Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 28, 2026

Grace Goggles

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:41-42

I was having coffee with one of my besties the other morning, and in the midst of some get-real, mat-carrier-level conversation, she dropped an eloquent statement I can’t get out of my head. In discussing our respective sanctification journeys, we recounted our similar strivings (and successes, praise God) over the years to be less pharisaical toward our brothers and sisters in Christ—that is, to put down the holiness-checklist clipboard as we worship, serve, live. She simply stated, “I used to keep rose-colored glasses on myself but had a magnifying glass on others.” (Not that either of us has “arrived”—as we won’t until glory.)

Can I get an “Amen”? I just loved her modern, relatable take on Jesus’ words about specs and logs (Luke 6:41-42; Matthew 7:1-5). And it got me thinking more about my own arc of sanctification as a 30-year follower of Christ: the initial “incomprehensible comprehension” that I didn’t have to work my way to heaven (I am paid in full), the continual unveiling of truth (and conviction) through God’s Word, and the steps of obedience (and some consequential disobedience) leading to ongoing refinement. Not a smooth ride, by any means, but generally up and to the right. Can you relate?

Because I was raised to be a perfectionist (therefore growing into a bit of a control freak), making sure I was doing everything “right” was a given…but so was making sure everyone else was too (and getting personally offended when those expectations were not met). Sadly, this quality bled into my Christian walk after a while. Like the Pharisees, it was easy to grab my proverbial magnifying glass to assess the sanctification walk of others. While I claimed God’s grace and forgiveness in my own fumbles and stumbles and learnings along the way, eventually it could be a thing for me to watch a fellow believer—who the Lord is refining in a unique way—and think, “I can’t believe they’re doing that as a Christian!” (You can probably hear the associated snort of disapproval.) Rose-colored glasses for me and not for thee.

Praise the Lord for His great mercy and peeling away of the flesh to continually reveal more of Himself, am I right? Don’t you love the way He smiles like the parent of a toddler being a toddler, gently (and sometimes not so gently) correcting and encouraging us? There’s conviction, repentance, and then continuing that up-and-to-the-right trek with perseverance in the Word and in relationship with Him. May we all be like the Apostle Paul, becoming more aware and repentant of our own besetting sins the longer we walk with Jesus.

But another way of dropping the magnifying glass (or rock, as the Pharisaical case might be), is to immerse yourself in the life of new believers. If you’ve been a Christian for a minute, you know what I’m talking about. The newborn alive-in-Christ are filled with the awe of reconciliation with God through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. There’s that freshly felt freedom as the shackles of darkness dropped off. The palpable buoyancy of salvation joy. The recognition that their rebellion could not outpace God’s redemption. When they’re made a new creation, they’re given rose-colored (Blood-tinged) glasses of grace—seeing themselves, the world, and those in it from the Father’s perspective. It’s all so beautiful—and inspiring.

Oh, beloved, no matter how long you and I have been following Jesus, we must preach the Gospel to ourselves daily as a reminder of these truths. Like David, we must appeal to the Lord, “Restore to me the joy (and grace) of Your salvation!” Psalm 51:11-13. Let’s replace the clipboard-carrying for a sweet embrace—encouraging and edifying believers, praying for the lost to be found. Let’s drop the rock and recognize ourselves in the lives of other sinners. Let’s take the log out of our own eyeball before considering the speck in our neighbor’s. And let’s exchange the magnifying glass of judgment for goggles of grace.

“Lord, thank You for the journey of sanctification—for continually making me more like Jesus as I walk in the direction of obedience to Your Word and will. Continue to refine me by extending the same grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love to others that You have given me.”

For His Glory

 Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Wisdom

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 28, 2026

Whispers In The Dark

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them.” Psalm 139:17  (ESV). We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV).

Don’t know if you are like me or not, but I’m a lover of encouraging and uplifting quotes. If my computer could talk, oh the conversations we would have with all those quotes saved in my keeper file. Read this quote and found it to be very impactful from singer, Jason Crabb:

“Don’t let a lie whispered in a hard season become louder than the truth God has spoken over your whole life.”

