REND THE HEAVENS (Personal Reflection)

Lord, let me live to see revival

The dark retreating from the dawn

Throwback the curtains, let the light come pouring in

Flood our desperate hearts

Flood our desperate hearts

Lord, rend the heavens and come down

Till all the earth is holy ground

Let it rain, let it rain

Send revival

And as we pray and seek Your face

Abandon all our wicked ways

Let it rain, let it rain

Send revival now

Lord, let me live to see the harvest

We’ll reap the joy the tears have sown

We’ll see the prayers of generations come to pass

And Your kingdom come

Oh, let Your kingdom come

I want to see the signs and wonders that You promised

I want to see Your sons and daughters running home

I want to see the world on fire for You, Jesus

Have Your way, have Your way

I want to see an army rising from the dry bones

I want to see Your power moving through the streets

Till every heart and soul on earth belongs to Jesus

Have Your way, have Your way

Have Your way, have Your way

[CLICK HERE if video does not load]

I always love when my favorite artists release new songs and today, Rend Collective is releasing their new album entitled, "CHOOSE TO WORSHIP." They are one of my favorite bands, if not my all-time favorite, which is not a surprise considering this is the third song of theirs I have written personal reflections on recently (Links: BOLDLY I APPROACH and WEEP WITH ME). This particular video is brilliantly cast considering the context and atmosphere surrounding. Here we have the lead singer of one of the most popular bands in Ireland and Christian music universal, playing solo acoustic (anonymously) on the streets of his home country, and singing to the Lord for spiritual revival in front of a popular, Irish pub. Pay attention to how many people walk by unbeknownst to the prayer being offered on their behalf, hurrying on their way without the slightest regard for what is happening. In many ways it is a sobering picture of our world today, where opportunities to praise and worship God are rejected in favor of personal agenda. It echoes a harsh reality Paul warns about to those who ignore the divinity of God all around them. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse" (Romans 1:18–20). There is no denying millions of souls will spend eternity in hell separated from God because they have CHOSEN to reject Him by dismissing (at a minimum) the reality of creation which He spoke into existence. However, there are those who blatantly reject the Bible outright even after receiving divine revelation of its meaning as well. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15), yet countless people deceive themselves by believing they can follow Jesus without endorsing what Scripture says in it's entirety. How can this be?  

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:8–9). What an incredible promise of God's immeasurable love for His children! However, His salvation invitation comes with an expiration date based on our mortality, if we're not careful. Scripture warns, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:10). Let us be clear. Revival is not only needed outside of our religious walls but inside the church as well. Far too many self-proclaimed Christians are in need of a complete reboot and spiritual awakening through the power of God's Word, yet it is increasingly popular for people to choose His love over His wrath because they want to disregard His wrath as absolute. The growing secular belief infiltrating the church today is that God's wrath is an Old Testament doctrine, used by fire and brimstone preachers like Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon, to scare unbelievers into repentance for their sins to avoid burning in hell for eternity. Therefore, more and more people are buying into the lie that God's wrath is irrelevant and outdated compared to today's more educated, post-modernistic culture. However, this completely negates the fact that without God's wrath, His love would be meaningless. Please don't miss this. God's love is amazing BECAUSE His wrath demands our sins be judged, and the cross Jesus died upon is the bridge which connects the two. "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:3–4). What we must reconcile in our hearts is whether we're foolish to presume we can separate Jesus from His Word. Scripture plainly states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1), yet people are rejecting that absolute truth more and more. Why? 

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17–18). Therefore, we can be clear everything written in the Old Testament is true and applicable in the past, present and future. Jesus did not contradict or abolish the Law when He came to earth to die for our sins. Rather, He fulfilled what the Law demanded to appease God's wrath on our behalf. Yet even though the truth and reality of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection is right before our eyes, many continue to rebel against God's Word, as if we could pick and choose what is relevant in the Bible and what is not. Why? Truth be told, people are simply scared of owning their sins if they concede God's Word is indeed absolute truth, which explains why love is overwhelming embraced and solely focused upon at the expense of wrath. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12–13). Bottom-line, God's holiness magnifies our sin and convicts our hearts, which is why it should come as no surprise that God's love is the exclusive focus of so many self-proclaimed Christians' theology, to appease their minds and justify their sinful behavior as righteous. My brethren, let us not be so naive, for God's love is made possible because of His wrath! "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10). That is why revival is so desperately needed in the church today, to reprogram our hearts and minds to embrace God's absolute truth rather than appease our personal preferences, which water down our faith and sway our hearts' desire toward our flesh.

