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Encouragement for the Discouraged

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Susan Panzica

A simple tag on Facebook caught my attention. A friend from many years ago posted a picture. It wasn’t a photo of me, but of her Bible that she had rebound after falling apart from years of use. She tagged me because my name was written in the margin.

Years ago, I co-led a Bible study for young single women like myself at the time. They were sweet times as we were all growing together in the Lord. Though the emotions remain strong, many of the details of those days are dim or lost memories.

I tend to forget that God is eternal and sovereign. He’s omniscient and infinite. And He can use us in ways that may have an impact long after we’ve forgotten.

In dry times, I find myself in despair over my value and usefulness to God. I feel uninspired and unable to encourage others. And I think I’m the only one who feels that way.

But I’m not, am I?

We all feel that way sometimes. Sometimes for long times. Many of God’s most faithful servants in the Bible felt that way too.

After his great victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah ran away in despair following a threat from Queen Jezebel.
Though deeply loved by her husband, Hannah wept over her barrenness so much so that the priest Eli thought she was drunk.
Despite being revered by his people, David cried out to the Lord so often while running for his life from Saul that the book of Psalms is the largest book in Scripture.

The enemy of our souls wants us to keep the dark times in the forefront of our minds rather than the fruitful blessed ones. But like Joseph who stored up during the 7 years of plenty to provide for the 7 years of drought, we need to cherish those fruitful times to sustain us for the dry seasons ahead.

Some thoughts for the dry season:

The Serenity Prayer says – 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. We first must distinguish between those circumstances we can change from those we cannot, take action where we can, but begin to learn that the non-changeables in our lives are allowed by God for a reason and for our benefit.
Is your God bigger than your circumstances? Ruminate on His promises, both those fulfilled and yet-to-be fulfilled.
Forget AND remember. The prophet Isaiah tells us to do both:
- “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Is. 43:18-19
- “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9

I find myself remembering things that have little value, hurtful things, foolish things, things that should be long forgotten. These are the things that Isaiah says to forget – “do not dwell in the past.” In Paul’s description of the race of life, these things are weights that drag us down and keep us from pressing on toward the goal. What we are to dwell on, to remember, is the One who redeemed us when we were unworthy, the One who sustained us when we couldn’t go on, the One who grants us peace beyond understanding, the One who loves us unconditionally – whether we feel it or not.

Beloved, I pray that these words encourage you today. How can I pray for you?

Make a joyful noise!

Posted on October 18, 2017October 20, 2017 by Susan Panzica

He: “You should sing tenor.”

Me: “Tenor??”

He: “Yeah. Ten or twenty feet away.”

True story. Said to me by a guy. At church! Yup!

Funny? Maybe to some. But it’s nothing I haven’t heard or said to myself.

Me: “I sing solo.”

Me: “So low you can’t hear me.”

My worship-leader-husband often walks into the kitchen as I’m happily singing away while meandering from frig to sink to counter to oven. Shaking his head, out of the side of his mouth, he whispers, “Don’t sing.”

He’s worried that the kids will hear my voice and learn everything off key.

So I stopped singing.

But only for a while.

I just can’t help it. I always have a song in my head, one earworm a day. Often it’s “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman, but I’m not limited. No sir! Whatever God lays on my heart in the morning repeats itself throughout the day, all day long.

I don’t sing loud (unless I’m alone in my car), but I do sing pretty constantly.

My kids are grown now, and thankfully, they inherited their dad’s musical abilities. Every vacation and most holidays require a “Fam Jam” where we play an original song, a familiar song, a reworded or reworked song, or some combination thereof. My job? Nodding my head and hitting a djembe, a maraca, or some sort of drum to the proper beat. Occasionally I’m allowed to lip-sync, but frankly, that’s too much pressure for me.

Fortunately, I live by the credo:

God doesn’t ask us to sing on key. He says “Make a joyful noise.”

Nowhere in Scripture does it say you need musical skills to sing to the Lord. But in several places, it commands us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord (Psalms 66:1; 95:1–2; 100:1; 1 Chronicles 15:16).

God wants us to find such joy and excitement in Him that we cannot contain it. Ephesians 5:18–19 instructs us to “be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, singing to Him organically flows in and through us. Musical talent has nothing to do with it.

My singing may not be joyful to anyone in earshot, but it’s perfectly joyful to me.

And I believe that it is to God too – who hears it in perfect pitch.

What’s your favorite song to sing all day long?
Be sure to click on the FAM JAM link for a smile and a taste of my Christmas book set to soulful song.

