Even Though we Stumble… by Mark in New Jersey
(Note from Linda: The following was posted by Mark on the private website this morning, and since it is something I know many visitors to our public website can relate to and are sure to be blessed by as well as the FAM Fellowhship members, I appreciate mark’s permission to share anything he posts here as well. And as is ALWAYS the case, it’s almost hard to believe how well it ties in with so many other posts and conversations in the ministry over the past few days! But that’s just the way God is—always faithful and ever so powerful! So understand that the Lord is ALWAYS ready and able to lift us up and give us victory if we will just turn to HIM and give it ALL to Him; humble ourselves under His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:5-6), and we will indeed be blessed and encouraged beyond belief because HE WILL LIFT US UP IN DUE TIME!)
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted, and I have been traveling quite a bit and unfortunately not staying as involved in the ministry and word as I would like to be. And as a result, I stumbled and had myself one big old “pity party” yesterday. In spite of all the blessings and revelations, I allowed myself to be attacked by pride and frustration over something minor, and since I did not take those thoughts captive, they had me questioning my sanity, faith and stand. I took my eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm and water around me instead; just as Peter did after he stepped out of the boat. And all of that after the amazing fact that last week, my wife told me “I have come to realize that I really need to make God more a part of my life.”
However, I am not writing this to focus on how I stumbled. Instead, I want to share praises and encouragement with you all; praises for the God who gives and takes away, praises for each trial I face, and for the growth I experience as a result. God has blessed me in so many ways this past year because of our separation, and I’ve seen him move and soften my wife’s heart as well as mine. He has restored and renewed my faith and walk with Him and He has opened my eyes and heart to the wonder of His glory.
We will all stumble on occasion; no matter how hard we try, we are still human. As James 3:2 says…We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. And Daniel 11: 35 says…Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. Even if we stumble at times, how we get up is what is most important to God. So we can either be defeated by our trials or moments when we lack faith or we can grow from them and invest more faith in our Father. The word tells us that if we turn to God, He will uphold us; just as Jesus rescued Peter, so shall it be for us. As Proverbs 24:16 declares…for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. And then Psalm 37:23-24 promises…If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
So we must remain strong in Christ Jesus and keep our focus on Him and only Him because the more we do that, the less we will stumble. However, if we are fainthearted, we cannot take much because everything has to be a certain way or we give up and quit, and we get discouraged and depressed quickly. But what happens if our hearts fail? We can either decide that we can’t do this…it’s just too hard…or we can turn to God who gives us the strength we need to overcome ANYTHING the devil sends our way. Regrettably, I have given up on many things in the past because they were too hard. But our faithfulness in the little things reveals if we are really ready to receive the greater things God wants to give us. And when we put our trust, faith and confidence in God and Him alone, the victory is ours. As Deuteronomy 20: 1-4 says…When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army He shall say: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. And 2 Chronicles 20:17 says…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’
The Lord is with us!! So let’s continue to praise and put our trust in God, for He will give us the strength and wisdom to persevere. We can not lean on others; we must lean on God and lean on His word. And we have to keep our eyes on Him and the abundance of blessings He has given us. Faith is not believing that God can; it is believing that He will!!
Faith, Hope, Love and Peace to all of you!