“Dilemma…”
“a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones”
Some years ago, the late comedian Richard Pryor told a joke about being caught in the midst of certain, shall we say, “improprieties.” He said to the observer, “Who you gonna believe…me or your lying eyes?” Well, in matters of the faith, we too are being asked a similar question. Not by a shady character, but by God Himself.
“Who are you going to believe? Are you going to rely upon what your natural eyes can see or will you trust Me by faith and stand upon My Word?” If we are honest, it is a dilemma! Although as Christians, we verbalize the latter, frequently, internally, we wrestle with ignoring what our natural eyes see. Whether it is a matter of our health, finances, relationships, career, positions, lack of numerical growth in our congregations, years of waiting for a dream to come to fruition, etc., “keeping the faith,” while staring realities in the face can be a dilemma!
According to the above Miriam Webster definition, a dilemma is “a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.” The choices are “equally undesirable” because if we believe what we see, we will become hopeless. But if we seek to believe what we cannot see, we find ourselves in the difficult and often painful situation of asking many, many questions… “Did the Lord really tell me that? Will I live to see this thing come to pass or turn around? Will I end up like Moses and “smote the rock” because folks are driving me crazy? Is this situation just my “thorn in the flesh” that I have to live with?”
Oh if only I knew the answers to those questions! But isn’t that the essence of faith? Faith requires that we believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Our peace only comes when we make the challenging decision to look through what our eyes can see naturally and trust that the God who made us, the God who “sees us” the God who hears us and the God who loves us has plans for us that will not harm us, but will ultimately prosper us. We must remember that we don't know what part we are playing in the process of God's plans. We may be a "planter." We may be a "waterer." God will give the increase. Our lives are not our own and God uses every aspect of our surrendered life to glorify His name and build up His Kingdom here on earth. We must see through our predicaments, situations and finite circumstances and remember that God sees the big picture. We must therefore trust and obey. In God’s own time, He will reveal the masterpiece being carefully brushed onto the canvas of our lives.
Ask the Lord for “Kingdom eyes.” Trust God and stand.
Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com
Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
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