Acceptance - the Key to Peace

Floyd's condition remains stable and is doctor is pleased with how he's doing.  I’m so grateful for all those who continue to pray for him, love him and support him even from afar.

I was thinking back this week to a time many years ago when we lived in Amsterdam.  I was in a lot of pain.  The doctors were struggling to find the cause.  It was so intense that it was disabling - I couldn't do much of anything.  In the midst of this as I prayed for relief and healing, I felt the Lord said to me to "embrace" my weakness, to accept it.  That was not what I wanted to hear!  But I felt the Lord tell me that if I embraced it and worked with Him, there were valuable lessons to be learned.  And it was true.  As I changed my attitude, my perspective - it became a special season of walking with the Lord.

During the years of this unexpected journey we're on, I've tried my best to apply the same principle.  Recently I was listening to some messages by Elizabeth Elliott.  She said in the trials she has gone through (including her husband Jim being martyred by a tribe in Ecuador), she has learned that "acceptance is the key to peace in the matter of suffering."  Hearing her say that was a fresh confirmation of what God had said/and continues to say to me.

To be clear, acceptance isn't a fatalistic thing!  While I accept the season I'm in and work with God's purposes in it - I still do everything I can to get better in my physical trial.  I take medicine.  I eat well.  I use natural medicines that help me.  I exercise.  I try to get good sleep.  I pray for healing!!!  But underneath everything I try to keep my heart in an attitude of acceptance and embracing all that God has for me in this season.  That "attitude" helps release grace on the hard days.  I'm trying my best to work with God and not "fight" the season I'm in.  I hope I'm explaining it clearly enough so that you understand what I'm saying.

I guess I'm trying to say that my heart attitude is more important than my physical situation.

Acceptance involves trust.  It means I shouldn't whine or complain.  It means I don't compare my present time with past times - or project into what I want for a future time.  Acceptance takes the "sting" out of a hard time.  Acceptance allows me to find God's grace for my every need.  It even allows me to find joy in the times of suffering.  Acceptance allows me to see God's goodness when I'm having a hard day.  Acceptance allows hope to stay alive in my heart.  We live in a day and age when everyone wants a quick fix.  Acceptance allows me to persevere when things don't change quickly.  Acceptance allows me to develop Godly character as I persevere with God's help.  A heart of acceptance in what I'm going through changes everything!!

I still hope and pray for change.....but until that happens, I choose to accept all of God's plans and purposes for the unexpected journey I'm on.  There are lessons to be learned in weakness that I can't learn in times of strength.  God has been so faithful to me on this journey!  He has helped me learn some of those lessons.

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."  Romans 5:3-5

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."  Philippians 4:12

"In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

Floyd said in his book Holiness and the Spirit of the Age - "Humility releases us from hiding and pretending to be something we are not.  It allows us to be known for who we really are.  A superficial world encourages us to cover our needs, our weaknesses.  Humility and godliness sets us free from this kind of thinking."  May God help me to accept my need, my weakness on this journey.  May He help me learn every lesson He has for me.

Someone sent me a photo by Steven Furtick of a saying - "Never stop, never stop, never stop...Never stop telling yourself the story of God's faithfulness."  How true and how important!  As we continually remind ourselves of God's faithfulness, it keeps things in perspective.  It releases hope, and grace, and strength.  Being able to get through whatever we're facing isn't dependent on us - it's dependent on God's awesome faithfulness.

God's faithfulness, His 100% sure and abundant faithfulness, gets us through the day......even the next hour.  His faithfulness is with us on a good day, and even more so on a hard day.  His faithfulness is there on a sunny day - but also on a cloudy one - or windy, stormy one - or freezing cold one.  His faithfulness is with us summer and winter and everything in between.  His faithfulness is with us during the day, and during the lonely night hours.  His faithfulness is with us when we are feeling good, and especially when we are struggling, hurting, in pain.  His faithfulness is a solid, sure, rock, and refuge!!  His faithfulness never, ever, ever fails us!  It is the most solid and secure thing in the universe!  God is faithful - always, always, always!

In the midst of hard times, one of the biggest temptations we face is the lying voice of the enemy.  He tries to whisper that God isn't concerned about what we're facing......he especially tries to use this lie if our situation isn't changing, or is perhaps getting worse.  He'll try his best to make us believe that God isn't hearing or answering our prayers.  We must not believe that lie!  God is always at work - most often in ways we can't see or understand.  He never abandons us.  He always cares.  He is continually right by our side.  I can't see the air I breathe - but it is sustaining me continually.  Even if I can't see what God is doing, I have the assurance that He is working on my behalf because His Word tells me that.

When I proclaim God's faithfulness, it releases fresh strength and hope in my heart!  As I type these words of God's faithfulness, there is something that rises in my heart and says, "Yes!''  My faith and my hope is strengthened by proclaiming this truth.  Giving testimony to God's faithfulness brings joy to my day!  I'm smiling as I think of how faithful He's been to me, to Floyd, to our family, to each one of you!

If you're going through a hard time and you're not actively aware of God's faithfulness - may I encourage you to sit quietly in His presence for a few minutes and ask God to reveal His faithfulness to you.  Silence that sneaky voice of the enemy, and ask the Holy Spirit for fresh revelation of God's faithfulness.  It will change your day!

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations."  Deuteronomy 7:9

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:23

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22,23

"You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."  Psalm 86:15

The verses about God's faithfulness seem endless.  God proclaims His faithfulness to us over and over and over in the Word.  His faithfulness is sure and firm.

I could never have survived these last 5 years without God's faithfulness.  The fact that I am still standing, still able to write these updates is a testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.  I am so grateful!