“God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.”
– Habakkuk 3:19

The message of the Bible is never “You got this” or “Dig deep and you’ll overcome”. The message is consistently that “I, the Lord your God, have this.” Yet we struggle to embrace this with our lives. How often do we try to keep going on our own during a relentless run of bad news? Why must we reach the breaking point of our own strength and resources before we really ask God for help? Is it pride? Stubbornness? Rebellion? Stupidity?

In these present difficult times and the hard days that lay ahead, the people of God must learn to find their strength in the Lord. Not in ourselves, not in our resources, not in our finances, not in our social standing, and not in our political influence. We must find our strength in God.

When we do, we’ll discover that He gives us everything we need to navigate the hazards of the perilous, narrow, rocky path that lies before us. He gives us the strength we need to run like the deer without becoming weary.

We must go to the Lord every day and ask Him for the strength to carry on. We must seek from Him our daily bread. His mercies are new every day, and we must seek them out daily. The road isn’t likely to get easier for followers of Christ in years to come, so make these final words from Habakkuk’s prayer yours today and every day!

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Timothy 3:12

Be warned and be prepared! All who genuinely want to live a godly life in Christ – a life in which we not only worship on Sunday, but seek to live increasingly like Jesus every single day – will be persecuted. There is a price for becoming like Jesus, just as He paid the ultimate price.

True followers of Christ will never fit neatly and comfortably into any of the structures of a fallen earth. Too conservative for the liberals, too liberal for the conservatives, too serious for the unserious, too hopeful for the cynics, too realistic for the idealists, too spiritual for the lost, too confident for the confused, too gracious for the legalists, too holy for the hedonists.

When we make a serious commitment to walk in the Spirit, to grow in our relationship with God, to pursue personal holiness every day, to increase in our understanding and living of the Bible, we will increasingly be in the world but not of the world. Jesus promised we’ll be hated for that, so get used to it.

While we shouldn’t seek persecution or revel in it, we should expect it and endure it in the strength of Jesus Christ. We must understand that Christ is with us in the persecution and that we grow closer to Him through it. To be persecuted for the faith – whether that looks like broken relationships, social or workplace penalties, public humiliation, civil or criminal action, or physical abuse – is to be blessed, for our reward is in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12)!

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil…” – 2 Timothy 2:23-24

First, we must admit Paul’s talking to us. Then we must admit that he’s talking about whatever it is we’re arguing with people about on social media. Then we must breathe and learn the lesson!

The Lord’s servant – hopefully that‘s all of you – must not be quarrelsome. Period. That means there are things we’d love to debate and argue about, but we won’t. There are things we know we could really change people‘s minds about because of our knowledge and persuasive skills. But it’s a waste of time that repels people from Jesus Christ and the gospel. So we need to keep quiet on those things. Never trade your gospel witness for being ”right” on Facebook!

Be kind, be patient, seek to teach with love and gentleness. Toward everyone. Even that jerk who believes that thing that’s obviously dumb (to you)! This doesn’t mean you should ever compromise the faith – that we must never do. That isn’t a foolish controversy or quarrel. We absolutely must contend for the gospel. And that’s why we must not quarrel about a whole host of lesser issues!

Let’s face it, there’s lots of stuff we can argue with people about where we might be right yet we harm God’s Kingdom just by arguing. Christ calls us to surrender our total freedom of speech so we can speak freely, authentically, and impactfully about what matters most – the good news of Jesus Christ and the ancient truths of the faith!

“So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.” – 2 Timothy 1:8

Are you ready to suffer for the gospel? Are you really??? If you aren’t, you’d better get ready! The temptation to be embarrassed or ashamed to be associated with Christ and Christianity is likely to increase dramatically. The social cost of being a faithful Christian is rising. It will increase as our culture collectively repudiates the antics, behaviors, claims, and failings of many self-appointed Christian leaders who have forgotten how to follow Christ. It will increase as the traditional faith delivered once for all time becomes further and further separated from the prevailing spirit of our times trumpeting radical autonomy and celebrating whatever is right in anyone’s eyes.

It will be increasingly tempting to muffle, hide, or explain away clinging to the cross of Christ with its incredibly out-of-fashion emphasis on the blood of Jesus shed as a penalty for sin – something our culture doesn’t even believe in. It will be tempting to hide our church affiliation as faithful Christians are targeted for scorn and legal action.

While the first suffering will be social – the contempt of unbelievers for the perceived foolishness of the gospel, the labeling as a hater of others, and the resentment toward all Christians because of hypocrites who too often speak for Christ – the cost of the gospel will only continue to rise. In our culture, if you don’t affirm everything anyone says, you’ll eventually be condemned as a bigot. Are you ready to be condemned? Are you ready to be deemed a threat to modern values? Are you ready to be treated as a threat with legal opposition and persecution for speaking or living your beliefs?

Of course not! None of us are ready in our own strength. However, if we believe and proclaim the gospel, then God’s power will fill and strengthen us to endure. God will be revealed through our weakness, not our strength! I pray that God would prepare every follower of Jesus to suffer for the gospel, leaning not on their own strength, but on His power. God willing, when we do learn to resolutely suffer for the gospel in God’s power, that power will be poured out in a revival unlike any we’ve ever seen before in history. Get ready!

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-7

For most people 2020 hasn’t turned out exactly as planned! For some, it’s been devastating while for others it’s merely been endlessly exhausting and anxious. It’s been an ongoing reminder of how fragile life, our way of life, and our plans truly are.

It’s also provided an opportunity to reflect on what really matters: our relationship with God, inviting people into God’s Kingdom, spending time with those we love, caring for those in need. As some parts of our lives were radically simplified and others made dramatically more complex, God has given us an opportunity to cultivate the two qualities highlighted here: godliness and contentment.

Neither depends on our life circumstances. They don’t depend on our health, wealth, safety, or comfort. They depend on our heart and our growing relationship with God.

Godliness is the pursuit of a character like God’s. It’s about personal holiness, righteousness, rejection of sin, mercy, kindness, generosity, and grace. While we’ll never be perfectly godly, the Holy Spirit Who lives inside every Christ follower empowers us to pursue ever-increasing godliness. As every habit and pattern of life has been tossed in the air this year, it’s an excellent time to reshape our life to pursue godliness through prayer, Bible reading, meditation, and loving service.

Contentment is an extraordinary quality that enables us to quietly ride the stormy seas of life! Contentment flows out of our identity as children of God united with Christ, the knowledge that God loves us no matter what our circumstances may be, and our growing love for and satisfaction in God Himself. We grow content in difficult circumstances as we pursue God and find Him in the whirlwind. When we grab ahold of Him and refuse to let go, no matter what, we’ll find contentment each day, regardless of what actually happens.

Godliness and contentment are extraordinary gifts offered to every Christ-follower. Use the terrible disruptions of this year as an opportunity to pursue these, so that you may rise above the turmoil in the peace of God!