The Wisdom of the Wise

The phrase “wisdom of the wise”  has a hidden appeal to it that is worthy of caution!  Without a doubt we are all attracted to wise behavior and thought.  Who hasn’t learned that wisdom  is highly beneficial, and something to be sought?

Yahuwah tells us in the Proverbs that Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

Yet this phrase, “wisdom of the wise” is included in one of the apostle Paul’s warnings:

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1Corinthians 1:19)

In this verse, the apostle Paul is warning the Believers to guard against  the wisdom of this world, as we see in the next verse (1Cornithians 1:20).  The wisdom of this world  is a wisdom that is very subtle and very crafty!  The wisdom of this world  is attractive, appealing, cultivated, sophisticated, and captivating; we have all been taken in by this wisdom at various times in our lives.

The wisdom of this world  has unlimited appeal to it!  There is a glitz and a sparkle to it. Or, at times, there is a softness and sweetness to it.  Sometimes it appears magical and mysterious; sometimes it is somber and intelligent.  There are many facets to this captivating jewel of the ever-changing, ever-appealing “wisdom of this world.”

Paul continues to expose the problem with the wisdom of the world — it does not know Yahuwah: “the world by wisdom knew not God” (1Corinthians 1:21).

The wisdom of this world  has nothing to offer concerning the Maker of the universe. The wisdom of this world is darkness and cannot understand the Light of Yahuwah!  The wisdom of this world is blinded to the wisdom of the Heavenly Father, and can offer no help, in word or deed, to achieve the Truth of our Creator. The wisdom of this world is not  from above, for it is earthly, sensual, demonic (James 3:15).

In today’s society, there is much of the wisdom of the world  by way of audio and visual stimulus. It is no wonder that in the last days, perilous times shall come. Multitudes are ever learning, and yet are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2Timothy 3:7).

What can we do? What is the solution? How can we guard ourselves from so much of the wisdom of the world  that bombards us? How can we be delivered from this crafty, subtle wisdom of the wise—the deceptive wisdom of the world? Let’s consider two basic keys to have in our ‘spiritual pocket’ that can help us guard against this deception.

Two Basic Keys

First Key:

As Believers in Yahushua Messiah, we must begin to cultivate an unshakable love of the Truth (2Thessalonians 2:10). And the Truth we must love is the Word of Yahuwah, as Yahushua declares of His Father’s Word:  thy word is truth (John 17:17).

We must love the truth more than our own pleasure. We must love the truth more than our own wisdom or the world’s wisdom.  We must love the truth more than our own insights and understandings. We must love the truth enough to learn the Word of Yahuwah, and then to adjust our life to be in agreement with His Word.

When we have an unshakable love of the truth then we will begin to easily recognize the difference between the crafty, subtle wisdom of this world, and the wisdom that is from above. The wisdom from above is from Yahuwah, and it is pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

When we have a genuine love of the truth, our heart’s desire will be to declare as King David did: “I have chosen the way of truth!” (Psalms 119:30). And we will diligently seek for Father’s Grace, His enablement, so that we might not deviate from that path!

But this is a spiritual battle! Loving the truth requires a firm commitment to Yahuwah and to His Way! The wiles of the devil can ensnare us at every turn, unless we have put on the whole armor of our Mighty One, Yahuwah Elohim (Ephesians 6:11). Oh, how often I have needed this armor daily, in my walk with Messiah!

This armor is extremely essential, but for now let’s proceed to the second basic key.

Second Key:

We must say, as did King David, this two-part prayer:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)

First Part: Asking Father for a clean heart  is another way of approaching 1John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The cleansing process is to be on-going with Yahuwah’s children, among those who yearn to honor and please Father each and every day.  Our frequent prayer for a clean heart helps us to grow more and more sensitive to the little spots and blemishes that tarnish the Light of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.

Second Part: Ask Father to “renew a right spirit within me!”  This prayer is vital!  This prayer takes courage and honesty, because so many times it happens that we do not have a right spirit!

