Such a Time as This

Okay, I will admit that this seems really random to me and kinda specific, but it's been hitting me pretty hard lately, and this morning when I was reading my Bible, it continued to pound itself into my mind, so I figured maybe I should write this down.

Most people know the story of Daniel, the guy who was thrown into the lion's den. It's a classic children's Sunday school felt board story, and also an amusing Veggietales story. But a part of his story is looked over at times- the part where he was just a kid, training in Babylon. This king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, came to Jerusalem and took some articles from the temple of God and took it to the temple of his Babylonian god. Sounds pretty awful, honestly.

So, Nebuchadnezzar decided he wanted some Jews to serve him- "young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace". (Daniel 1:4) Turns out Daniel was smart and attractive and good enough for this God-hating king to allow to be present in his palace, and so Daniel was brought in.

If I were in this situation, I'd be paranoid. Like, "This king wants me to serve him and learn everything about this foreign, secular place. I'm supposed to spend my life working under a guy who hates God? Ha, no. This couldn't be God's plan. Forget this."

But it was God's plan. This first chapter of Daniel goes on to explain that God caused those in power over Daniel to "show favor and have sympathy to him", and God even gave "knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning." Even learning the language of this secular nation. Daniel became a well-rounded student, taught by and subject to haters of his God. I wonder if he ever wondered, if he ever doubted. He must've been confused at some point, wondering why God would have him here, excelling. Daniel loved God; he must've been concerned with seeing God at work. And he surely didn't see God using him as he studied Babylonian literature day after day. Yet he was excelling. Favor was being shown to him. Did Daniel ever wonder why God would give him such understanding and wisdom if he was just to stay in the secular king's palace?

Fast forward, and Daniel is arising from the lion's den, testifying to a secular king about how his God saved him, though it seemed all hope was lost. He is giving God the glory. In those seemingly meaningless days where Daniel was studying and learning, God was putting his plan into place.

So, look at Nehemiah. Nehemiah was, like Daniel, serving in the king's courts. He was the cupbearer to the king of the Persian empire while the Jews were living among the ashes of a destroyed Jerusalem. I'm sure at times, being a servant to an ungodly king, he wondered what God's purpose was. How was God working through him? What good was this doing for God's kingdom? Yet again, God used this circumstance to do His work. Nehemiah's cupbearing status allowed him to be close to the king, who by God's grace, allowed him to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the Holy City. Those days serving in the king's court did not go in vain. There was a purpose, even when it must've felt like there was none.

This is also true with Joseph in Egypt. And with Esther. Esther was a Jewish girl, brought into the Persian courts because she had a pretty face and the king needed a wife. If you didn't know this, she spent a good two years being treated with beauty treatments, soaking in oil, and having cosmetics and perfumes be put all over her. Two years in a secular king's courts being made to look pretty, so she could get married to some king she's never met. You know she had to be confused on what God was doing. She had to, at some point of being sprayed with perfume for six months straight, wonder what in the world God was doing. How could this be God's plan? And when she eventually married the Persian king, I doubt there was complete clarity on why she was chosen to be the queen of Persia.

Things suddenly became clear when she learned that her people, God's people, were going to be destroyed in her empire. Suddenly, Esther was the only one who could do anything to save these people. Suddenly, there was a reason to be beautified for two years. Suddenly, it was clear that, as her cousin put it, she had "come into royal position for such a time as this". Suddenly, those years of seemingly meaningless hours of perfume were no longer meaningless, but the means of God continuing His people in this area. And by God's grace and Esther's situation, the Jews were saved.

So, what's the point? Well, if you've ever wondered why you're wasting your life in Calculus, or wasting your money on Biology classes, or wasting your time making sandwiches on the weekends, know that it isn't a waste. God has you in that secular school you can't stand for a reason. He will use your circumstances, even the seemingly worthless ones, to bring His plan to pass if you allow Him. There's a reason you are where you are, even if it seem impossible to understand. He has it all under control, so the only thing to do is to obey Him where you are. I mean, Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Even Daniel studying all types of literature in Babylon brought honor to God, even if Daniel couldn't understand that at first. Sometimes getting through your meaningless days is a matter of trusting God over trying to understand. You were put where you are for such a time as this, and even if you can't see what God can see, He does have a unique plan to bring glory to Himself if you are obedient. He'll help you out, I can promise you that. Just hang in there, and don't forget to do everything for His glory! 

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Oh, hey, it's worth mentioning that sometimes God does call you to leave the situation you're in. Just throwing that out there before I get accused of telling people that the situation you're in is exactly where you need to be. You are where you are right now for a reason, but that doesn't mean you should necessarily stay there.

Burdens

Kay, so I moved from Virginia to South Carolina a few days ago. Honestly, I was extremely freaked out about it and thought I was going to die and hate it here and my life would just end because everyone would dislike me and I would miss everyone to the point of depression. But, hey. I'm here. I'm not dead. My school is pretty enjoyable. I might have a job soon. Life is good, although very confusing at times.

While we were unloading the moving van the day after we arrived, I found myself carrying a lot more than I thought I would be carrying, seeing as I am abnormally strong for a teenage girl and my mother is abnormally weak for a woman. My dad handed me this obnoxious piece of wood and made me carry it out. No big deal, it's just a piece of wood. I got this. Yeah, no. This wood nearly broke my shoulder in half after about 0.23 seconds, but I was already on my way out of the moving van, with no way to put it down without somehow dying violently.

