Seeing God Best

Written by: Joy Kats

Meet Jacob. Jacob is the younger son of Isaac. He is the grandson of Abraham. And although he is known as one of the Old Testament patriarchs of faith, Jacob spent much of his life grasping for God’s blessing: he deceived and schemed for it, he worked for it, he dreamed for it, he wrestled for it.[1] And then in Genesis 35, Jacob finally rests in the blessing of God. In verse 3 he says to his family - “Let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”

Jacob’s life has been marked by deceit and struggle, and yet, in this moment he not only acknowledges that the God of his fathers is indeed his God; but he also realizes that his God has been with him every step, and he finally surrenders to Him. He sees that despite all of his struggles and personal failures, God’s word will go forward. His purposes will succeed. In Jacob’s life we see that blessing does not mean a lack of struggle or sorrow. We see that sometimes full surrender to God requires the “divine dislocation of whatever it is that makes us strong,”[2] so that Christ’s strength can shine through our weaknesses. 

Are any of you feeling dislocated right now?

When we are able to do things by our own strength, we often don’t look to God for help. Our weaknesses are what drive us to the strength of Christ.  I was recently challenged to consider this phrase: “When life is at its worst, God is at His best.”  And that is not untrue…but God is ALWAYS at His best, no matter what life looks like for us. Sometimes it takes life being at its worst for us to see God best.

And let’s face it, these last several weeks have been among the worst in our lifetime throughout the world. None of us has ever known anything like what is happening right now. But in all the chaos, in all the changes, in all the social-distancing we continue to have to do, God has never distanced Himself from us.

He remains the God who answers us in our days of distress, and continues to be with us in every moment. Distancing, disease, and even death can never thwart the perfect plan, authority, or sovereignty of God. They didn’t in Jacob’s day and they don’t right now. God’s word will go forward. His purposes will succeed. His promises will be fulfilled.

We are several weeks into this crazy season, and really have no idea how long this will last. But consider this: “To be truly blessed by God is not to emerge from the struggles of life unscathed, but to emerge from them having been pressed more deeply into God, to have become more desperate for God, to have become convinced that having your identity flow from his victory in your life is worth more than walking away from the struggle with your health and position and lifestyle perfectly intact.”[3]

To experience the blessing of God does not mean we are exempt or immune from the things of the world. Your health might very well be affected by this virus; your job might have already been affected; all of our lifestyles have certainly been affected. COVID-19 is still running rampant, fear still assails, and uncertainty still abounds. For some it seems nothing is still intact…so do we get angry at God for allowing all this? Or do we find ourselves more desperate for him, inquiring of Him, trusting Him to work in the middle of this mess, trusting Him to use this to make us more like Jesus?

Several years ago, my husband and I endured a really hard year. One of my hardest years to date. Marc suffered a knee injury at work, needed surgery and then physical therapy, and was off work almost a full year. And during that same time, God called me away from my ministry staff position. With three young kids, Christian school tuition, and a mortgage to pay, I did much wrestling with God during that time. At one point we had a total of $11 to our name and I wondered how in the world we were going to make it. I spent much time crying out in distress! I was forced to trust God like never before…because He was my only hope.

And He came through for us. We never went without a meal; never missed a mortgage payment.  I learned what it meant to be a servant as I cared for my husband. My marriage grew and my faith grew immensel0y during that time. I will never forget those struggles. And I will never forgot the God who was with me through every part of it. But it pains me to admit that once Marc and I were both back to work and our income was once again steady and sufficient, we quickly fell back into old patterns of self-reliance. Yes, I was thankful. But I was no longer desperate for God the way I had been. And while I would never want to go back to that time, I am so thankful for it. And I do want my heart to be in a place of complete surrender and utter dependence on Jesus no matter what is happening in life.

I share this because I see the same kinds of things happening now in this worldwide crisis. We are desperate for assurance and security. We are fearful because we have absolutely no control over what is happening. It’s just too big for us. We cry out to God to help, to protect, to provide, to heal, and to just make it stop. Our weaknesses make us aware of our desperate need for God. And I pray that our eyes are opened to see the goodness and blessing of God even in the struggle, even in the midst of all this COVID chaos. But more than that, I pray that once this is over, once life goes back to whatever normal is going to look like, that we will not fall back into old patterns. That we will continue to want God the way we do right now. I pray that we will cling to Him, recognizing that our relationship with Him is not simply useful in desperate situations, but crucial for all of life.

Jacob could not actually see the face of his adversary as he wrestled in the dark. But God has given to us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

So let US arise, friends…and make an altar to our God - the God who answers us in these days of distress and is with each of us wherever we go, and who remains with us every moment we are issued to stay at home. And when we emerge from this current crisis, may we not hope to arise unscathed; may it be our goal to arise looking a whole lot more like Jesus.

[1] Nancy Guthrie, The Promised One (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011) 212.

[2] Sinclair Ferguson’s sermon “All Night Wrestling” Oct.21, 2007 First Presbyterian Church, Colombia, SC

[3] Guthrie, The Promised One, 224.

About Joy Kats - I am most importantly a disciple who loves Jesus with all my heart.  I am married to my high school sweetheart and a mom of three. I work with the Women’s Ministry and Celebrate Recovery ministry teams at my church. I have a deep passion for writing, teaching and sharing life with others. It is my desire to encourage and challenge others in their faith journeys as together we continue to be transformed more and more into the image of Christ.

