I learned about this young missionary from the 1700’s around ten years ago, while I was doing some research for a Bible study I was writing. I discovered that he suffered greatly from depression and physical illness, yet he continued in faithful service to the Lord, blazing trails as he took the gospel to the lost. 

Knowing of his intense suffering, specifically with a mental health struggle common to modern times, made me view him as ultra-relatable.

God Can…

I’ve read about missionaries who had adventures in the jungles and encounters with people who welcomed them lovingly. I’d also heard about spiritual oppression that ended with a powerful testimony to God’s victory. (…You know, the types of stories that make little kids want to go out and be missionaries, too!)

These stories are exciting and powerful — and I’m so thankful for them and for God’s mighty activity of spreading the gospel. But they aren’t the only type of missionary stories that exist.

David Brainerd’s story, on the other hand, is the type that makes my heart weep with compassion, sympathy, and empathy.

God can use anyone. He can use someone who suffers intensely from mental health struggles. He can use someone with physical illness (or multiple physical illnesses.) Not only can He, but He does!

Praise God! When we hand our lives to Him, for His purposes, He will use us. And sometimes that means that we serve exactly how we are, and right where we are.

For reasons I could never guess, God didn’t heal Brainerd. He used him in spite of his mental and physical health. And Brainerd? He just kept plodding along faithfully. He pursued the Savior and shared Him with others, blazing trails (both figuratively and literally) all while obeying God’s call on His life.

His Story

So just who is this man of whom John Wesley said, “Let every preacher read carefully The Life of David Brainerd.” (Referencing a book about him.)

David Brainerd lived in Connecticut in the early 1700’s. He heard “God’s call” as a young man and so he went to Yale in order to receive the credentials that were necessary at the time to become a minister. All the while he attended school, he was very ill with a disease (likely tuberculosis).

Just two short years into his education, he criticized both his tutor for a lack of grace and the Rector for administering fines to “over-zealous” students. The result? Yale expelled him. 

This crushed Brianerd! At this time and place in history, he couldn’t preach without a degree. But he didn’t allow this to stop him from obeying God’s call on his life. David continued on, remaining faithful in obedience and devout in prayer. He continued to look for an avenue in which He could obey the Lord’s call to service.

“Here I am, Lord, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in thy service, and to promote thy kingdom.” – A prayer from David Brainerd

What a lesson for us! When God calls, we should obey – despite the obstacles.

David Brainerd decided to pursue missions, where he would not need a degree. Interestingly, the Honorable Society of Scotland hired the American man from Connecticut and ordained him to be a missionary. 

His health was such a factor, they hired him to stay put. He stayed in the northeast and became a missionary to the American Indians right there in that region. He worked tirelessly, traveling by horseback during the day, camping at night, and sharing the gospel everywhere he went.

God answered his prayer. 

Once, while traveling for missions, he was caught in a horrible storm. He plodded along in the cold wind and rain, having no food and no shelter. He would likely have died, except that God provided a hollow tree and later, food– by means of a little squirrel who dropped nuts at the tree’s entrance. 

It’s absolutely incredible isn’t it? God’s faithfulness is so beautiful!

Jonathan Edwards, the famed preacher of the Great Awakening, took an interest in David Brainerd and invited him into his home many times, especially in his final months. As he became more and more ill, probably as a result of his tireless service, he resided there. 

Edward’s 17 year old daughter, Jerusha, was very touched by Brainerd’s love for God and passion to follow Him. It is reported that the two fell in love. She became Brainerd’s caretaker until he died at just 29 years old. (Jerusha herself became ill, possibly from caring for David, and died just four months later. Her father had her buried beside him.)

Serving While Suffering

Look at this excerpt from his diary:

“Thursday, April 7. Appeared to myself exceeding (sic) ignorant, weak, helpless, unworthy, and altogether unequal to my work. It seemed to me I should never do any service or have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for deaths beyond measure. When I thought of any godly soul departed, my soul was ready to envy him his privilege, thinking, `Oh, when will my turn come! must it be years first!’” (David Brainerd)

When I imagine Brainerd, depressed, sick, and weary, plodding along in the cold wind and rain with no food or shelter in sight, I think of “serving, while suffering.”

His story seems so relatable, doesn’t it? 

That could be any of us, plodding along in service, despite how we feel. That could be you, wanting desperately to follow God’s call but seeing every obstacle pop up right in front of you, time and again. It could be her who wanted the education, but couldn’t get it. …Or me, feeling unworthy and unequal to my work.

It could be any of us, not understanding why God doesn’t heal, and then longing for death.

Friends, life is hard and sometimes ugly, but God can use us despite all that.

Obedience At All Costs

Brainerd’s story reminds me to obey, no matter what, and let God’s work be done. I’m not sure of all the souls that came to know Jesus because of Brainerd, but his work was considered by many to be successful. Yet, his story doesn’t have what most would call a “happy ending,” which maybe gives a lasting impression of his intense daily battle with depression and illness. 