So, much to my new neighbors' delight, I started yelling, "Mom! Mom!! Come help me with my burden!!" (Legit, that's how I yell things when I'm in distress. It's weird.) She kinda took her time, unfortunately, but I didn't die. And I was alright and she helped me carry the random piece of wood into the house, and I actually have no idea where it is right now or why I had to carry it. After my cry of distress, I yelled, "I'm pretty sure this is biblical!" because it definitely reminded me of Galatians 6:2, which says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Should've known a random verse like that wouldn't show up in my life unless God had something to say about it.

Just like I was freaking out and thought I was going to die about that burden of wood on my shoulders, I was freaking out and thought I was going to die about moving down to the dirty south. I was sure there was no way I would make it without throwing a fit or hating my life. Because, I mean, I was leaving behind some pretty amazing people in Virginia, and I'm socially awkward and all that stuff. How was I ever supposed to come to this new place and just be myself? It had taken me so long to be comfortable in Virginia, and I'd been there my whole life! What was God thinking!? (I'm laughing right now because at one point, I told my parents that they could NOT force me to go to public school down here. I would lock myself in my room and not get out of the car and throw a fit and do illegal things so I wouldn't have to go.)

But when the burden and distress and anxiety of this move hit me, there were godly, amazing friends there for me. (Thank God for my phone, just saying.) There was several people to text me the entire 9 hour ride. There was a box of letters written by some  awesome Jesus followers to me that comforted me about my move. There was my best friend to stay up late and make me laugh uncontrollably at stupid things such as her taking a book in the library and hiding in a dark corner so the librarian wouldn't find her. There was my other best friend who woke up early to pray with me before school over the phone and who continually blew up my phone with texts throughout the day. It made me realize I wasn't carrying this burden alone, because right beside me (although miles apart physically) were those friends that Jesus had obviously put in my life, and they were reminding me I wasn't gonna die or have a terrible life. They reminded me it was a new beginning, a season dictated by the Lover of my soul. It will be okay, and before I know it, I'll wonder why I was ever so worried about it.

Okay, so can I just say that these people have an accent?! It's starting to catch on, and that is absolutely not okay! Everyone is so friendly, though, and I already found that one Jesus friend I was promised. Life is good, believe it or not. Now just to trust God with the rest of it.

Understanding

A dear friend of mine is having boy problems. Who isn't these days?
Public schoolers know that there is always that friend at school. The one who inspires you with his or her passion for Jesus when you're convinced you're going to go insane from chilling with a bunch of God haters all day. The one that with everything they do reminds you that Jesus set His riches in heaven aside to dwell among us, for the sake of the sinners. The one who encourages you by telling you you're an inspiration and informs you that your laugh is attractive. That one.
Well, she came into school the other day and looked at me melodramatically and said simply, "Boys are stupid."
She said she was worried all about a boy and texted me later asking me to pray for the love and peace of God, so I did.
It should've struck a bell then, but it decided to become suddenly clarified this morning, when I was looking through my quotes on Facebook, since I was adding a Frederick Douglass quote there like the literature nerd I am. There was Ephesians 3:14-21, my life verse, the one I have a dog tag of. Oh, yeah. I'm supposed to be praying for that. I'm not supposed to give up on that in my life. "...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
The love of God, like the peace of God, surpasses understanding. (Phil. 4:7) So, she was asking me to pray for two things that she could never understand, but could experience. Interesting.
I started to write her a message on Facebook about it and how I loved her and was continuing to pray for her when I remembered another important verse- Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths." Cool. It was saying that you don't need to understand God's love and peace in order to trust Him. He'll make your paths for you if you submit to Him. Nice.
Well, I thought this little adventure in time was over until I started going through my news feed. Turns out another friend of mine was listening to a song with some nice lyrics, so I checked it out. Things started tying together in my mind.
This song, "When I Am Afraid" by Laura Hackett, has legit lyrics. 

"When my enemy's surrounding me
He comes to steal my joy, my peace
I let go of my reasoning
And fall upon the Rock.

I will not build my life upon the passing sands
Of how I feel inside from one moment to the next
But I will love you Lord, my Rock, my God, my Strength
A precious cornerstone that floods of death could never shake

O For there is no peace of mind, outside of truth in Christ
For the fear is real and it's power can kill..."

Okay, see how it's talking about letting go of reasoning and not building your life on the passing sands of your feelings and fears and your own understanding? Look at the word understand. Under- stand. When you build your life on what you understand- on what you stand on because you know or think you know in that moment, it's like building your house on the sand. When you're threatened with fear and joy-killers and lies from Satan and you give in, you're relying on your own understanding and what you can reason in that moment. But when you're attacked and you stand firm on the Truth, you're building your house on the Rock. You're forcing your life to form into the mold of the firm, absolute Truth of God that will never change, despite your feelings. So I encourage you to let go of reasoning. When Satan gives you every reason to be depressed or worried or fearful or anything else that isn't of God, let go and instead focus on loving God. Cling to the absolute rock that will not change on you. Instead, it will make a change in you. You don't have to understand, because when you let go of what your little mind can comprehend and you trust in the Lord with all your heart, casting your cares onto Him, Philipians 4:7 says that He will guard your heart. You don't have to keep your guard up all the time- constantly worrying or trying to reason everything out- you just have to lean on Him and let Him guard it for you. All you have to do is stop fighting His love and peace despite your lack of understanding.

Psalm 4:8 ;)