I hate bugs. More than once, I have received a speech about the importance of bugs. I do not care! I hate bugs that fly, jump, crawl, Samba, Waltz or do the two-step! I hate bugs. I am so grateful for a husband who will rescue me when he hears me scream because a bug startled me. Have I told you that I hate bugs?

When Gaylon was on a mission trip to India, I was about to go to bed alone one night. When I turned on the light in my bedroom, the ceiling was covered, as in COVERED, with small Asian beetles. They were even on my bed. There was no way I could go to bed and sleep with the enemy!

I wondered how so many of those beetles got in my room. There were three windows in the room, and they were raised so fresh air could come inside. As I examined each window closely, I discovered that the screen on one of the windows had come loose on the corner. When Papa Beetle saw the opening, he made his way in and called all his family and friends to join him for the party. They wanted to take up residence.

What a job it was to get rid of those lady bugs before I could even think of going to sleep. The root of the problem was a small opening that allowed the enemy to take up residence and wreak havoc on my peace and rest. If I had just paid attention to that small opening!

“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:25-27)

Ephesians 4:27 instructs us not to give even a foothold to the devil. If you take time to read that portion of scripture in its entirety, you will see the Apostle Paul instructing the Church in ways that the enemy makes entrance into our lives. A good rendering of that word “foothold” is not to even give him a place in your life to gain power.

A foothold can be best understood by imagining yourself being chased by a bad person. You run up to your room and try to close the door, but the person sticks his shoe at the bottom end of the door so you cannot close it. That part of his foot that prevents you from closing the door effectively is called a “foothold.”

I have seen too many believers over the years lose ground spiritually or even walk away from the things of God. Most often, falling away did not start with a large overt sin. Most often, it started with a small opening that allowed the way for Satan to creep in and begin a campaign of destruction. He will take any opportunity.

God has given us all authority to live a victorious Christian life. Living victorious boils down to the instructions we are given in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Victory is always available for the believer. Submitting and resisting are the keys to living an overcoming life.

We must be alert to the little things that open us up for pesky issues. Not dealing with the little things that do not belong in the Christian life can lead to an inability to walk victorious and to have peace and rest in Christ.

When we provide the devil with a foothold, and we do not slam the door on his foot, he will push his way into our abode. Once inside our home, he is no longer a foothold but rather a stronghold. He has gained more control. It will take a lot of work to evict him. So, the better option is slamming the door on footholds and bolting the lock as soon as the devil withdraws his bruised foot.

Do not give the devil a foothold” is a call to arms—to engage in the battle that will define our lives. Are you ceding ground? Take back the ground today. Submit to God today. Resist the devil today. Walk in victory today!

Every year I repost this story, and I do not apologize for doing so! This is a reminder for all of us that God is at work when do not see it. He is for us and not against us! I want to be a child of God who gives Him thanks every day even when I do not feel like it.

It is simple to thank God when He does miracles and answers prayers just the way we want them answered. It is easy to thank Him when we look around and see many blessings in our lives. When our situation seems awful, or we are struggling through tragedy or hard times, it can seem unbelievable that God is working for our good.

The following is one of my favorite stories about learning to give thanks, probably my favorite!

In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of a time she discovered that God was working even in the most horrific circumstances. Corrie and her sister Betsie had been imprisoned by the Nazis for hiding Jews behind the wall of their Holland home, and Nazi prison conditions pretty well unbearable.

Corrie writes: “Barracks 8 was in the quarantine compound. Next to us–perhaps as a deliberate warning to newcomers–were located the punishment barracks. From there, all day long and often into the night, came the sounds of hell itself. They were not the sounds of anger, or of any human emotion, but of a cruelty altogether detached: blows landing in regular rhythm, screams keeping pace. We would stand in our ten-deep ranks with our hands trembling at our sides, longing to jam them against our ears, to make the sounds stop.

“It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seemingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy.”

