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Happiness is such a fleeting emotion. It is not unusual to be on top of the world one day, and a valley dweller the next. Circumstances can, in a moment’s time, give us a jolt of emotional bliss or bring sadness to our spirit. Yesterday my life was consumed with computer problems, and an overdose of winter weather. Truthfully, I was not happy. We all know that life is not about happiness, but it’s a normal response to crave it. There is something in all of us that desires to have a good day, to hear good news, or just to feel good about life. Even the Declaration of Independence declares that the “pursuit of happiness” is a right. Although we will never live a perpetually happy life, we can live a perpetually joyful journey. Happiness always is not realistic, but rejoicing always certainly is!

Great counsel on rejoicing comes from a man who was a prisoner in Rome. Paul was under house arrest when he wrote the book of Philippians. He wasn’t a man just spouting happy talk, but a man controlled by a true sense of joy that rose above any circumstance. It is one thing for someone in a good place to instruct others to rejoice, but it is far more meaningful to speak of rejoicing from prison. Under the inspiration of God, Paul gave the Philippian Christians words that still ring true today.

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

All believers in Christ have the same opportunity for joy that Paul challenged the Philippians with. He made his point with obvious impact by repeating the word rejoice twice. If joy were an emotion like happiness, then we could assume that the feelings of joy would come and go, just like happiness.

“But joy is not a feeling; it is the deep-down confidence that God is in control of everything for the believer’s good and His own glory, and thus all is well no matter what the circumstances.”
The John MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Philippians

It is sad but true, that most believers don’t live with a deep-down confidence that God is in control. I would be less than genuine to proclaim that I have mastered the choice to live perpetually with joy. Studying this passage of scripture shows that rejoicing was to be a continual, habitual practice. We can rightly assume that God, through Paul, told the Philippians to live with a heart of rejoicing. Is the same challenge and opportunity for Christ-followers today any different? I don’t think so!

Living with a deep-down confidence that God is in control leads to a life of rejoicing. Circumstances will not always be good, but God always is. Our problem is that we believe intellectually that God is in control, but refuse to personally experience what He has made available. Accept today by faith, that God’s design for you is a perpetually rejoicing heart. It will take choosing His truth over your emotions, but the results are worth it. We may crave happiness, but what we really want (and need) is joy!

SPECIAL NOTE:  We are choosing again this year to walk intentionally through the final week of Jesus’ earthly life.  We will post each day and draw on people, events and truths from that specific day in Jesus’ journey, beginning with His “coronation” parade all the way to Resurrection … He is risen, indeed!  Our desire is to bring Holy Week alive in your personal journey.  Our prayer is that it will distract you from your everyday, draw you into close communion with God, and rightly prepare you for the solemn remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross and brilliant celebration of His Resurrection!

I really don’t get it!  Do you ever wonder why some people seem to just flow through life with everything seeming to work out well, while others can’t seem to catch a break? Obviously, everyone has struggles, but I think you know what I mean. Some of our struggles are caused by our own sin and bad choices, but sometimes it seems that the burdens of life often land heavy on certain people (and not only because of sin or bad choices).  I really just don’t get it. For the past week, I have been wrestling in my mind with God’s response to a significant event that happened in the lives of one Old Testament and one New Testament hero from Scripture. Both sinned and were guilty of a monumental failure.

In “Mike theology,” which is human to the core and not always looking at the life from God’s perspective, I find it a bit puzzling to consider the contrast of what happened with Moses and Peter in the aftermath of their monumental failures. I really don’t get it.  Moses was severely punished in being denied the opportunity to enter the Promised Land, while Peter is restored, preached at Pentecost and became an elder and leader in the early church.  Again, didn’t both men sin and fail miserably?  Still not getting it.

When I think of what Moses went through with the rebellious children of Israel, I want to defend him. It’s easy to look at the scene that led to Moses’ lack of self-control and wonder out loud, “was his reaction that significant?”  You may have dealt with a group of people who at best were frustrating, and at worst were infuriating. You may have even found yourself at wit’s end, and you finally just blew up. So I feel some empathy for Moses when he lost his temper with the complaining Israelites. That being said, in the midst of the conflict, Moses chose to clearly disobey God. God said speak to the rock, and he struck it twice instead. My hero lost his temper, disobeyed God and never entered the Promised Land as a consequence for his sin.  The story would not be complete without noting that, through God’s grace, Moses was allowed view the land before he died.