So much truth packed in these few words. When we are going through hard seasons, the enemy loves to push us further down. He specializes in minimizing our God and maximizing our circumstances. If the enemy can channel our inner thoughts and words away from God’s truth then he knows discouragement, disillusionment and defeat will consume us. It slips in ever so subtly, and we often hear it in the whispered words echoing our thoughts – here’s a few:

“You are not going to get thru this”

“God has left you on your own”

“You can’t trust anyone”

“Life will never be the same”

“It’s just too hard”

“You can’t do this”

 

Sound familiar – feel free to add your own to the list, and you will see how quickly Satan loves to discourage us. When life is hard, we are the most vulnerable and that’s why it is so important to guard our minds and the words we speak over our lives. The key in those moments is to replace the lies with God’s truth – His words. Here’s a few:

 

“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

“The former things have come to pass and new things I now declare” (Isaiah 42:9)_

“He has redeemed my soul” (Lamentations 3:58)

“I will restore to you the years the locust have eaten”  (Joel 2:25)

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37)

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”  (Philippians 4:13)

“For Your steadfast love is before my eyes”  (Psalm 26:3)

 

Oh the difference God’s words make – whether we think on them, hear them or voice them out loud – they are penetrating our heart and mind. Each truth builds an impenetrable barrier against the attacks of Satan. Each promise reminds us of God’s faithfulness and love. Each Biblical story unfolding challenges us in those hard places to cling to the sovereignty of God. And the sweetest thing ever is that we have the beautiful promise from Psalm 139 that God’s thoughts of us are always precious and overflowing in abundance. We never have to wonder if He is thinking of us, sees us, knows us or hears us.

Hard seasons are never wasted; suffering is never wasted. So in any season rather than chase the lies of the enemy, chase the glory of God and trust in His words to defeat what the enemy whispers in our dark.

“Praising you Jesus for whispering so many beautiful words to my soul. Thank You for protecting me from the lies of the enemy and keeping my mind fixed on You.”

 

For His Glory

 

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 25, 2026

When Unrealistic Slays Us

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” Psalm 130:5 (ESV)

It wasn’t supposed to look like this – our expectations were totally off. We’d dreamed, planned and could even envision the perfect outcome. We prayed, waited and hoped. But when the moment arrived (the result we had so anticipated), our expectations screamed unrealistic. Discouragement quickly rose to the surface. Disillusionment seized us – did God hear our prayers? Was He truly interested in the desires of our heart?

Let’s be real here, we’ve all experienced moments which fell majorly short of our desired outcome. And it only takes a second of harsh reality seeping in to slay our spirit. The relationship dissolving right before our eyes. The job opportunity we just knew was ours for the taking goes to someone else. The repeat cancer diagnosis after months of laborious treatment. The prodigal taking one step forward and then ten steps back. Yes, disappointment hits us from all angles…unexpected and unwanted. Leaving us filled with “why” and totally consumed inward.

Now sweet friends, we can stay in this mode of disappointment cherishing our hopelessness indefinitely. Or, we can choose to release our agenda, plans and expectations for God’s greater glory. Scripture reminds us His ways our higher and far more grander than any we could ever imagine (Isaiah 55:9). Our limited perspective of best for us doesn’t even come close to the awesome ways He desires to bless our lives. If He closed the door and whispered no then we can count on Him to have our best interest in mind.

So while we simply readjust, wait and lean in close to our Creator, we purposefully choose to extinguish runaway thoughts attempting to sabotage our hope. We surround ourselves with those who speak truth and encouragement over us. We determine in our hearts to remain faithful even in the wake of whys. We claim His promises and draw strength from His words. We actively move forward in obedience keeping in step with the Father who loves us dearly. We examine our dreams and strive to realign our heart with His.

When life doesn’t look the way we intended, we keep our eyes on God and our heart filled with His truth. We wrestle through and never let go trusting in the One who specializes in birthing a greater glory than we could ever imagine.