"Lord, let me live to see revival. The dark retreating from the dawn. Throwback the curtains, let the light come pouring in. Flood our desperate hearts, flood our desperate hearts." Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines revival as a "return, recall or recovery to life from death or apparent death; return or recall to activity from a state of languor; recall, return or recovery from a state of neglect, oblivion, obscurity or depression; renewed and more active attention to religion; an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns." What a powerful picture we've been painted, yet what does it mean spiritually? Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21–23). To assume any of us will enter the kingdom of heaven one day without true, Biblical repentance and heart transformation is foolishness. For we were not created to live independent from God, but dependent on His wisdom in relationship with His Son and Holy Scripture. That is the beauty of saving faith vs. religion, false religion, or any other method of self-preservation known to mankind. Saving faith provides unconditional access to intimate communion with God 24/7/365. For there is nothing in this world that can truly satisfy our heart's desire, which is why Solomon declared after exhausting all of life's pleasures, "I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Yet what did Solomon conclude at the end of His life? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). The call for God to flood our desperate hearts is made possible only through the cross of Calvary. Therefore, we must cling to His Word with complete abandon, allowing His absolute truth to illuminate our minds and cast away the darkness which seeks to undermine our faith.

"Lord, rend the heavens and come down till all the earth is holy ground. Let it rain, let it rain. Send revival. And as we pray and seek Your face, abandon all our wicked ways. Let it rain, let it rain. Send revival now." The word choice of "rend" for this chorus is incredibly powerful if we understand its meaning and context. Scripture declares, "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!" (Isaiah 64:1–2). The ESV Study Bible states, "Isaiah sees the heavens as a vast curtain, concealing God, and begs God to rip them apart and step down into this world with his felt presence." If we compare what Isaiah is saying with wisdom the prophet Joel recorded, we begin to see how Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth, love and wrath, purifying our hearts through the power of His blood. "'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.' Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (Joel 2:12–13). I cannot help but consider the great flood of Noah's day, which destroyed all semblance of corruption and violence in the world at that time. "Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" (Genesis 6:11–12). In His wrath, God used the flood (physical water) to purify the earth, and we are wise to recognize how passionately God opposes sin and why we must learn from the mistakes of our forefathers. Therefore, we must seek the Lord, turn aside from our wickedness, and pray for a revival of His holiness (spiritual water) to flood our hearts and cleanse our iniquity, which His Word promises He will do because He loves us. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

"Lord, let me live to see the harvest. We’ll reap the joy the tears have sown. We’ll see the prayers of generations come to pass and Your kingdom come. Oh, let Your kingdom come!" How precious that day will be when we stand upon the mountaintop and look back upon our lives, testifying to God's faithfulness through the years. It will be like a thread weaving back and forth through the years, connecting moments we never understood or even recognized which led us to faith and repentance. What a glorious day that will be! We know from Scripture the litmus test of our faith hinges upon our heart's devotion to God, demonstrated by casting off the desires of the flesh and replacing them with the fruits of the Spirit. That is the essence of reaping what we sow and gleaning a harvest of lawlessness or righteousness based on our thoughts and actions. "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of 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 5:19–24). In other words, if we live to serve our own desires to the detriment of our faith, we will reap the wrath of God. However, if we endure trials for our sanctification and honor the Lord by clinging to our faith rather than resenting or denying it, we will reap the same harvest passed down through the generations from Abraham to today, testifying to God's faithfulness. It is metaphorically a picture of saving fruit produced by the light of His grace and washed by the tears of our repentance. "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8).

The whole point of revival is taking back what the enemy has stolen and returning to the Lord. Just like the prodigal son who recognized the error of his ways, God waits patiently to restore our hearts if we would humble ourselves and seek His face. That is why Joel 2:25 is such a beacon of hope for those of us who have fallen away from our faith and long for restitution with God. "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you" (Joel 2:25). Let us be clear that while the Lord is a God of wrath who judges the sin of the world, He is also a God of love who desires to redeem His people. "From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’" (Malachi 3:7). That is why Jesus was sent by God in human form to die a sinner's death on our behalf, though He knew no sin. "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5–6). By the power of Christ's blood, we are set free from the bondage of sin and given eternal life, but we must accept that gift by grace through faith alone, relinquishing full control of our lives to God and making Him Lord of our hearts. It is a tough decision though for some, because they disregard the gravity of the situation and assume they can live for themselves and simply call upon God at the last minute for salvation. Hence why revival begins with the body of Christ, first in our hearts to reconcile ourselves to the Lord, but more importantly, to share the Good News of Jesus' sacrifice to those who continue to live for themselves, oblivious to the eternal ramifications of their rebellion towards God. "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:4–5).

