Chapter 15 – Facing Uncertainty
Thoughts In My Devotion
For those who read the suppose to be ch.15, gomenasai-desu. Writer's block hit me on that one but I hope part 1 somehow helps.
Thoughts on my devotion today. It's about dealing with uncertainties in life. Part of me already abandoned planning because I'm not good dealing with uncertainties. They're pain in the head and heart, but the other half of me is striving to deal with it. Only by the grace of God.
So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
— Exodus 17:11-13
The devotion talks about what can we do during times of uncertainty that we must acknowledge our limitations. Given the fact we are sinners, we cannot save ourselves in the first place. Though by world standards we can be like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos but this world cannot offer what God can do, never. If ma-chugi yung dalawa tapos na. Lalo kung walang Kristo sa puso nila.
The verse above talks about what Moses did during their battle with the Amalekites. The devotion had 2 points.
Cling to the One who knows your future
So true naman, Jeff and Elon future is...we dont know, si Lord lang nakakaalam but for a Christian dapat clingy ka dapat kay Lord (hindi sa jowa). Like that old pastoral joke when they do child dedication (not christening), “idinidikit natin sila kay Lord from the start”. Moses in that verse lifts his hand to call unto God. Same with Jehoshaphat when Judah was in trouble and they call in prayer:
and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
— 2 Chronicles 20:6-7
Well many men cling to God during their time of uncertainty. Please check Hebrews 11. Yung iba nag quit na, then sa sobrang tahimik narinig nya boses ni Lord. And also God has a better plan for our good for those who trust Him and follow His will.
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
— Jeremiah 29:11And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
— Romans 8:28
Allow trusted people to come alongside you
God gave us people to support us in times of need. As well yung mga tao na toxic sa buhay natin. Syempre nangalay si Moses kakataas ng braso nya, then Aaron and Hur came to the rescue to support him and they achieved victory. Job is a different story.
I'm a slightly introvert and I only have a couple of persons I can really run to in times of need. I think it's not about the quantity but the qualities of the person you can run to.
Some suggest to get away from toxic person, others suggest to find some gurus and coaches but what if that toxic person pala ang tunay na support? Like that time a Samaritan helped a Jew. Also insert Jonathan during David's critical time with Saul.
Uncertainties surely fuels us to run to our Maker.
From the devotional:
The victories achieved in uncertain seasons are rarely due to our own strength—they’re a result of clinging to God and relying on others to support us. It is the faithfulness of God that sees us through the storms of life, and when we acknowledge that, we create space for God to show up and show off in our weaknesses.