Though I would love to paint a beautiful and happy ending onto the story of his life, I think doing so would miss the point. Brainerd’s life was a portrait of obedience at all costs. 

And that, my friends, is what serving Jesus is all about. It’s about going all in. It’s about submitting your whole life and will to His Lordship. (And yes, I know that’s easier said than done.)

May the Savior use us all… and help us to serve Him wholeheartedly. In spite of any suffering we may experience, may we be found serving while suffering. May we blaze trails and share Jesus — even if God calls us to share Him exactly how we are and right where we are.

I leave you with this passage from 2 Corinthians that comes to mind when I think of David Brainerd:

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Read more about David Brainerd here, in this biography written by Jonathan Edwards.

Blessings and prayers for faithful service to the Lord,
Ali

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Growing up, one of my favorite movies was The Sound of Music. From the time I was a very little girl, I was intrigued by the storyline and loved the fun, lively songs. While the reason for Maria’s dilemma about whether to stay with the Von Trapp family or head back to the abbey where she’d been raised was over my head, I found myself drawn in when she (in desperation) discussed her worries with the calm and wise Mother Abbess.

There was something about the abbess’s quiet and firm personal faith that gave me hope for Maria and hope for a good resolution to the story. I didn’t realize until my early teen years that Mother Abbess was alluding to Psalm 121 when she reminded Maria to lift up her eyes to the hills… to where her help comes from. (And of course, a fitting song followed!)

Something about those words gave me great hope and, as years passed, I grew to love them even more. They give so much encouragement! The word of the Lord is powerful, even when quoted indirectly as a line in a movie.

About 15 years ago, my daughters and I set out to memorize all of Psalm 121. Planting the words firmly in my heart and mind have served me well. When I’ve struggled physically, emotionally, or spiritually, they have soothed me and reminded me that God is my protector and strength.

(A few years ago, right here on DoNotDepart, we had a memory challenge based on this Psalm. Did you memorize Psalm 121 with us?)

Overview of Psalm 121

Psalm 121 is a “Song of Ascents.” Worshipers coming to the Temple would sing this psalm together as they climbed the hills to reach Jerusalem. This psalm’s origination is interesting because, like Lisa stated here, “We don’t know who wrote this Psalm, when, or on what occasion. But we can understand why: To build confidence in the Lord’s care.”

Psalm 121:1-2

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

In these first two verses, the psalmist encourages others to remember that help comes from the Lord. The original reciters of this psalm looked up on their journey, toward the hills of Jerusalem, and remembered God’s presence in the Temple. Similarly, we can look to God’s beautiful creation and remember our Helper is a powerful Creator! Since He created heaven and earth, He can easily take care of me.

Psalm 121:3-4

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:3-4)

Not only does God take care of us, but He is always on duty. I love the reminder that He never “slumbers nor sleeps.” Though I don’t always see Him working, and perhaps I don’t always feel His presence, He is protecting me. (Yes, I have been through both of those situations.) These two verses have given me great comfort in times of grief, worry, and fear.

Instead of relying on feelings or even by my interpretation of my experiences, I can trust in this truth: God will not let me be moved. He keeps me from “slipping and falling” spiritually. (Of course, this doesn’t rule out my need to be obedient. It means that He is ever faithful to watch over me!)

Psalm 121:5-6

5The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night. (Psalm 121:5-6)

The original pilgrims heading toward Jerusalem would have encountered the heat and sun of the Middle East, yet God Himself is their shade. As a Central Texas girl, the analogy of dangerous heat and sun is something I can understand. A hot, sunny day can go from beautiful to dangerous in a matter of minutes, in certain situations.

What a beautiful reminder that when our Christian walk gets tough (as inevitably happens) God provides us with rest in His shade. That promise in verse 5 reminds me of the safe, green pastures of Psalm 23:2 and the shadow of the Almighty in Psalm 91:1. God gives us rest and keeps us safe from hurt. Instead of being struck down by the heat of the sun’s powerful rays, we are promised a reprieve. And no matter how scary the night may seem (literally or metaphorically), God will protect us then, too!

Psalm 121:7-8

7The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

8The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)

These verses give so much hope! Not only does the Lord watch and protect us now as we travel our pilgrim roads (life), He will keep us safe in the future– for our entire lives.

“When we go out in youth to begin life, and come in at the end to die, we shall experience the same keeping. Our exits and our entrances are under one protection.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)

The original audience likely would have understood the “going out” and “coming in” to refer to their entrance into and exit out of Jerusalem, but they are also symbolic of all the goings on in a person’s whole life, and even of life itself.

Yes, every time we come and go (in other words, every time we do anything) we can be confident that God is with us. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a Believer’s seal, reminding us of this truth. Like little children learn in Sunday School, we can know God is always with us because Jesus lives in our hearts! 

