No Fear of Twists and Turns When God is With You

When you travel on the back of a motorcycle, you get a much clearer view of your surroundings. We’ve been over mountains, through tunnels, around bends and beyond borders. We’ve seen wild animals, up close, and we’ve had some near misses. Danny’s favorite trips involve hairpin curves, unknown roads and wide open scenery. My favorite trips involve moderate speed and tree lined valleys. 

I was talking with another couple who have traveled as well on their motorcycle. She rides her own. As we were sharing stories of our trips she began to talk about the worst road she’d ever encountered. She said that as they planned their trip, one of her other friends cautioned her. “Whatever you do don’t take that highway.” Imagine my friend’s horror when she did in fact find herself driving on that very road. Although they were in a group, she had to ride through it herself. High mountain vistas with no barricades on the turns, above the tree line, made for sheer horror. She said it was all she could do to get through it.

Just like riding a motorcycle through the Rockies or the Appalachians, you and I are bound to encounter treacherous turns that seem to have no end. We want to avoid the hard places. We don’t want to go through anything that takes us beyond our own abilities. We may start out in a group, but they can’t go the distance with us. Well-meaning though they may be, companions will caution you not to travel that way. “Keep it safe” they’ll say. They don’t want you to go through hard times and they’ll say you don’t have to. They may want to have fun and stay in the valleys or even rock on the porch with you. But as soon as you begin the heights of affliction or rejection or turmoil they will leave you to go it alone.

Truth is we all have a road to travel. And if you travel this world long enough, you will encounter things beyond your natural abilities. You will be unsure if you can make it. You will not know if you can overcome the feelings of danger on the cliffs of life. But you don’t really have to go it alone, because God is with you. We’re never really alone. And we have an anchor for our souls and a pilot for our travels into the hardships of life. He’s with us in our turmoil, our afflictions and the summits of despair.

Oh beloved, it’s time to let God take over your travels. He has a plan and every step you make every mile you ride is going to end with His destination in mind. He wants ultimately for you to be so enveloped in Him that you no longer think independently. Awards await you as well. You will find out that you have become an overcomer as you continue to travel wherever He sends you. You will see that you are courageous as you hide yourself in His strength for the journey. You will know that you have become victorious as you travel in the light of His Word. You don’t have to have stamina or fortitude or your own set of masterful abilities to make it. You just have to rest in His truth and travel in His Spirit. You may appear weak in the flesh, but that’s when His true strength comes forth. You may be fearful in the flesh but that’s when His courage appears. Don’t let anyone talk you out of the heights of growth in Christ for it is just beyond the high places that the valley of comfort will appear. Keep on keeping on and keep on praising God as you wind
your way through this life headed for your ultimate journey's end in heaven.

Rejoice that you are traveling in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though the road ahead, the days ahead, may find you traveling through treacherous territory, you are destined to make it all the way. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can keep going, knowing that you are traveling in the light of His purpose for you!

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

I Corinthians 1:31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Game of Life Increases Your Faith Level

People everywhere are playing games on the social media sites. Candy Crush is one of the favorites. Doctors, lawyers, bankers, stay at home moms, secretaries, teachers and athletes all play. I admit it, I play it as well.  I’m on level 125. I should say I’m stuck on level 125.  It’s ridiculous when I think I’ve had to play some of those levels 50 times before I could pass on to the next level.  Why would anyone spend so much time going over and over and over the same thing?  Everyone I know who plays the game keeps playing and playing and playing. 

I’m reminded of the game of life. We are bound at a level of rejection or indifference or heartbreak.  We want to go past it, move on, but we’re stuck. Sometimes we think it’s not worth the effort and we quit altogether. We’re ready to move on to something else.  Find another way to play.

Life is not really a game but we are participants.  We have to be serious about it to get through.  If we’re content to stay at level one we can do that.  But God is always encouraging us to step up, go up, move up.  There are great rewards at the higher levels with Him. 

We see the more difficult times of our lives as game ending events. But the Lord sees them as life enhancing events. As we go through it all our faith level is increased with every level.  God will give us the strength to go on when we lay that rejection at His feet, knowing that He was despised and rejected Himself. He knows how it feels and yet He went on to the cross, stepped into hell, rose again and is sitting at God’s right hand!

Sometimes the levels seem like a breeze, other times they are especially hard. But as long as we keep Jesus with us, helping us every step of the way, we will be victorious over the small things and eventually we will be victorious over it all.

Winners are not those who are better, have it all together or know the cheats. No, winners are those who know their limitations, see their inabilities clearly and call upon the One who knows how to navigate every degree of their lives.  Winners cannot be pointed out for their strength or their charisma or their talents. Real winners are those who have simply kept playing the game of life and never quit, always relying on the Lord Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think.

Oh beloved, if you decided it was easier to quit, God is lovingly calling you to get back in the game. It doesn’t matter what someone else has declared about you, you are destined to win. It doesn’t matter what kinds of obstacles to the next level you encounter, God has declared you an overcomer.  Nothing can keep you from winning because God loves you and He’s for you and that’s all you will ever need to be a winner in life.  

2 Kings 3:18 But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for He will make you victorious over the army of Moab!

James 1:12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. (Amplified)

I John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was Your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from Your face that helped them, for You loved them.

1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.