Straightened Hand vs. Healed Heart

I recently read two of the most amazing books (and if you know anything about me you know I like to read a lot so that isn't some weak compliment). The Blessed Child and A Man Called Blessed by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright. What makes these books so great in my opinion is that they've encouraged me in my walk with the Lord in such a profound way. Reading these books have made me want to pray more, spend more time with the Lord and has greatly increased in me the desire to be a part of the Lord's work, spreading His glory and truth to every man and woman and child.

There's a line the appears a few times through the book that keeps coming to my mind: "Whoever said a straightened hand is better than a healed heart."

One of my absolute closest friends is pregnant. And from the time her and her husband found out they were expecting their world has been turned upside down. Everything from her job and finances to her health and family has been getting hit. Most recently they discovered an infected blood clot in her leg (brought on by the pregnancy). She is thankfully at home after spending a few days in the hospital. However, she is now giving herself a shot twice a day of blood thinners to prevent more clots from developing.

So naturally, myself and other friends and family members have been praying for her. I quickly found my prayer for her turning into a whine fest. "God why is this happening? Don't you realize everything else she is facing and now this? Seriously Lord can't she have some normalcy?!" (Sadly yes this is how I speak the creator of the universe some times.)

Before I could even continue my rant I felt the Lord impress and remind me: "Whoever said a straightened hand was better than a healed heart". The human spirit can only endure so much and once its reached the edge of itself I believe that's where the Holy Spirit rushes in to give us the strength to keep going. In one fast moment the Holy Spirit could not only touch and heal my friend's body, but He could move on every situation she is facing right now and change it. But a healed heart really is better. I know the Lord is holding her. I have seen Him strengthen her faith to new levels as she has proclaimed the Lord's goodness and power over her and her family's circumstances. I have seen the Lord mold her heart to offer forgiveness and grace to those who are coming against her and her family. And I believe that those things are so much more miraculous and so much more wonderful than the Lord simply removing every hindrance and problem in her path. 

All of that lead me to wonder: Who or what testimonies have encouraged me the most? (Or if you have a weak memory like me: What testimonies do I actually remember?) Are they "God healed me" or "God brought me through it" testimonies? I realized for myself its always the latter. Some times God takes us into a valley or desert to heal our heart and to build up our testimony. Don't get me wrong I like miracles. I like seeing people get healed instantly. I've been healed. There was a boy at our church recently who received back his hearing - it was awesome. A healed body is great but a touched and changed heart is moving.

So the next time you find yourself facing grim circumstances; or for some reason can't figure out why all these unwanted situations keep surfacing in your life take heart and believe that in one nanosecond God can turn all those circumstances around. But a healed heart really is better than a straightened hand. Let God take you into the wilderness to build up your testimony. Trust Him to see you through it because He most certainly will.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

Dekker, Ted and Bill Bright. The Blessed Child. Nashville: West Bow Press, 1984. Print.

What's this? You cited the book in proper MLA formatting? Why yes, yes I did. Being an English major does that to you. Plus now you have all the information you need to get your hands on the first book. You're welcome.

Limited

I’m not really into watching movies. I like to sit down every now and then and watch a good film but you know those people who want to go see the movie in the theater on opening day at midnight? I’m definitely not that person. Even though I’m not really into movies there are a few that I will always be a huge fan of.

I know it’s considered cool pop culture nerd to say this but it’s totally true: I love Star Wars. Not the new ones – George should have quit while he was ahead in my opinion. I’m talking about A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. I remember being a little girl and my Dad bringing these movies home for us to watch and I was enthralled. The stories were amazing and the force was this limitless source to tap into to wreck major havoc on the dark lord Sith. Not to mention those ewoks were adorable and I dreamed of finding one some day. 

It’s movies like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Batman and Chariots of Fire (yes Chariots of Fire) that get me. These movies show people (or hobbits) that have extraordinary powers and abilities. Luke has the force. Frodo has the ring and his gang of mythical friends backing him up. Batman is billionaire Bruce Wayne and let’s be honest sometimes it’s awesome to have money. It can buy you the batmobile and that sweet utility belt he uses to protect Gotham city. And last but not least, my favorite Eric Liddell – who won the 400 meters in the 1924 Summer Olympics and was known as the flying Scotsman. 

