Reluctant Retiree

A little more than a week and a half ago the small city of Perry, Florida was devastated by Hurricane Idalia. Many people suffered significant property damage and electricity is just now being restored to many homes and businesses. Talking to several of these victims I learned that the storm added to the suffering of every life. Some had recently lost loved ones, were previously injured, lost jobs, fell into broken relationships, or suffered substantial financial loss. Storms move in regardless of your current situation and multiply your troubles. Thankfully, many relief organizations, government agencies and volunteers have come to assist those who need help.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Love and faith move us into action to help others when we see their distress or even just hear about it. If we just read or hear the news without doing what we can to help, our faith is lifeless and love is missing from our hearts. Everyone can do something of value. We can sacrifice our time and effort to go help, donate to organizations who provide real assistance, pray for the victims, or serve in local organizations that provide help. Let God touch your heart and move you to action when you hear of real needs.

When a seed is planted into the ground, it is small and unimpressive. But the smallest seed produces a plant or tree that is beautiful and fruitful. The outer shell must die for the beauty and fruit to be produced.

II Corinthians 4:16 says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” We understand that the human body decays over time. But praise God that He constantly renews our hearts, minds, and spirit. In so doing He produces in us something of beauty and fruitful. Let’s not be so concerned with the outer shell of our bodies, but rather focus on becoming the beautiful and fruitful person God wants us to be.

Have you ever faced a problem that you thought was significant and took all your attention, only to find out later that the problem was no big deal. I sure have. I can make the biggest deal out of the smallest issue.

II Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. “

The Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians and Jerusalem was destroyed. Some 70 years later Nehemiah is serving the king when he hears that Jerusalem is still in ruins. He is led by God to rebuild the wall. The first thing that Nehemiah does is pray for God’s favor and for God to give him favor with the king. God answers both prayers affirmatively and Nehemiah is able to rebuild the wall.

Nehemiah 2:4-5 says, “So I prayed to the God of heaven.  And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” Things will go wrong in our lives and we will do things that are wrong from time to time. When something goes wrong we must ask for God’s help to rebuild and make things right. He is the Master of rebuilding relationships, families, careers, and lives.

We hate it when people spread lies about us, and rightfully so. But what about the lies we hear from inside our own heads and hearts. The lies about our lack of value, just because we didn’t do something right. The internal falsehoods about our bleak future because we failed at something. We all hear these internal accusations and they discourage us.

II Corinthians 10:5 says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Evil will try to discourage, accuse, frustrate, and get you off track with wrong thoughts. Don’t believe them, but rather destroy them with the truth of who you are according to God’s Word.