Look to the Hills, or to the…

Many of us will likely never go to Jerusalem. But we don’t have to be on a pilgrimage, looking to those hilltops in order to praise along with the psalmist.

No, we can praise God as we lift up our eyes to other hills or to the brilliant stars, mackerel clouds, budding flowers, trilling songbirds, and… you get the picture! His creation reminds us that He is powerful. He will take care of us, protect us, and always be with us!

Has this Psalm ever encouraged you? Or has looking toward God’s creation reminded you about His faithful protection? Please share with us in the comments or in our Facebook community.

Be blessed in all your goings out and your comings in!

We can look to God’s beautiful creation and remember our Helper is a powerful! He is an ever-faithful protector. #BeautifulPsalms #Psalm121
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In Him,

Ali 

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“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psalm 90:1, ESV)

The introduction to Psalm 90 records that this is “Of Moses the Man of God.” My daughter and I have used a scripture memory song for this Psalm in our homeschool for years, yet I have never stopped to think about the metaphor right there in the first verse.  

The Lord is our dwelling place. What does that mean? He’s the house (or tent in Moses’s case)? Or He’s our safe place?

A quick Google search revealed that a “dwelling place” is the place where someone lives. We can’t know exactly when in his life Moses wrote this Psalm, but in my opinion, it makes sense for it to be written during those forty wandering years in the wilderness. The poignant cry that the Lord is our dwelling place seems to come from people who have no literal, permanent home.

A Look Back

What might those desert-trotting Israelites have felt when they sang Moses’s new Psalm? As we probably learned in Sunday School, they had no home. They were wanderers, nomads, transient refugees. Having the Lord as their dwelling place gave them an identity.

In an everyday sense, a dwelling place for them would have been the literal tents they were dwelling in. How is the Lord like a tent? He offered them safety, peace, and rest.  Having the Lord as their dwelling gave them security. 

But a tent was only safety and security so long as they chose to go into it. They were welcome to sleep outside that protection if they liked. They had to be the ones to make the choice to go into the tent–the Lord as their dwelling place–and participate in the things that came with that relationship with Him. Having the Lord as their dwelling gave them responsibility.

A Look at Us

Actually, the same points apply to us.  When we choose to make the Lord our dwelling place, He becomes those things for us as well. And honestly, I wept when I found this verse as I looked for a metaphor to write about.  I needed it. I was cramming a writing session in between hard, hard things in our family.

I need Him to be my identity, my permanency–not being a wife, a mother, a homeschooler. Those things shouldn’t be the biggest part of who I am. He should. 

I need Him to be my security. My trust, my faith, my hope should all stem from the rock-solid dwelling place that is the Lord. When I re-enter that metaphorical tent, I should come out trusting only Him for finances, children’s futures, medical issues. 

In Matthew 7, Jesus compares people who don’t fully trust His words with a foolish man who built his house on sand. (Although, technically, that’s a simile. Jesus used the word “like.” “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man…” Matthew 7:26, ESV) Why wouldn’t I trust Him and build on the rock?

But having Him as your dwelling place does require responsibility. We have to choose to go to Him with our troubles. We have to actively talk to Him about our day in order for Him to become our identity and security. For me, this means setting alarms to remember to pray throughout the day and carving out time in my morning and evening routines to dwell with Him.

A Word about the Generations

The second part of the verse says the Lord had been their dwelling place “in all generations.” What were the Isrealites reflecting on in that part of the song? 

Abraham, who left his literal dwelling place in Ur to follow where God would tell him to go. He was led to a new dwelling place with God.

Jacob, who fled his literal dwelling place to live for years in another land. He discovered a new dwelling place with God.

Joseph, sold away from his literal dwelling place into slavery in Egypt. He found a new dwelling place with God.

And the same is true for us. I can see in my own family how our different generations have made Him their dwellings: when my great-grandparents trusted him during the Great Depression when my grandmother sought peace and strength from Him after her husband left her, and when my parents made Him their dwelling in seeking hope through daily prayer and Bible study. 

I pray my children will look back on what has been a hard season for our family and realize I made God my dwelling place through trusting Him in the storms of life.

Dwell in Him. Make Him your peace and security. Fulfill your role in being another generation that dwelled in Him.

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What Did You Say?

I remember thinking that my mother had eyes on the back of her head and sensitive ears that could almost pick up my thoughts! 

When I became a mother, I inherited those things, as most moms do.

That’s why my young daughters and I often sang a particular Bible verse. (I would create a simple tune to help our memory verses “stick” a little better.)  Knowing (and applying) this verse was so important! The version of 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we learned was worded this way:

“Be kind to one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

I explained to my girls that this meant using kind and helpful words (accompanied by a kind and helpful attitude). It meant encouraging and supporting one another, being helpful, showing respect, and graciously offering words of honesty paired with love. 