If we are in the habit of asking Father to ‘renew a right spirit within me,’ then we will be sensitive to ‘a wrong spirit.’ A wrong spirit is an argumentative spirit, a proud spirit, a demanding spirit, a self-righteous spirit, a covetous spirit, a rebellious spirit, a religious spirit, and can include a myriad of other ‘wrong spirits.’

We must yearn to be delivered of any ‘wrong spirit’ and seek Father to renew a ‘right spirit’ within us. When we are of a ‘right spirit’ then we can easily love others, easily forgive others, and easily serve others. Being of a ‘right spirit’ keeps us in harmony with the “spirit of Messiah” who is living within us, as we are walking side-by-side with Him, and as we are yoked  to Him.

The Beginning of Wisdom

As we follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth (Revelation 14:4), we grow in our desire to know, and behave, with the wisdom that comes from Yahuwah and His Word, which far surpasses the wisdom of this world. Let us now recall where Father’s wisdom begins:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

According to this Scripture passage, Father’s wisdom begins  when we have a genuine, reverent fear of Yahuwah. This is not a fear of man, but a fear that comes from knowing who He is, and from the commitment to walk in obedience to His Word. Only those who fear Him, who tremble  at His Word (Isaiah 66:2,5), will have the beginning of His wisdom. Only His wisdom can demolish the traps and snares that worldly  wisdom offers.

May each one of us be sensitive to the crafty, subtle worldly  wisdom that bombards our senses daily. May we pray fervently for Father’s help and enabling grace to turn away our eyes and ears from every wicked thing of this world. May we earnestly pursue Father’s Truth, and His wisdom!

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Related Articles:

• For further insight see Derek Prince’s teaching: Protection From Deception – Four Safeguards

• A companion post is Words of Wise Men are Heard in Quiet

• Another companion post is Thy Torah is My Delight

Unite My Heart to Fear Your Name

King David prayed for a united heart  to fear the Name of Yahuwah.  When we have a united heart  for Yahuwah we are able to maintain a ‘steady course,’  just as a sailor maintains his course, no matter the wind direction.  The sailor must hold tightly to his course, in order to arrive at the desired destination. In the same way, one with a united heart is able to ‘hold steady’ as he walks along his path with Yahuwah.

A united heart  is an honorable characteristic, when focused on truth and righteousness.  Those who have such a focus and determination are often admired and respected.

All of us have spurts of a united heart whenever we are focused on a project that is truly delightful, as well as challenging, to us.  Our attention is focused and consumed on the details of accomplishing the endeavor.  Our eyes are on the goal and we will not deviate from the goal until it is completed.

If we can have such a united heart  for the natural things that challenge us and consume us, then wouldn’t it be possible to have such a heart for Yahuwah?  Of course it would!

So what does it take to have this ‘united heart’  to fear the name of Yahuwah?  If we truly desire such a valuable possession, we must first ask for it, as King David did:

Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.  (Psalm 86:11)

We must ask  Father for a united heart.  We must ask Him for a heart that is turned toward Him with undistracted devotion.  Such a prayer is a serious thing, a sobering thing.  Such a prayer, if sincere, will mean that we will do what we can ‘in the natural’  to have a united heart, and we will trust Father to reward our efforts. 

As we saw in First the Natural, Then the Spiritual, when we do what we can to obey and honor Father, then the spiritual fruit will come forth.  (Quick reminder: doing what we can, in the natural, requires Father’s enabling grace!  Oh how true it is that without Yahushua, we can do nothing (John 15:5)!)

What We Are After

Undistracted devotion for Father and His Truth is what we are after.  As the apostle Paul put it, we need to press, pursue, seek after the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Yahushua  (Philippians 3:14).  That reveals the focus  of a united heart for Yahuwah.