Yet, in the midst of the suffering, the women prisoners around Corrie and Betsie found comfort in the little Bible studies they held in the barracks. Corrie writes they gathered around the Bible “like waifs clustered around a blazing fire…The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God.”

When they were moved to Barracks 28, Corrie was horrified by the fact that their reeking, straw-bed platforms swarmed with fleas. How could they live in such a place? It was Betsie who discovered God’s answer: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”   That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. “Give thanks in all circumstances!”  That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!’

“I stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room…”

They thanked God for the fact they were together. They thanked God they had a Bible. They even thanked God for the horrible crowds of prisoners, that more people would be able to hear God’s Word. And then, Betsie thanked God for the fleas.

“The fleas! This was too much. ‘Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.’

‘” Give thanks in all circumstances,” ‘she quoted. “It doesn’t say, “in pleasant circumstances.”  Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”

“And so, we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.”    It turned out that Betsie was not wrong; the fleas were a nuisance, but a blessing after all. The women were able to have Bible studies in the barracks with a great deal of freedom, never bothered by supervisors coming in and harassing them. They finally discovered that it was the fleas that kept those supervisors out.

Through those fleas, God protected the women from abuse and harassment. Dozens of desperate women were free to hear the comforting, hope-giving Word of God. Through those fleas, God protected the women from much worse things and made sure they had their deepest, truest needs met.

We all have “fleas” in our lives. We all have those things that we can see no use for, things that are obviously horrible, unpleasant, painful things that we want gone. No life is free of “fleas.”   We all have aggravations, inconveniences, and pain. If God can use fleas to protect Corrie and Betsie, He is fully capable of using difficult things to bless us. God does care; God is working even when we are uncomfortable with or disappointed with life. As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, lets thank God for His constant care and provision, and for His hidden blessings that come in ways we can easily overlook.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Times have changed through the years for this Southern Belle. I live in a large neighborhood in a quiet suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. I love living between my two neighbors that I have now. On one side is a kind widow and on the other side is a young family with two boys. We are so blessed with good neighbors.

A few years back in the same neighborhood, we were blessed to live between two precious widows, and both happened to be African American. I enjoyed standing in my yard and chatting with them.

One night as I was walking, I passed my neighbor’s home and noticed her car engine was running while the car was in the garage, yet no one was in the car. I assumed she was about to leave. After walking three miles, I returned home and noticed that the car was still running, and no one was in it. I knew that was not normal for my neighbor. I went to my neighbor Vestee’s door to check on her. It took me a while to get her to the door, but she was so glad I did. The car had not been driven in a while, and she went out to start it so that the engine could run, but she forgot about the car.

We exchanged phone numbers that day, and I told her to also give my number to her daughter, in case they needed me to check on her.

I also love talking with the neighbor on the other side. Betty was a talker! We could go on for a very long time. I had not seen Betty outside in a while, so I expressed concern to my husband. “This is just not like Betty. I know something is wrong, or she is gone away.”   Finally, I saw Betty one day, and I knew immediately she was fighting for her life. Betty had lost a lot of weight, and she shared with me that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We talked, and I assured her that she would be on our everyday prayer list. I sent her cards and stayed in touch until God called her home.

This might not seem like a big deal to most, but it is to me.

As a child growing up in the south, I saw a lot of social unrest. (I know it was in other areas as well, so let’s not get sidetracked.) My first time experiencing integration was when I was in the seventh grade, and I was twelve years old. As I look back now, I realize much of what happened was because we were raised in environments where we learned to judge people from the outside, not the inside. I certainly do not defend that position, but at the time, that is what we knew.

Thank God, I learned better, and raised children who were taught better!

God’s word shows us how Jesus dealt with the issue of judging folks from the outside. In fact, Jesus literally walked right into the issue when He dared to minister to the woman at the well. Simply because she was a Samaritan, she would have been thought of as “less than” by the Jews of her day. Samaritans were originally Jews but later intermarried with Gentiles. The intermarriage created a mixed race, and the “pure” Jew hated them.