What would it have been like to walk with Jesus? Peter knew, and saw firsthand the greatness of the very Son of God. And then he denied Him…not once but three times!  As much as I want to empathize with Moses, I want to say to Peter, “Why didn’t you stand with courage?!”  However, I must confess that too often in my life, I have failed my Lord in critical moments.  So I am a bit understanding of his failure, and thankful for the grace of God that restored him.  Peter was then used incredibly by God.

Was God fair in the way He chose to deal with these two men? Is He fair in the way He chooses to deal with us today? Absolutely!  Although “Mike’s theology” wants to pull for Moses and yell at Peter, God knew exactly what He was doing. He dealt with them personally, just as He does with each of us. He was true to His righteous character with them (not ignoring sin, but showing grace) just as He does with us. He cared deeply for both Moses and Peter, just as He does for us. He knew the best plan of action after their failures, just as He does for us. You see, He is God, and He knew what He was doing with Moses and Peter, and He knows what He is doing with you and me. I get it!

Today I get to work on taxes (not a fun day). Taxes come due every year, and when we fail to pay enough, April 15th is not a fun day. If you have more taxes to pay than last year … well, I’ll stop there and not add to your misery. Have you ever noticed that worrying about the taxes you owe or extending your return (and misery) doesn’t eliminate the problem? Well, that’s the thing with worry … Emotional, and spiritual, and physical energy is given to something that will not change the facts. Corrie Ten Boom gives us great counsel on worry: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” Go back and read that one more time, slowly.

As I think about worry, I am struck with two thoughts. First, God’s Word gives us very strong insight about it. And second, most Christ followers worry better than they rest in the Lord’s grace and provision. It’s easy to say, “you don’t know my issues” or “that is just the way that I am,” but it is clear from Scripture that we have the capacity to overcome this common malady. I find that there are areas of my life where it is easy to drift from confident faith to fretful worry. I know the Word, and have the right answers for others, but without consciously choosing to rest in His power and provision, I can worry up a storm. Pardon my southern roots, but I am sure you can relate.

Let the words of Luke 12 give you confidence for today’s worry and all your “taxing” tomorrows.

Luke 12:22-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

The words of Luke are clear. God cares for ravens and He cares for us, and worry won’t add a single hour to our lives. Would it be reasonable to assume that if you and I daily yield each part of our day to His care, more internal rest will come? I think Scripture is clear. And don’t be mistaken, it is not by saying, “I will not worry, I will not worry,” that we overcome it. Victory comes by committing all things to the Father’s care (casting your care on Him), and then choosing to believe His Word. A story of George Mueller, a pastor from the 1800′s, gives greater emphasis to my challenge. Would you have worried or trusted?

The captain of an ocean steamer tells that on one occasion his ship was engulfed in a dense fog off the coast of Newfoundland. It was Wednesday evening and the captain had been on the bridge for 24 hours when someone tapping him on his shoulder startled him. He turned and saw one of his passengers … George Mueller. “Captain,” said Mueller, “I must be in Quebec on Saturday afternoon.” “That’s impossible!” replied the captain. “I’m helpless!” Mueller suggested, “Let’s go down to the chart room and pray.” The captain thought that he had a lunatic on board. “Do you know how dense the fog is?” he asked. “No,” came the reply, “my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.” Once in the chart room, Mueller got down on his knees and prayed, “O Lord, if it is consistent with thy will, please remove this fog in 5 minutes. Thou knowest the engagement Thou didst make for me in Quebec for Saturday. I believe it is thy will.”

After Mueller prayed, the Captain started to pray. Mueller stopped him and said, “There’s no use for you to pray, God has already answered my prayer. The fog is gone.”

AND IT WAS GONE!

Let the words of Corrie Ten Boom, the testimony of George Mueller, and most importantly the Word of God, give you fresh encouragement to surrender your worry. You may just find that the fog will lift!

There have been many times in my life when my words and actions resulted in great remorse, and there was no taking them back! Your memory bank may also contain recollections that make you wonder, “How could I have said, or done that?” Now, take a moment and imagine if your lack of discretion was memorialized in print?!