A united heart for Yahuwah is not something we can acquire by running down to the little corner market and picking up a package of “United Heart.”  No, a united heart is a treasure to be gained with prayer and patience, with determined endurance for learning Father’s Word, learning the leading of His Holy Spirit, and then, doing what it takes to put our life in order, to making sure our life ‘lines up’ with Father’s Words.

Two Characteristics

I’ve noticed two characteristics of those who have acquired a united heart, a heart of undivided devotion.

First, though it may seem over-familiar and trite to say this, I’ll say it anyway — those who have a united heart  for Yahuwah are confident in His love!  They are quick to remember that Father (who is rich in mercy) has a ‘great love’ for each one of His children (Ephesians 2:4)!

Father’s love for you is beyond awesome — it is like no other!  He has chosen you to be His own special possession, and in His sight you are precious (1Peter 2:4)!  If you are not confident in Father’s love for you, in Yahushua’s love for you, then work at changing that insecurity.  Ask Father to reveal His love for you, again and again, until you have no doubts.  Ask Him to open your eyes and your understanding to know His great love for you.

The earth is full of the goodness of Yahuwah!  He gave us His Son, who laid down His life for us!  What amazing love that is!  Yahuwah calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light!  He preserves our souls!  He delivers us out of the hand of the wicked!  He hears our cries and brings us out of danger!  He sets our feet upon a rock and establishes our goings!  He hides us in the secret of His presence!  What amazing and awesome love that is!!  (Psalm 33:5.  1John 3:16.  1Peter 2:9.  Psalm 97:10.  Psalm 40:1,2.  Psalm 31:20.)

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!  (Psalm 31:19)

Second, those who have a united heart  for Yahuwah seem to be quick to remember to look at the things which are not seen!!  This is truly a faith action!  We must ask Father’s help to remember to look to the things which are not seen, that are eternal!  When we are keeping our eyes, our focus, on the unseen, eternal realm, then we are learning to walk by faith, and not by sight (2Corinthians 5:7).

The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, renews our strength in the ‘inward man’ while we are looking at the things which are not seen.  With our focus in the right direction, it is then that the struggles and the afflictions we experience are working  for us  in the spiritual, eternal realm.  They are working  for us   an exceeding and eternal weight of glory!  (2Corinthians 4:16-18)

If we are looking at the things which are seen, then we will be like Peter when he stepped out of the boat (Matthew 14:25-31).  At first, Peter’s eyes were fixed on Yahushua, and Peter was confident of the Saviour’s love and protection.  Peter was looking in the right direction — at first!

But then, Peter began to look at the wind and the waves crashing around him.  When he did that, he began to sink.  We too will sink, we’ll tremble, if we look down, or look at the things around us, at the things which are seen.

Keeping our eyes on the unseen realm, where the great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on (Hebrews 12:1), helps us to maintain that united heart, the ‘steady course.’  We must hold on tightly to earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (2Corinthians 5:2).  Such a desire is a key ingredient for having a ‘united heart.’

We walk by faith, and not by sight, knowing and believing that Father IS, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him  (Hebrews 11:6).

Look Unto Yahuwah and Be Saved

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.  (Isaiah 45:22)

Looking to Yahuwah alone, as our only hope, our only salvation and deliverance, is learning to walk by faith.  Then our heart is becoming united in trusting Him, in honoring Him, in loving Him.  Father delights in loving us abundantly by guiding us and bringing us into His heavenly kingdom, by showing Himself strong on our behalf:

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.  (2Chronicles 16:9)

The above Scripture teaches us that Father is looking too!  He is looking earnestly for those who have a complete and full heart turned toward Him.  He is looking for a united heart, a heart of undivided devoted to following Yahuwah.  He is waiting patiently for the precious fruit of a ‘united heart’ that yearns to please Father in every way (James 5:7).

Dear Reader, prayer for a united heart  is a cry that Yahuwah is looking for.  It is the heart’s cry of one who desires to love Him completely!  When Father finds one of His children with such a heart, then Father reveals His awesome love (once again) by showing Himself strong on their behalf!