"I want to see the signs and wonders that You promised. I want to see Your sons and daughters running home. I want to see the world on fire for You, Jesus. Have Your way, have Your way. I want to see an army rising from the dry bones. I want to see Your power moving through the streets till every heart and soul on earth belongs to Jesus. Have Your way, have Your way." For those of us who have surrendered our hearts to God, revival shifts our life's purpose from living for ourselves to serving the Lord and His sovereign will. "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). That is what enables us to embrace the words of this bridge with conviction and clarity as our own prayer anthem. To call upon the Lord to rend the heavens means we are willing to endure whatever comes our way, trials and persecution included, so that the world would reconcile itself to God by embracing the cross of Christ for salvation. "Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other" (Deuteronomy 4:39). Rend the heavens is not a cry for our personal benefit, but the eternal benefit of others, that they might accept God's love through the cross of Calvary rather than reject His grace and choose His impending wrath and judgment instead. "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 3:23–24). That is the Good News we proclaim! However, many will fail to hear God calling their name because their ears are drowned out by the noise and confusion of this world. Just as Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective proclaimed revival on the streets of Dublin in this video, we are called to emulate the same passion for the lost of this world and love others enough to share the Gospel with them. Yes, it will likely bring persecution and rejection into our lives from those we love, but are we so heartless in the church as to willingly stand by while others commit spiritual suicide before our eyes? That is a sobering question we must wrestle with, but one that comes with a responsibility to stand for what we believe and obey God's command to fulfill the Great Commission. Perhaps then revival will finally translate from something we talk about into tangible application, by our willingness to go and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ no matter the cost. "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'" (Matthew 28:18–20).

SOUL'S ANTHEM (Personal Reflection)

Teach me how to love You

Show me how to trust You

More than with my words or with a song

No, it's not been easy

To live life down on my knees

But with faith I know I'll carry on

There is more to see than with my eyes

But fear sometimes can leave me paralyzed

I realize that I'm not in control

Yet it is well with my soul

The enemy's against me

Arrows all around me

Never knew the fight would last so long

In seasons of depression

I plead for Your protection

Make me right, I'm tired of being wrong

Every time there's hope, it seems to die

And the voices all around me feed that lie

Everything I see tells me to let go

Yet it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

Oh, it is well, it is well with my soul

This fight I'm in is not of flesh and blood

The weapons that I need are in Your love

Lord, don't You ever let me go

You make it well with my soul

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All things considered, "Soul's Anthem," by Tori Kelly, is an appropriate song of inspiration for this week's personal reflection. It is a contemporary adaptation of the famous hymn, "It is well with my soul," which challenges us to rise above the ashes and trust in God's sovereignty, which is quite timely considering the pandemic impacting our world right now. As coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to expand across the globe into our respective communities, many people are either paralyzed with fear, worry, doubt and anxiety over what the future holds, or completely dismissive of its fatal risk altogether. Regardless of what side of the argument we find ourselves, there is no denying Covid-19 is a silent killer and incredibly dangerous if contracted. Like cancer, Covid-19 does not discriminate either by who it infects or how it chooses to expand and morph itself into something greater. Therefore, how should we respond? From a secular perspective, the widespread panic and paranoia we are witnessing is understandable. For without saving grace through faith in Christ, how can anyone anticipate judgment day without complete dread and terror? "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might" (2 Thessalonians 1:9). There is undoubtedly fear and trepidation facing billions of people, eliciting overwhelming pursuits of self-preservation and rationing of food and supplies to endure the pandemic. However, Biblical perspective challenges us to embrace social responsibility while continually trusting God's sovereignty. As Christians, our life's purpose is to share the Gospel with those who lack eternal hope in Jesus for salvation, which should compel us to do everything we can to physically protect those around us through self-quarantine efforts and serving others. Through social responsibility we increase our opportunity to love and encourage others through evangelistic efforts, which allows us to not only help save lives physically, but more importantly, spiritually. 

In the midst of utter catastrophe in his life, Job cried out in lament, "For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes" (Job 3:25–26). How prophetic are his words considering the plight of our world during this pandemic, yet billions of souls across the globe are completely devoid of hope and destined for hell if we do not speak truth in love and practice what we preach. Their minds are not enlightened with God's Word because their hearts are hardened toward anyone who would attempt to share the Good News of Christ with them. Therefore, we must approach this moment with great wisdom and discernment, trusting in God's sovereignty like Esther once did, to destroy the schemes of the enemy despite risk of persecution we might endure as a result. "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). I wonder how many of us view the coronavirus as a SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITY for evangelism though. Perhaps we're more concerned with the physical risk of self-exposure and contamination in our communities to step out in faith. In any case, Scripture teaches, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:15–17). Therefore, whether we contract Covid-19 or indirectly expose ourselves to the virus without knowing it, we should always be prepared to share our personal testimony because the world is fading away around us regardless whether this virus is ultimately remedied or not.

