Keep Praying

The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NRSV

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NRSV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11b KJV

Though I prayed (often) about the difficult situation confronting me, I must be honest and confess that at times, my faith was just a thin veneer of hope so. Hope so, that He is. Hope so, that He’s listening. Hope so, that He is able. Hope so, that He cares. While such honesty is uncomfortable, I am only putting to print what many of us wrestle with at times. But wrestle it out we must. Let’s not allow the enemy to take a victory lap just because life gets a little (or a lot) tough.

God has promised that if we seek Him, He will be found by us, when we seek Him with all our heart. And there’s nothing like an impossible situation, a trial beyond our strength, or pain beyond our ability to endure, to cause us to do just that. Fall to our knees and call out to the only One who is able to do the impossible in our impossible situations.

He has also promised that our prayers are powerful and effective. Recently, I heard the analogy of a sledge hammer hitting a wall, one swing, one hit at a time. Eventually, maybe the 35th swing (?), a crack appeared and then finally, the wall came down. It wasn’t that the 35th swing carried such a punch, but that each preceding swing had done its work. And so it is with our prayers. We show up, present your requests to the Lord and then walk away with His peace. Repeat, and repeat again. Often. Trust that no matter what it looks like, He is faithful, He is good, He is able and He is at work.

The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel. 

– Thomas Watson

Allow the pain of your trial or the hopelessness of your situation, to drive you to your knees … to Him. Trust that however He answers is ultimately for your best and His glory.

One last thought, perhaps the most challenging of all. Do not give in to the temptation to give up and stop praying. We serve the God of all hope.

Enable us to trust You with what we’ve placed in Your hands, knowing that You are at work in the situations because we’ve asked You to be. Not because of what we see with our eyes, but because of what we see in Your Word.

Becky White

Father, enable us to have the kind of faith in You (not in faith) that allows us to sleep on the boat while storms are raging around us. Grant us the supernatural ability to sit still in peace, knowing that You will either calm the storm or calm Your children in the storm. Enable us to trust You with what we’ve placed in Your hands, knowing that You are at work in the situations because we’ve asked You to be. Not because of what we see with our eyes, but because of what we see in Your Word. Thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Stony Paths, learning to trust Him as we walk the stony paths of real life

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My Story

We all have a story. No one is exempt from the difficulties of life. Some life stories are painful. Some seem unfair. Some feel hopeless. Some are filled with regret. None have escaped His notice. None are beyond His ability to use. To some how, some way, bring good from.

As you watch my story, I hope you see that though the Lord didn’t necessarily prevent difficulties, He has been faithful to use all that touched my life… for my good and His glory. And He will do the same for you.

By Becky White for my Lord Jesus Christ

“Though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

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Peanut Butter Cups

“…to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.”

Proverbs 27:7 AMP

God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever. Psalm 73:26 AMPC

Yeshua (Jesus) said to them, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Bread of Life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever trusts in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 Aramaic Bible in Plain English

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 43:2a

I love Reese’s cups, especially the newer offering that has a peanut butter shell with peanut butter filling. Mmmmm. Dee licious. Have I mentioned how much I love all things peanut butter? Yet, as much as I appreciate a good Reese’s cup, when my stomach growls with hunger, the bright orange package shouldn’t be what I reach for. Yes, it will stop my hunger pangs, but if I repeat this too many times, I’ll have long-term negative consequences.  But wait a minute, what if my cupboards were bare and my pockets empty? What if, in my hunger, I thought that the sugary peanut butter treat was my only option to fill the ache in my belly?

As I mulled over the scripture in Proverbs 27, I couldn’t help but think of the world around us. A world that is literally “starving” for hope, peace, purpose and the removal of fear/anxiety/panic …. This emptiness has led to starvation of the soul, where, “any bitter thing is sweet.” Spiritually speaking, reaching for a Reese’s in the form of pleasure or money or sex minus God’s guidelines, or gathering as many “likes” / hits as possible or by social activism or “religious” and/or spiritual activity (the possibilities are endless). When the sun goes down and dark silence envelops us, the ache remains and the hunger endures.