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*A companion post is Thy Torah is My Delight

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Walking In Newness of Life

There is a particular phrase in the book of Micah that I’ve been pondering.  In Micah 6:8, the prophet exhorts us to “walk humbly with thy God.”  What does that mean — for a Believer to walk humbly with  the Heavenly Father?

I have the impression that walking with Father is supposed to be — ought to be — a very intimate “knock-you-off-your-feet” kind of experience.

My idea of being in a relationship with the Living God is that it ought to be something that is constantly growing in awesome, rousing knowledge and awareness.  I often imagine that it ought to be something that is constantly amazing us, WOW-ing us, and WOO-ing us.

Maybe this impression comes from John 10:10, or from Romans 6:4:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  (John 10:10)

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (Romans 6:4)

If Yahushua came to give us life — that we might have life more abundantly — then shouldn’t we have a “Wow!” kind of life?  Shouldn’t we have a newness of life  that is regularly making us say, “Wow!”

I confess – I don’t think I have the “Wow”  kind of life, unless I’ve grown accustomed to Father’s presence, and to His loving answers to my prayers.  Maybe I take it for granted too much that Father is listening to me, and ordering my steps, and is causing me to will and to do of His good pleasure  (Philippians 2:13).

If that is the case, then I would say I do have life more abundantly!   I do have a “Wow!” kind of life, and I need to remember all the wondrous ways that Father shows Himself strong on my behalf!

However, I long for more “Wow!”-ness.  The wooing  is always there, but the WOW!  Well, that’s not as often as I would like.

The One Recurring Theme

I have read a few biographies of great men and women of faith.  Their stories seem to indicate that the secret to an abundant, ‘Wow!’ kind of life begins with sacrifice — lots of sacrifice.

Reading the stories of these people reveals the growth of their relationship with Father.  The one recurring theme in these life-stories is their on-going sacrificial life — “the way of the cross.”

Over and over again, these people yield to a ‘Dying to Self,’ so that Messiah can transform them and bring forth His  Life within them.  Every time they yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit’s guidance and fulfill a seemingly small, sacrificial obedience, they receive a great peace, and an assurance of Father’s guidance.

Some of these ‘great’ people tell of a sweet (almost fragrant) river of joy that comes to them when they walk in “the way of the cross.”  I’m too, am looking for that sweet fragrant river of joy (selfish me).  But, the secret to experiencing this joy is a certain kind of sacrifice — a Dying to SELF.

Ouch!  Sacrifice — Gulp!!

Dying to self is a painful experience, as I’ve discovered.  However, it is the secret to a victorious life, an abundant life, a newness of life.  Dying to self is a day-by-day, sometimes moment-by-moment, process of yielding our will to Father’s will, and saying: “… not I, but Messiah”  (Galatians 2:20).

“Our will must be broken.  We must be broken.  We must do His will, not ours.  To have a broken will is the beginning of revival.  It is a painful thing.  It makes us humble.  But it is the only way.”
– Roy Hession, “The Way of the Cross”

The Hungry Soul

Rees Howells, the intercessor, is an excellent example of walking in “the way of the cross.”  He said that the transformation for him was slow and bitter.  Yet, he learned the truth of this verse: 

“to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.“  (Proverbs 27:7)

Perhaps the sweetness referred to in this verse is a part of that “river of joy” I’m looking for.  Perhaps that “river of joy” is actually the river of peace that Isaiah talks about in Isaiah 48:18:

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:  (Isaiah 48:18)

The “hungry soul” wants to hearken to (to hear and obey) Father’s commandments, no matter how bitter!  As the above verse shows us, being a do-er of Yahuwah’s commandments (James 1:22) results in having a peace ‘like a river.’ 