The animosity between the two groups was so great that the Jews would bypass Samaria as they traveled between Galilee and Judea. They took a longer route in order to avoid going through Samaria. Jesus could not make everyone else do the right thing, but He could do the right thing.

My heart is saddened as I see such division in our country. People are hated simply because they are Jewish, Black, Caucasian, Republican, or Democrat. I recently read an article suggesting that it is impossible to sit at a Thanksgiving table with a family who voted differently. Hatred is on full display on social media and, at times, news organizations.

In my opinion, over the last few years, race relations in this country have taken a big step backwards. I know it is not a popular subject to discuss, but it needs to be discussed. There is a lot of anger out there. I find it sad how quickly we point the finger at each other, calling one another racists. I refuse to be drawn into that! Like Jesus, I cannot make anyone else do the right thing, but I can do the right thing. I am going to treat people like people. I do not care if they are brown, black, white, or mixed. I refuse to take a step backwards, even if others choose that path.

I loved living between my two African American neighbors. All three of us were old enough to remember the “bad” days, and all three of us remember a time when being neighbors would have been impossible. Yet, we treated each other like people. It did not matter to us what color we were or how we voted. We laughed together, cried together, prayed for each other, and leaned on one another.

I refuse to sign up or to be drafted as a soldier in the war on people. Others might, but I choose not to be in that army. I refuse to be a hater of another person.

Christian love is a bridge, not a hedge. Refuse to be in the army of hate.

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” –  Acts 10:28

Many are the people and situations on the prayer list that my husband, Gaylon, and I pray over every day. Occasionally, we stop and look at each other and one of us will say, “People are going through so much. It is unbelievable what people are facing.” 

In our prayer time, we are praying for those suffering with cancer, which includes a child diagnosed before he was one year old, Parkinson’s Disease, mental health issues, autism, financial issues, impending divorce, death of a spouse or a child. The list is long. There are so many of God’s people who are suffering in this life.

No one wants to suffer, but in a fallen world, it is unavoidable. I know many want to preach it away, but the truth is suffering will visit us all.

While there is all kind of suffering, today I want to talk about suffering for Christ. Ugh! Do we have to discuss such an unpleasant subject? Actually, yes, we do. It is much needed.

One of the ministries that have supported for years is Voice of the Martyrs, started by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand in 1967. Richard Wurmbrand preached at bomb shelters and rescued Jews during World War II. He experienced imprisonment and torture by the Communist regime of Romania, which maintained a policy of state atheism. He was hideously tortured during his fourteen years in prison. All that torture could have been avoided, if Wurmbrand had just renounced his faith and lived like the world around him.

Wurmbrand wrote a book entitled Tortured for Christ which also became a movie. I have read the book and viewed the movie. It was not an easy read, and the movie was challenging to watch. But the story leaves one with the reality that victory comes in the end. God will have the last word.

Many believers have long forgotten the lives and testimonies of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, or they know nothing about them. Quite frankly, stories like theirs disturb the pleasant Christian life so many of us enjoy. Richard Wurmbrand was a man for his time. He obeyed the light he had and boldly preached Christ despite the oppression, hurt, torture, and suffering. Christ was his message.

It is improbable that any of us in America will be imprisoned and tortured for our faith in Jesus Christ. We live in the Disney World of nations as far as persecution for our faith. But make no mistake about it, many in this country have suffered simply for refusing to compromise their faith. It has cost some their businesses, their careers, their social media accounts, their friendships, and other things. While that does not come close to persecution such as Richard Wurmbrand and others have suffered, we must understand that we live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward Christianity and the truth of what the Bible teaches.

As the influence of Christianity wanes and is even ridiculed, we will be accused of being small-minded, hateful, or judgmental. We have already been. Now is the time to be freshly infused with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Prepare now for what is to come.