On the flip side, many of us are so “full-bellied and satisfied” that we’ve failed to notice those starving right in front of us. Failed to look beyond our own homecooked-meal comfort to notice the ache of empty bellies all around us. Folks who have settled for the quick Reese’s cup or something much worse, when we know the Bread of Life Himself. While it’s true we cannot (and should not) force feed the manna of God’s Word, are we at least offering it to those around us or at least living a life (by His grace) that causes others to want what we have? Do I?

My heart aches for the “starving” folks all around us who have stuffed themselves with all the world has to offer and yet their soul-deep ache and emptiness remain. Here’s my challenge to you (and myself), each time we see a Reese’s cup, let’s use that lip-smacking orange package as a reminder to pray for those around us. Or, let it be a reminder that your ache cannot be filled with anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Reach out to Him, He will meet you right where you’re at. (For more information, call 1-888-NEEDHIM or text (320) 345-3455 or click https://needhim.org/chat-now/)

“There is a God–shaped vacuum in the heart of each man, which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

– Blaise Pascal

Father, please reveal to me where I’m seeking to fill soul-deep needs with the junk food of the world. Please also give me Your eyes and heart for the starving people all around me. Please use my life to honor You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

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Tired Hands

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. Exodus 17:12 NLT

You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, “It is hopeless”; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.  Isaiah 57:10 ESV

The strongest arm will fail with being long held out.

~ Matthew Henry

In this Old Testament account found in Exodus 17, Moses is in a difficult, and wearying, situation. As the Israelites battled their enemies below him, Moses stood atop the mountain, arms raised with the rod of God tightly gripped in his hands. As long as his arms remained raised, the Israelites prevailed against their enemies. But, when he lowered his arms, their enemies began to prevail. Weariness became his greatest enemy. Until his close friends stepped in. They provided a spot for him to sit, and got right in the middle of his situation by literally holding up his arms for him.

I am reminded of a couple of points in this account from Moses’ life. First, anyone can handle just about anything, as long as it’s short in duration. But trials are seldom neatly packaged with expiration dates stamped on the bottom. No. They show up and demand our near constant attention and stamina, with no idea when they’ll end. Oftentimes, we start out singing God’s praises and praying for a quick resolution, only to become wearied by the sheer length of the trial. Though we are trusting in God’s faithfulness, the length of the trial can cause weariness to become our greatest enemy.

Secondly, when facing the inevitable trials of life, we need other Believers to come alongside us, and help “hold up our arms”. Aaron and Hur were close enough and involved enough to recognize that Moses was in distress. Are we allowing others close enough to see the “real” us, the “real” challenges we’re facing? No doubt about it, it’s humbling when we allow another to get close enough to realize that we need a little arm-raising help. No one likes to admit that we’re on the cliff’s edge of growing weary and worn-out.

Are you a Moses or an Aaron today? Are you the one fainting from heaviness and the length of a trial or are you the instrument God has provided to help someone else? Wherever you find yourself in this O.T. account, let me encourage you, stay the course. Refuse to give up. The Lord will provide whatever, or whoever, you need to do what He’s called you to do. 

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your wonderful provision on my behalf, providing the Aarons and Hurs just when I need them or allowing me the privilege of being an arm-lifter to someone else. I bow in worship to You, O Most High! In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

By the Hand

 I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt…

 I will bring you up out of the suffering and oppression of Egypt … to a land flowing with milk and honey…

Hebrews 8:9b AMPC    Exodus 3:17 AMP

I love to walk hand in hand with my husband, whether we’re power-walking trails at a nearby park or strolling through grocery store aisles. There’s something tender, personal and even “safe” about such a simple gesture. It also necessarily means that we are going away from, and then to, the same location, together.

In today’s Scripture reading we hear our Lord say this about His people, “I led them by the hand.” God, the Creator, Sustainer and Lord of all…”led them by the hand!” If that isn’t enough to blow our minds into face-to-the-floor worship, He goes on to say where He led them from, “Out of Egypt.” Let’s keep this simple. Egypt is B-A-D, full of emotional, physical and relational pain.

Though the ancient Israelites were in, and then led out of, a literal land of Egypt, you and I encounter our own versions of “Egypt” don’t we? The emotional ripping and tearing of abuse or addiction. The relational pain of pornography or divorce or loneliness. The physical challenges of our own illnesses or the searing pain of helplessly watching those we love suffer.

Beloved, He promises the same, for you and I.

Lord, enable me to find my security in You alone. Not in my spouse or children or career or bank account or service or ________, but in You alone. The utterly faithful One.

