Faith looks past intimidating circumstances to the God who is greater than our circumstances and in control of them.
Imagine a bully threatening a child. The bully snarls and growls and the child trembles before him. The bully’s huge in the child’s eyes until he sees his father walking up quietly behind the intimidator who is unaware of the man approaching. When the child looks past the bully to see his father towering over him, he doesn’t seem so frightening any more.
“What’s that you were saying?” the child asks. “What did you say you were going to do to me? Tell me again – only louder.”
When the child looks past the bully to see his father standing there, all fear evaporates. We must look past the circumstances that threaten to bully us to see our mighty Father standing behind them. David tells us what to do:
My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net (Psalm 25:15)
David kept his eyes on the Lord and not on the net.
Keep your eyes on the Lord today, no matter what you’re going through. Keep your eyes on the Lord, not your future or your loneliness or your finances or your problems with your teenager. Look past your sickness and pain to see the Lord who is infinitely greater. Keep your eyes ever toward the Savior, for he will pluck your feet out of whatever threatens to engulf you. Look past whatever you fear and fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.
photo by 4hero
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
That is great…he is the “author” of our faith.
It gives me hope to know that my faith and salvation wasn’t my idea. He chose to save me; he will be faithful to sustain me!
Thanks guys!
Hey js,
I like this: “my faith and salvation wasn’t my idea.” Excellent! And thanks for your encouragement.
When I was a child, I often thought I wouldn’t be afraid of anything – wrong! Thanks for the reminder to keep my eyes focused on Him. So very thankful and humbled to know His eye is always on me.
Hi Elaine,
Yeah, seems the longer we go on in our Christian lives, the more “bullies” there are. Glad he is indeed keeping his eye always on us – thanks!
thanks Mark and Stephen..this is a timely and apt word for me today.
Hi Sara,
I’m grateful the Lord would encourage you! Thanks.
Excellent post “Ticket Boy”
Thanks Thomas! –TB
thanks mark. that’s so helpful. i find it takes a balance and much wisdom to look past our circumstances to our Father, but also not to “drive past our headlights” and try to run ahead of God.
this was a very helpful reminder to hear that no matter what, God is greater than any fear or unknown and that I can rest there. thanks.
Hey Emily,
Glad the Lord would encourage you – great image: driving past our headlights – never heard that one before. Amen – God is greater!
Thanks Mark, God has been faithful to remind me of His faithfulness in caring for me through His Word and His Church. What comfort a peace we have in the reality of God sovereignity. What can mere man do to us, nothing that has not already been decreed by our loving Father. Praise Him!
Hey Chuck,
God is so good isn’t he? You are so right – the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is a bedrock of comfort for believers. Thanks.
Hey Mark,
Great post today! What a great encouragement to know that He is indeed greater than what we go through! I’m so thankful that He is faithful even when I am sometimes so faithless!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hey Ron,
You have the gift of encouragement. Yes, Jesus is infinitely immeasurably greater than anything we face!
As children bullies were usually physical beings. As we grow up they start taking different forms. Just yesterday I was discouraged by the awful taunts of my colleagues (which has been goin on for a while now). Your post has encouraged me at the right time(God’s sovereignty:)Like you said,I have to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith.
Hi Caroline,
If your colleagues are taunting you that must mean you are a shining light for Christ. He is pleased with you and the trust you are placing in him.
thank you, this is exactly what I needed to hear today.
Hi Nichole,
I’m grateful the Lord would encourage you. Thanks.