Over my many years as a mother and wife, I’ve learned about the peace, encouragement, and harmony that can result in a home from words offered in love and given at the right time.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

Be Kind

We probably all know others who have been carefully instructed in what to say. You know, people who use manners, say “please” and “thank you,” and apologize at the right time. But when people do those things and you know fully well that they don’t mean it, a bad taste gets left in your mouth. We crave honesty with kindness!

The Bible tells us to be kind, but it also tells us that what comes out of us comes from within us. 

The source of our words is our heart. (I wrote about this last summer in this post.)  

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (Matthew 12:33–35)

When the source (our hearts) is pure, the outcome (our words) will be pure. The reverse is also true. If the source is impure, the outcome will be, too. Fix the source, fix the problem!

Yes, our words come from our hearts, so if we see a problem, we must fix the source. We must work on our heart-attitude and our relationship with God. We can do this by confession, prayer, asking for God’s direct help, asking a trusted mentor for tips or advice, and watching our “input” (meaning, what we fill our minds with.)

I’ve heard it said that “words” and “swords” have the exact same letters and that words can be swords if we aren’t careful. Unfortunately, words can be powerful weapons that hurt others and destroy relationships. In families, unkind words can cause depression, self-esteem issues, anxiety, anger, disrespect, bitterness, broken relationships, and more. 

That’s all really heavy stuff! But it serves as a reminder of the weight and importance of watching our “output.” (Notice: When we watch our “input” it helps with our “output.”)

Build Each Other Up

The verse in Thessalonians tells us to “be kind” and “build each other up.” But on a practical level, what does that look like and how do we do it?

Like I stated in this post, kind and pure words: 

…are the result of having the Spirit dwelling in our hearts, so they look like Him [God].

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

Yes, kind and pure words are words that reflect God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… You get the idea. And we women need to use them, model them, teach them, and encourage their use within our homes. Even when it’s hard. (Especially when it’s hard?) Even when the other person doesn’t seem to deserve it. (Because who really does?) And even when we’re tired, grumpy, and overworked. (Because, don’t our families need our constant love and faithfulness?) 

After all, rather than using words that destroy and tear down, a wise woman uses words that build others up.

A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. (Proverbs 14:1, NLT)

When our words are kind and encouraging, we show ourselves safe and trustworthy. Our spouse, children, and loved ones know that they can come to us openly and honestly. We prove ourselves a reliable and solid “rock.” 

Neither we, nor our families, will speak kindly all the time, but it is something we can strive for. We can allow God to set the bar high (because He has) and we can be gracious with ourselves and our families as we aim for that bar. 

And we can thank God for sending the Spirit who guides and helps us! He is faithful!

Share in the comments how God has reminded you about the importance of kind words.

Using Kind Words in the Home. It’s important! When we use kind words, we reflect God’s love. #WordsOfLife
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And then we hit a wall.

The compounding effect of one small loss after another, finally took its toll. Inspirational hashtags and memes were not enough to raise our spirits. Remembering the example of the Greatest Generation during the Great Depression and World War 2 was not enough to bolster our courage. We are physically healthy, but our spirits are worn.

Throughout April at DoNotDepart.com, we are addressing how to respond to trouble in the world.  Struggling with what to share, I keep coming back to the word “lament.”

I don’t know what difficulties you are facing today. You weren’t made to bear it alone. #TakeHeart
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Defining Lament

According to various dictionaries you’ll find that “a lament” is “a cry, grief or mourning.” A biblical understanding of lament points to something more purposeful and God-focused. Contributing writer at DesiringGod.com, Michael Vroegop, defines lament as a “divinely-given invitation to pour out our fears, frustrations, and sorrows for the purpose of helping us to renew our confidence in God.” The Psalms and Lamentations provide prominent examples of lament in the Old Testament. Jesus even laments in the Garden of Gethsemane and from the cross.

A lament gives us space to mourn, encourages us to reach up and out, and spurs us towards steps of faith.

Mourn

Loss. Grief. Signs of brokenness encompass daily life as “sheltering in place” grinds on through April. I hesitate to share my struggles when so many are experiencing greater sorrow. Everyone is struggling with varying degrees of heartache. For this reason, I share my lament with God. It is for Him. I give God all of my heartache because He is my safe place. The writer of Lamentations knew this. Hear him as he pours out his heart to God:

I remember my affliction and my wandering,

  the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,

  and my soul is downcast within me.

(Lamentations 3:19-20, NIV)

Threatened by overwhelm, music provides a solace and helps me communicate with God. Hymns like, Abide with Me, Be Still My Soul, and O Sacred Head Now Wounded resonate within me. More contemporary, Rich Mullins’ music, helps me express my sadness and distraught to God. Rich’s song, Hold Me Jesus, is currently part of my playlist.

Reach Up and Out

Yet, a lament is more than a cry; it is a declaration of hope. Simultaneously as I reach up and ask for God’s help, I am declaring that He alone is the answer to whatever besets me.

