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Why Resurrection Matters

It is the Key in 2023

UNSHAKEABLE: What do you need to know for a successful experience of 2023? Simply this: Christ is risen! Jesus’ resurrection is the fulcrum of our Christian faith and, indeed, the pivotal point in all human history. As C.S. Lewis said, “If the thing happened, it was the central event in the history of the earth.” If Jesus rose from the dead, then he is Lord of all. If he didn’t rise from the dead, then our faith is useless, and, as the Apostle Paul says, Christians are hopeless and to be pitied above all people. But we believe Jesus rose from the dead. We have staked our faith, our lives, and our eternities on the scriptural and historical evidence that Jesus broke the chains of death that bound him in the tomb and rose again to life, thus defeating death, hell, and the grave. Since that is true, nothing else matters — Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of all— and the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from death will enable you today and each of the following days that make up 2023 to live an unshakeable life because nothing else matters.

Unshakeable Living // Romans 1:4

Jesus was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

The late Jaroslav Pelikan, one of the world’s leading scholars in the history of Christianity and medieval intellectual history, wrote, “If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen—nothing else matters.” If you understand the Bible at all, you know this to be true. Christ’s resurrection is all that matters.

The resurrection is the fulcrum of our Christian faith and, indeed, the pivotal point in all human history. As C.S. Lewis said, “If the thing happened, it was the central event in the history of the earth.” If Jesus rose from the dead, then he is Lord of all. If he didn’t rise from the dead, then our faith is useless, and, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19, Christians are hopeless and to be pitied above all people.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But we believe Jesus rose from the dead. We have staked our faith, our lives, and our eternities on the scriptural and historical evidence that Jesus broke the chains of death that bound him in that garden tomb and rose again to life, thus defeating death, hell, and the grave. As Paul says, “He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

  • Since that is true, nothing else matters — Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of all!
  • Since that is true, we can place our trust in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and delivers us to eternal life.
  • Since that is true, we can have confidence in Jesus Christ to be with us every step of the way in our earthly journey, knowing that he will never leave us nor forsake us.
  • Since that is true, we can experience the same resurrection power that coursed through the body of Jesus Christ coursing through our mortal bodies, enabling us to live the abundant life that he came to give us — God’s favor in the physical, emotional, relational and spiritual dimensions of living.
  • Since that is true, we can experience the same overcoming life that Jesus Christ lived, living above sin and in holiness to God.
  • Since that is true, we can boldly share the Good News with lost people of how Jesus Christ has made a difference in our lives. We do not need to be ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). We do not have to be timid about our faith — in fact, if he is truly risen, to be timid should simply not be an option. If Jesus is risen, then he is either Lord of all, or not Lord of all.
  • Since that is true, we can place our lives squarely in God’s sovereign care, get busy fulfilling his purposes through our lives, and commit all our energies, efforts, and resources to glorifying him in everything we say and do.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And nothing else matters.

Get Rooted: On this first Monday of 2023, I encourage you to offer this prayer: “Lord, you are risen; you are risen indeed — and nothing else matters. Remind me throughout this day as I begin the New Year that I can live in the reality of your resurrection. Enable me today and each of the next 363 days to live as if nothing else matters — because nothing else matters.

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2023–A Recipe for Personal Peace and Stability

God Holds Tomorrow in His Capable Hands

Synopsis: Who knows what tomorrow will hold? Who knows what is in store for us in 2023? Who knows how things will turn out in this volatile world in the coming months? Who knows? Only God! That’s why we need to fiercely lean into him for today, for tomorrow, and for 2023, expressing our utter dependence on his good purposes being fulfilled in our lives and recognizing his sovereign control over each second of our existence. The Psalmist David understood that people who live under the daily threat of death like he did tend to get that reality better than those of us who live relatively safe, carefree, and easy lives. We tend to slide into the false notion that a pain-free, worry-free, tragedy-free life is our divine right. Not David! He got it right when he wrote, “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16) So, as scary as tomorrow might seem, take courage, because as a Christ-follower, the sun will come out tomorrow—God will make sure of it!