Wurmbrand had an extraordinary testimony to the sufferings that Christians were enduring in Eastern Europe. His witness is considered to have been a factor in the ultimate collapse of communism in Romania and elsewhere. Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand were ordinary people, who stood firm for Christ against evil.

First Peter 4:19 says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

We are not promised an easy and carefree life as followers of Jesus. Rather, we are promised in First Peter that we will experience a “fiery trial;” maybe several trials. How should we respond when this happens? We must keep our eye on the reality of eternity. We will face pain in this life as followers of Jesus, but the eternal reward far outweighs the momentary sorrows.

Perhaps God will not have you endure the torture of a communist prison for His sake. Could it be that your faithfulness will not be proven in a prison cell but in your prayer closet and in the way you live your life before others?

Keep your eye on eternity. Suffering is inevitable, so is victory!

^“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT; ^“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11.

As I have gotten older, I will admit I think more about eternity than I did when I was younger. This year, I have lost a brother, a sister, and close friends. The truth of the matter is that unless Jesus returns, we are all going to take our last breath on this earth.

The thoughts about Heaven that get passed around are pretty convoluted. Let’s talk about Heaven.

Facts:

• The Bible teaches that the way to eternal life in Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus died and paid the price for our sin, thus reconciling us to God. I know it does not always set well with people, and I expect some pushbacks. I believe the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that we do not get to Heaven through our good works. There are quite a few verses about this in the Bible, but I shall only give one. ^“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9.

• Everyone does not become an angel after death. Nowhere in the Bible is there any teaching that people wake up in Heaven as an angel. God has tens of thousands of angels in Heaven. I know people are sincere in trying to ease grief. Grief is hard. We should be thrilled to know that we are higher than the angels once we stand before God in Heaven. The Bible says, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). This verse may be referring to the rebellious angels who chose to follow Satan, but it still shows that our status after death will be above that of the angels. I believe Hollywood has perpetuated this belief in many of their movies. Our greatest example is that Jesus rose bodily after His death. I look forward to my glorified body, how about you?

• Our loved ones are watching us from Heaven. This one is questionable, but certainly not clear. When we lost our son Bryan, he left behind a wife pregnant with their first child. Well-meaning people would tell me that he was watching over us from Heaven. If that statement is true, we must remember that Heaven does not see through the same eyes as Earth. I cannot imagine Bryan seeing his grief-stricken wife suffer, causing him to walk around under a burden of sadness, while he was in the presence of the Lord. If Bryan does see, he will see as heaven sees, that everything is going to be okay because God is at work. I am thankful that God is watching over me and my family. There is no greater watchman than God. “For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV.

• There will be no more. Truth! There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more cancer, no more wrinkles, no more racism, no more grief, no more division. I could go on and on. I am grateful that I will spend eternity where there will be no more!

• The central focus will be on the Lamb of God. Our eyes will be focused on Jesus Christ in all of His majesty, power, and splendor! He will be worshipped and exalted. “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. one glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase, so, bravely run the race till we see Christ!”

• Believers preceding us in death will be there, and we will recognize them. Jesus was known to His followers after His resurrection. While I cannot give all the details of how this will look in Heaven, I do believe we will know our loved ones and friends who were saved by the work of the cross. I first want to see Jesus, and then I want to see Bryan, my mother, and others I have loved while upon the earth. It will be a glorious reunion.

• For the believer, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. “So, we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
  
  
• There will be a new heaven and new earth when we rule and reign with Christ. That’s a blog for a different day! “But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” – 2 Peter 3:13 NLT
  
  
• I do not know everything there is to know about Heaven and eternity. I only know it will be glorious because God prepared it.

“I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!”

My husband calls me Dear or Barbara. My children call me Mom. Most of my grandchildren call me Grammy, but some call me Granny. My siblings call me Barbara, though a couple of them call me Barbara Lynn. My nieces and nephews call me Barbara, and a few call me Aunt Barbara. Church folks call me Barbara, Sister Barbara, Pastor Barbara, or Minister Barbara.