Moses was a man to be admired.  He was a man of great faith who had put up with repeated complaining and grumbling by the children of Israel.  However, we see a vivid description of his own failure when the Israelites were grumbling by the waters of Meribah.  With rash words towards the people, and in clear disobedience of God, Moses created an epic “how could I have done that?!” moment.

Psalm 106:32-33 (NLT)
At Meribah, too, they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble. They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly.

Although I want to make excuses for one of my heroes, there can be no mistake that Moses’ rash words and actions were wrong. Why couldn’t he in simple faith believe that God’s command was best? Instead, he did exactly what you and I do regularly; he took over and did it his way (struck the rock twice, rather than obeying God and speaking to it).

Every time I think about what happened that day, the severe consequence for Moses comes front and center in my mind. The leader of the children of Israel would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Wow! His leadership role may have played into the severity of the punishment, but failing to obey the Father always has consequences.  Can you imagine the sense of regret this humble servant of God must have felt in realizing that his journey would end outside the Promised Land?  The following verses give us a sense of how he must have felt.

Deuteronomy 3:23-26 (NIV)
At that time I pleaded with the Lord: “O Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.” But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.”

Notice that the Lord refused his request by not allowing him to go into the Promised Land, but notice also whom he blames. He squarely places the responsibility for God’s decision not to listen to him on the children of Israel.  Isn’t it easy to blame others rather than accept the fact that we were wrong?  There is no question that the people Moses was leading were difficult at best,  but their lack of trust and complaining attitudes were no excuse for Moses’ disobedience. He was responsible for his own words and actions.

It would take pages to examine all the lessons that can be gleaned from Moses’ epic failure. However, there is no question that obedience to God’s directives is not an option. Without question, there are people in all of our lives that push us right to the edge of the emotional ledge. For Moses, God’s way was best … no excuses. For us, God’s way is best … no excuses.  A lifetime of good can be changed in a moment of frustration.  Determine to let your words and actions reflect the Father’s will.

In three weeks, most reading this article will enjoy a holiday.  There will be a multitude of events that happen on that day, from fun and recreational outings to meaningful and deeply spiritual observances. Good Friday should be a day of reflection.  The world will take time to look at the historical event we call the crucifixion of Christ.  Churches will seek to help us look at what that day really represents. Christ-followers will battle their human desires for a relaxing day against a deep sense of reverence for what Christ did on the cross.  I am convinced that most serious followers of Christ look at this day with profound thankfulness for the price that Christ paid for our redemption.  I had a chance to reflect this week on the love of Christ as I read a true story about a guilty grandmother and a ten-dollar price tag.

One winter’s night in 1935, it is told, Fiorello LaGuardia, the irrepressible mayor of New York City, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. That night a tattered old woman, charged with stealing a loaf of bread, was brought before him. She defended herself by saying, “My daughter’s husband has deserted her. She is sick, and her children are starving.”

The shopkeeper refused to drop the charges, saying, “It’s a bad neighborhood, your honor, and she’s got to be punished to teach other people a lesson.”

LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the old woman and said, “I’ve got to punish you; the law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.” However, while pronouncing the sentence, LaGuardia reached into his pocket, took out a ten-dollar bill, and threw it into his hat with these famous words: “Here’s the ten-dollar fine, which I now remit, and furthermore, I’m going to fine everyone in the courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.”

The following day, a New York newspaper reported: “Forty-seven dollars and fifty cents was turned over to a bewildered old grandmother who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren. Making forced donations were a red-faced storekeeper, seventy petty criminals, and a few New York policemen.  (William Bausch, A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers)

The old grandmother had a debt she couldn’t pay. Justice demanded a payment. All mankind had debt for our sins that we could never pay.  God being just, demanded a payment. The debt could only be paid in one way; by the sinless Son of God. He took our sins upon Himself. Oh, what a price He paid!  Although we are thankful, it is hard to comprehend the enormous price of our Salvation. I trust that a tough mayor, a tattered grandmother and a ten-dollar bill will help you prepare for the coming holiday, reflecting on the price that Jesus paid for you and me.

If you don’t know this Christ and the true and very real story of the price He paid for you, we would love to share it today.  Don’t wait another minute, reach out to us by clicking here. We love to tell the story of a God who loved you SO much that He paid your debt with the most precious possession He had.