Yet this I call to mind

    and therefore I have hope:

 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:21-23, NIV)

Although not directly stated in these verses, I believe God imparts hope and help through His people. It is good to reach out for help. Revealing our vulnerabilities to others, asking for help, gives God another avenue to impart His compassion and new mercies. It buoys our hope.

Step Forward in Faith

Throughout the songs and prayers of lament in the Bible, after the mourning and supplication for relief, there is a commitment, a decision, to act in faith. Faith is trusting God for my next step because He knows what is best. I relinquish my plans for His. See how the writer of Lamentations yields himself to God through faith:

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:24, NIV)

Here the writer’s step forward in faith is to wait for God’s lead. The current state of affairs is forcing us to wait, but maybe God is asking you to take action. After crying out to the Lord this past weekend, He directed me to an opportunity to teach my 4th grade Sunday School class via Zoom. Crafting a lesson on God’s love for a digital classroom instructed my heart and energized me to keep moving despite my feelings. God created the opportunity for me because He knew I needed it. I am glad I followed His lead.

Grief and Hope

The season we find ourselves in right now is marked by sadness, disease, and death. Our grief can overwhelm us and bring us to despair, or we can turn to God in lament and find hope. Tanner Fox, an associate pastor at my church says lament “properly honors the sting of grief and the joy of hope.”

I don’t know what difficulties you are facing today. You weren’t made to bear it alone. Cry before the Lord, seek His help, reach out to the Body of Christ, and embrace grief and hope.

Do you need to reach out for a word of encouragement? Do you need prayer? Please reach out to me in the comments.

Do you have a prayer of lament from scripture that you turn to in times of trouble? Please share it in the comments.

Our grief can overwhelm us and bring us to despair, or we can turn to God in lament and find hope. #TakeHeart
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One person at a time.

Keep your relationships strong for the other side. Isolation will end. Relationships don’t have to.

Just One?

This middle phase of our global pandemic can feel overwhelming. The numbers are staggering; the loneliness is great; the needs are many.

We often feel disconnected because we’re missing our normal hangouts of work, church, social activities, etc. We miss the people who were a regular part of our lives. Even if we Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype, it’s impossible to stay in touch with everyone. We’re concerned that relationships may be damaged after the virus goes into hiding.

What can you do to make a difference now when the problem is so large?

This is God’s specialty. He knows how to turn hopeless scenarios into extraordinary miracles.

And as God did in the past, He can also do today, using one person at a time.

Go Broad

Early on in the shelter-at-home phase, my husband Jeff decided to do a remote check-in with a different person each day. One day it was a text to a college buddy from years ago. Another day it was a phone call to his brother in the next town. Another day it was a message to a family that we no longer see at church.

Jeff’s strategy is to go broad.

We saw Jesus go broad, too.

In Jesus’s ministry in the New Testament, we often saw Him pop into a person’s life at their moment of great need.

• He raised a dead boy at a city gate.
• He healed a bleeding woman while He was going elsewhere.
• He did a remote healing for the son of a royal official.

Which one person needs you in this crisis?

Ask the Spirit to guide you. Then listen for His voice.

• Who do you miss that you normally talk to?
• Who have you not talked to in a long while?
• Who do you know that is lonely?
• Who makes you laugh?
• Who says you cheer them up?
• Who is afraid right now?
• Who calms you when you are afraid?

Connect with that one person.

Write a handwritten note and mail it. Take pictures of things you love and text it. Create video messages. Keep up with important dates in other people’s lives. Call and listen to each other’s voices.

Go Deep

But you also can approach one-person-at-a-time by going deep.

Is there one person who needs your attention again and again? Maybe a lonely widow. A friend with depression. A single mother with young kids.

Give attention to this person’s needs by checking in frequently.

Even if you can’t help face-to-face, your remote spiritual and emotional support can be a lifeline to get them through.

We know Jesus went deep with specific people.

He had a devoted collection of friends, both men and women. He had His crew of twelve apostles. And His intimate circle of Peter, James, and John. He stayed closer with them.

No one has the exact set of relationships that you do. God placed you where you are for a reason. Let Him use you in this time, one person at a time.

Isolation Will End

The more we connect with our community now, the stronger are relationships will be when we come out of quarantine.

Concentrate on what you want to outlast the coronavirus.

I don’t know who Jeff will contact today. Except for one. In addition to his one-person-a-day, he also checks in with me everyday. I need it, too.

Who can you check on today?

Who is one person you can check on today? Isolation will end; relationships don’t have to. #TakeHeart
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Do you have someone you’re consistently checking on? Who is checking in on you?

Please share in the comments.

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Ephesians 6:14

Today we continue our exploration of the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18, considering what it means to put on the breastplate of righteousness. I love the way God gives us pictures to help us wrap our finite minds around infinite concepts of truth. I imagine a young Ephesian, new to the faith, maybe even a former soldier, listening to the letter Paul wrote and connecting with the idea of spiritual warfare and the need for armor. Now, here we are, thousands of years later and that same picture still has something amazing to teach us.