I will lead them.

By the hand.

Out of Egypt.

Our Sovereign God has not promised to whisk us away in a fairy-tale-esque escape plan. No. But He has promised to lead us out. To lead us through… step by challenging step. And miracle by miracle, if needed. Providing the manna of His Presence along the journey as He leads into our own land flowing with the milk and honey of joy in the midst of, peace in spite of. And blessing us with, “I’ve been where you are” compassion and empathy.  Handing us a testimony that shouts His great faithfulness that led us by the hand through the wilderness and out of our own Egypts, right into the promise land of fulfilling His purposes in us, and for us.

God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.

Elisabeth Elliot

My Lord, Such tenderness and compassion You show through the promise to lead Your people (which includes me!!) by hand… out of my Egypt and into the promise land where I will testify of Your great faithfulness to restore and deliver. I love You beyond words. In Jesus’ name, Amen

 Written by Becky White for Jesus

When the Unthinkable Becomes Reality

Listen

This I know, God is for me. In God will I praise His word; in the Lord will I praise His word.   Psalm 56:9-10a NCV

If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith…  Jude 20,21a NASB

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 NASB

The following devotion, written a few years ago, came back to my mind and heart as a friend and I talked. Now, as then, I have no magic words to offer those who are confronting the unthinkable. Those who are facing horrific emotional pain, all without “anesthesia.” What I can do, is take your hand and place it in His, assured that He can, and will, walk you through the unthinkable.

Sometimes God calms the storm — and sometimes He rides the storm with us.

Mark Hall

The text in front of me described a tragedy of immense proportion. Quickly tapping in my friend’s phone number, she shared details of an accident and asked if I could meet her, along with the mother of the little one battling for his life. Quickly praying, I drove to the hospital with a shared ache of what this mama was facing.

Once arriving, I had no magic words to offer. No religious piety to wipe away the tragedy of the tear-stained and heartbroken mama who stood before me. Her 3-year old son will soon be gone. That piercing reality thick in his hospital room, I reached down to touch his chubby little hand and asked if I could pray. What I’m not sure, but I felt compelled to bring this little guy and his hurting mama before the throne. She nodded her head that it’s okay as I took his hand in mine and prayed…

I asked the Lord to comfort her heart, I invited Jesus into the center of the situation and spoke the Blood of Christ over the little one. And then I told God what I am telling you… “Father, I don’t know what to pray right now or what to think. Such tragedy. Such pain. I just confess outloud that I trust You and that You are good and You are faithful. Please help.”

There are times when we must simply take God’s hand and walk THROUGH things. Not over or around, but through. I wish it weren’t so but it is. And when we are confronted with tragedy or pain or dashed expectations, we must cling to the truth we know. “This I know, God is for me. It hurts so bad Father but I know You are in control. You are good and You are faithful. Help me, Lord to trust You through this. Not my emotions or the confusion swirling in my mind. But You.”

One layer that made this particular hospital visit even more wrenching is that my own baby girl died in the same hospital – though decades earlier.  The sights, the smells, the sounds and the heart-ache… all came back to me in that moment. And along with the emotional ache of empty arms came the authentic comfort that I found those years ago when I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, as I held my own little one.

Beloved, whatever tragedy has been allowed into your life, I am so sorry for your pain. Would you talk to Him now? Unburden your heart, tell Him your pain or anger. And then say with me, “This I know – God is for me. He is good, He is faithful and I can trust Him.”

Lord Jesus, There are times when the pain is so great, if not my own, I see it in the lives of those around me. When I am tempted to trust my anxious thoughts rather than You, cause the simple truth of “This I know” to fall from my lips as I speak Your Truth over my spirit. Infuse me with power from on High. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name Amen

 Written by Becky White for Jesus

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* For Amber and her late son, Keatyn. Though it has now been a few years, I know the ache remains. Praying His continued comfort over you, sister.

Rock of Ages, Cleft for me

Recently, while praying over a friend and thinking deeply about all they’re walking through, this old devo came to mind. I pray it encourages you today. He is our Rock of Ages. – Becky

Audio of devo

I called on Your name, O Lord, Out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice…

O Lord, You have seen my oppression.

Great is Thy faithfulness.

Who is among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor [in his heart]? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God.