"Teach me how to love You. Show me how to trust You, more than with my words or with a song. No, it's not been easy to live life down on my knees, but with faith I know I'll carry on. There is more to see than with my eyes, but fear sometimes can leave me paralyzed. I realize that I'm not in control yet it is well with my soul." The opening verses of "Soul's Anthem" are a sobering reminder that we are not far removed from the same stress the rest of society is experiencing. Consequently, our ability to empathize with their physical needs and emotional concerns allows us to speak truth in love by identifying our commonality with struggles. The main difference is Christ-followers should not be paralyzed with fear but content in God's sovereignty. What does that mean though? Trusting God as sovereign helps us understand He is ultimately in control, but there is a crucial element of belief which shifts God's sovereignty from Biblical, absolute truth to a personal decision of faith. In other words, God is sovereign regardless of our opinions or existence. But when we choose to accept His sovereignty as our personal doctrine, we are no longer held captive by fear or crippled with worry. Rather, we are set free from the enemy's stronghold and empowered to trust in the Lord despite the trials surrounding us. "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:11–12). Make no mistake, there is far more to see from God's perspective than our eyes will ever capture and countless opportunities to confess we are unable to control the future. However, we are empowered to proclaim despite the pandemic surrounding us, "It is well with my soul."

"The enemy's against me, arrows all around me, never knew the fight would last so long. In seasons of depression I plead for Your protection. Make me right, I'm tired of being wrong. Every time there's hope, it seems to die and the voices all around me feed that lie. Everything I see tells me to let go, yet it is well with my soul." It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we forget how dangerous our spiritual enemy truly is. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). In many ways, life is so easy to take for granted and our world is receiving a sobering dose of reality concerning the fragility of our psyche today. Covid-19 is certainly a physical enemy we are wise to learn more about and guard against, but it pales in comparison to the true enemy of God who is using coronavirus as a flaming arrow of destruction within our minds. Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6–7). What that means is we are wise to not disregard coronavirus as a farce, conspiracy theory, or media hoax. Rather, we are taught to not be held captive by fear but encouraged to invest our time and energy in prayer for our concerns, and in praise for His sovereignty in the midst of our trial. When faced with a tangible enemy, we are more able to adapt to our surroundings and guard ourselves accordingly. However, that is not necessarily the case with Covid-19, nor is it ever the case spiritually with Satan roaming the earth seeking souls to devour. Therefore, embracing God's sovereignty allows us to endure our pandemic season willfully, knowing the worst that can happen is virtually insignificant compared to the price Jesus paid on the cross for our salvation.

"It is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul." What a simple proclamation of faith in the midst of immense trial! That was the confession of Horatio Spafford, who though stricken with the death of his toddler son and personally devastated financially by the Chicago fire of 1871, suffered even greater loss when all four of his daughters perished in a maritime catastrophe on the Atlantic Ocean in 1873. Spafford experienced unfathomable loss none of us could possibly imagine, yet found courage when passing by the location of his daughters peril, to write the famous chorus, "It is well with my soul." Only by the grace of God and indwelling of the Holy Spirit could a man utter such words of faith in the midst of complete disaster (something Job could empathize with). Spafford's proclamation of faith echoes another famous quote, written by King David. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). David essentially lived his life (when Saul reigned) with a death warrant hanging over his head at every turn, yet his trust in God's sovereignty, like that of Horatio Spafford, never waned. Why? In many ways, both men lived by a simple mantra of faith and trust in God's sovereignty which Paul echoed in his letter to the Roman church: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Granted, holding firm to our faith in the midst of trial does not promise earthly comfort or prosperity. Rather, enduring trials conforms us to the image of Christ and deeper intimacy with our Father in heaven.

"This fight I'm in is not of flesh and blood. The weapons that I need are in Your love. Lord, don't You ever let me go. You make it well with my soul." I love how the lyrics of this song shift from prayer supplication to faith proclamation. That is an important takeaway we need to be reminded of during trials. Yes, we must offer our prayer requests to the Lord, but we must take our thoughts captive by faith knowing the Lord will hear our cry and meet our needs according to His will, timing and purpose, NOT OURS. That is the true essence of God's sovereignty, exemplified by Jesus mere hours before He was ultimately executed for the sins of mankind. "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). I find the lyric, "The weapons that I need are in Your love," so incredibly powerful if we reflect on the armor of God. Scripture teaches that our heavenly Father equips His children with various weapons to guard and protect against spiritual warfare. However, what cannot be missed is that each piece of armor is an extension of God's unconditional love for us, which sustains us in the battle and allows us to defeat our enemy. "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:14–17). That is why we can proclaim how faithful the Lord has been to us because He has not forgotten our plight nor forsaken or left us incapacitated to endure Satan's attacks. "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Ultimately, whatever comes of the Covid-19 pandemic in our world is meaningless if it does not drive us to self-examine our eternal destination and that of those around us. For whether we contract the virus or not, our response to the opportunity God has laid before us is a measure of faith, first and foremost. Just as in the case of Job, God does not tempt us to deny Him in trial, but allows tests of faith to enter our lives for the purpose of sanctification. That is why we are encouraged, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12). How we respond to coronavirus or any other trial for that matter is a decision of faith and trust in God's sovereignty, but more so a litmus test regarding whether God is truly sovereign in our hearts as well. Therefore, we must examine ourselves and confess to what extent we rely on self-preservation when fears overcome us, for trials will inevitably reveal our true, spiritual temperature whether we like it or not. "Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known" (Luke 12:2). Granted, it is never easy to admit how lazy we've become in our spiritual disciplines or how often we've left our spiritual armor hanging in the closet while we go through our days in the comfort of our own clothes. The truth is we are often held captive by the unknown despite how Jesus taught us to live. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). Bottom-line, the sooner we learn to trust God's sovereignty, the easier it will be to embrace whatever trials lie ahead. But the sooner we allow God to reign sovereign in our hearts, the more empowered we will be to not only endure the pandemic surrounding us, but use it as an opportunity to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to countless souls destined for eternal separation from God. Therefore, may we all proclaim, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling" (Psalm 46:1–3).