A Recipe for Personal Peace and Stability - Ray Noah

Moments With God // Psalm 139:16

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Just ask any family whose lives were displayed on the late-night news last evening—whose peace and tranquility was unexpectedly interrupted by some sort of disaster: a car accident coming home from work, a random act of violence outside the restaurant, a massive layoff at the company that no one saw coming, the sudden bacterial infection resistant to all known forms of medication that attacked their child without warning. None of them got up that morning expecting anything close to that would happen during the day that lay ahead.

Who knows what tomorrow will hold? Only God! That’s why we need to fiercely lean into him for this day, expressing our utter dependence on his good purposes being fulfilled in our lives and recognizing his sovereign control over each second of our existence. The Psalmist David understood that people who live under the daily threat of death like he did tend to get that reality better than those of us who live relatively safe, carefree, and easy lives. We tend to slide into the false notion that a pain-free, worry-free, tragedy-free life is our divine right.

Not David! He got it right when he wrote in Psalm 139:16,

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Only God knows how many days you have and what will happen in each of those days. Only he knows the exact number of your days, and you will not live a day longer nor die a day sooner than what he already has planned for you. That is why it is not wise to get too far ahead of God in your thoughts about tomorrow. Now, obviously, this is not about wise planning and preparation. That is certainly taught throughout the Bible, and a great deal of emphasis is placed on that throughout the Bible. Yet even when wise planning has been followed, Solomon warned in Proverbs 27:1,

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

In the New Testament, James offered this wise counsel:

I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, MSG)

What both of these wise men from the Old and New Testament, respectively, are calling for is living with an attitude of gratitude for each and every breath we take, expressing humble dependence on the Almighty for each and every second of our existence, and submitting each and every ounce of our energy today, and if he graciously gives us tomorrow, to use for his good purposes.

When we live that way, we can sing with confidence, “The sun will come out tomorrow.” Maybe that will mean the blazing sunshine of yet another day here on Planet Earth, but if not, the joy of unending days where there is no need for the sun since the indescribable glory of the shining presence of God himself will render our current source of light and heat meaningless.

So, as scary as that might seem, take courage because, as a Christ-follower, the sun will come out tomorrow.

Read and meditate on Psalm 90, and memorize verse 12: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Then early and often, quote it to yourself and others!

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Unshakable: A Devotional Journey Through the Book of Romans

Good News For The Year Ahead

UNSHAKEABLE: Like me, you have a growing sense of the world’s instability as never before. That’s because Planet Earth is being shaken—not only in the metaphysical sense but even in the physical realm. That shouldn’t surprise us as believers because the Bible predicted long ago that as God’s sovereign clock for the end of the age winds down, the world would start coming apart at the seams. The question for us, then, is, can we, and if we can, how do we live unshakeable lives in these times of instability? My first response to that question is that we must be rooted in God’s truth as never before. That means you must regularly read your Bible, reflect on what you’ve read, memorize it, pray it back to God, share it, and most of all, live it out. That is why I’m inviting you to join me during the first quarter of 2023 in saturating your heart and mind with the Book of Romans. Why Romans? Well, as the famed reformer Martin Luther said, “This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament, and is truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. We can never read it or ponder over it too much; for the more we deal with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.” Simply put, Romans is the Constitution of our Christian Faith! (Below, I have provided a preview of what this journey will include—a look at one of the great promises from Romans 8 that will give you confidence as you begin 2023.) I look forward to sharing my devotional journey with you week by week and chapter by chapter. And I would love to get your thoughts as you read each chapter, so feel free to add your comments below. Cheers to an unshakeable New Year!

Unshakeable - A devotional journey through the book of Romans with Dr. Ray Noah

Unshakeable Living // Romans 8:31-32

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

One of my favorite hymns—yeah, I still love them—was written by the German composer, Joachim Neander in the 1600s. It still resonates with worshipers of all ages some 400 years later. I particularly relish this line in the fourth verse,

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriends thee.