Talk about an adventuresome life! Moses’ journey takes us from the riches of Egypt to the backside of the desert. Through the lens of Scripture we see Him at the burning bush and leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea. He spent time on the mountain with God, and brought back the Ten Commandments. Leading a band of people who were easily disgruntled would have been an adventure enough.

As we follow Moses’ life and leadership through the pages of God’s Word, we see him as a man with weakness and sin, but also deeply dedicated to the Lord. But after nearly 40 years in the wilderness, it happened: an event that kept Moses from going into the Promised Land. Have you ever wondered why?

In Numbers chapter twelve, Moses is called the most humble man on the face of the earth. But just a few short chapters later, we see a picture of an indignant man, who acted rashly, and lost his opportunity to lead his people into the Promised Land. The Israelites were grumbling about the lack of water. Moses was instructed to take the staff and speak to the rock. God told him it would pour out water. Remember at an earlier time when the children of Israel were unhappy about the lack of water, Moses was instructed to smite the rock. He had done as God commanded and water flowed. But this time, he disobeyed and instead of speaking, he smote the rock twice.

Numbers 20:10-12
He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

A man of deep humility was overtaken by rash, angry words. He said “must we bring you water out of this rock?” Although there can be varying opinions on why this was such a glaring failure, there is no question that Moses directly disobeyed God’s design and desire, and in his own power struck the rock. Centuries later, we struggle with the same problem, taking God’s design and doing it our way. Whether we do it out of reaction or rebellion, we choose our own means and method. God has always placed a high value on obedience whether it was smiting a rock, or living our way in the 21st century.

Lessons learned from this scene can be very helpful to any Christ-follower. The Father wants obedient children; He does know best! God’s grace is seen through this scene as, even with Moses’ lack of trust, the water came for the people. I personally see the beauty of God’s grace in letting Moses see the Promised Land before he died. You and I will often fail as Moses did, but is your heart set on obedience?

Last Thursday I started this article at thirty-thousand feet.  I was on my way home and very tired.  Rest sounded good, and I was craving some spiritual, physical and emotional refreshment.  On that plane, and through some personal reading in the book of Leviticus, I had begun to wrestle with the concept of Sabbath-rest.  Then when I started to write an article for last Sunday, there was more unsettledness.  On the concept of real Sabbath-rest, I feel like a first grader when I should have a graduate degree.  I came to Christ at a young age, have studied the Bible for over fifty years and have been trained on spiritual issues virtually my whole life.  I have also taught the Bible and currently write articles of encouragement from a Biblical perspective.  So why am I having those first grade feelings?

On the seventh day of creation, God rested!  By the way, He also included the Sabbath day in the Ten –Commandments.  And as I mentioned, Leviticus spoke of Sabbath-rest.  Exodus 31:17 gives clarity on the subject for the children of Israel.  It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.  Without a doubt, I believe that this principle can be applied for us today.  The question is, do we really value a Sabbath-rest?  We can all use the excuse of our circumstances, the demands placed upon us and a myriad of other well thought out reasons.  But when the God of Creation chose to rest, it was by design.  Certainly His work was completed, but there was more in my opinion. Could anyone deny that He was establishing a pattern for us to live by – an example to rest and be refreshed?

Why do I struggle so much with just accepting God’s pattern and really creating a Sabbath-rest principle for my life?  I am also convinced that it is not just me … I don’t know many who have taken God’s seventh day principle to heart.  Interestingly enough, four times this year I have sat with very spiritual pastors who are obviously having some of the same struggles that I have admitted.  They may have passed first grade, but not far beyond.  I am sure that any one of these pastors would admit that Sabbath-rest is more of an illusion than a reality for them.  It is my conclusion that really gaining insight into God’s Sabbath Day design is not something that most Christ followers have considered.  We instead are determined to be overworked, anxiety-filled and un-refreshed most of the time.  Even my first grade understanding tells me there must be a better way.

Since I am obviously not an expert on this issue, I have chosen to give you counsel from a well know source, Charles Swindoll.  Take note of these words from his book, Day by Day.

Here are five searching questions only you can answer:

• Do you deliberately and regularly take time each week to rest?
• When you’re taking time to relax, do you mentally release yourself from your responsibilities?
• Are you strong enough to say no to things that would result in your falling into the trap of over-commitment?
• Have you begun to cultivate hobbies that relieve your stress and free you to be creative?
• After you have rested and gotten recharged, do you return to your responsibilities without any guilt for having taken time off?