DEAR GOD (Personal Reflection)

It feels so good to make it this far

And I didn't think I could take it so long

There were days I wanted to quit

I said surely this is it but I held on

And I watched as so called friends turned and walked away

And it hurt so much I didn't have words to say

But even when my day turns to night and nothing seems just right

Lord, I thank You for my life

For my life, Lord, I thank You

For every victory in You I've seen

And all the moments I know it was You who kept me

So I thank You for my life

And I've watched you take my family from there to here

And when times where a little rough, God, I know You were near

And the moments I thought I'd fail, I was reminded of Your nails

So I held on

And if I never live to see another day

There's nothing I would change or take away

I've had so many ups that they far outweigh my downs

Lord, I thank You for my life

For my life, Lord, I thank You

For every victory in You I've seen

And for the moments I know it was You who kept me

So I thank You for my life

I realize some didn't make it

I could've been one of the ones who lost my way

And there were times, Lord, I know I almost went crazy

But I'm still here with my life

For my life, Lord, I thank You

For every victory in You I've seen

And for the moments I know it was You who kept me

So I thank You for my life

It may not be all that I'd hope for

And every dream has not yet been realized

But to see Your face one day, God

I know it's all gonna be worth it

So I thank You, thank You for every mountain, every valley

God, everything You brought me through, thank You

I know, I know it was You

I just want to take the time to say thank You Jesus, for my life

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Once upon a lifetime, a song comes along which stops you dead in your tracks and leaves you speechless. It is a rare occasion when the perfect blend of lyrics, vocals and musical arrangement come together to form a spiritually transcendent experience, but that is truly the case with "Dear God," by Smokie Norful. If you have never heard this song before, stop and watch this video first, because you will be infinitely blessed and likely brought to tears. Without a doubt, Smokie is anointed by God with a musical gift that is indescribable. He is on my Mount Rushmore of greatest vocalists of all-time because He can do things with his voice I have rarely seen anyone else come close to accomplishing. His ability to sing vocal runs so quickly and effortlessly, perfectly pitched, is a miracle in itself, but his ability to tell a story with his instrument is unparalleled. The raw emotion he sings with and the cry in his voice touches the deepest part of my soul, and I am blessed beyond comprehension every time I hear him sing because I connect with the desire of his heart to worship and glorify God. That is why I am so humbled and excited to reflect upon this incredible song as an opportunity to encourage others with its message. What I love is that it does not paint a pretty picture of what Christianity looks like, but reflects upon the honest reality of trials God allows in our lives by responding with appreciation and thankfulness to Jesus for His faithfulness through the storm. It echoes a similar song of David: "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:1–4). Therefore, let us worship the Lord in song with great anticipation for the glory that awaits in heaven one day.

"It feels so good to make it this far, and I didn't think I could take it so long. There were days I wanted to quit. I said, "Surely this is it," but I held on. And I watched as so called friends turned and walked away, and it hurt so much I didn't have words to say. But even when my day turns to night and nothing seems just right, Lord, I thank You for my life." Life may not have turned out as we had hoped or expected, but God is faithful despite our circumstances. If we are honest with ourselves, throwing in the towel or waving the white flag of surrender is tempting when we're overwhelmed by trials, because Satan knows the depth at which our faith is planted in God's Word and how easily we're swayed to abandon our faith in favor of self-preservation. That is why Scripture exhorts, "Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you" (1 Peter 5:9–10). In other words, the difficult circumstances we find ourselves in are not so unique that others cannot relate to our struggle. Seasons come and seasons change, but there is nothing we endure that God has not already ordained to be used for our sanctification. "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Keep in mind, we are not exempt from suffering in trials, but we are assured our seasons in the valley are calculated for a specific season. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19). That is why perspective is arguably the most valuable survival tool at our disposal for acknowledging the pain we experience and its ultimate purpose for drawing us unto the Lord for deliverance.

