Finding Clarity When Life Gets Complicated
“It’s complicated.”
Have you ever felt like this was the most accurate answer to questions people ask you?
- How’s work going? “It’s complicated.”
- How’s school? “It’s complicated.”
- How about your New Year’s resolutions? “It’s complicated.”
- Your diet? “It’s complicated.”
- Your wife? “It’s complicated.”
There’s even a place on social media websites under “relationship status” that gives you the option to answer, “It’s complicated.”
Life can be complicated, but God can bring clarity.
Paul found himself in quite a war of social and theological ideals and opinions. He had once arrested and killed Christians; now he was one – a very vocal one, whose testimony and ministry brought division everywhere he went.
At one point Paul was arrested and very shrewdly turned his enemies against one another, causing them to fight among themselves, nearly killing him in the process.
“And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.””Acts 23:10-11 ESV
In the midst of the chaos and confusion God spoke. His words comforted Paul, gave him courage, and assured him of promises on which he could depend.
Here are three things that seem to complicate my life:
- Isolation. I tend to process my thoughts and problems inwardly and privately. Sometimes that’s ok, but often the answers I seek are found in the fellowship, friendship, and wisdom of those around me. Remember God’s words about Adam – “It is not good for man to be alone; let us make a helper for him.” The effectiveness of isolation pales in comparison to the rewards of relationships.
- Overworking and underplaying. Burying myself in my work may give me a temporary sense of accomplishment, but it slowly eats away at the foundations of my relationships with others. Ebenezer Scrooge had a lot of money, but he wasn’t successful until he learned the value of the people around him and enjoyed time with them.
- Not exercising regularly. I cannot ignore the physical component of my life and expect my soul and spirit to compensate. God made me spirit, soul, and body. I must steward and be attentive to my whole being. They are interwoven. Physical health affects mental and emotional health.
Here are three things that bring clarity to my life:
- Prayer. Honest, out-loud, passionate, and routine times of praying to God allows me to not only cast my cares on Him, but hear His voice.
- Worship. When life gets complicated satan tries to silence my song. My worship cannot be determined by my circumstances! My praise breaks the barrier between earth and heaven, ushering me into the powerful presence of God!
- The Word. When I come to the Scriptures I am not merely encountering words, but having an encounter with the Word Himself. Jesus speaks to me, giving me wisdom and infusing me with faith by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
I’m not sure that complications in life can be avoided. But clarity can be found. They key is to minimize the self-induced complications and maximize the Spirit-led practices that bring clarity to the chaos.
God will lead you through this.
Songs from the Prison Cell
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Acts 16:25 ESV
Many believers have wrong assumptions of what it means to praise and worship God. They assume:
- Praise and worship is something you do only at church.
- Praise and worship is something you do only when things are going well in life.
- Praise and worship is something for people who are musically inclined.
Paul and Silas understood that worship and praise, combined with prayer, are powerful forces that pierce spiritual darkness, catalyzing the breakthrough of God’s will to be established on earth as it is in heaven!
Having been arrested, beaten, and confined to the deepest, darkest part of the prison, Paul and Silas lifted their voices to sing and to pray.
By the end of the story they were released from prison, but, make no mistake, Paul and Silas were free before they were ever released from prison!
God created you to sing! He put a new song in your mouth- a song of praise! (Psalm 40:3)
- Praise and worship is the daily practice of the believer! Sing out!
- Praise and worship is a decision, not an emotion. Even (especially!) when things aren’t going well for you, lift up a song of praise and watch God change things!
- Praise and worship is NOT about musical skill, but sincere gratitude! Even if it’s off key, sing out! (Just don’t sign up for the worship team or American Idol.)
What prison has you confined? Depression? Debt? Discouragement? Fear? Physical ailment?
Lift up a song of praise to the God who has delivered you. He is good. He is worthy. He is mighty!
And, don’t forget, other prisoners are listening. Other people need hope. Songs from prison cells are the most beautiful of all.
The Day Moses Broke All Ten Commandments
I’m not sure if we admit it as much as we used to, but we all sin pretty regularly.