Without a doubt, we all need spiritual refreshment along with physical and emotional rest.  If we never choose to disengage, are we really helping ourselves?  My thoughts on this topic are really meant more to share my struggle, and challenge you to admit your need for a Sabbath Day. There is not a doubt in my mind that there is something rich for me to find in choosing to pattern my life after His seventh day example.  I may have a lot schooling yet to go, but the learning will be worth it. If you struggled with the questions above, maybe you should consider choosing a day of rest each week.

I would love to tell you that I always look at life through the prism of faith. The sad fact is that I don’t.  Sometimes I walk more by sight than by faith.  You may feel the same way.  But I have experienced God’s marvelous provision and protection in my life enough to know that there one way to live; by faith and not sight. We all have a choice to trust God in every circumstance. The question is … will we?  Take a quick look at a man named Caleb, and think about your choices of faith or sight.

It is a sad, but true picture of unbelief that is played out before our eyes in the 14th chapter of Numbers. If you grew up in church, you undoubtedly have heard the story of the twelve spies that went to scout the land of Canaan. They spied the land for forty days and reported their findings. You know what happens next … ten were afraid and gave a negative report. But two men, Joshua and Caleb, showed great faith and were blessed of God. This tragedy is highlighted by the fact that the ten fearful spies were struck down by God with a plague. Unbelief also led to the needless wilderness journey that lasted forty years. In the midst of the rubble, we see God doing what He always does, blessing a life of faith.

Numbers 14:24 (NIV)
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

Numbers 14:24 (MSG)
But my servant Caleb-this is a different story. He has a different spirit; he follows me passionately. I’ll bring him into the land that he scouted and his children will inherit it.

Numbers 14:24 (KJV)
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Wholeheartedly, passionately and fully are strong words. Who in your life is a wholehearted follower of Christ? Don’t think about someone who follows religious guidelines, but that person whose faith really makes a difference. That person could be you! Caleb followed God passionately, and honored Him when it would have been easier to side with the ten fearful spies. Faith that matters will many times make hard choices. And by fully following the Lord, Caleb showed his family the beauty of faith and gave them the legacy of a God honoring life.

Don’t measure your faith (or anyone else’s) externally … it’s an inside job. Grow daily, seek Him passionately, and just see what He does. Let your spiritual measurement be, am I growing more in love with God and in love with people? If you are, something is happening on the inside that only God can do. Steadfast, wholehearted faith will work for you just like it did for Caleb.  Undoubtedly, your world will be meaningfully impacted if you have the Caleb spirit?

Would a true evaluation of your life reveal one of faith or of sight? Many reading this may have slowed in their spiritual passion. Some readers may feel they have never been wholehearted. And still others may never have accepted Christ as Savior (accept Him today!). But there is hope! Because the God of Caleb still reigns! Believe these words: For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (I Chronicles 16:9a) That includes you!

In any endeavor to read through the Bible, it is universally accepted that the book of Leviticus presents one of the most significant potential roadblocks to success. I am certain that many of the strongest resolves were broken before the reader reached the final verse of its final chapter. Leviticus is a book where the epic tension of the two R’s (rules vs. relationship) seems reduced to an open and shut case of, “the rules have it!”

As I began reading a bit ahead this week in preparation for writing, I got only a single verse into Leviticus chapter 26 before I skidded to a stop. My soul locked in on the first few words of verse 2 …

“Observe my Sabbaths …”

As I sat and allowed those few words to echo in meditation, I “saw” the wide chasm between the two R’s all but completely disappear. Now, there is no arguing that “Remember the Sabbath” is a rule. It is number 4 on the “Top Ten” list. But inherent in this command from the great I AM, is a priority on relationship. God first modeled this “rule” for us, in choosing on the seventh day of creation to rest. The Creator of the universe, the source of all energy, the possessor of omnipotent power, rested. Did He need to? The obvious answer to that question is, “No”. Well then, there must have been a reason why He rested. And then at a pivotal moment in the history of his people, why He commanded that His day of rest be remembered in their individual lives.