"For my life, Lord, I thank You. For every victory in You I've seen. And all the moments I know it was You who kept me, so I thank You for my life." Proper perspective teaches us to view life through God's lens and embrace thankfulness as our means of ultimate survival. In other words, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Thanksgiving is made possible when we reflect upon spiritual markers in our lives, for a spiritual marker represents a moment in time when God guided a major decision or direction which changed the trajectory of our lives forever. It could be the day a harmful addiction was overcome, a catastrophe was avoided, a milestone or goal achieved, etc. It's less about WHAT the spiritual marker is and more about HOW it impacted our lives and WHY we remember it. The key is recognizing God's presence in pivotal moments of our past which testify to His goodness and help us remember He is faithful in all things despite our limited knowledge and wisdom. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8–9). When we trust in His omniscient, all-knowing power, we relinquish fear and anxiety over present trials because we know He will never leave us nor forsake us, for our spiritual markers testify to that absolute truth. "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Therefore, we can appreciate each moment the Lord intervened to guide and protect us because we know He is the author and architect of our spiritual prosperity—past, present and future. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

"And I've watched you take my family from there to here. And when times where a little rough, God, I know You were near. And the moments I thought I'd fail, I was reminded of Your nails, so I held on. And if I never live to see another day, there's nothing I would change or take away. I've had so many ups that they far outweigh my downs. Lord, I thank You for my life." Life tends to make us "grow up" the minute hard trials and calamity enter our lives. When we encounter gut-wrenching tests of faith and feel as if we're living the life of Job first-hand, life simplifies down in an instant. No longer are personal preferences or superficial concerns significant in any way. All that matters is survival from one breath to the next, for those are the moments we learn how deep our Biblical roots truly run. "And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he (Jesus) said in a parable, 'A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.' As he said these things, he called out, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear'" (Luke 8:4–8). It is difficult for me to articulate how deeply I empathize with these particular lyrics, for I've watched the spiritual temperature of my home rise and fall based on my leadership or lack thereof. I've experienced the Spirit of God literally steering me away from temptation countless times, and felt His presence surround me as I've owned my sin and taken responsibility for the consequences of my actions. I've embraced guilt, shame and regret more intimately than I ever care to remember, but I also know each failure taught me invaluable wisdom along the way which has saved me from further self-imposed destruction. That is why perspective is so invaluable, because it enables us to count the cost of every future decision we make through the lens of self-examination, personal experience, and God's sovereignty. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26).

"I realize some didn't make it. I could've been one of the ones who lost my way. And there were times, Lord, I know I almost went crazy, but I'm still here with my life." How would we ever know what could have happened in our lives if the Lord had not intervened? It is impossible to calculate. However, we can open our eyes and witness the world around us as evidence of God's faithfulness throughout our lives. Pride baits us into assuming we are immune to the failures we see in others who didn't make it, but we are wise to reject any notion of spiritual superiority or prosperity doctrine which pride enables. Make no mistake, how prosperous we are in life is NOT dependent on our power, position or economic status. Rather, true prosperity is a measure of our heart's devotion to God alone, despite our lot in life. "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Corinthians 1:26–29). I wonder whether we realize that our lives are not what we make of them, but rather 100% contingent on God's grace and mercy. For none of us are promised tomorrow, but we are guaranteed the power to choose HOW we will live and for who's ultimate glory and pleasure: God or self. "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:13–15). Therefore, before we succumb to the craziness of the world surrounding us, perhaps we should stop and recognize who gave us eternal life to begin with and praise Him for His sovereign provision for us.

"It may not be all that I'd hope for, and every dream has not yet been realized. But to see Your face one day, God, I know it's all gonna be worth it." Oh, how one decision can impact a lifetime! Each of us can likely pinpoint one fork-in-the-road moment which altered our life forever. It could be positive or negative, but one spiritual marker in particular shifted, delayed or changed the life each one of us once dreamed of. Scripture reminds us, "He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury" (Romans 2:6–8). Ultimately, that one decision changed our life's trajectory because our perspective shifted as a result. The horizon became clear in the distance and we recognized how far we had come and/or how far we still have yet to go. In climbing a mountain, rarely does the trail follow a straight line from starting point to summit peak. Rather, it twists and turns with frequent elevation changes, shifting back and forth to ease the stress of the hike and allow the climber to surpass mile markers more easily. Granted, the path straight forward is much quicker, but also more dangerous with greater risk and little chance of survival if the terrain is unknown. Therefore, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13–14). Bottom line, our lives certainly could have turned out unexpectedly had we chosen different paths, but rest assured, God has a far greater plan and purpose in store if we trust in Him and allow the Holy Spirit to help us realize our true potential in Christ. "When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). Praise the Lord, our summit peak will be achieved when we pass from this life and spend eternity with our Savior in glory! 