PS – Many thanks to Barbara Higby and the North Jersey Christian Writers Group for the inspiration ;D

The 6 Most Valuable Words

Posted on August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 by Susan Panzica

For years, I longed to ride a motorcycle. Finally last autumn, I signed up for the Motorcycle Riding Academy.

The first part of the first day was spent in the classroom with video and personal instruction. The rest of the time we put that instruction into practice out on “the range.” Our teachers shared many important pieces of advice, but perhaps the most essential six words of advice were: “Look where you want to go.”

There is a unique connection between vehicle and driver. You can experience this connection to a much lesser degree when driving a car. But on two motorized wheels, there is no margin for error. This skill honestly can be a factor of life and death. You will drive exactly where you are looking. If you look at a tree hoping to miss it, you will inadvertently drive right toward it.

Now at every corner, I force myself to look past the curve down the road to where I want to be. If I stare at the road ahead of my front tire, it is exponentially more difficult to make the turn correctly and end up in the proper place in the lane. I know – I’ve ended up making turns much more dangerous than they needed to be just because I wasn’t looking ahead to where I wanted to go.

This advice, so critical for motorcycle safety, is also crucial for life. Where and what we focus on determines where we are going. <<click to tweet>>

When we’ve been let down in life, we can focus on the disappointments as if they’d change by our replaying them in our minds. We can look at the inequities we or others face in life and grow bitter that there appears to be no justice. We can concentrate on the irregular people in our lives and wish them harm or at least what we think they deserve.

But is that where we want to go? Do we want to become like those who have hurt us? Do we want to develop resentment or bitterness?

Or do we want to develop Christ-likeness? Do we want to respond as Jesus would? Do we want to be free from the burden of worldly attitudes which drag us down?

Life will hand you curves in the road. That’s guaranteed. Jesus said,

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

His promise of tribulation is sandwiched between His offer of peace and His assurance of overcoming the world. When we focus on the tribulation, we miss His peace and are overcome BY the world.

The key is those six words: Look where you want to be. Stop focusing on what is right in front of you; enlarge your perspective to the bigger eternal picture; and focus on what Jesus is doing in you through these difficult situations.

“… the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3-4

Are you struggling with circumstances that test your faith? Know that these trials can be tools God uses to bring you to completeness and maturity when you keep your focus on Him. And keep looking at your goal – where and who you want to be.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Heb. 12:2 MSG

I’ll close with a quote from an article from Revzilla, a motorcycle accessory shop:

“Look where you want to go” means keeping your gaze on the real prize, the big goals you want to achieve during your finite time on this sphere. Staring at the spot just ahead of your front tire, either literally or metaphorically, ensures you won’t be ready for the next curve life throws at you.

Be An Oyster!

Posted on June 7, 2017June 6, 2017 by Susan Panzica

My friend, Cathy, showed up one day sporting an eye patch. She’s a stellar athlete who has triumphed over hard-hitting competition, but thanks to a tiny grain of sand that scratched her cornea, she was kept on the sidelines, out of the action. A microscopic irritant grated against the delicate tissue producing redness and tears and would ultimately cause permanent destruction if not removed.

But take that very same grain of sand, that source of irritation to the eye, place it in an oyster, and something magical happens. When that irritant is caught inside the oyster’s shell, the oyster starts to secrete a substance called nacre. This substance coats the irritant and encapsulates it. According to Wikipedia, “Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is strong, resilient, and iridescent. This substance is called ‘mother of pearl’ because it is literally the ‘mother’, or creator, of true pearls.” What begins as an irritating annoyance is transformed. The insignificant grain of sand has become a valuable pearl.

It’s important to note that the irritant in the eye is exactly the same as the one in the oyster. What is different is the response! Scripture is clear that God allows tribulations in our lives. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The phrase, “you will have trouble” is sandwiched between “you may have peace” and “take heart. I have overcome the world!”.

If you have someone, or something, in your life that is a source of irritation, it can suck the joy and peace right out of you. Just the sight of that person can raise all sorts of emotions. Just the reminder of that difficult situation can cause physical responses such as tightening of the muscles, headaches, stomach pains … do I need to go on?

Like sand trapped inside an oyster, whatever your source of irritation, it can be transformed into a valuable pearl. You can be “strong, resilient and iridescent” (reflecting the light), receiving your irritation as the beginning of a beautiful transformation in your life. Surround the grain with beauty and grace. Forgive them for being themselves. They really don’t know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) If you recognize that God allowed this person or situation for your benefit, you will be creating pearls!