“Father, when hope flees turn my eyes on You. Discipline my mind to settle for nothing less than Your very best.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 24, 2026

Take A Time Out

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

The concept of time out is a technique originating from behavior therapy, in which undesirable behavior is weakened and its occurrence decreased, typically by moving the individual away from the area that is reinforcing the behavior.

Take, for instance, a child who is throwing a tantrum or refusing to do what the parent or educator is asking her to do. You ask her once, twice, and in some instances, you ask her multiple times and, still, she is uncooperative, so you give that child some time out to sit and rethink what she is doing. After a few minutes in time out, the child will have calmed down after rethinking the behavior that sent her to the quiet spot, and will, very likely, return to the room with a more positive behavior and renewed enthusiasm.

As adults, we, sometimes, fail to give ourselves enough time with the Lord, so we stop hearing His voice and, consequently, end up placing ourselves in situations that really can harm us. It may be a relationship with a third party that needs some work, a situation at the workplace that requires our positive attitude, a family decision that requires our cooperation… or any other area of our lives which calls for listening before speaking, thinking before acting.  Because we have gone for a while running on our ability instead of seeking the Lord’s guidance, we find ourselves amidst too much noise to think, just like the child who stops listening to her elders before heading to time out.

When that happens, we must take ourselves into time out, a quiet place where we can detach ourselves from anything – or anyone – that can affect our decision-making, our behavior, or our ability to think clearly. It is a time to quiet our minds, to be still, and to allow God to speak into our minds and hearts.

What is the “noise” clouding your thinking today? Is your behavior needing some fine-tuning with the Lord’s will? I suggest you seek some time out. Let Him speak into your life in that quiet place. You will be thankful you did.

“Dear Jesus, You are in the quiet place. And we are so glad that You are! ”

 For His Glory

Luska Natali
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Attitude, Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 23, 2026

Why Is Rebuilding So Difficult? Part 3

“The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel…Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.”  Ezra 4:1,4 (NLT)

After your world has been struck by an unnatural disaster, there must be a time when it is just you and God who assess the damage and make a plan to rebuild.

In the book of Nehemiah, we see a plan for rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah has confessed his sin, the sins of his people, he has grieved, he has made an honest assessment of the damage alone with the Lord, and the rebuilding process has begun. It is not easy-there are enemies trying to trash his reputation, spread rumors, hurt morale, and keep his people from working, but they carry on.

Then you come to Nehemiah 4 and find out the wall is halfway rebuilt. Maybe they felt a little like Bon Jovi, “Woah, we’re halfway there, woah, livin’ on a prayer!”  The workers were working with enthusiasm….Then the enemies appeared again and “were furious” (vs. 7). They decided to fight the workers and confuse them. Nehemiah had them praying and begging God for protection, but he also took the practical step of providing guards day and night around the city.

But we see a shift. The Israelites who had returned and were working with enthusiasm  began to complain and lose morale. They believed the enemy instead of Nehemiah.

We want to be cautious that we do not believe the enemy instead of God. As we are rebuilding our lives from the ruins, the work is long and tedious and exhausting and seemingly never-ending. We may struggle to remember to believe “God can work all things together for good,” “God can redeem the years the locusts have eaten,” and “God can carry our burdens.”  We have to constantly keep our eyes on Him and continuously allow His Truths to permeate every area of our lives.

We may be halfway there, but we may have to change strategies. We are already overwhelmed, but what has been working is not working anymore. It may be a shift in our time with the Lord or it may be a friend that needs to be removed. Somewhere a lie is penetrating the process of our rebuilding, and we have to find it and remove it. We must be diligent about it, or it will keep us from further rebuilding, or even destroy what we have already built.

The thought of having to adjust or shift strategies can be daunting, but it must be done. Take a look at how Nehemiah adjusted.

Nehemiah 4:21-23(NLT)

“We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. During this time, none of us-not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me-ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.”