I could go on and on with the various names to which I answer. What I am called is totally based on the relationship I have with the person.

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So, they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  – Matthew 16:13-16 NKJV.

When Jesus asked the disciples a question about His identity, His disciples began to repeat what others had said about the identity of Jesus. When He specifically asked His disciples about His identity, I wonder if they were pondering how to answer the question. Finally, Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

That was a bold proclamation by Peter. At the time this conversation took place, it could be dangerous to call Jesus the Christ, especially in the context of the Roman Empire. Declaring “Jesus is Lord” was considered treasonous because it was a direct challenge to the authority of Caesar, who was also proclaimed as “Lord”. This confession could be a death sentence, and the willingness to say it signaled a profound level of commitment to faith in Jesus Christ.

In present times in many countries, it can be a death sentence to profess who Jesus is. I support the ministry Voice of the Martyrs, and the stories are quite sobering. So many lose their lives or suffer torture because they dare to say who Jesus is. While not to death sentence level in the USA, increased pressure is being felt to stand up for the real Jesus and the true Word of God.

The question asked by Jesus is quite profound. It is a question that begs all Christians to answer. People believe all kinds of things about Jesus and God. He was a great teacher. He was a prophet. He lived an exemplary life. He was caring. All of those are true, but none answer the question.

Jesus faces us with this same question even today. “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus is not so much interested in how people of the world answer this. He is interested in how His followers answer. The disciples stood there seeing Jesus in the flesh. Who is this hard-working Man, dusty from travelling, tired from hours of teaching and healing, who speaks the words of God? This Man, beaten and humiliated, who would die hanging naked on a cross? This Man, buried in a borrowed tomb? This Man, risen from the dead, never to die again—full of joy and promising everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Him? Who is He?

How do I answer the question that Jesus asked? You are my Lord and Savior. You are the One who forgives all of my sins. I was lost and on the way to hell, unable to save myself, and You paid the price for my sin. You are the One I can trust in times of trouble. You are the Son of God. You are Lord, the One who rules the universe at God the Father’s right hand. You are the One who is my hope and my joy even in the darkness. You are the One who will never leave me and never forsake me. You are my healer! You are my Lord. You are Jesus, my soon coming King. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!

That’s my answer, and I am sticking to it!!

Who do you say that He is? This is the most critical question you will ever answer because your eternal destiny hinges on it.

“Jesus, give us the courage today to say that you are the Lord and Savior and to show in our lives that we believe it.”  Amen.

What a weekend we just had! Our son, his wife, and three of their daughters were here all weekend. It was a houseful, and it was never-ending activity. It reminded me that there truly is a reason that God gives babies to us when we are young. No lie!

As our family headed back to Louisiana, Gaylon and I scurried for several hours doing laundry, cleaning, and getting our house back to normal. When we were done, we plopped in exhaustion. But not once did we regret serving our family. Gaylon said to me, “I am so glad they came to visit.”

Let me give you a few truths:

1. It was worth every minute to serve our family, and to build memories with those grandchildren. I took one granddaughter out on a solo date for lunch and a little shopping. She was so happy. To hear the joy in her voice and to have her talk incessantly with me was worth every minute. She said, “I had the best time with you.”
2. Gaylon was able to attend a football game with his sons and grandsons. Their ages ranged from nine to seventy-seven. They all celebrated the big win together with big smiles. That time together will always be remembered.
3. Other than Jesus, the most important relationships we can have are those with family. As much as you can, hang out with those you love. Leave a legacy of wonderful memories with them. (I realize there are times and circumstances that inhibit familial relationships, but, when possible, go overboard to be with family.)
4. As I fell into my chair, I smiled internally, remembering Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Jesus was the epitome of servanthood. He was the Son of God, yet He said that He did not come to be served but to serve. The statement can be found Matthew 20:28. Jesus made this statement to his disciples, who were arguing about who would be the greatest among them. He explained that the way of God’s kingdom is opposite to the way of worldly power; instead of lording over others, one must be a servant to be great. 