Don’t let yourself be troubled by what really is a small matter compared to eternity! Allow that nuisance to bring about transformation – Christlikeness – the most precious, priceless, valuable quality you could ever possess.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:1

Dive Deep!

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Susan Panzica

While on retreat a while back, our rooms had a beautiful view overlooking the bay. As we watched the activity among the geese swimming and frolicking in the water, my friend shared with me her wise observation about the geese.

Noticing the many geese diving down into the water despite the ample food along the shoreline, she said that it must be that the food in the water is the good stuff. And so rather than settle for the easy way, the geese made the effort to dive down deep to get the better morsels. Just like we should dive down deep for the good stuff in God’s Word. .

Oswald Chambers said, “Good is the enemy of best.” If we settle for what’s good, we miss out on what’s best.

When it comes time for reading the Bible, sometimes we skim the surface rather than dive in to find deeper meaning. But the good stuff is down deep!

When we learn that it was in prison that Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” it means more than if he was writing these words from the comfort of his home.
When we learn the meaning of the words in their original language, they take on new meaning. For example, the parts of the armor of God in Ephesians 6 include the “sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” All the other parts of the armor are defensive (helmet, shield, etc.) The sword (God’s Word) is our only offense. But the word for sword does not mean a large saber-type sword. No, it is a small sword, like a scalpel, to be used an instrument of healing removing that which is detrimental to our health, not as a machete to hurt someone.
Down deep, we find the history of the times in which the words were recorded. And the geneologies that we so often skip over contain nuggets of insight, like the fact that there is a harlot (Rahab) in the line of David and Jesus.

It’s worthwhile to dive down deep to be fed spiritually on the Word. The Bible refers to itself as our spiritual food. Babies eat milk because they can’t digest meat. But as they mature, they move on to meatier, more complex things. And so should we.

Along that same line, we should not be discouraged if we don’t understand some of what we read in the Bible. We just haven’t grown to that point yet, but it’s something to look forward to. What we don’t want is to settle for less than best.

So friends, let’s go! Won’t you dive in deep with me and discover the amazing truths found in His Word?

Future Perfect

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017 by Susan Panzica

The words streamed out of my car radio and embedded themselves deep in my soul as David Crowder shared about his new album, American Prodigal.

“God doesn’t love our future self more than He loves us right now.”

My present self often dwells on my mistakes, things I’ve said or things I wished I said, actions I’ve taken or those I wish I had. I berate myself for not being the person that I think I should be. And although I know the forgiveness of God, I also carry a hope that someday when I get it all right, I’ll make God smile more than I do right now.

And that is doing God a great disservice.

We perceive love within our limits of time and space. But God IS love. And He IS eternal. So His love is the same past, present, and future – a future He already knows, by the way.

Our natural love is mercurial, changing with emotions and circumstances. It grows and diminishes. And it’s conditional. But His love is based on the fact that He created us. It’s unconditional. Nothing we do or don’t do changes His love for us.

So to think that God will love us more in the future when we finally get our act together is to misunderstand the limitless, timeless, unrestricted, complete love that God has for you and for me.

God loves us when we don’t deserve it. He loves us the same when we are behaving and thinking as we should. Because we are performance oriented, we experience approval and rejection based on our standards or someone else’s.

But God’s standard is His Word. We will never meet His standards. And knowing that, He loved us so much that He gave His Son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life with Him.

Can you right now close your eyes, breathe in deep, sense His abiding adoring presence, and thank Him for His eternal boundless love?

Give thanks to the God of heaven!
His love is eternal. Ps. 136:26

The Aftermath

Posted on November 9, 2016November 9, 2016 by Susan Panzica

For the past few months, I repeatedly read and heard people say, “I can’t wait for Nov. 9 for all this to be over!!”

Well, it is Nov. 9. And nothing is over. It’s just beginning.

I wrote this post yesterday – on Election Day – without knowing who won the election. But some things I do know about my tomorrow – The Day After.

There are a lot of unhappy people now. Half our nation is reeling that their candidate lost the election and are imagining the worst case scenarios.

There are a lot of happy people now. Their candidate won, and they picture their agendas coming to pass over the next few years.

What can these happy and unhappy people agree on?

Whether people are pleased or not with the election outcome, all will agree that this was an historic American election. Either the first woman president will be inaugurated. Or a non-politician Washington outsider will be.