Lamentations 3 selected verses NASB   Isaiah 50:10 AMP

Jeremiah, the prophet, begins this section of Scripture by “crying out from the lowest pit” and ends by boldly declaring, “Great is Your faithfulness.” He said this, when as yet, his circumstances remained lowest-pitish. If we step back further into this book of lamenting, we see that he came near to the brink of hopelessness – often. So how did Jeremiah go from despair, to declaring God’s faithfulness? Did he watch a master-class on living an overcoming life?  No, this real-life man, known as the weeping prophet had a relationship with the One True God and had learned to lean into that relationship, to trust the Lord God, in spite of all that was wrong and difficult and heavy in his life. His circumstances did not dictate his faith or view of God.

Let’s be real.  Sometimes circumstances don’t change. Sometimes our “lowest pit” remains. The truth is, there will be seasons of no “shining splendor” in our hearts, but instead, darkness and deep trouble. Even for those who “reverently fear the Lord and obey His voice.” Our “lowest pits” may be canyon-deep crises that threaten to send us over an emotional cliff, like an unfaithful spouse or a rebellious teenager, an unexpected illness or the death of someone we love. A pit may be the day-to-day challenges of life that come like a steady and sustained drip of difficulty, wrapped in the form of a dead-end job, disappointment with life or struggling to make ends meet. If you’re breathing, I know you have a lowest-pit of your own that’s coming to mind.

It’s one thing to trust God for a particular outcome, but another thing all together, when we learn to trust Him no matter the outcome. Period.

To simply trust Him.

You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings.  

01/04 Streams in the Desert

The Lord has literally kneaded these truths into my heart, maybe He’s done the same for you. Through the death of two of my children. Through the, not-enough-money–for-the-month life as a teenage mom, to heart wrenching betrayal. And even the ache of regret from my own past mistakes.  I have found that though the difficulties were seldom removed, when I leaned into God, He provided the ability to stand. To walk through. And I came out with this truth on my lips – Great is His faithfulness. Lean hard into that truth dear one, He will not fail you.

Father, I.  Trust. You. it’s so much easier to say the words than to walk it out, Lord. Help me trust You in spite of the pain, and in the midst of all that appears wrong… with disappointments, with crises that overwhelm or monotony or the fear of what if… I choose to lean hard into You, Father. You are worthy of my trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen

 Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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Salsa and Life

“Lord, do You not care…?” Luke 10:40 ESV (38-42 for entire story)

Homemade Salsa

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”  Job 13:15 NKJV

This year, our daughter’s small backyard garden produced a bumper tomato crop, so with great anticipation, we set aside an entire day for me to show her the finer points of canning homemade salsa.  As we washed, diced and jarred the tomatoes, onions and peppers, we talked about life and family and our world. In the midst of it all, she asked one or two heavy questions that still linger in my thoughts. Before I share the questions, allow me to give you part of the short answer I gave her. “I don’t know. But I know we can trust Him.”

With obvious emotion she asked, “Mom, why did God allow a woman with several young children to die of cancer?” The heartfelt question that came amid the dicing of tomatoes and jalapenos, demanded more than a memorized theological answer. Keeping my hands busy with the task of canning, I thought/prayed how to answer her question. Even as I was secretly thankful she intuitively understood the larger issue of God’s control over all circumstances. Even tragedy.

Have such questions ever lodged in your heart? Have you ever thought deeply about why a divorce or why singleness? Why an addiction or why a betrayal? Why financial ruin or a broken relationship? Why the death of a child or the death of a hoped-for dream? Pain begs for an answer.

In today’s verses, we see two contrasting examples of facing the inevitable pain of real life. When Martha was confronted with the minor irritation of no help in the kitchen, she spoke almost harshly to the Lord Jesus, when she asked, “Lord, don’t You care?” By contrast, we read of Job, who has just been given the news that everything he owns has been stolen by an invading army, and all his servants killed. As this news hits his ears and before there’s time to digest the reality, another servant shows up to tell him the devastating news that all his children have perished in a freak accident. (Read Job 1 and 2). Job’s first response is to worship God. He knew he dare not give priority to his emotions; he spoke out what he knew to be true rather than allow his emotions to do the leading. A couple of chapters and several more trials later, we hear Job say, *“Though the Lord slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Perhaps Martha was too self-focused as she rushed and hurried and grumbled… Whatever the reason, she snapped at the Lord Himself and accused Him of not caring.

