Let It Be

 "Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!" Job 6:8

I can relate to Job.  When a trial comes my way, the first thing I ask God for is to remove the trial. Trials hurt.

I'm sure when most of you read the title of my Blog this morning, your thoughts turned to a song recorded by the Beatles years and years ago, but it's actually a song that I recently heard on Christian Radio. I heard it as I was driving home from the airport and the words reminded me that Jesus went through everything that I would ever have to go through...and more.  Jesus was tempted just like I will be tempted, and He never sinned.  Jesus never resisted the Will of His heavenly Father, no matter the trial.

He even went to the Cross for me.

When I'm in the midst of a trial, when I'm going through a hard time, do I resist the Will of my heavenly Father, or do I tell him, 'Let it be.'  Let me go through this trial so that I can be more like You.  Do I resist the Potter's hands in my life, or do I let Him mold me into His image no matter how painful the trial may be. Can I be like Job, who praised God for allowing him to go through something that would make him more like his heavenly Father?

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

Albert Barnes interprets this verse into two main principles:

God's Omniscience and His Refining Fire.  Job had total confidence that God saw him even in the dark. Even when others didn't understand what he was going through, he knew that God understood what he was going through.  Barnes also compares suffering to a crucible where fire burns away impurities. Just as intense heat purifies gold to make it more brilliant, Spiritual testing serves to purify the believer's character.

But we don't always remember that during our trial, do we? We just want it to be over.

Job had such a complete trust in His God, that even when everything and everyone had been removed from his life, to include his health, Job could still say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him:" Job 13:15

Lord, let me have the same faith and trust in my trial as Job did in his...

    to know that you have a purpose and a plan for me...

        and to know that you are molding me into your image...

            But that's just me!

"Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:" Job 11:16

Father, Let it Be

Sidewalk Prophets 2025

"I am a well, barren and dry,

Nothing left but emptiness on the inside,

I am a rope, burnt at both ends

Getting shorter every day and wearing thin,

If there's a purpose for the struggle that I'm in,

Father, let it be, help me to believe,

Jesus tell me stories of the times you felt like me,

Spirit, let me see the forest through the trees,

Help me understand these are the plans you have for me,

If it's your Will, God, let it be.

Here is my soul, desperate for you,

Praying the promises you made were for me too,

Here is my heart, torn but alive,

Beating, searching for someone to hear my cries.

Oh, I can feel you moving, I hear you calling me,

'fall deeper into my arms,' that's where I long to be,

You made the stars, You call me by name,

When I'm weary, You still hear me, so I'll pray,

Father, let it be, Help me to believe,

Jesus tell me stories of times you felt like me,

Spirit, let me see, the forest through the trees,

Help me understand these are the plans you have for me,

Give me patience and the strength to let You lead,

If it's your Will, God, let it be."

Do You Love Me?

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?  He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.  He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  John 21:15

Most of us have heard the famous Sonnet written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that was made popular by William Shakespeare, "How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways," but it was a question asked by Jesus to Simon Peter more than two thousand years ago.

It's a question Jesus is asking His Believer's today.

My Pastor, Josh Fryman, reminded us of this question the other night and I have to say, the Lord pierced my heart. How devastating that would be if Jesus had to ask me if I really loved Him!  

For Simon Peter, it was a question that needed to be asked because his actions and speech did not reflect his love for his Lord.  Remember, Peter had just denied Jesus three times.

It's easy to say that I love the Lord, but what types of things, other people or activities did I put ahead of my Saviour this week?  

Did my life show how much I love my Lord this week, or did my life show how much I love myself?

Does Jesus wonder if I love Him as much as I say that I do?  Would He have to ask me, "Tracy, do you love Me?" like He asked Simon Peter?

It's easy to tell someone that you love them by your words...

    but love is proven by what you do for them...

        But that's just me!

Peace

 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:7-8

People are searching for peace in the world.

They are searching in the wrong places.

Book stores and library shelves are lined with self-help books, prayers, chants, meditations, crystals, candles, incense, philosophies, opinions, traditions and even superstitions. YouTube has endless videos of celebrities, Guru's, and philosophers who will walk and talk you through any crisis. 

They seem to have all of the answers but leave the Searcher anxious and hopeless.

But God.

How can a person find peace?

It comes from surrendering control over to God.

This peace is securely held in place by faith in Jesus Christ.  According to Albert Barnes, "Instead of fretting over worldly or corrupting concerns, Believers are meant to purposefully meditate on anything that is true, pure, lovey and of a good report.  Whatever is inherently excellent or worthy of praise should be the focus of the Christian's careful consideration and practice."

Today, when I read what to think on, I compared it to what I should not think on.

For example:

Instead of focusing on lies, I will focus on truth.

Instead of focusing on opinions and deceit, I will focus on honesty.

Instead of focusing on the contaminated, or diluted impure ideologies, I will focus on what is pure.

Instead of focusing on what is ugly, repulsive, awful and terrible, I will focus on what is lovely.

Instead of focusing on gossip and fake News, I will focus on what is uplifting, honorable and gracious: good reports.

Instead of focusing on the negative, I will focus on every excellent thing that is praiseworthy.

Focusing on what is good produces contentment...

        Peace in thought, mind, heart and spirit...

            But that's just me!

"No human philosophy can impart peace to the soul like simple, absolute confidence in God."

Albert Barnes