And I think most people will agree that this nation is polarized. People are climbing into their bunkers of ideology shooting barbs at enemy combatants with differing opinions, forgetting that their enemies are also created by the same God, whether they know it or not.

My ministry tagline is “Bringing an eternal perspective to earthly matters.” And I think that this perspective is needed now more than ever. So to bring that eternal perspective, let me share some historical and biblical truths.

Persecution and governments hostile to the gospel have not hindered the growth of the church.
- When Paul appealed to Caesar in Act 25, he was appealing his case to Nero, arguably “most despicable manifestations of human flesh ever to disgrace this planet”. The Apostle presented his case to a governmental authority riddled with corruption and hatred for the gospel.
- Romans threw Christians to the lions, which did not extinguish Christianity but strengthened the believers’ faith.
- Persecution in Jerusalem caused the church to grow and spread (Acts 8:1)
- The church is growing in China, Africa, other persecuted areas while it is shrinking in the US, a supposedly “Christian nation.”

As citizens of heaven, our trust is in an eternal government led by God, not by mankind.
- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control….” Phil 3:20-21

God calls us to obedience to those in authority.
- “All authority come from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Rom. 13:1
- “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him” 1 Pet. 2:13-14

We are to pray for those in authority, and we will live in peace if we do.
- “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” 1 Tim. 2:1-2
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!” Phil. 4:6-7

God is in control whether we believe it or not. He rules the universe with precision, keeping billions of molten stars, planets, and galaxies in perfect order. God will still be in control no matter who leads this small patch of the universe.
- “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Ps. 22:28
- “…putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Heb. 2:8

He knew who would be elected, even planned it, no matter how ungodly you think the candidate may be.
- “The Lord Almighty has sworn,’Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.’” Is. 14:24
- The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Prov. 16:4

As I said in the beginning of this post, when the election is over, it isn’t the end. It’s the beginning. It is incumbent upon us to be people that represent God well. We must demonstrate the love of Christ that is in our hearts. We have it in our power to bring healing to a country divided. I’ve heard people say that if ____ gets elected, I’m leaving the country. To that I say, don’t leave – the country needs you now more than ever.

Let us be salt and light, making our voices heard with respect for our opponents.

Let our conversation be gracious and attractive so that we will have the right response for everyone. Col. 4:6

Let us be ambassadors for a loving, compassionate God.

The Lure of Attraction

Posted on September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 by Susan Panzica

2016-08-28-bee-in-flower-heb-2-18a — Marginal Way, Ogunquit, ME

On vacation last month, I was playing with the camera settings on my cell phone, trying out the “selective focus mode,” wanting to look like a halfway decent photographer. And I got the shot! But I got something else too. Something not so welcome.

See the bee inside the flower? Well that little guy hitchhiked home with me! When I got back to the quiet of our hotel room, I heard a faint buzzing sound. At first I thought it was the radio of the next door neighbors. But it seemed too close to me. I checked my ipad and phone to see if there was something playing inadvertently. But no. I couldn’t find the source of the buzzing.

So I ignored it.

To my regret.

Seconds later, I felt a sharp pain at my waist. I pulled at my shorts and shirt, and out flew the hitchhiker, right out the back door!

The pain increased exponentially as a red circle began to grow around the stinger. But Tony, my hero husband, came to the rescue, removing the venom and washing it down the sink. Within a few hours, the pain, redness, and swelling were completely gone. There’s just a dot left where the stinger remains.

And of course, some life lessons remain with me too:

Don’t get too close to trouble. Satan entices us with pretty little attractions. Lures that become dangerous temptations. When we draw too close to a dangerous or forbidden thing, person, or activity, we lose sight of the bigger picture. When we indulge in pride, envy, bitterness, any fruit of the flesh, it becomes an unholy dalliance. Our “selective focus” tunes out the warnings in our spirit.
Hear the warnings, and heed the warnings. I heard the buzzing, but thought it was a harmless distraction. I didn’t pay attention to the possible consequences until it was too late. When that little nudge in your spirit says “don’t,” beware and be aware. Stop, look, and listen hard.
Once stung, repent! Get as far away from the situation as possible, and turn to the Helper (John 16:7). Fortunately, Tony was able to reverse most of the effects of the poison. When we confess, Jesus forgives us, taking our mistakes, our failures, our transgressions, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).
Consequences remain. Although the sting is gone, a scar remains. It’s both a physical and spiritual truth that we reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7). The pain from broken trust in relationships often lingers long after reconciliation. There may be limits, boundaries that we didn’t require before, but now need in place to keep us free from temptation.