While the majority of all these characters are purely fictional, no one can argue that they aren’t powerful. The force and Bruce Wayne’s bank accounts will never run out. It’s like these guys have no limits. I on the other hand certainly have limits. I’m no Luke Skywalker, or Frodo Baggins. I can’t fly. I can’t run at incredible speeds. I don’t have overwhelming strength. I don’t have the batmobile or utility belt.

But my limits don’t stop there. I am limited in giving because I don’t have a bottomless bank account. I am limited in serving because I just don't have enough time. I am limited at loving people who hurt and disappointment me. I am limited in my ability to forgive others. I am limited in overcoming temptation and evil. I am limited in my belief for the impossible. I am limited in receiving God’s blessings because I don’t think they’re for me. I am limited in understanding God and knowing His ways.

 Matthew 19:26 says:  

With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

I don’t know what areas you may feel limited in lately and we certainly live in a world where our limitations are constantly being thrust in our faces, but God is not limited where I am. Where I am limited God is not and therefore He enables me to be unlimited when I lean on Him.

Here are 5 Bible verses that encourage me when I feel limited:

1. Colossians 3:13 says that I am to forgive as the Lord has forgiven me.

2. James 1:5 talks about if anyone is lacking wisdom they are to ask for it because God generously bestows it upon us.

3. Matthew 7:10-12 Jesus says that no earthly father would give his child a stone or a snake when they ask for bread and a fish and then posses the question how much more will your heavenly father give what is good to those who ask Him?

4. 1 Corinthians 10:13 talks about that God won't allow a temptation to become too strong for me to handle and that He will show me a way out of it.

5. 1 John 4:8 says that God is love and therefore God is unlimited in His ability to love because it’s the very nature of who He is.

Because God is unlimited, we, His children are safe and it is when we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith that He offers us the guidance, the will and the strength to push through our limitations.

This, this is the God we adore. Our faithful, unchangeable friend. Whose love is as great as His power, and neither knows measure nor end. ‘Tis Jesus, the first and the last, whose Spirit shall guide us safe home. We’ll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that’s to come. - Joseph Hart

My Life is like a Car Wash

On Saturday I decided to take my car through the car wash. My car was filthy, thanks to the snow, salt and slush that has been plaguing the land since January. My mom told me about this new awesome one in Gap so I decided since it was close to home I should check it out. (No this is not a plug for the new car wash in Gap) The thing about this car wash that was really weird and in my opinion making it incapable of getting your car nice and clean is that the car wash pulls your vehicle through on a little belt and pulley system. You have to line your left front tire up to this pulley, then put your car in neutral and the system pulls you through and spits you out at the end.

So there I am trying to line my car up for this new car wash. There’s a guy outside directing me to go more to the right so the pulley will grab my tire, but when I look to the right all I want to do is go left because there’s a huge piece of car washing equipment just waiting to smack and scrap my new car! I keep avoiding his directions to go right and slightly start freaking out because I can’t see where this guy is directing me.

When I was driving home from work last night I realized that my little moment at the car wash is really similar to how I act when trusting the Lord. I cannot see where I am going even though I do have an idea of what I believe is going to happen. I believe this pulley is going to take me through the car wash. Just like I am incapable of seeing the pulley system, I am also incapable of seeing the process that is taking place in my heart as it aligns with God’s. There might be circumstances around me that make me feel nervous, uncomfortable or afraid; however, I should never allow those circumstances to dictate how I direct myself.

Jeremiah 29:11 says

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and future."

God’s plan for us is always to better us and draw us closer to Him. He always offers us hope and a future. It is only when I look into the eyes of Jesus and go where He directs me that am I capable of receiving the end results that both He and I desire. Even though the outer circumstances that I can see seem to be scary, unfair, intimidating and unknown, I have to remember that there are other things taking place that even though I am unable to see them with my human eyes; those things guarantee my hope and future. 

It is only when I surrender and align myself up to God’s system that he can safely pull me through and release me into a wonderful future.