Though Job didn’t understand the why of his horrific pain, he knew his God and he knew His character. So even in the midst of such guttural ache … he trusted.

Back to my daughter’s heartbreaking question – I could have offered to bullet-point Bible verses that academically explain God’s sovereign control over all things, or sin’s impact on our broken world, or God’s ability to bring good out of even the vilest circumstance, etc. But I did none of those. Now wasn’t the time. I admitted to her that I did not know the why of such tragedy, but I did know that we could trust God with it. Reminding her of the story that she’s heard repeated since childhood. Of her own brother and sister who died as babies, and how such tragedy taught me (still teaches me) to trust my Father God even when, (especially when), I don’t understand.

The best answer to a hurting heart is simply, “I am so sorry for your pain.”

Becky White

The truth is we may never know the why of a particular trauma this side of eternity. It’s enough to know our God is good and faithful and He can be trusted. Even with, and in, our pain. If He gave the life of His Son for us, surely we can trust Him when we don’t understand.

Father, I know You are good, and You are faithful, but there are times when life’s pain blinds us of that truth. Please enable us to rest in You as we walk through tragedy, or as we walk with others in their pain. We choose to trust You even when we don’t understand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I lay my “whys” before Your cross in worship kneeling, my mind too numb for thought, my heart beyond all feeling: And worshipping, I realize that I in knowing You don’t need a “why”.

– Ruth Bell Graham

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

*Some may say that God did not cause Job’s pain, but surely, we must agree that his trial came as a direct result of God’s permission.

Mr. (or Miss) Atlas?

The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you.  Psalm 55:22a

Recently, while driving to work and mentally preparing for the day ahead, I began talking to the Lord about specific challenges confronting those I love. Ranging from minor irritations to gut wrenching trials, I poured my heart out to Him.

Throughout the conversation, I admitted that I was at a loss about how/what to pray for many of the issues, but I knew that He was faithful to do what was the very best and to do what must be done. Reminding Him (and myself) of His Word that says we don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit will intercede for us. Though nothing outwardly had changed, I felt His peace as I laid my life’s load into His strong, omnipotent hands. (Not to worry, tomorrow will have brand new challenges to pray about!)

During the process of unburdening my heart, as I drove through the thick morning traffic, a memory of decades past washed over me. A memory of what felt like the weight of the world and the lie I had believed concerning prayer.  Promise not to laugh and I’ll share it with you.

There was a time when I felt that the whole outcome of whatever and whoever I was praying for, depended on me. On my prayers. On me knowing the exact words to say.  As if everything would fall apart if I dropped the prayer ball for a moment of time. Not only is that a lie, it’s exhausting. And I hate to admit, it’s prideful. And it’s anything but trusting in God.

Have you ever believed that lie?

Like Mr. Atlas, pictured bent over with the weight of the world in his hands. We can feel as if all the weight of prayers’ answers are in our hands. How we pray. What we pray. How long we pray. How often we pray. Our faith or lack of… As I said, exhausting.

The truth is, everything depends on Him, not me. Not you. Whew! Yes, we are to pray and keep on praying. Believe and keep on believing. Yes, we are to call to Him and He will answer. We are to ask specifically and with thankfulness. And then walk away, as we trust His will and His ways. Always with a willingness to defer to His will and whatever outcome will bring Him the most glory.

Prayer is weakness, leaning on omnipotence.

– W.S. Boyd

As promised, a new day has brought new challenges, but His faithfulness remains.  He who formed the ear, does He not hear, and He who formed the eye, does He not see? Yes. On all counts. Let’s choose to rest in His ability to hold the world and all our problems in His hands.  Whew, we can stand now! 😉

My Father and my God, I laugh at the absurdity of thinking I can carry the weight of my problems, let alone the world’s! Please grant me wisdom for how and what to pray and the peace of knowing You take my feeble attempts and turn them to answers that are beyond my imagination. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Notes from Psalm 91:1

Just a few thoughts as I do a line by line study of Psalm 91.

Now that you’ve read mine, try prayerfully reading the verse for yourself and allowing the Holy Spirit to probe your heart, then write out your own thoughts. You won’t be disappointed.

In His service,

Becky White