You can read more of Joy’s writing on her blog site, Zoe, Grace & Joy.

Steve DeWitt: Responding to COVID-19

Written by: Steve DeWitt

Dear Friends

   I am writing to you in these tumultuous times. The coronavirus is dominating the news, the stock market, the government, and our community. Over the past two weeks, this has been largely a debate about whether the virus was going to hit the US or not, and if so, how severe. While this continues to be debated, what isn’t debatable is that it is here, and now it is a question of severity of impact.
   Now, perhaps more than ever, we must press into our faith and the unchanging promises of God. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing has changed! God is still on his throne. The gospel is God’s promise of eternal salvation for all who believe in his Son. All God’s promises are as true and alive now as they have ever been.
   What is different is that the world around us is shaking. Here is our opportunity to show an unshakeable faith in our unshakeable God. In Hebrews 6:18-19 we read:
“We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” (Hebrews 6:18b–19a ESV)
   The image of an anchor firmly secured to a rock is to steady us in the storms of life. Anchors aren’t tested in calm seas but in stormy seas. What an assurance it is that we are held fast in eternal promises made by an unchanging God to us.
So, my dear friends, steady as she goes. God’s got this. These may be the best days of ministry we have ever had. I hope so.

All My Love,

Pastor Steve

Steve DeWitt is senior pastor of Bethel Church in Northwest Indiana, Founder and Teaching Pastor for the media/radio ministry The Journey, and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is also the author of Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two girls.

Calm in the Chaos

Written by: Joy Kats

It’s everywhere - TV screens, social media newsfeeds, radio, emails, meetings, formal statements, and casual conversations – reactions to the coronavirus is inescapable. The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind of epic proportions: colleges shut down campuses, professional sports teams suspend seasons, travel is limited or prohibited altogether, and stores are void of food and supplies. Our nation is in a state of emergency and panic. I don’t tend to get worked up about these things, and the virus itself doesn’t have me in a panic. But the frenzied reactions, the ever-changing scenarios and decisions, the frazzled shoppers, the constant chatter everywhere I turn – that creates anxiety in me and tempts me to give in to fear.

Early in the week I wanted to quarantine myself simply because I was tired of hearing about it. But by week’s end, the effects of COVID-19 had become personal. Even in the time it took me to write this, my daughter’s college campus has shut down, my boys’ school has announced its 4-week closure, my church has suspended weekend services and activities, and my local grocery store shelves have sold out. There is no hiding from this reality. No one remains unaffected. These events are unprecedented, and everyone is doing their best to figure it out literally minute by minute at this point.  In the midst of all that chaos, how do we as believers respond? How do we as Christian parents respond? Because not only is the world watching us, so are our own children.

As a mother of kids with anxiety and OCD tendencies, I want to be honest, but also careful how I explain this to them. They are hearing everything I am hearing (and maybe more) about this pandemic. Everyone is either speculating or making a statement. Organizations are developing and implementing precautionary plans. And while that is very wise, it also instills additional fear. As parents, we have to balance things out, because this is exactly the type of situation that has the potential to send someone already struggling with anxiety into a tail-spin, a downward mental spiral that could be crippling. So we talk about what’s happening; we do our best to discern fact from myth and truth from hype. We take necessary precautions. We obey government authorities. We use common sense. We are diligent and we are vigilant. We wash our hands. We remember God’s Word. And we pray. But we don’t freak out. Why? Because we believe in a sovereign God who continues to sit on the throne. Neither this virus nor the world’s reaction to it has taken Him by surprise. He remains in complete control, and our lives are safely in His hands. We cannot allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear. Jesus told us there would be trouble in this world. But He also said, “Take heart, because I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)

Should we be concerned? Absolutely! Should we panic? Absolutely not! While our faith does not make us immune to the things happening around us, our faith does offer calm in the midst of chaos. Jesus brings hope instead of hype, stability in the height of the storm, and peace in the midst of pandemonium. My mind and heart are reassured as God reminds me of His truth and His promises. Remembering His love and grace toward me fuels me to not just make sure my family has what we need, but seeks to ensure that others are also cared for and have adequate provision. Let’s find ways to serve those in our community who need an extra blessing right now. Extend an extra measure of grace - to those working long shifts, to other shoppers who also need supplies, to teachers trying to convert lesson plans, to government officials working hard to make wise decisions for all of us. Give grace to our kids when they act out or melt down, remembering that they are internalizing and processing every bit as much of this as we are. This is a perfect time to very practically live out our faith. Let our kids see us reading Scripture and claiming the promises of God in our lives and over their lives. Uncertain times and scary situations like the coronavirus give believers prime opportunity to evidence our faith to our kids and to all those around us; to give reason for the hope that we have; to share the Good News of a great God. Mute the madness all around us and hush the hysteria brewing within us by focusing our eyes on Jesus, whose perfect love casts out fear. And by setting our minds on Almighty God, who remains eternally steadfast and sure, the only true calm in the midst of this corona chaos.

About Joy Kats - I am most importantly a disciple who loves Jesus with all my heart.  I am married to my high school sweetheart and a mom of three. I work with the Women’s Ministry and Celebrate Recovery ministry teams at my church. I have a deep passion for writing, teaching and sharing life with others. It is my desire to encourage and challenge others in their faith journeys as together we continue to be transformed more and more into the image of Christ.

You can read more of Joy’s writing on her blog site, Zoe, Grace & Joy.