Mother Teresa, one of the greatest servants of all time, once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.” God is not asking us to change the world, but to help change someone’s world. We can do this by serving the person that He has put in front of us this moment…and then the next…and then the next.

Find someone to bless this week. Take a meal to someone. Invite a senior citizen to coffee or lunch. Write a note, not a text, an actual note to encourage someone. Offer to babysit for a single parent to allow them an evening out. Volunteer at a school. Find a way to bless your local church. Offer a listening ear.

We may never know the impact of our service to God in this life, but we can trust His Word when He says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Living a life of service is not always easy, but it is deeply rewarding. By serving others, we can make a difference in their lives and bring hope and light to a world that often feels dark and hopeless.

Are you willing to be a servant? We are never more Christ-like than when we serve.

Last night, two of our grandsons spent the night with us. Of course, they awakened ready to play video games and have breakfast from Grammy’s kitchen, where she fixes what their hearts desire. After breakfast, they truly come to life. Chatter, laughter, and silly fun.

Luke and Judah were standing in front of our Alexa echo. They love to ask her so many questions, some silly, some informational. Alexa would often say, “Hello, Luke.” She says that to Luke, Judah, and me.

When Luke visited one day, he somehow got Alexa to remember who he was and his voice. Judah’s voice sounds similar, so when he talks to Alexa, she will call him Luke. That does not set well with the five-year-old.

With a sad face, Judah came to me and said, “Hey, Grammy. Alexa just called me Luke. I don’t want to be Judah anymore. I want to change my name to Luke.” I explained that I could not change his name. He said, “Can my mom change my name?”

Judah had a flare-up of a disease called “comparison-itis.” I wish I could be Luke. I want what Luke has. Things would be better if I were like Luke.

Comparison is a killer! Comparison-itis can be a chronic, debilitating disease. It goes into remission when we are happy, when we are stroked by others, or when all is going well. All too often, the moment something does not go the way we want it to go, it flares up.

Can I tell you a little secret? I spent way too much of my life living with comparison-itis. Every time I let myself get infected with this spirit-killing disease, it would take the joy right out of my life. If only I could teach the Bible like her. If only I was as slim as she is. If only I had a house as nice as hers. If only I was as highly educated as she is. If I could just be the kind of mother she is.

Yes, I have struggled with every one of the things I listed above, and quite a few others. It would often cause me to head to comparison prison and often in solitary confinement. After all, what did I really have to offer?

I remember going to God and telling Him why I could not continue ministry from a platform. Surely, He had missed it when He called me, or maybe I even missed what I heard. As I wiped my tears and quieted myself before Him, it was as if He spoke audibly. “You are fearfully and wonderfully made. YOU – Barbara – YOU.” God did not try to convince me. He did not argue with me. He just stated His truth and His opinion.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about being happy with who God made us to be. One of the most freeing verses that I have found is, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” – Galatians 6:4 NLT. That verse just shouts, “FREEDOM.” This tells me that all God wants and asks is that I give my personal best to whatever He has called me to do. I can be secure and satisfied knowing that God is pleased with me, and I do not need to compare myself with anyone else. That is THE truth.

Years ago, comparison would kill so much joy in my life. I did not want to be around people because I was not thin enough. I did not want to speak at a large event with multiple speakers, because they were better at their gift than I was. I did not want to have people over because their house was much nicer than mine.

I went through too many periods where I hung out at the burning bush like Moses, so I could explain to God why I could not walk out my calling. “I am introverted. I am insecure. They will not even understand what I am saying in Maine or California with this deep southern accent. I am afraid to get up in front of people.”

David said it this way, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:13-14. It is time to stop allowing comparison-itis to rob you. You are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. Today is the day to know that full well.

Do flare-ups of comparison-itis try to find their way into my life? Yes. What is the best thing to do about it? Be me! If you feel yourself coming down with this disease, what is the best thing you can do about it? Be you! You are God’s masterpiece. Know that full well!