Father, we’re so thankful to live under Your grace. May we never take it for granted. Let us strive to live holy lives, pleasing in Your sight, and keeping our eyes on You. “…and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matt. 6:12-13

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

True Freedom

Posted on July 4, 2016June 30, 2016 by Susan Panzica

On Independence Day, there’s a lot of talk about freedom and liberty. Thankfully, we do not live under the bondage that is found in some other countries. But all too often, we live in bondage to fear, pride, depression, anger. We may not have control over these areas of our lives. The answer is surrender.

In Bible times, slavery was common. Slaves had no freedom, but when offered freedom, some chose to live surrendered to their Master, for life with a kind Master was superior to freedom outside that home. These surrendered slaves were called “bond-slaves.” The Apostle Paul often referred to himself as a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.
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While unjustly imprisoned, Paul wrote the letter to the Philippian church. In it, he says that due to his being in chains, the gospel was shared with entire palace guard. He sees that his lack of freedom had a greater purpose. He was surrendered.
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From Paul’s letter to the Philippians we can discern his answers to the bondages I mentioned above:

You will not have to worry
Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

You will not feel the need to be in charge
Phil. 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

You will experience true joy
Phil. 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

You will be free from anger
Phil. 2:14-15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

The Christian life is a paradox in many ways-
-When we are weak, we are strong.
-The first shall be last.
-You must lose your life to find it.
-To live forever, you must die to yourself.

And…
-True freedom means surrender to the One who owns you.

May you experience true freedom in surrender to the King of Kings!

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36 NLT

Roadside Lessons

Posted on May 23, 2016May 23, 2016 by Susan Panzica

If we’re friends on Facebook (and I hope we are!), you might have seen my day of disaster and delight on Friday. We started out to Atlantic City for a concert, but were sidelined by car trouble. Twice we needed AAA for the rescue. The second time, we waited by the side of Rte. 287, definitely NOT the safest place to be. My husband insisted it was safer to wait outside the vehicle, so I stood perched on a few feet of pavement between certain death either way. In front of me were cars, motorcycles, and GIANT trucks whizzing by. Behind me on the other side of a way-too-low-guardrail was a deep ravine.

Fortunately, the Lord provided something (or things) to take my mind off my dilemma.

Yup, these critters.

I’m not sure if they’re centipedes or millipedes or something else entirely. I do know that there were quite a few of them, and they each individually had the same goal. They had crawled up from the ravine behind me and were intent on getting to the highway.

However, each time a truck flew by the force of the wind gusts caused the little critters to tumble sideways over and over again. What I found fascinating was that each time they finished rolling, they wasted no time and got right back on their mission, their tiny feet taking step after step heading to the highway. Until the next gust of wind. And then they did it again, back to their mission.

After getting over my distaste sharing my space with them, I was extremely impressed with their tenacity. I thought I could learn a few things from them. And I did.

1. How often do I let far lesser interruptions derail me from my purpose?

It doesn’t take much for me to get distracted or discouraged, too often quitting before the finish line. Time after time, these critters were tossed headlong, but immediately set themselves back on track. I want to take my cue from them when things come crashing down around me, and keep my focus on what God has called me to do and to be

2. How often do I pursue something long after God has shown me to let it go?

These critters didn’t realize it, but for those who made it to the highway, their journey ended in the harshest way possible. Those on the sideline were on their way to certain death. I couldn’t imagine what drove them to destruction. (My mom suggested it might be mating season, so perhaps there were some cuties on the other side.) Unfortunately, the dangers didn’t deter them, and in this case, they should have.

Perhaps the turmoil of the winds served as a protection from the disastrous situation on the road ahead. In the same way God protects us, but too often we continue on our perilous journeys despite His warnings. We cling to our plans rather than let God direct us. Our own arrogance and personal desires can be our greatest downfall.

So…

On the one hand, we need to persevere. On the other hand, we need to let go. How to know? The key here is to remain in deep personal relationship with the Lord in prayer and through His Word to be sensitive to His leading. And then to obey. This needs to be daily practice, not something we initiate when the crisis hits. Like the Apostle Paul, we need to be willing to press on, yet turn around when led to do so. (See my prior post.)

Here’s my spin on the famous Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the tenacity to stick to the plans You have for me.

The grace to surrender when You have a better strategy.

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Can we talk? Do you struggle more with pressing on or surrendering?