"My husband is living with some woman in Palm Springs," Patricia told me bitterly. "He doesn't seem to have a care in the world. In the meantime, I'm struggling to make ends meet for me and the kids." My heart went out to her. It wasn't fair that she was struggling under this burden alone, while her husband of 30 years - after leaving his family and living for himself - seemed to be better off. Or was he?
My conversation with Patricia got me thinking about God's ways and how situations are not always as they seem. And it brought to mind a principle from Scripture, written by David, a man who was promised the kingdom of Israel but waited years before God handed it to him. A man who was upright in his ways and yet waited on God's timing to bless him. A man, anointed king, who slept in caves, and was hunted for years like a wild beast because the current king was insanely jealous of him and wanted him dead. That man, in his humility, wrote: "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked" (Psalm 84:10b).
King Saul was dwelling richly...in kingly tents. David was sleeping on the hard, rocky ground, probably in caves. King Saul was eating whatever his heart desired. David was skimping, catching his own food, living off the land. It wasn't fair. It didn't seem like justice. Yet the rightful king said, in so many words, "I would rather live simply, and without much, being close to my God, than have it all out there on my own."
You may feel you are living simply, skimping and barely getting by. While someone else - who seems to have no regard for God - is living high on the hog! But God sees your heart. And if you are truly surrendered to Him, even during tough times when things don't seem fair, He will raise you up at the right time.
James 4:10 tells us: "Be humble in the Lord's presence, and he will honor you" (CEV). And First Peter 5:6 tells us "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Is there anxiety in seeing someone else prosper when it feels like we're being overlooked? Oh, yes. That's probably why God addressed the issue of anxiety right after telling us to humble ourselves. And did you catch when God will lift us up? In due time. There is a timing factor to all that we go through in life. If we are humbling ourselves and God is not exalting us, our time hasn't yet come.
Trust Him. Wait on Him, not your circumstance. And cast all your anxiety on Him. Why? Because He cares for you. Keep holding that door for the Lord. Keep doing the small things in His presence and with a joyful heart. Keep providing for your children the way you do. And keep a pure heart. As you do, delight in the fact that you are living simply. The Bible says it's better than having a big shot position in the world without Him.
I remember a poster on one of the walls of my home as I was growing up. It said: "I'd rather walk with my God at night than go it alone in the day." That became the slogan that my friend adopted during rough nights of feeling lost and forgotten while her ex-husband appeared to be prospering. But she found, in due time, that the joy and peace that came from being obedient to the Lord, and waiting on Him for His provision, surpassed any temporary luxuries that she might have enjoyed without Him.
Can that be your motto as well? I hope you can truly say, as the would-be-king David said: "I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin" (Psalm 84:10b, the Message) If your desire is to please Him, He will pour it on...in due time.
Adapted from Cindi McMenamin's book "When Women Walk Alone: A 31-Day Devotional Companion".
Cindi Shares Three Ways to 'Be Still' This Week:
1. Look for one "perfect moment" in your day: Go outdoors and listen for a bird song, watch for something in nature that reminds you of your God, sit down in the grass and run your fingers through it, or play a praise song on your ipod and reflect on your Magnificent Creator.
2. Sing one Psalm a day: Make up the tune. Sing it to God as a form of worship. Start with Psalm 5, 8, 15 or portions of Psalm 18.
3. Take a walk one evening this week and reflect upon your day: What did you learn? How did you see God moving? What do you wish you could do differently? What is your prayer for the following day?
~Cindi McMenamin (strengthforthesoul.com) spoke at our 2008 Women's Ministries Retreat. Cindi is excited to share that her new book called "Women on the Edge" is at the printers! Many of you responded to Cindi's request to fill out her questionaire at the retreat for this book. You helped shape this book's story. You are the best! The book will hit the bookstores in July.