Close your eyes and think of a suit of armor. What do you picture? A knight? A samurai? Maybe a Roman soldier, since you know we’re talking about the armor of God? How about a modern infantryman or a member of the SWAT team? Armor may be one of the oldest inventions of mankind and while materials and styles have changed over the years, the basic components and their purpose, to protect, have stayed the same.

The breastplate is part of the torso armor, intended to protect the vital organs between the neck and the navel, most specifically, the heart.

Why is the Heart so Vulnerable?

In biological terms, we understand that the heart is a muscle which pumps blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. Blood is the life force of the body and thus the heart is necessary to life.

In spiritual terms, we understand that the heart is the center of emotions, experience. The ancient Greeks also considered it to be the center of intellectual life. To speak of the heart was to speak of the soul, the very essence of a person.

Again, thinking in physical terms and using the picture Paul gave us of battle, we can understand that our middles are vulnerable to deadly attacks. I’m not an expert in war but I have seen enough battle based movies to know that a chest or stomach wound is going to be more effective than even a severed limb.

If what we do in life is dictated by our thoughts and feelings, it stands to reason that our hearts are vulnerable points of attack needing a great deal of protection.

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. (Proverbs 4:23, CSB)

How does Righteousness Protect the Heart?

In the same way a breastplate can be made of chain mail, iron, or even leather or wood, each with varying degress of effectiveness, so too can we use different techniques to protect our hearts.

Anger. Pride. Vanity. Indifference. Humor. Productivity. Work or hobbies. We put on these habits, attitudes, and behaviors, using them as a breastplate, keeping perceived dangers at arm’s length where it is less likely to hurt us.

Paul urges us instead to put on the breastplate of righteousness, a more effective defense against the spiritual battles we are engaged in.

Righteousness is best defined as “right” thinking. It comes from an Old English word meaning “ruled” as in a “straight line”. In other words, righteousness is aligning our hearts with God. Allowing our thoughts and emotions to be ruled by the direction of the Lord.

“The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” Psalm 19:8

How do we “Put On” righteousness?

Righteousness is not something we can earn or achieve on our own. Isaiah 64:6 describes our best efforts at right thinking as dirty rags, and Paul writes in Romans,

“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:20-24

Armor does not go on automatically. We make the choice every day to be battle ready by setting our hearts and minds on the Lord, or to relax and hope the enemy is quiet.

“As we wear Christ’s breastplate of righteousness, we begin to develop a purity of heart that translates into actions. Wearing this breastplate creates a lifestyle of putting into practice what we believe in our hearts. As our lives become conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), our choices become more righteous, and these godly choices also protect us from further temptation and deception (Proverbs 8:20; Psalm 23:3).” – Got Questions

Conclusion

If you’re looking to learn more about righteousness I highly recommend looking back at these great posts from Do Not Depart writers. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this thought from David Guzick,

“We are sometimes tempted to say to the devil, “Look at all I’ve done for the Lord.” But that is shaky ground, though sometimes it feels good. It is shaky because feelings and experiences change quickly. God’s righteousness isn’t. The breastplate of righteousness is your best defense against the sense of spiritual depression and gloom that comes against us.”

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As Chapter 21 opens, David is in the House of the Lord seeking provision and protection from King Saul. In an act of self-preservation, David lies to the priest concerning the reason for his visit. From there, he flees to Gath seeking protection and anonymity from Israel’s enemy— the Philistines. There, in front of the Philistine king, David feigns humiliating madness, and escapes with his life.

Although we weren’t “on the run,” like David, I see aspects of his story reflected in my family’s experience with unemployment and financial hardship. I am reminded in Psalm 34:15-18 of God’s grace and mercy as He listens, defends, delivers, and saves His children.

My family’s story begins in December 2009; the housing bubble burst, and my husband, who worked for a large, mid-western homebuilder, brought home a pink slip— just in time for Christmas.

God sees and listens.

Looming bills, a mortgage, and Christmas gifts became mountainous hurdles, without a paycheck.  For the sake of our young girls, we made the most of the “extended vacation,” but late at night, we prayed and cried out to God for help.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry… Psalm 34:15

Seeing David in his time of need, God provided David with sustenance and a powerful weapon for personal protection through Ahimeleck, the priest in the House of the Lord.  When we needed it most, God provided consulting jobs for my husband and increased sales from my work-from-home business. I even secured additional employment that relieved our strained budget through Spring.

God defends.

Along with financial stress, negative thoughts plagued my husband as his unemployment stretched longer. Where David faced an opposing king and army in Gath, my husband faced tough adversaries named Grief, Inadequacy, and Depression.

A steady stream of negative reinforcement fought hard against him.

“You should have saved more.”
“Didn’t you see it coming?”
“You are a bad money manager.”