Eight‑year‑old Frank had looked forward for weeks to this particular Saturday because his father had promised to take him fishing if the weather was suitable. There had not been any rain for weeks and as Saturday approached, Frank was confident about the fishing trip. But, wouldn’t you know it, when Saturday morning dawned, it was raining heavily, and it appeared that it would continue all day.

 Frank wandered around the house, peering out the windows and grumbling more than a little. “Seems like the Lord would know that it would have been better to have the rain yesterday than today,” he complained to his father who was sitting by the fireplace enjoying a good book. His father tried to explain to Frank how badly the rain was needed, how it would make the flowers grow and bring much needed moisture to the farmers’ crops. But Frank was adamant. “It just isn’t right,” he said over and over.

Then, at about three o’clock, the rain stopped. Still time for some fishing, and quickly the gear was loaded, and they were off to the lake. Whether it was the rain or some other reason, the fish were biting hungrily and father and son returned with a full string of fine, big fish.

At supper, when some of the fish were ready, Frank’s mom asked him to say grace. Frank did‑‑and concluded his prayer by saying, “And, Lord, if I sounded grumpy earlier today it was because I couldn’t see far enough ahead.” 

No doubt much of our complaining is because we cannot see far enough ahead.

Today, I would like to talk about the One who knows the rest of your story.

My husband Gaylon was a pastor for thirty-three years and a chaplain for eighteen years. There was a period of time when Gaylon found himself with no pastorate, no open doors, and three children to feed. I thought, “Surely, this will end in a few days, and we will know exactly where we are going, and this test will be over.”

It did NOT end in a few days.

I remember one day as I was lying across my bed, I became engulfed in fear, anxiety, and even anger. “God, how could You allow this to continue? We serve You. How are we supposed to feed our children or pay the electric bill? You have forgotten us.”

Yep, that was my conversation with God. It was not my proudest moment in prayer. More complaining than prayer. My faith had totally been eaten up by fear and anger.

As I sobbed in my pillow, thinking of my children, I sensed God say, “They are my children, too.” I am so grateful for a God who can handle all my fears and anxieties when the ocean of life sends another wave to knock me down.

Thank God for the rest of the story!

While resting on my tear-stained pillow, the phone rang. On the other end of the line was a nationally known speaker who did not know me. She said that she was part of an advisory board of a church in Michigan. The church was without a pastor, and Gaylon’s name was given to her as a possibility of becoming their pastor.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement!

A couple of weeks later, Gaylon and I were on an airplane headed to Michigan. Without going into all the details, let me share the condensed version. It was a wonderful opportunity, and the church wanted Gaylon to become their pastor. After much prayer, we felt that was not where we were to go. Right after that the next step in our pastoral journey opened.

This is the power and the reach of the God we serve! A well-known minister, who does not even know us, calls and asks us to consider a church in Michigan. While ministering there, the church received an offering for us that paid our bills that were due. It was not our next place for pastoral work, but it was the place where God supplied our needs, and we were able to minister effectively to the church who was going through discouraging circumstances. God was doing something for us and something for that church.

Just a short amount of time passed until God opened our next door for ministry.

While I was faithless and angry, God was at work. Like Frank in the story above, I could not see far enough ahead. BUT GOD saw it all and was working all things together for my family and the family of God.

Beloved, we are always in the middle of our story. We yearn to know what is going to happen at the end of our stories. The waiting is not fun, and the middle of the story is often full of challenges, twists, and setbacks. Trusting God means trusting that while we cannot see the end from the beginning, He does.

What are you facing today that causes tears to fall and concern about the future? Please remember this: if we live on the earth, we are always in the middle of our story. As we allow the Lord to author the story with us, the rest of the story will be beautiful, not without challenge, but beautiful. Trust the heart and character of God who knows the rest of the story.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT; “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7.