"So I thank You, thank You for every mountain, every valley, God, everything You brought me through, thank You. I know, I know it was You. I just want to take the time to say thank You Jesus, for my life." The only decision that matters is choosing whom we will serve each day of our lives. Therefore, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days" (Deuteronomy 30:19–20a). Keep in mind, we have an enemy who actively seeks to twist our heart's devotion away from God at all cost, which is why we must embrace the cross of Christ even if it costs us everything. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:10–11). Satan would have us believe every valley we journey through is a reason to doubt God's faithfulness, but nothing could be further from the truth. For in the valley God reveals His true character to us, loving us unconditionally when we are broken and bruised, and mending our wounds to make us whole again. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). Far be it for me to utter nothing but thankfulness all the days of my life because the Lord has proven Himself faithful more times than I can remember, even when He didn't have to in the first place. Therefore, I shall dedicate my life to glorifying and edifying the name of Jesus above all else because He alone is worthy to be praised. "I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol" (Psalm 86:12–13).

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not share one additional home video which highlights the raw emotion this song brings to those who allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate their hearts. It is a beautiful testimony of the power of praise and worship to our heavenly Father. To me, this video demonstrates how a song can transcend itself as the variation Smokie sings here differs slightly from the original because of the moment in time and season of life in which he sang it. Oh, how prophetic of our lives because our testimony of faith ebbs and flows while God demonstrates His faithfulness more and more! Therefore, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" (Psalm 115:1). I simply love the honesty of this video because it mirrors my heart's desire and emotions by recognizing all the spiritual markers the Lord provided me through the years, and how thankful I am for His unfailing love, even in my darkest hours. It captures the essence of my life's story and allows me the opportunity to glorify Him in praise and worship. "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created" (Revelation 4:11). Ultimately, I pray "Dear God" becomes one of our most treasured songs in the Christian church for years to come, because we all can relate to the power of the message and how thankful we are for the eternal life Jesus provides to those who trust in Him alone for salvation. "I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!" (Psalm 57:9–11).

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HERE (Personal Reflection)

Come and rest here

Come and lay your burdens down

Come and rest here

There is refuge for you now

You'll find His peace

And know you're not alone anymore

He is near

You'll find His healing

Your heart isn't shattered anymore

He is here

Breathe in

Breathe out

You will

You will find Him here

I will rest in You

You will find Him

You will find Him here

You will find Him

You will find Him here

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Everywhere we turn it seems people are overwhelmed by life, anxious about the unforeseen future, and struggling to find peace in the midst of the storm. They are burdened by more questions than answers and fail to understand why life can be so hard at times. It seems they cannot see the forest through the trees and lose sight of perhaps one of the greatest promises Jesus offers: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30). In many cases, the trials we face are exhausting and demoralizing, causing us to lose all hope for a brighter tomorrow and all confidence God hears our cries. Sometimes we struggle seeing God's hand at work when our circumstances become progressively worse, and wonder why He would allow such things to happen. Unfortunately, Satan thrives upon seasons of trial and tempts us to question (like Eve) whether God is sovereign in the midst of our pain. For example, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Now Satan would have us believe God's goodness promises a lack of hardship or suffering, to tempt us into placing unrealistic expectations on God. However, properly understood, the "good" in this verse pertains to the process of sanctification through which the Holy Spirit aligns our personal will with Christ to the glory of God the Father. In other words, Romans 8:28 is not an exemption from trials, but a dose of perspective affirming the purpose of trials for our ultimate good. "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). The path of sanctification often passes through the valley of suffering, much to our dismay, in order to refine our character and mold us into the image of Christ through the testing of our faith. Therefore, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6–7).

"Come and rest here. Come and lay your burdens down. Come and rest here. There is refuge for you now." The beauty of "Here," by Kari Jobe, is that it transforms Matthew 11:28–30 into an easy to remember song. The lyrics are simple but rich with practical application regarding how we cast off stress, anxiety and fear for a much lighter yoke Jesus promises. It is an interesting paradox to relinquish one burden for another, but that is exactly what we're instructed to do. What we must recognize is while our salvation is made possible through God's unconditional love for us, it is conditional in that we must accept God's grace through faith alone to receive salvation and follow His commands. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:3–4). God does not want to shackle us under the weight of duty. He merely wants to free us from the personal yoke we have burdened ourselves with, which brings nothing more than hopelessness, unmet expectations, and oppression. "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:17–18). Victory in Jesus compels us to do good works in thanksgiving for the infinite blessings God bestows on us. It gives us eternal perspective and shifts our focus off momentary suffering. That is why laying our burdens down at the foot of the cross is such a powerful picture. Think about it. The primary symbol of Christianity is the location we're called to relinquish our doubts, fears, insecurities and anxiety. Therefore, if Christ died on the cross of Calvary to set us free from sin for eternity, we too can die to our oppressive patterns of thinking which aim to steal the joy of our salvation. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).