In the face of self-condemnation, God’s Word provided a sure defense:

…but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth. Psalm 34:16

Buoyed by Scripture, the Holy Spirit strengthened our spiritual muscles; teaming together, our marriage strengthened, and the smallest of provisions prompted thanksgiving. God provided friends who encouraged and prayed for us. At times, weary from the struggle, God’s presence offered comfort and hope.

God delivers.

Although it took six months to find a new job, we had four weeks to pack up our house, say goodbye to friends, and hug our extended family before moving more than a thousand miles from home and family to southern California. I can testify to God’s promise in Psalm 34:17:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

In this verse, the Hebrew word for “delivers” means “to snatch from trouble.” Between David’s quick thinking and God’s rescue, David averted trouble in Gath. Similarly, a new job and a cross-country move delivered us from our immediate financial woes.

God saves.

Just as David’s self-reliance and poor choices prompted David’s circumstances in 1 Samuel 21, our family’s period of unemployment revealed poor stewardship of our resources. Answering prayers about living closer to family, God moved us to Florida, where we could work through lingering financial issues in a supportive environment.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

The Hebrew word for “saves” in Psalm 34:18 means “to set free.” Financial brokenness was God’s opportunity to free us from enslaving attitudes and choices. Furthermore, God drew near as we openly wept over our disobedience, and refreshed us with forgiveness and love when we relinquished our will for His.

Study and Reflect

1. Read 1 Samuel 21. Outline the chapter.
2. Find a trusted commentary and dig deeper in 1 Samuel 21 and Psalm 34. Blue Letter Bible offers great resources.
3. Have you experienced God’s listening, defending, delivering and saving? Journal about it or write your experiences on note cards to keep handy when you need a reminder of God’s care for you.

What do you love most about the verses in this passage? Tell us in the comments or in our DoNotDepart Community on Facebook.

The Eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous. A Study of Psalm 34: 15-18. #Psalm34TasteAndSee
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From Death

Jesus was away with His disciples when Mary and Martha sent Him the message that their brother, His dear friend Lazarus, was ill.  I wonder if the sisters questioned why Jesus didn’t come rushing to them.

Instead of returning, Jesus stayed where he was and Lazarus became more ill until he finally died.

Maybe it seemed like Jesus was late.

In my own life, I have wondered where God was or what He was doing when I wanted something done now. His timing is not mine. 

But His timing is perfect. My prayer is that I would be open to always knowing that and agreeing with Him about it.

To Life

When Jesus finally does make it to Mary and Martha’s house, Lazarus was dead and buried. Mary, who often gets a bad rap in Luke 10:38-42, rushed outside to greet Jesus and expressed her great faith in His ability to have done something, and to still be able to do something about her loss.

Jesus responds with, “Your brother will rise again.”

What follows is a beautiful demonstration of Mary’s faith and an encouraging affirmation of Jesus’ power.

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” – John 11:24-27

When we are hurting, it serves us well to communicate with our Savior, express our faith, and listen for affirmations of God’s mighty power!

From Hopeless

There seemed to be no hope. Mary and Martha both responded with faith, but also showed tremendous grief. 

There is no greater grief than being parted by death from the ones you love. 

Even Jesus felt it. He was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” (verse 33) and wept when He saw where Lazarus was buried.

Though Jesus was not hopeless, He was wounded in spirit by the pain of loss.

To family and onlookers, though, the whole situation was over. The story was finished. After all, Lazarus was dead.

I’ve been there. Have you? Sometimes, my story or situation seems to “end” and nothing else can be done.

Life is hard. Sometimes, we have to say goodbye, a family crisis occurs, there isn’t enough funds for bills, we get a really bad diagnosis, or worse.

Sometimes God does “end” our story there (meaning that He sometimes allows things in our lives that hurt, though what we see isn’t really the end). Other times, He allows things to be more to our liking, but only if it’s in His best plans.

Either way, He can use it (whatever it is) for our eternal good and for His glory. Sorrow and pain can grow us in ways that good times can’t. And we must remember that with Jesus, all things are possible! Where we see only hurt, He can create beauty. 

He is able! Yes, when Jesus commanded dead Lazarus to come out of the grave, He showed us His might and authority.

To Hope

Friends, Jesus is in the business of resurrection. He breathes new life into us, and though our sin technically earns us death (Romans 6:23), His children will live eternally (John 3:16). He also can breathe life into hopeless situations and make a way where there seems to be none.

Our God, who commanded Lazarus to leave the grave behind him, tells dry bones to come alive, parts the waters, gives sight to the blind, and directs the lame to take up their beds and walk.

He can breathe life into you and me and into our most dire circumstances.

Say it with me, slowly:  He has might and authority.

The story of Lazarus is a sweet reminder of who Jesus is and the hope that He brings!

He is the resurrection and the life. What a beautiful Savior!

