This morning, I’m finding it hard to resist reminiscing over this past year.  Exactly one year ago today, my husband and I stood in waist deep water in our home.  Hurricane Harvey had poured through our doors overnight taking everything in his path with him.  We navigated through the floating furniture and assessed the damage. 

 There was a lot.

I’m sure you are no stranger to unexpected situations in life.  As a matter of fact, we are guaranteed them.  Jesus tells us in John 16:33,  “…in this world you will have trouble.”  No way around it.  What matters is our response when a crisis occurs.

Throughout the days and months post Harvey, situations and encounters never expected popped up constantly.  With each one, an immediate choice was often required, and boy was it difficult at times making the right choice.

How do you find yourself responding when life blind sides you?  Do you find it hard to resist acting out in anger, frustration, negativity, impatience, weariness, and/or jealousy?

I wish I could tell you how successful I was resisting acting out from these emotions.

I wasn’t.

At least not consistently.

Yet in the times I did remember and rely on God and His Word to carry me through the moment, I saw His faithfulness and love so clearly displayed.

And looking back now, His hand in every step we endured is apparent in more ways than we realized.

Do you know His faithfulness? 

Jesus is real.  His sacrifice for you and me is real.  He alone provides strength and courage for the hard times we endure.

Maybe you (like me) have difficulty resisting acting out negatively from emotion.

He will help us resist.

He set the example for us to follow and provides the words of encouragement we need in every situation.

Check these out…

Negativity

“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”  Colossians 3:3

Gossip

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29

Fear

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

Anger

“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”. Ephesians 4:26

Impatience

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29

Weariness

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”  Psalm 18:3

Jealousy

“And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another.  This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Ecclesiastes 4:4

Unbelief

“‘Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’”  Mark 9: 24

Whatever you face, God has the answer.

I write this sitting in our restored home – different with imperfections.

Both the house and me.

Thankful.

Blessed.

 

Working on resisting the desire to relive those emotions of last year over and over again today.

What about you? What are you resisting today?

 

 

For further study:

• Read Zechariah 3:1 – 7
  • The word accuse in verse 1 is translated resist in the KJV.  It is the Hebrew word watan meaning accuse, attack, and be an adversary.   (What does 1 Peter 5:9 tell us?)

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• Write out everything the Lord says in Zech. 3: 1-7.
  • How can His words assist you in resisting?
• Read Luke 21: 10 – 24
  • What does Jesus tell us specifically in verse 15?
  • The Greek word for resist is anthistemi and means oppose or withstand.  I love the compound word withstand
  • With = accompanied by, possessing something
  • Stand = an attitude toward a particular issue; a position taken
  • If we could only remember in times we need to resist that Jesus accompanies us through His Spirit helping us stand in an attitude of agreement with Him.
• Write out everything Jesus tells us in Luke 21:10-24.
  • How can His words assist you in resisting?
• Read 2 Timothy 3:8
  • What did Jannes and Jambres oppose (resist)?
  • See Exodus 7:11  – Jannes and Jambres are believed to be among this group.
• Spend time in prayer asking the Lord to reveal what truth you are opposing.  Find scriptures to saturate you in that truth.