Think about that for a moment—it will change your day, not to mention the New Year ahead. As a matter of fact, it will change the trajectory of the rest of your life. The only thing I would change in this otherwise magnificent hymn is the one little word in the second line, “if.” For me, and anyone else who has been redeemed by God’s marvelous grace, that word rather should be, “since.” “If” speaks of possibility, “since” reflects reality!

God has indeed befriended us, amazing as that sounds. If you are having trouble grasping that, go back and read the entirety of Romans 8. What you will find there are some jaw-dropping realities of what God has already done for you through Christ Jesus. Not the least of which is simply yet powerfully this: God has clearly and deliberately stated that he is for you! And, as Paul logically concludes, since that is true, nothing and no one can be against you.

Does that sound like someone has over-promised you something? If it were simply another human being making that claim, I would be suspicious of their ability to deliver on that pledge. But keep in mind that the One declaring this vow to you is God himself! And here is the Almighty’s certification: He offered Jesus, literally, through his virgin birth, sinless life, and sacrificial death, as the guarantee that his promise is 100% good,

If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? (Rom 8:32, MSG)

Now since it is firmly established that you and I are friends of the Almighty, the realities of blessing, protection, provision, success, and satisfaction in the days, months, and year to come, along with eternity for that matter, are unlimited—limited only by our unbelief.

So, indeed, take a moment to ponder anew what it means to walk in moment-by-moment friendship with your Almighty Father. I guarantee this: it will make all your moments to come a whole lot brighter.

Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord,
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How all your longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness
And mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Yes, for gladly we adore Him. How could we not?

Get Rooted: In a few hours, as you celebrate New Year’s Day — and the new opportunities that lay ahead — take a moment to envision what it means to have God as your friend. Since he has graciously befriended you, what difference does that — should that — make in how you approach your work, how you make your plans, how you handle your fears, how you manage your emotions, and in an all-inclusive sense, how you do life? Obviously, it should make all the difference! As a reminder, write on a 3×5 card: God is my friend! Now for the next week, tape that card to your mirror so that you see every morning before you leave for the day and every evening before you go to sleep that God is for you.

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God Never Forgets

He May Be Slow, But He Is Never Late

SYNOPSIS: God keeps his promises—every one of them. He can’t help himself; it is just his nature. He had promised through the prophets a redeemer for Israel hundreds of years before, and 400 silent years had passed since the last prophet Malachi had uttered the oracles of God until the time the angel Gabriel revealed the Lord’s plan to Zechariah. Though God’s promise had been ever so slow in coming, it was nonetheless fulfilled. He hasn’t forgotten you either. While his promises to you may be slow in coming, they won’t be late!

God Never Forget... He may be slow, but He is never late. - Ray Noah

Moments With God // Luke 1:67-73

Then Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.”

Over the years the church has given Zechariah’s song the title, “The Benedictus,” or “The Blessing.” The lyrics of this brief song, which we read in Luke 1:67-79, were sung by one of the proudest and oldest first-time fathers of all time. But more than being just a happy little ditty from a happy old daddy, Zechariah proclaims two timeless and timely truths about God’s character that you and I probably need to hear again today.

First, we are reminded that God never breaks a promise! John’s birth was living proof of God’s faithfulness. In His song, Zechariah belts out to all who will listen, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.” (Luke 1:68)

God keeps his promises—every one of them. He can’t help himself; it is just his nature. He had promised through the prophets a redeemer for Israel hundreds of years before, and 400 silent years had passed since the last prophet Malachi had uttered the oracles of God until the time the angel Gabriel revealed God’s plan to Zechariah. Though God’s promise had been ever so slow in coming, it was nonetheless fulfilled.

Zechariah’s song reminds us that even though God may be slow, he is never late!

Second, God never forgets. Zechariah’s name meant “God remembers.” And in his song, Zechariah exploded with the joyful realization that God does remember: “God has remembered his oath…” (Luke 1:72-73)

Zechariah must have been discouraged. He was a priest of a nation that had turned its back on God. He and Elizabeth, whose name meant “the promise of God,” had been faithful to God all their lives—they lived up to the meaning of their names. Yet God had not blessed them with a son, and wayward Israel continued to be oppressed by its pagan enemies.