Doing, obeying, the Word of Yahuwah, brings us the peace we long for, the joy we’re searching for.  To find this peace and joy means learning the Word of Yahuwah and learning to deny ‘self,’  and say “not my will, but Your Will, Father.”

Obeying the Word of Yahuwah, following the leading of the Holy Spirit, are keys to walking in newness of life.  However, these keys begin with sacrifice — dying to self.  Dying to self is a bitter thing, if  you are not hungrying for Yahuwah and His ways.  The hungry soul  gladly takes the bitter thing, trusting Father’s goodness.  They will know the sweetness of obedience and a peace beyond understanding.

If a Believer desires the “Wow!” kind of life, desires to walk in newness of life, then the secret is seen in this verse:

… let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Yahushua   (Luke 9:23).

Bitter-Sweet

To walk humbly with our Heavenly Father is a mysterious kind of bitter-sweet ‘Wow!-ness.’   It is to deny ourselves, learning to take up our cross, and learning to say, “Not my will, but Yours, Father!”

Trust Father’s mercy and grace, and yield to His ever-wooing nudges to do His will!  Ask Him to help you to deny yourself, to help you to do what is pleasing in His sight. 

Whenever we do His will, we will come to find that every bitter thing is sweet, and that we will  walk in the newness of life, the life of Messiah who dwells within us!

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*A companion post is Blessed Are They Which Do Hunger

*Another companion post is The Holy Spirit Will Guide You Into All Truth

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Changing From Glory to Glory

Has your life changed since you gave your life to Yahushua Messiah?  Has it changed so much that others have noticed, and perhaps some have asked, “What!! You are doing what with your life?  Oh, that is going too far!”

Life certainly changes for all who become Born-Again Believers in Messiah Yahushua, the Son of Yahuwah Elohim.  When we are “in Messiah,” we become new creations:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (‘creation’): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  (2Corinthians 5:17)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…. ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  (John 15:16,19)

All things become new  for us the moment we become Born-Again.  We are chosen out of the world,  and now, our life changes dramatically.  We have become Disciples, followers of the King of Kings, the Master of Masters.  Therefore, just as He is not of this world, so also we are not of this world.

The first ‘new’ thing that happens as a new creation is our repentance.  We change our minds, and our actions, about many things.  Now, as new creations born of the Spirit, we begin producing “fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8), as spoken by John the Baptist.

Formerly We Were in Darkness

For ye were sometimes (‘formerly’) darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable(‘pleasing’) unto the Lord.   (Ephesians 5:8-10)

Formerly, when we were in spiritual darkness, we thought of many things as agreeable and acceptable, but now we understand how ugly and dark sin really is. Formerly, we thought of many things in the world as attractive and desirable, but now we know better.

Formerly, because we were carnal — that is, because we were not subject to the Torah (Romans 8:7) — we lived by our ‘natural’ understanding.  We ridiculed precious things of the Holy Spirit, and did not receive them.  We received not the things of the Holy Spirit, which appeared ‘foolish’ to us, and so we scorned them (1Corinthians 2:14).

Formerly, we arrogantly ridiculed and scorned Believers in Yahushua, but now we are ashamed of our treatment of our fellow Brothers and Sisters in Messiah.  What we used to think of as enjoyable, now seems repulsive to us.

Now we see things differently.  We have changed our minds and our behavior. We have moved from walking in darkness, to walking in a new and living way.  That is repentance.

Our initial repentance is fairly drastic when we first become a Born-Again Believer.  There is much that needs changing the moment our spiritual eyes become opened, and we begin to see that we are no longer of this world (John 17:14-16).  Little by little, and sometimes with great strides, the old things pass away, and all things become new for us.

A Way-of-Life

Repentance is a way-of-life, not a one-time-event.  We do not simply repent of a few things at first, and then think that nothing more is needed.