Life is full of difficulties. Children walk down paths that we know are unhealthy for their well-being. Cars break down. Washing machines die. Schedules get unexpectedly disrupted. Loved ones pass away, often leaving us with heavy grief. Unexpected financial hits come our way. Betrayal barges into our lives. Sickness continues in a body that is already frail.

Life gets hard, even for those who are madly in love with Jesus. If I were to ask you to make a list of everything in the last week that has produced anxiety in your life, my feeling is that, in some cases, the list could be lengthy.

Recently, I was praying for and thinking about an individual who is being tormented by fear and anxiety. I decided to read articles or devotions on the topic, articles written from a Christian perspective. By the time I finished reading a few of them, I felt like a terrible Christian because I had dared, at times, to be fearful or anxious.

Here is the message I received from most of these well-meaning articles. “What? You are a child of God, and you allow fear and anxiety to come into you? You stop that right now!”  The most often used verse was from Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Most writers explain this verse by saying that the original language of the Bible is the imperative tense. In other words, it is a command for a believer not to be anxious and worried. Many went on to say that we are engaging in sin when we are anxious or fearful. We do not have faith if we are anxious or fearful. God is disappointed in us when we are anxious or fearful. At times, there was rebuke for those feeling anxiety.

I have a serious question. How does that thought process help a person who is already overwhelmed with the circumstances of life? How does that help the person who is fighting anxiety and fear?

Let me give another perspective to consider. Yes, that passage is written in the imperative tense, meaning God is saying, “Do not be filled with anxiety and fear. Do not do it!” That is true.

However, let’s put the whole sentence in that verse together. God gives what to do as an antidote for anxiety.

Here is what God is instructing His people to do. When life becomes overwhelming and anxiety tries to be your best friend, remember to Whom you belong. When that happens, run as fast as you can to the presence of the Lord saying, “I refuse to let anxiety rule me today. God, I bring this to You. I need Your help, Your divine supply, Your guidance, and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When we learn to run to God every time anxiety tries to control us, He tells us what that will produce in the believer. Verses six and seven of Philippians four say, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

I love that passage! God invites us to bring every situation to Him. E-V-E-R-Y situation! Bring every situation to Him with thanksgiving. “Father, I come to You with the situation of my car that has broken down. God, I do not have the money to fix it, but I am not going to sit around worrying about something I cannot fix. I am running to You, asking You to touch my spirit and cause my faith to soar. I know You have an answer. I need rest and peace. I want to look to You and not just to myself. It is with a heart of thanksgiving that I bring this request to You. I give thanks for the many times You helped the situations of my life. I give thanks for my salvation. I give thanks for the goodness of God. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.”

God’s promise is that He will bring peace that transcends the situation. He will guard our hearts and our minds. What a blessing!

What are you anxious about today? As believers, we are certainly not exempt from the cares of life and the anxiety they can produce. As believers, we are called to handle anxiety and fear with a different perspective. God gives us an invitation to shift our focus from the problems surrounding us to the One who holds the entire world in His hands.

Take a piece of paper or make a note on your phone listing the things that are making you anxious. Bring each of them to God. Give Him thanks. Then, next to each of those things write, “God is at work. I can trust Him.”  Then, as anxiety begins to prey on you throughout the day or evening, pull out that note, and bring to God your concerns.

Does that seem too simple to possibly help? That is exactly what the enemy of your peace would want you to think. I challenge you to take EVERY situation to the throne of God. Some days that might mean doing this several times per day. For a month, practice handling life’s anxieties as God instructed. At the end of a month, watch the peace of God begin to replace the anxiety of situations!

As believers, we are not exempt from worry, but we are called to approach our fears with a different perspective. That is, we are invited to shift our focus from the problems surrounding us to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Be anxious for nothing. Take it to God.

(I believe it would be a travesty for me not to add this thought. There are some who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks as a health condition. Please know that it is not wrong to seek medical or mental health treatment, or a counselor. What I have written is not meant to minimize a condition that might require help from God and health professionals.)