But Zechariah clung to this truth: Our Creator remembers! God knows who we are, where we are, and what we need. He remembers us. He remembers his promises, and God graciously acts at the proper time.

Isaiah 49:15-16 offers this critical truth to which we must fiercely cling, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

Zechariah’s song reminds us that God can’t forget!

If you are reading these words today and feeling a little forgotten by God, thank God you’re wrong! Zechariah reminds you from first-hand experience through his song that God remembers you and will fulfill every single one of his promises to you at the proper time!

So be faithful!

Take A Moment: Take a moment to thank the Lord for his unfailing faithfulness. He remembers his promises to you and he will fulfill them all. Rejoice in him today, then offer your life faithfully back to him and his purposes.

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Replace Seasonal Worry With Sustained Worship

Merry Christmas - And Fear Not

SYNOPSIS: Repeatedly in the Christmas story when the angel announced Christ’s birth, he told those to whom he spoke, “fear not.” Could it be that what Gabriel said to them on that day was an invitation for us today into “no fear” living? If so, then how do we let go of our fears? It’s quite simple really; nothing complicated about it at all. The angel said what is repeated another 364 times throughout Scripture: “Don’t be afraid.” In other words, quit worrying! And to do that, we must do what the hosts of angels then went on to say to the shepherds: “Find the Christ-child and worship him.” I’m pretty sure what those heavenly heralds were, and are, calling for is for us to simply replace daily worry with sustained worship. And Christmas is a great day to start doing that. Merry Christmas!  ~Ray and Linda

Merry Christmas // Luke 2:9-12

An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Repeatedly in the Christmas story when the angel announced Christ’s birth, he told those to whom he spoke, “fear not.” Could it be that what Gabriel said to them on that day was an invitation for us today into “no fear” living? If so, then how do we let go of our fears? It’s quite simple really; nothing complicated about it at all. The angel said what is repeated another 364 times throughout Scripture: “Don’t be afraid.” In other words, quit worrying! And to do that, we must do what the hosts of angels then went on to say to the shepherds: “Find the Christ-child and worship him.” I’m pretty sure what those heavenly heralds were, and are, calling for is for us to simply replace daily worry with sustained worship. And Christmas is a great day to start doing that!

“Fear not, this is the best news ever!” That’s what the angel of the Lord said to a few terrified shepherds outside Bethlehem almost 2,000 years ago when he suddenly appeared with the announcement of Christ’s birth. Listen again to the angel’s encouragement in Luke 2:10-12 from Today’s English Version:

The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David’s town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

It is interesting that the very first words in the announcement of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2 were, “don’t be afraid!”

There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David’s town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!  And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.”

With so much fear in our world right now, our worshipful celebration of the anniversary of Christ’s birth reminds us that Christmas really is the Good News. Not only did the arrival of Jesus mean we now have a Savior, it also meant that we no longer have to live in fear.

So how do we enter into that “no fear” living? It’s quite simple really; nothing complicated about it at all. The angels said what is repeated another 364 times throughout Scripture: Fear not. In other words, quit worrying. And to do that, we must do what the angels went on to instruct the shepherds to do: “Find the Christ-child and worship him.”

I’m pretty sure what those heavenly heralds were, and are, calling for is to simply replace season worry with sustained worship. That is the antidote to fear. That is what will defeat the fear and anxiety the evil in this world causes in our hearts. That is what reminds us that embracing the Christ-child as Savior and Lord truly is Good News.

With that in mind, replace your fear of the what if’s in life and place faith in the I am who was born as a babe on Christmas Day! And take courage, today is Christmas!

God is With Us: Today we celebrate the birth of a Savior who is the Lord nearly 2,000 years ago. What difference should that make in our lives today—and every other day going forward? Simply this: Live boldly, Immanuel, God with us, is still with us!