No, for those who are truly His Disciples, those who are Lovers of Master Yahushua Messiah,  repentance is an on-going way-of-life.  It is through our daily feeding upon His word, and by our growing in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour Yahushua, that we understand our need to maintain  a repentant heart — repenting of things that grieve Father.  In this way, the Holy Spirit is changing us, from one level of glory to another:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Corinthians 3:18)

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

Father has begun a good work in each one of us, and He intends to complete the work He started. We need only cooperate with Him, by His enabling grace, and maintain  a willingness to be humble and be obedient to His Word.

Transformed

When we are changed from glory to glory, we are in a process  that is progressive — changing from being spiritual ‘babes,’ to growing up to maturity — unto the stature of the fullness of Messiah (Ephesians 4:13).  We become transformed, or transfigured — or as the Greek word indicates in Romans 12:1-2, literally ‘metamorphosed,’ or changed from one life-form to another.

Like a caterpillar that metamorphoses into a butterfly, in the same way, we are changed from the earthly to the heavenly.

Change — that could almost be our middle name!  Changing from glory to glory is the way-of-life for all Believers who are growing and maturing in Messiah.

The changes Father is working in us is according to His purpose — to conform each one of us into the same image and likeness of His Son! (Romans 8:29)

Many changes that Father desires in us may appear crazy in the eyes of the world.  The world sees us and screams, “How can you do that?  Why would you forsake that?!?”  “You’ve worked so hard, for so long, and now you’re giving that up?!?  Why?!?  What a waste!!”

However, as His Disciples, our hearts and minds are more and more focused on the things that are not seen (2Corinthians 4:18), focused on humbling of ‘self,’  emptying ourselves of all that is of ‘self’ (Philippians 2:5-8), focused on the great cloud of witnesses, and focused on running with patience the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1).  We are focused on loving and pleasing Father  first and foremost in all our endeavors (2Corinthians 5:9).

The Prize

We have set our eyes on The Lamb of God, the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.  He gave His all for us — can we do any less for Him?

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, … I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(Philippians  3:8-14)

We are as the apostle Paul, who counted all his gains, all the glories he achieved in this world, as dung.  Paul was educated, learned, cultivated, talented, articulate, unique.  He was a ‘Prize’ in the world’s estimation of success.  Yet, he changed!

Paul became consumed with the heavenly ‘prize.’  He became consumed with the pursuit of Messiah: “That I may win Messiah!”

That is our pursuit as well — to know our precious Saviour, and to follow Him, with surrendered hearts.

We are changing.  We, who are no longer of this world, are changing into His image, day by day, from glory to glory.

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*A companion post is Words of Wise Men Are Heard In Quiet

Enduring Our Trials

In the book of James, we learn that there is a blessing for enduring.  I’m eager for blessings, but I’m not an expert on endurance.  My track-record on endurance is not exactly noble.  However, I’d like to talk about enduring, despite my failures.  Giving some attention to this subject may encourage our resolve to endure.

Enduring trials is basically LONG — suffering and persevering through troubles, struggles, hassles, burdens, afflictions, pains, grief, discouragements, and/or injustices.  All of us have our share of these kind of things.

Enduring trials is a common expectation when walking with Yahuwah.  As children of Yahuwah, we are told to put on a heart of longsuffering and endurance for one another and to be forgiving of one another (Colossians 3:12,13).  The apostle Paul exhorts us to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Yahushua Messiah  (2Timothy 2:3).

Learning to endure is part of growing up and maturing.  However, there are lots of times when I don’t even know I’m “enduring a trial”  until I’m half-way through the trial.  As “Christian” in The Pilgrim’s Progress, I’m heedless to what is going on, and I tumble down into the “Slough of Despond.”

The word ‘despond’ rightly describes how many of us react in a trial.  We struggle to endure and be an “overcomer,” but we become discouraged by various obstacles and we end up in despair.