Sabbath, or “shabat” in Hebrew, is literally translated as “rest” or the “cessation of work”. On the seventh day of creation, God stopped working and rested. Not from a place of fatigue, but rather of “finished”. Creation was complete, and God stopped. I also believe that during this cessation, He rested and communed with his creation. From these literal translations, it is not difficult to conclude why He commanded the remembrance of this in the lives of His people. It was a delineation between the work they did in, and of, themselves and the true source of all the fruits of their labor. And created a proper silence in which to worship their God, and commune with Him. It was a rest that produced peace, and nurtured and grew relationship. I love the early picture of God’s provision for His people in the desert. Each day God would provide manna. And each day there would be just enough for that day. Except on the sixth day, when God provided enough for two days. He was true in supplying their need so they could live in obedience to His command. How purposed and amazing is that!

It is so easy, isn’t it, to fill our lives with the “stuff” of work, and family and service. Things that in their proper context can be very good. But also things which can rather quickly crowd our lives and attentions, and create a barrier between us and the Creator in who’s image we were created. Take the time to “cease work” and “rest”.

Being busy and absorbed in work are obviously not just modern problems. God’s desire for His people has always been, and will forever be that they intentionally set aside time to cease work, rest and be in relationship with Him on a rhythm of one day a week.  By the way we live our lives, it seems pretty obvious that we think He was just kidding about that, or meant it allegorically.  Our Creator desires a deep relationship with us.  He established the Sabbath for our good.  A Sabbath that is not defined by the practice and particulars of a ritual, but rather time and presence given in love, offered in obedience and motivated by what He has done for us.

It was a classic Mike.  In our family, the running joke is that if my daughter or I do something really funny or dumb, it is a Mike.  Last week was very busy. On Sunday I headed to Florida for a few days of work.  I then returned home Thursday evening just in time for a Valentine’s Day dinner of pizza with my wife.  Friday morning, there was a study that I attend at 6:30a.m. I was awake early (but not alert), and took time while I was getting ready to unplug our phones from the chargers (in the dark).  On my way to the study (6:05a.m.) the phone rang, and I thought to myself, “who is calling me this early?”  The screen said, “Mike calling,” (calling myself, hmmm)!  In my good deed of unplugging the phones, I had picked up my wife’s phone, and she was calling me.  That’s a Mike!  You may be unwilling to admit it publicly, but I bet you could name of few of your Mike’s also.

Just like we all have Mike’s, we also all have pain. During every ordinary day, we are confronted with the hurts we feel, or view from a distance the pain of others.  The question is, how should we respond? Friday evening (with our cell phone issues settled) my wife and I attended a concert.  A line from the late Zig Ziglar was used to properly express the hurt and pain that we all experience.  His quote was,  If you treat everyone as though they were hurting, you are treating the majority in the proper manner. When you and I view others with compassion (realizing that they may be hurting) there is a natural sensitivity that takes over.  Our care replaces the emotions of impatience and irritation that often dominate our attitudes.  Correspondingly, it is a fair question to ask how you and I should address the personal hurts that we feel.

Take a moment to look around you today.  I wonder what is going on in the lives of the people you will rub shoulders with.  Some of these people you like….and well, some not so much!  But if you are a Christ follower, viewing them all with the compassion of Christ will indeed have a positive effect. And remember most are hurting in some fashion.  Proverbs 12:25 says, an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Being consciously sensitive to the hurts around us is unusual, but needed.  Could it be that a co-worker or friend is going through a serious Mike, and just needs a fresh word of encouragement?  Why not give them that word!

You may be reading this article feeling that you are in need of that word of encouragement.  Although your personal hurt (emotional or physical) wasn’t caused by a silly Mike, you still need a pick me up. Let me be the first to give it. It is an absolute truth that God is in control, and that He absolutely cares for your hurt.  Our Father doesn’t let us go through seasons of difficulty without purpose. You may feel right now that those words are easier said than felt, but they are true.  The great author Philip Yancey gives amazing words on how to deal with moments of hurt.  He described faith as trusting in advance what you will only understand in reverse. Right now, choose to release your issue to the Father in faith, and trust Him for the results.

You may laugh at my Mikes, but none of us laugh at our pain.  We all view it, and we all experience it.  Today and all this week will you determine to offer the kind word….even to those who are often a source of frustration to you?  And never forget when you are the one hurting; there is always One who cares for you.  Hold on by faith!

p.s.  My wife has gently asked to unplug her own phone from now on!