about the small group that is raising money to purchase an RV for the Christian Riders Ministry. That is fantastic, and I love them for stepping out and taking on a task like that right off the bat. Bravo! *applauds* But there are other, seemingly less important, but no less significant, ways of doing hard things.

I had the privilege to hear the story of a young man from one of our small groups who went out to McDonalds for lunch with a friend. As they were eating, a homeless man walked in to use the restroom. As soon as he entered, this young man felt a tug at his heart. It would have been so easy to ignore the homeless man and return to his meal. So easy...

Instead, he elbowed his buddy and said, "Hey, do you have a couple of bucks? Let's buy that guy some hamburgers." So they approached the man and asked him if he'd like some lunch; he accepted. A stranger, overhearing what they were about to do, gave up his place in line and pressed some money into the young man's hand. "Here," he said. "Buy that guy some lunch for me."

These two teenage boys bought the man some hamburgers, fries and a drink, and then sat and talked with him while they ate. Before they left the restaurant, they asked if they could pray with the man. Again, he accepted. They left the McDonalds. Chances are, their paths will never cross again.

It seems like such a simple thing, really, when you read about it. But seemingly insignificant things by earthly standards have an eternal impact. Who knows what may result because of the kindness and generosity of those two boys... and one stranger? It was striking example of living, active faith, and also worthy of praise. Bravo! *applauds*

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

-James 2:14-17

I cannot wait to see what else God does with the young men and women of these small groups. God bless you this week, my friends.