Whatever kind of trial we are enduring, if we’re honest, feeling despair and defeated happens to many of us.  The apostle Paul is an example of someone who had plenty of troubles and he despaired even of life:

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: (2Corinthians 1:8)

Paul was pressed out of measure, above strength.  In other words, he was utterly burdened.  I feel utterly burdened too, at times.  My burdens are not anywhere near as heavy as Paul’s, but nonetheless, they are my burdens, and for me, they are heavy.

Yet, Paul gives us the lesson that he learned in the midst of his troubles:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:   (2Corinthians 1:9)

Father wants us to learn to trust Him and HIS help in the midst of our trials, rather than trusting in ‘self.’  All of us naturally trust in our own strength, our own abilities.  But, Father desires that we learn to trust in Him with all our heart.  Father desires that we remember to wait patiently for Him for He will incline His ear unto His children and He will hear our prayers (Psalm 40:1).

Patiently trusting Yahuwah is what we want, however being troubled and cast down is not unusual for those of us who are frail and weak earthen vessels.  Many times, we are at a loss as to what to do in the midst of trials.

So What Do We Do

So what do we do, when we are burdened beyond our strength?  How do we endure when we are utterly burden?  What do you  do?  What do I  do?

One thing I try to do is ‘quietly’ endure.  At least, I try to be quiet  while enduring.  If I’m quiet then this helps me to be patient.  My quietness then helps me remember to pray.  Talking to Father when facing a trial is my “anchor in the storm!”

Remembering to pray is crucial!  If I forget to humble myself and forget to cry out for Father’s help, then I sink lower into the “Slough of Despond.”  It is my quietness in the midst of the trial that is my way of being patient.  My quiet patience helps me to be mindful to pray and remember Father’s many promises of help in my time of trouble: “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me” (Psalm 86:7).

There are so many Scriptures that we need to “store-up” in our hearts so that when we are burdened and enduring a trial, then Father’s Word will be a comfort to us.

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:10,11)

This passage says, “Behold, we count them happy (blessed) which endure.”  That is an offer of hope!  That is “A-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel!”  There is the hope for A Blessing, when the enduring is complete!  Now I like that!  That helps me to endure patiently, and to walk by faith!

Let’s also remember someone else who endured:

… After he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:15)

The Patriarch Abraham, also known as faithful Abraham (Galatians 3:9), is a most encouraging example of enduring through trials.  He endured his trials — patiently!  And he was rewarded for his patient enduring, for he obtained the promise!  (Romans 9:9 and Acts 13:32, 32)

Just as faithful Abraham patiently endured his trials and was rewarded, we also can expect to be rewarded for patiently enduring our trials.  The apostle James tells us “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (trials)” (James 1:12).

Furthermore, the apostle Paul reminds us that our “light afflictions” are only for a moment:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;   While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are  temporal; but the things which are not seen are  eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

“For a moment!”  With Father’s help and enabling grace, I can endure “for a moment.”  Especially so, since this verse tells us that our trials are working  for us  an exceeding and eternal weight of glory — as long as  we keep our eyes on the unseen realm.

When the grace of God comes to a man he can do all things; but when it leaves him, for a season, he becomes poor and weak— abandoned, as it were, to affliction. Yet, in this condition he should not become dejected or despair. On the contrary, he should calmly await the will of God and bear whatever befalls him in praise of Jesus Christ— for after winter comes summer, after night comes the day, and after the storm, a great calm.   –Thomas a Kempis

When trials and struggles come — and for sure they do come — that is the “red-flag” signal for prayer!!  Prayer for help!!  Prayer for help to lean completely on Father, His many promises, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit!! Pray for His grace to be humble and to tell Him I need Him.  “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself” (Psalm 37:7).

Little by little, I’m learning through my trials and struggles to be praying for patience and for quiet endurance.  “Happy are they which endure!”  May we all remember that our weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Help us, Abba Father, to be of good courage.  Strengthen our hearts to patiently endure as faithful Abraham.

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*A companion post is More Precious Than Gold

· For further study see Derek Prince’s teaching: Defense Against Discouragement

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