Blessings,
Ali

From Death to Life: The Story of Lazarus. A reminder of who Jesus is and the hope He brings! #BelovedStoriesNT
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My study Bible divides this section of Scripture into these two main divisions: The Parables of Christ, and the Prerogatives of Christ. I think those titles are great! Let’s look at them together.

Mark 4

Mark chapter four contains sections from both division. It starts out with some parables and then moves on to some prerogatives of Christ.

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Parables

I love the parables! Like I mentioned to the DoNotDepart Facebook community, my father is a great storyteller, so maybe I associate a good story with fatherly love and instruction.  And stories from Jesus, the Master storyteller, are truly great stories! 

Here in Mark 4, Jesus teaches His audience through several parables. Now, the parables had a two-fold purpose. Fisrt, to explain truths to the spiritually open, and second, to obscure the meaning for those who lacked desire to receive the meaning. He knew that some listeners would “get it” and some would walk away still spiritually blind to the truths He was teaching.  (See Matthew 13:10-17 and Isaiah 6:9-10 to see how Jesus fulfilled prophecy in using the parables. Also, for a great study on the parables, consider the HelloMornings study, At My Savior’s Feet, authored in part by several of the DoNotDepart writers.)

Mark 4 presents us with several parables:

• First, the Parable of the Sower, which details the various reactions to hearing the Gospel.
• Next, the Parable of the Lamp, that reminds us that we bear Christ’s light and should let it shine out for His glory.
• Then, the Parable of the Growing Seed, shows us that personal spiritual growth is certain, but can be slow.
• Last, the Parable of the Mustard Seed, which tells of the rapid spread and growth of the Christian faith.

Prerogatives

Mark chapter 4 closes with Jesus and the disciples on a boat, enduring a storm. Most of us know the story. Jesus is sleeping peacefully aboard the ship while the disciples feared and fretted. When they awoke Jesus and asked Him if He cared, His reply was, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

His reply makes me pause in reflection. When storms of life lash out at me, do I trust the One who is resting in me? Or do I fear?

Jesus’ parables teach us great truths. We should pray for listening hearts and then pause to examine our faith. We can always trust that God is able to calm our biggest storms!

Mark 5

The prerogatives of Jesus stretch on from Mark 4 into chapters 5 and 6 (and further until Mark 9:1).  

In Mark 5, Jesus demonstrates that He has authority over demons and illness. Wow! We have a powerful Savior, and His actions show great love for mankind.

Look closely with me at Mark 5:19. After casting demons out of a man, Jesus tells him:

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 b

Yes! The Lord is so loving toward us and shows us such rich mercy. No matter how dire our situation, if we pray for spiritually open eyes, I am convinced that we can look and see God’s love and mercy. His actions are always something worth sharing!

Jesus doesn’t say much in this chapter of Mark, but the few words that are recorded are deep!

• He calls a woman suffering from a bleeding issue that leaves her unclean (Leviticus 15:25-27) and excluded from aspects of her community “daughter” and tells her to “Go in peace. Your faith has made you well.” (verse 34)
• Jesus tells Jairus to not be afraid, but to only believe. (Verse 36) After all, there are no limits to what God can do!
• And proving this fact of limitlessness, Jesus tells a dead girl to arise… and it happens! (Verse 41)
  
  Jesus has authority over all our circumstances, no matter how serious or grim! Nothing is too big for Him and His love is immense!

Mark 6

One of my favorite stories from the sixth chapter of Mark is the feeding of the 5,000.

I love that it all starts with Jesus asking the apostles (that had just returned from their commission in verses 7-13) to come away with Him to rest. (It’s so invitational, isn’t it? After hard and exciting work, spiritual rest was so needed!

Alexander Maclaren offers us some insight from his commentary regarding this:

“After any great effort, the body cries for repose, but still more does the soul’s health demand quiet after exciting and successful work for Christ. Without much solitary communion with Jesus, effort for Him tends to become mechanical…” (Emphasis, mine.)

This all reminds me that when we serve family, friends, the Body of Christ, or otherwise in our community, we need to come away with Jesus for rest. It’s important that we renew mentally, physically, and especially spiritually so that we can be renewed and then continue serving in His name.

In this story, the disciples really didn’t get much time alone with Jesus since the crowds beat them to the “desolate place.” But Jesus set the example for them with compassionate service, and for giving even when they were tired. What an excellent reminder that Jesus can use the efforts in our tired moments when we draw near to Him!

Jesus is abundantly able to do great things! His marvelous nature is displayed as He calls us to rest and then renews us. Yes, sometimes we’ll serve while we’re tired, but through His strength it can be done. He shows us His miracles of awesome ability and even healing.

What from these chapters stood out most to you? Share with us in the comments of in our Facebook community. 

Looking at the Parables and Prerogatives of Christ in Mark 4 – 6. #40DaysWithJesus a Reading Plan for Lent
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Blessings!

Ali

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