For those who recognize the authority of Scripture, sin is defined by two words: transgression & iniquity. Transgression is the crossing of a line, the outward act of sin. Iniquity is the inner motivation, our fleshly bent toward sin. (The good news is that Jesus was both wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity!)
Even if a person refuses to accept God’s word as the standard of right and wrong, there is still a “sin” issue. When he/she chooses to do something that, in their own mind, they believe they shouldn’t do, that action is transgressing their own sense of morality. By their own conscience they have done wrong.
The point is, we sin.
One day God met with Moses on Mt. Sinai and wrote (literally with His finger) ten commandments into stone tablets. Moses carried these tablets down the mountain to present them to the people; however, the people of Israel were dancing with another god – one they had made.
Outraged at the people’s hardened hearts, Moses threw the tablets to the ground, breaking all Ten Commandments in one day! Haha. But, seriously, Moses was visually demonstrating what had actually happened. The commandments were indeed broken.
I hate sinning. But I still do. I say the wrong things, think the wrong things, and do the wrong things.
We all do.
And we know it.
So, what does God think about you when you sin? Look how He responded to Moses:
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”” Exodus 34:6-7 ESV
To penitent sinners He is a God of mercy. To rebellious sinners He is a God of judgment.
The fact is you sin. The question is, are you honestly acknowleging your need for God’s mercy?
I recently heard this statement: “When you sin you don’t fall from grace, you fall into it.”
Today you can come to God without fear. He is merciful and gracious. Not only will He forgive you, He will set you free.
Jesus on Money
Money does not determine your character, it reveals it. Both generosity and greed are found among the rich and poor alike.
This week the Powerball lottery jackpot is at an all-time high- over one billion dollars! People are literally lining up to purchase lottery tickets in hopes of overnight riches!
Jesus spoke often of money, and explained why – because “where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”
Jesus warned that we not fall into the endless trap of accumulating possessions. He wasn’t speaking against saving money, but against the spirit of greed and always wanting more.
Jesus warned against the fear of lack. Our Father is good and has promised to provide for our every need!
Jesus encouraged us to be generous!
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”Luke 12:33 ESV
Where gratitude is present generosity is practiced and greed is broken.
How do we develop a grateful, generous spirit?
- Tithe. Tithing begins with the recognition that God is the provider of all that I have. In appreciation for God’s blessing I return a tenth of my income to Him. Tithing breaks the curse of poverty and greed over my life, because I am putting God FIRST.
- Give. Beyond tithing I can give – to individuals, to the church, to the needy, to whomever God leads! Giving releases multiplication. Jesus said you are more blessed to give than to receive.
- Steward. Poor financial stewardship can sabotage the blessing of God in your life. Be disciplined, be consistent, be faithful – these are all qualities of a good steward. Stewardship causes increase. When you are faithful in little things, God blesses you with more.
Money issues are rarely money issues – they are heart issues.
Father- our human tendency is to be selfish and greedy. Today I choose to be grateful and generous. Help me to give my best out of a sincere heart of gratitude. Amen.
Jesus Heals.
Jesus was known for healing people. In fact, Jesus was healing people even before “He was wounded for our transgressions.” Healing is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God and is available to us today!
For those who have suffered from sickness or disease, particularly those who have experienced the ravages of a long-term illness or the deep loss that accompanies the death of a loved one, the topic of healing is not merely philosophical or even theological, it is emotional.
With sensitivity to those personally affected by the pain of sickness or disease, I offer this truth to all who suffer – Jesus heals.
The physician Luke recorded in detail numerous accounts of Jesus’ miraculous ministry, includng these from chapters four and five:
“And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.” Luke 4:38-40 ESV
“While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke 5:12-13 ESV
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the man who was paralyzed— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.” Luke 5:24-25 ESV
Simply put, Jesus heals. It’s not just that He did, but He still does. And He has given the ministry of healing to His followers, so that we, too, may lay hands on the sick and they will recover.
If you are in need of healing, call on Jesus! He still heals.
Pastor Dale Jenkins 