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God’s Capacity for Anger Reveals His Capacity for Love

Things That Really Tick God Off

SYNOPSIS: God is love, yet he experiences the emotions of hate, abhorrence, and anger without having his goodness or graciousness diminished in the least. In fact, God’s capacity to become incensed over certain things is an appropriate and vital part of his love. Love, for instance, demands the emotion of anger and even hate over injustice, neglect, or abuse. Goodness gets upset over evil. Grace presupposes the need for itself, recognizing the need to compensate for disgrace. So, the hatred and disgust of God should not be surprising to anyone who truly understands God’s loving character. Rather, it should be expected, desired, and even appreciated. In fact, to love what God loves requires us to hate what God hates.

To love what God loves means... - Ray Noah

Moments With God // Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up conflict in the community.

Hate! Detest! Those are words we don’t normally associate with God. After all, God is love. Right?

The fact is, God is love, and yet he experiences the emotions of hate, abhorrence, and anger without having his goodness or graciousness diminished in the least. In fact, God’s capacity to become incensed over certain things is an appropriate and vital part of love.

Love, for instance, demands the emotion of anger and even hate over injustice, neglect, or abuse. Goodness gets upset over evil. Grace presupposes the need for itself, recognizing the need to compensate for disgrace. So, the hatred and disgust of God should not be surprising to anyone who truly understands God’s character. Rather, it should be expected, desired, and even appreciated.

What is it that causes God such deep displeasure? Seven things, according to this proverb: 1) a prideful look, 2) deceitful words, 3) bloody hands, 4) wicked plotting, 5) evil ambitions, 6) false witnessing, and 7) shalom-breaking divisiveness. Interestingly, these seven things listed in verses 16-19 are a recap of Solomon’s warnings given earlier in the chapter in verses 12-14:

  1. Arrogance (v. 13): Solomon refers to one who “winks with his eyes.” It pictures someone who has a proud heart, is haughty, or prideful.
  2. A lying tongue (v. 12): Solomon calls it a “perverse mouth.” Since lying is prohibited in the Top 10 List of Divine Prohibitions, it is no wonder that God detests lies and liars.
  3. Hands that shed innocent blood (v. 13): Solomon speaks of “fingers” that slyly signal deceit, showing that bloody hands can also refer to one who personally, deliberately, and strategically profits at the expense or misfortune of another.
  4. A heart that devises wicked schemes (v.14): This is a person who “plots evil with deceit in the heart”. It is a conniving person who is completely out of step with the loving heart of God.
  5. Feet that are quick to evil (v. 13): It is “one who shuffles his feet” or a person whose first inclination is toward evil. Their initial tendency is always and aggressively sinful.
  6. A false witness that pours out lies (v. 12): It refers to a “corrupt mouth.” It is one who violates the ninth commandment, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
  7. One who stirs up dissension in the comunity (v. 14): Solomon calls out the one who “always stirs up trouble” (NLT). This one is an agitator who thrives on discord.

Make no mistake, the God of love and grace we know expresses hatred toward those whose hearts are habitually inclined toward these kinds of wicked and destructive behaviors.

But this list of seven things God hates is also interesting in that it tells us a lot about the character of God. If you know what someone passionately dislikes then you know the inner passions of that person. What does God’s hatred tell us about his character?

  • He is a God who values true humility (clearly demonstrated in Jesus, who being in very nature, God, humbled himself—Philippians 2).
  • He is a God of truth (God is not prone to human weakness that he would lie—Numbers 23:19).
  • He is a protector and advocate of the downtrodden and disadvantaged (He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing—Deuteronomy 10:18).
  • He is a God whose motives are pure (with him there is no shadow of turning—James 1:17).
  • He is a God who is quick to do good (How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts—Matthew 7:11).
  • He is a God of justice (The Lord is known by his justice—Psalm 9:16).
  • He is a God of unity (Jesus’ most urgent prayer was that his followers would be one, just as he and the Father were one—John 17:12).