No one wants to live like this-working, staying guard, not changing, and carrying weapons. Notice two things-it was for a season, and it was for a purpose. The season was to finish the wall, and the purpose was to keep the people safe. Take note of where you are in your rebuilding process.

Are there changes that need to be made for a season and for a purpose?

Rebuilding is not easy, but it WILL be worth it, and we will get there one brick at a time. Does anything need to change for a season and for a purpose?

“Father, help us to ‘not be weary in well doing’ as we rebuild a life we didn’t ask to be torn down. May we honor You through the process and have the energy and determination to take another step today. Thank you for never leaving us.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson (www.TerrieTollerson.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Spiritual Living, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 22, 2026

Wise & Innocent

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16:17-20

Although it began with a hissed “did God really say” to the first man and woman in the Garden, deception is still alive and well today. In fact, from “fake news” and bot-driven algorithms to a firehose of social media “experts” and all-too-real-looking AI fabrications, I believe we are being bombarded by Satan’s lies today more than ever. The world system has been meticulously built by our enemy through the millennia for a singular purpose: to kill, steal, and destroy us (John 10:10a; 1 Peter 5:8) Here are just a few of the prevailing hisses:

  • “The plot and character development in that show is really great, so those sex scenes are OK.”
  • “God wants you to be healthy and wealthy, without problems or suffering. If you’re not, you don’t have enough faith.”
  • “You don’t have time to read your Bible.” (Although your phone has clearly logged the 9 hours of screen time.)
  • “The news is so maddening! But you can’t be ignorant to what’s happening, so you have to watch—and hear what your favorite commentators have to say about it all.”
  • “The Bible needs to be applied to modern culture—the teachings from back then on love, sex, abortion, judgment, etc. are outdated.”

Throughout the New Testament, followers of Jesus are warned about the wolves and false prophets coming into (and out of) the Church to deceive believers (Matthew 7:15-19; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15)—to pull us away from God by dangling enticements and subtle lures that play into the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). They are smooth talkers. They get the podcast airplay and reel replays. And like a magician, they deviously weave together “data” to prove their point, turning our attention where they want it, so we don’t see what’s really going on.

Oh, beloved, as the Apostle Paul exhorts, we must be “wise to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” if we’re to persevere (Romans 16:19). What does this mean practically? From the Greek, being “wise to what is good” is to be skilled, expert at all that is right, honorable, and acceptable to the Lord. How do we know what that is? It’s all in God’s Word for us! Just as we’d put in the time and effort to study for a final exam or train for a marathon, we must put in the time and effort to know Biblical truth. We must read it for ourselves—not just read or listen to what others say. Upon our salvation, believers have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us understand what we read in the Bible. The Bible is our wisdom, and it’s all about Jesus. He is the Way, Truth, and Life—and in Him is true Goodness.

But we also need to be “innocent as to what is evil”…in other words, blameless, pure, free from guile regarding everything that is worthless, harmful, depraved (which sounds like most of our worldly junk right now). How? Turn away, turn off—even run away at full speed—from the things of the world that weigh us down or trap us. These are different for each of us. It might be alcohol, drugs, or pornography…or it could be too much focus on social media, money, or looking young. Friend, if it does not align with God’s Word, it is a deception meant for destruction. If it is not glorifying to our Sovereign God, it is worthless.

I know that sounds a bit radical. Maybe it’s because I’ve been around now for six decades, but I believe (like Paul said in Romans 16:2) that the God of all peace is coming back soon to crush Satan. Time is short (whether my time, or all of time), and I want to be found ready. Won’t you join me in pursuing both wisdom for good and innocent of evil? Let’s keep our eyes, mind, and actions focused on excellent and praiseworthy things (Philippians 4:8-9). And as both citizens and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom (Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20), let’s stay focused on our heavenly home…and invite as many people as possible to join us.

“Lord, I want to be all in. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways (Psalm 119:37).”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 21, 2026

When Today Triggers Yesterday

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Can honestly say every time I drive past this landmark, I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness to me. Nothing unusual or unique about it – it’s simply a group of picnic tables near a rest area before you get to Charlottesville. A quiet peaceful spot. Perfect for a picnic. Great place to just enjoy the calm and hear the water in the creek trickling by. Soothing to a weary soul.

