Have you ever been in despair? I have, and I caused much of
it myself. It is like the time of post-exilic Israel when they fell away from
“their first love”-God. Israel wandered in the desert wilderness for 40-years
because of disobedience and hard-heartedness. Pride and resistance to Moses
leadership caused a short trip to the Promised Land to be one that would take
the lives of a whole generation as a consequence. They disobeyed and forgot
about God’s faithfulness and salvation or rescue from slavery in Egypt.
The Prophet Hosea takes up this theme using harlotry and
unfaithfulness of God’s chosen people. He describes Hosea’s wife, a whore, as a
symbol of the falling away and straying from God and His law. A very
compromised life is described in detail. Then in the midst of this mess, God
brings an unexpected promise. “I will transform the Valley of Trouble into
the Gateway of Hope” (Hosea
2:15).
God was speaking of restoration from sin and idolatry. He
was speaking of His salvation or transformation. He was and still is offering a
“Gateway of Hope” from a life of trouble or chaos and sin. Greed is a specific
sin that is addressed in this passage. The “Valley of Trouble” is more
accurately translated from “the “Valley of (Achor)
Achan.” Achan was the Israelite who stole silver and gold idols forbidden by
God as booty from the Battle of Jericho. As a result, “sin at Jericho became defeat at
Ai” (Joshua 7). There were and
still are consequences to greed and disobedience. Achan was put to death.
Israel was cleansed and went on to defeat the enemy. It is a very simple yet
dramatic story of sin and truth.
Most of us need to learn it more than once sadly, even if we
do not literally lose our lives in the process. “Chose to sin, chose to suffer,”
is a much-used truth most are slow to learn. But God is faithful, for when we
are tested or tempted He will also provide a way out or through so we can stand
up under whatever it is as 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us. He won’t give us
more than we can handle if we trust in Him and not ourselves.
For my first 40-years, I trusted in men and chariots as
Psalms 20:7 warns. But we are to trust in the Lord our God. I did not really
understand Scripture truths growing up, as my family didn’t have time to teach
me or show me where to find them. I knew that the Bible was important, but I
had no real of understanding why. It is the inerrant Word of God and it will
never return void, but will accomplish it purposes.
I lived in an accomplishments matter, not so much character
matters, home life. Now I did not follow the fast crowd in high school
thankfully, but I certainly did not follow the righteous one either. Drinking
alcohol early became part of my life as my family had been and continued to be
alcoholic. My mother particularly started early when alone with her first son
while my father was away for years fighting Hitler in WWII Africa and Europe.
The pressure was great and she became dependent. He returned fully disabled fro
a war wound, which added to the trial. I started mixing her drinks when I was
about 12 years old. This led to experimentation and a college life as an
athlete who drank too much. Sounds like an oxymoron and it was. I still
struggle with this dangerous legacy. Occasionally I am reminded by my wife or
God that this is not pleasing, particularly for a Chaplain/Teacher. In fact I
was told that my personality changes when I drink. This has convicted me
deeply.
So why the Valley of Trouble business? Because we all have a
troubled area or more in our lives, can I get a witness? If you say no, then
you are about to fall. We all have trials, temptations and struggles, but it is
what we do with them that matters. For me it is prayer, exercise, and
unfortunately also drinking. Now the Bible does not say we can’t. It does say
let not any behavior become a stumbling block for other brothers or yourself.
It also talks of nothing in excess or not letting something control you other
than God. For some abstinence may be the only safe route. Perhaps the serenity
Prayer and living it is indeed good counsel.
Serenity
Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change;
courage to change the
things I can;
and wisdom to know
the difference.
Living one day at a
time;
Enjoying one moment
at a time;
Accepting hardships
as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did,
this sinful world
as it is, not as I
would have it;
Trusting that He will
make all things right
if I surrender to His
Will;
That I may be
reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy
with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Yes,
Jesus is the answer to life and living one day at a time and enjoying every
moment. I have chosen “Joy” as my spiritual trait for 2017. I am adding to it
“Self-control.” They go together as you can’t find joy without self-discipline.
This self-control comes from the Holy Spirit living in and controlling each of
us. We find this help and Counselor when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior
and Lord. There is no other lasting or overcoming way. He is, “The
way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John
14:6). No matter what kind of earthly father you have or had, only the heavenly
Father can guide you into salvation and a transformed life.
My
personality changed and I was transformed when I accepted Jesus into me life on
a late and lonely snowy night along Lake Superior in 1990. He changed me and
will continue to work in me until I am complete. This completeness will not be
perfected until I see Him face to face. But in the meantime He says, “Trust
Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths.” This Proverbs 3:5-6
passage tells us that we can’t do it on our own but only by trusting Him in all
things, all the time. To do this we need to pray continuously and give thanks
always or in everything because God is in everything. This is being conformed
to His image one day at a time, one breath at a time. God has forgiven me for
my failures by His Grace. It is faith in this inalienable truth that I give
myself to Him to be guided, taught, counseled, comforted and convicted by His
Holy Spirit to “walk in it.” My two-volume book, This is the Way, Walk in it” was written to speak to this life-long
journey of faith. God spoke to me audibly in a Christian counselor’s office
this verse from Isaiah 30:21 saying, “Whether you turn to the right of to the
left you will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.” God was calling me into ministry even though I
was not fully changed as yet. Through the Holy Spirit I have the power to be
transformed fully and I recommit my life to this walk again today in this
writing and prayer for serenity to do it with God’s help.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.