Long Enough

By Bethany Lashbrook

This Week's Verse: James 5:7, "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains." (NIV)

Devotion: This week I was with a group of my dearly loved friends and we were all just “spent”. Have you ever used that word to describe your situation? We were exhausted, tired, frustrated and maybe even a little bit angry. Why had we gotten together for years to pray for situations that were still the same and maybe even worse than when we had started praying? Why hadn’t the Lord heard our cries and listened and answered these specific dilemmas we had prayed about? And then, amidst our tears, right in the middle of our desperate situation, one of my friends read Psalm 13 from The Message.

Long enough, God— you've ignored me long enough.
I've looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I've carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.

Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.

I've thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I'm celebrating your rescue.
I'm singing at the top of my lungs,
I'm so full of answered prayers.

Then, with tears in each of our eyes we thanked the Lord for the answered prayers. No, they aren’t answered today, but they will be answered. For today, we can all rejoice that we let God know how it had been ‘long enough’ for each of us. Yet, we are rejoicing with him because he rescued us from the pain. He held us as we cried.

Lord, thank you for letting us be upset, aggravated, mad, and even frustrated. It is so wonderful that we can be honest with you and let you know how we have had it with our problems. Thank you, in advance, for the answered prayers. Thank you for helping us give our problems to you when we are so desperate to solve them ourselves. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application: Be honest today in your prayers to the Lord. He knows our thoughts anyway, but to say them out loud is a relief!

Power Verses:

Job 36:15, “But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.” (NLT)

Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (NIV)

1 Kings 8:28, “Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself isn't large enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I've built. Even so, I'm bold to ask: Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God." (MSG)

Gotta Have the Light

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”(NLT)

Devotion:
Several weeks ago I’d noticed it wasn’t as hard to wake up when my alarm clock went off. It was no longer pitch black outside at 5:45! As the days passed, my wake up time grew even brighter and I found it increasingly easier to be up and at ‘em.

And then--due to daylight savings time--it ended abruptly. So now we’re back to pitch black awakenings, replete with groggy notions of calling in sick or half-asleep fantasies of being my own boss from home. I guess you could say I’m one of those people who needs the light function properly.

It’s been documented that the Vitamin D we get from the sun helps boost levels of melatonin and serotonin, hormones that help regulate sleep and contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness. Literally then, wallowing around a little in the light and letting it wash over us is good for us mentally, physically, and I’d even argue spiritually.

From a scriptural standpoint, to be in the light is living a righteous life in relationship with the Lord. Spending time in the Son is a spiritual boost of vitamin D and our spirit is lifted as it interacts with His. Oh yeah, life is good in the light.

And then, Bam! Who turned off the light switch? We’re blindsided as the enemy somehow gains a stronghold and we find ourselves in darkness.

When we’ve been warmed by the Light and then are suddenly thrown into cold darkness, it can send us reeling. We might despair. Be depressed. Shrivel and wilt like a plant that has given up searching for the brightness of day.

But, Praise God, darkness is always followed by light. For God's people, there’s not a single dark spell recorded in scripture that’s not followed by light. In fact, for the faithful, the end of the story includes basking in the brightest, purest Light for all eternity.

Whatever dark corner you’re in right now, rest assured—your Light is making His way toward you. Pray with the same hope of the Psalmist as he says, “but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you” (Psalm 139:12, NLT).

Father, even as many of us are experiencing darkness in these uncertain times, pour out Your peace as we trust that You even use darkness for good. Dark is light to You. Sustain us until we once again humbly rejoice in Your light, giving You the Glory.

Application:
If you’re stumbling around in the dark, consider the little points of light that may be piercing through the black. What can you be grateful for even in times of trial? Spend some quiet time Son-bathing.

Power Verses:
Genesis 1:3-5, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness ‘night.’ And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.” (NLT)
Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” (NLT)
Psalm 97:11,”Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.” (NIV)