"You'll find His peace and know you're not alone anymore. He is near. You'll find His healing, your heart isn't shattered anymore. He is here." The primary tactic Satan uses to accomplish his destructive work is isolation, for he knows we are vulnerable to attack when separated from community. That is why Jesus taught, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing" (Luke 15:4–5). We cannot under-estimate our enemy in any way, for he patiently lies in wait like a hungry lion, calculating the perfect opportunity to strike and submit his prey unto death. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). The sad fact is we CHOOSE to isolate ourselves by assuming no one can relate to our trials and temptations. Consequently, we transform our fears and insecurities into idols which we cling to, not because they benefit us in any way, but rather for their familiarity. In moments of crisis we crave anything tangible to grasp hold of (even false hope), but in doing so we fail to recognize Jesus standing with arms outstretched, longing to pull us out of the pit we have dug for ourselves. However, we would rather sulk in the valley of despair than allow our spirit to be rescued. Why? Paul wrote, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:13–14). The moment we realize how near the Lord is to us in our hour of need, the quicker we will find peace in the midst of the storm and healing for our troubled hearts and minds.

"Breathe in, breathe out. You will, you will find Him here." It seems common-sense, but how many of us truly STOP in the midst of our pain and suffering, fatigue and exhaustion, stress and frustration, and BREATHE? When we breathe, we begin to slow our mind, still our heart, and quiet our spirit. What this does is allow us to quiet the noise around us in order to hear the still, small voice of the Lord whispering words of comfort in our time of need. Often times, we expect God to reveal Himself in mighty ways (1 Kings 19:11-13). But until we intentionally stop, quiet ourselves, and breathe, we will fail to recognize His voice calling our name. When Jesus calmed the storm in Mark 4:35-41, His disciples were paralyzed with fear. They were hysterical and astonished Jesus could be sleeping in the midst of a torrential swell determined to capsize their boat. "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?'" (Mark 4:37–40). What stands out in this scene is the disciples' reaction in the moment and bold accusation against Jesus. In retrospect, I wonder if we recognize ourselves in the disciples' audacity. For in one way or another, we have all cried out in moments of desperation, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" However, do we recognize doubt has overcome our minds when we react similarly? Have we forgotten when Jesus said, "Peace! Be still!", the wind immediately ceased and a great calm ensued? In retrospect, Jesus taught His disciples a powerful lesson that day and we are wise to learn from their mistake and trust in Him no matter the trials we find ourselves in. It all comes down to simply breathing in the righteousness of Christ and breathing out our fleshly fears and insecurities which plague us.

"I will rest in You." Notice in Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus says, "I will give you rest," and "You will find rest." It might not seem like much, but the differences are profound. Just like salvation where grace is freely given, Jesus gives rest to those who come to Him labored and heavy laden. The key is in the intended "therefore" which follows. Therefore, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart." What Jesus meant is that the eternal rest He freely gives enables us to trade our yoke of slavery to our flesh for His yoke of righteousness, which is easy and light in comparison to the stronghold we once were held captive to. Therefore, in order to find rest we must receive the Lord's promise, trade our sorrows for His yoke of freedom, and embrace new life in Christ. Granted, that does guarantee physical or emotional suffering will cease during trials, but it does provide spiritual peace in the midst of the storm. Psalm 23 reminds us, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Psalm 23:1–3). What King David modeled is the same exercise we must adopt in order to quiet our souls and trust in the Lord's sufficiency. In other words, David preached the Gospel to himself in order to prepare his heart and mind to continually trust in God despite his trials. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). Peace which transcends all understanding comes only when we embrace our trials with joy by relinquishing control and self-preservation. Only then will we truly experience how submission and obedience to the Lord is the purest form of freedom we will ever taste in our lives.

"You will find Him, you will find Him here." Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4–7). According to the ESV Study Bible, "The joy that Paul calls for is not a happiness that depends on circumstances but a deep contentment that is in the Lord, based on trust in the sovereign, living God, and that therefore is available always, even in difficult times." Henceforth, we can cast off all anxiety and rejoice even in the midst of the trial because we are content in the Lord's sufficiency. Such newfound perspective empowers us to live counter-culture and respond to trials in a way that seems illogical from a secular perspective. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2–3). More importantly, it assures us God is present in our lives at all times despite any circumstance we find ourselves in. Scripture affirms, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). May we always remember God is never outside the scope of our trials. Rather, He is standing beside us in the eye of the storm, bringing peace to our troubled minds and comforting our broken hearts. Therefore, we can humbly proclaim in our hour of need, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8–9), because the Lord our God is forever with us, refining our faith, character and countenance through the fire of trials for His glory.