I was that weary one many years ago. On my way to UVA to meet with specialists, we stopped for a quick break and ate our lunch without a word ever spoken between us. Some moments are like that – dread and exhaustion leave little room for conversation. Got back in our car and headed on our way.

Quietness filled a room occupied with sick women where smiles were scarce as many entertained the shadows of death. UVA would provide little answers and ultimately a major surgery would occur before healing could happen. Definitely difficult and painful days. Ones I will never forget. And nestled right in the midst of them is a clear reckoning of the sweetness of our God. Priceless moments when He drew me closer than I had ever been to Him. Simple reminders of His love, peace and grace overflowing me.

Triggers of the desperation I felt that day resurface when I travel up 29 North evoking those precious memories. Gratitude rises to the surface when I pass by the one spot where peace and quiet settled my chaotic soul.

That my friends was over thirty years ago and the sacredness of life never escapes me. God answered many prayers – some were no’s and some were yes’ – none were out of the scope of His power and might. Countless ways God showed up when I needed Him the most. Memories of His promises spoken to my heart – deep lessons learned in the midst of suffering propelling me forward – flourishing rather than simply surviving.

Maybe you’ve been there too – when landmark’s recall God’s faithfulness. His love story to you unfolding one page at a time. Snapshots of where He’s taken you in this journey and reminders of His protective hand guiding and leading you along the way. Cherish the landmark. Share the story. Encourage someone else whose shadows loom larger than life. Steward what God has entrusted to you, and you’ll be amazed at how He births fresh joy and renewed hope in others who desperately need His touch.

“Father, not a single tear is ever wasted in Your sight. You are ever present in the midst of our storms, and Your faithfulness serves as a constant reminder – Your love is extravagant and beyond comprehension. Praising You for giving us the story of us to share with our world.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 18, 2026

Our Anchor

cb devo july 17

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” I Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)

Wouldn’t we all love to live the balanced life? Not overdoing one area while minimizing another. Perfectly balanced in our finances, careers, relationships and spiritual depth. I’ve probably read a dozen articles taunting the benefits of keeping our emotional, spiritual, physical and financial spokes rolling smoothly. Yet, there have been times when I’ve just allowed myself to overdo by pure choice and disregard for what’s getting the short end of the stick. Eventually what’s been ignored always catches up with me and it’s not pretty.

Reality check – even when we desire and seek balance – there are some life events that throw us completely off balance. Seasons of rearing small children leave little time for spa moments. Tackling a huge project at work or accomplishing a personal goal minimizes our social calendar. Caring for aging parents or a sick family member can deplete our finances and zap our energy. No matter how committed we are to balance, during some seasons of life it’s all we can do to maneuver through another day.

Spiritual check – when our lives become unbalanced, we can anchor our soul to Jesus Christ. We can cling to His peace right in the midst of chaotic toddlerville or teenage battlegrounds. We can seek His wisdom and creativity for tough, challenging decisions. We can draw from His strength and provision when we don’t have anything else to offer. Even when the nest is empty and loneliness looms large, Jesus offers the sweetest closeness only He can give.

Looking for the balanced life? Sweet friends, we can count on Jesus to hold us steady even when life is unsettled. He is the solid rock we can lean on and stand on.

“Father, when we depend on anyone or anything else, we miss the perfect stability that is found in You alone. You are the sweetest anchor for our souls.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 17, 2026

Swallowed Up By Life

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies…but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.”     2 Corinthians 5:1-4  (NLT)

When you were a child, did you ever consider getting old? Did you ever look in the mirror and imagine yourself being fifty, sixty, seventy, or even older? I didn’t, and I’ll bet you didn’t, either. But here I am, a great-grandmother. Would someone tell me how I got so old when I wasn’t paying attention?