Living within God’s pleasure means avoiding his anger and his wrath, particularly by avoiding these seven no-nos. But it is more than that. It is also understanding his character and cultivating his qualities in our lives until we are conformed to the very image of his Son. When we truly understand what God hates, we will hate it too, and will passionately avoid those kinds of behaviors. And when we truly understand what God loves, we will passionately pursue those qualities.

Hmmm, a love-hate relationship; Maybe there’s something to it!

Take A Moment: Honestly ask yourself if any of those seven sins are habitually present in your life. Ask someone who knows you if they are characteristic of you in any way. Be ready to listen to their honest answer. If you are weak in any one of the seven areas, take a moment to prayerfully write down an action plan to eliminate that weakness from your life.

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God, Where Are You?

He Will Never Leave You High and Dry

SYNOPSIS: Sometimes the journey takes us to “the wall.” The proverbial wall is a place that our faith rarely anticipates, but it can become the place where our faith is strengthened the most. You see, the best part of our walk with God is not what he does for us, as glorious as that may be; it is what he does in us! And the faith, humility, trust, and dependence that God desires to develop within us—all the qualities of Christ-likeness—we discover at the wall of adversity. God produced those characteristics of greatness in all of the greats at the wall—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Job, Daniel, Paul, and others. Why should you be any different? So, I’ll see you at the wall!

The best part of our walk with God is... - Ray Noah

Moments With God // Focus: Psalm 74:9

We are given no miraculous signs; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.

“God, it seems like you’ve left me high and dry!” That is the essence of this psalm. Have you ever talked to God like the writer of Psalm 74 did? I have! I am not talking about being disrespectful, but I am talking about being desperate.

There have been times of desperation in my life—when a loved one far too young to die was on her death-bed, when a conflict arose that seemed to have no resolution, when a financial need was staring me in the eyes and I had absolutely no answer for it; when an attack came from out of nowhere that just sucked the life out of me—and to be frank, I felt all alone. Overrun with fear, anxiety, and hopelessness, life from my clouded human perspective made it seem as if God was nowhere to be found.

You have had those moments, too. And if we dared to be brutally honest with God, we said something to the effect, “God, where are you? You are really letting me down on this one!” Or worse!

Well, if you are having second thoughts about your unfiltered prayer to God, don’t fret. Jesus had a moment like that, too: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)

Perhaps your desperate cry to God has been more general—like the one in this particular verse. Your holy discontent has led you to prayerfully complain to God that he never seems to show up in his power and glory, with signs, wonders, and miracles, as he did in days of old—and there seems to be no indication that he will anytime soon. You are desperate for God, but he doesn’t seem desperate for you.

The writer of this psalm most likely penned this prayerful lament after the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC. The Jews were deported to Babylon, the Holy Land had been overrun and defiled by pagans, and God’s people were in a bad way—with no end in sight. Worst of all, God was silent—he wasn’t acting (“no miracles”), he wasn’t talking (“no prophets”) and there was no game plan except for more of the same (“we don’t know how long this will be”).

So the psalmist poured out his complaint—which is always a good thing. And even though it wasn’t in this psalm, God did give his people some profound advice (I guess his advice is always profound since, after all, he is God) through a prophet that served around the same time as the palmist. His words are recorded in Jeremiah 29:1-23. I hope you will take the time to read them.

Of course, this passage contains the verse that everyone loves: “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11) But read the context. God is, in essence, saying to them, “this difficult time is going to take a while—and yes, I will see you through it—but in the meantime, bloom where I’ve planted you. Even though you don’t hear me or see me, I am still at work. I’m doing my part, so you do your part by staying faithful and useful to me.”

Here’s the deal: You see, the best part of our walk with God is not what he does for us, as glorious as that may be; it is what he does in us! And the faith, humility, trust, and dependence that God desires to develop within us—all the qualities of Christ-likeness—we discover at the wall of adversity. God produced those characteristics of greatness in all of the greats at the wall—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Job, Daniel, Paul, and others. Why should you be any different?

So, I’ll see you at the wall!

Take A Moment: Frustrating times may last for a long time, but faithful people will endure forever. Restate your unequivocal trust in God. Tell the Lord, that no matter what, you will be faithful to him.