Looking back on an active life, even ten years ago, I had plenty of energy to go to work all day, come home and cook dinner, clean the kitchen, do the laundry, and take care of other household chores. In addition, I led a weekly Bible study in my home and studied for that most every evening. Then on Saturdays, we often went boating or camping. Of course, I was tired by day’s end, but I somehow found the strength to keep going as long as I had to.

Now, facing my another birthday, I find that life has turned a corner. I no longer go to work every day and no longer participate in weekend recreational activities. Over the years, I have had some troublesome internal organs removed, and I’ve broken several bones in auto accidents and falls. I long to take an afternoon nap – and sometimes do. This earthly “tent” is wearing out. I’m not the girl I used to be.

So do I consider myself to be dying? Not even close! And neither did Paul when he wrote his second letter to the Corinthians. As he said in an earlier chapter, “Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” A thumbs-up to that!

Paul, a tentmaker by trade, refers to the human body as an earthly tent, and compares death to the tent being taken down. He knew that the death of the body was the beginning of new life. I love it when he says these dying bodies “will be swallowed up by life.”

Swallowed up by life! What a glorious concept. The leaves on my family tree are getting fewer and fewer. Many of my relatives have gone on to be with Jesus. Several of our acquaintances succumbed to Covid, but we don’t have to think of them as “gone.” Instead, we can think of ourselves as temporarily “left behind,” and they – those who had been saved from the penalty of their sins by the sacrifice of Jesus – have been swallowed up by life!

Praise God!

“Dear Father, thank you for the gift of a forever life! Thank you for preparing a place for us, and for the guarantee of your Spirit, keeping us safe in Your care until we join You at home in heaven.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Gratitude, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | September 16, 2026

Why Is Rebuilding So Difficult – Part 2

“The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel…Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.”  Ezra 4:1,4 (NLT)

Has your world been struck by an unnatural disaster?

A betrayal, a trauma, a divorce, a loss, something that you did not expect or could not have prepared for. The massive storm hit  your world, and you are just beginning to assess the damage and look toward recovery.

As any good disaster team will tell you, we have to begin by examining the damage. We have to honestly assess the damage. Where has this hurt us, how has it changed our world, the way we see others, our relationship with God?

Next we have to pray. This may not seem like an active part of rebuilding, but prayer is the key to the next steps we will take. There is no formula or right way that this may look like in your life. We may talk to God, crying as we question our loss, yelling as we pour our emotions on Him, begging Him for relief from the pain, and bowing our heads in defeat that He is God and we are not. Prayer is personal and sustains our relationship with God.

As we move through our grief, we are asking Him to show us the next steps and give us strength for the days to come.

This is the foundation. If God is not the foundation, our rebuilding has nothing firmly to stand on. We have to take the time needed here- it is worth it.

As Robert Frost so eloquently wrote, “…I took the one (road) less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”   God is the difference. His strength, His love, His direction, His protection, and His wisdom is THE difference. We want to do it our own way, and we want to be angry and disappointed and prideful. At the end of the day, however,  it is the bowing of our knees to the King of Kings that makes the difference whether our new foundation will stand firm or crumble in the days to come.

Rebuilding is not for the faint of heart, and it is not easy. God reminds us to “Give our burdens to Him, and He will take care of us.” (Psalm 55:22 NLT)

After Ezra and Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem to rebuild, they had to face these exact choices.

Nehemiah assessed, grieved, and confessed. He didn’t just walk back into the city and rebuild. He took time and then, at the right time, began to make a plan.

We will continue next week, but one last thought for today. When it was time to rebuild, Nehemiah rode into the city at night, by himself to assess the damage. He had sought wise counsel, heard the thoughts and concerns of others, but at the end of the day, it was he and God who honestly assessed the situation and began the plan of rebuilding.

At some point, it has to be each of us and God alone.

“Father, help my sweet sisters to know Your arm is strong enough and long enough to reach us wherever we are, and You love us enough that You won’t leave us in the dirt.”

 

For His Glory

 

Terrie Tollerson   (www.TerrieTollerson.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

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