The Obstacle Course ~ by: robin moroney

Special Note: When I started writing today's message, my intent was for it to be a big, fat question "Why?" because I didn't understand why God would take something from us when we stand so firm in our belief in what He is telling us. And, to be perfectly honest, I was a little ticked off at God for putting a message of standing firm in my heart a couple weeks ago then snatching that hope away. But as I began to type, the Holy Spirit took over and, as you will see, He revealed the answer to me. He is so good!!!!

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"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

When I got to work on Friday, I noticed our resident geese, Annabelle and Bigelow, standing at their nest just looking around and honking. Then they came up the hill and paced up and down by my office window like they were looking for something. They kept honking and looking in the windows. It broke my heart when I realized that their little eggs had not survived the wicked storm that swept through the area the night before. I looked out at the nest all day hoping and praying that I was mistaken and that somehow the babies would have miraculously survived the rising water. But, sadly, they did not. The nest is destroyed and Annabelle and Bigelow have not returned.

And this begs the question . . . Why is it that sometimes we can stand so firm in what we believe God is telling us and yet still loose that which we love so much and that which we nurtured and cared for? Why is it that we can be so certain that we are doing just what God has asked us to do so we head down a path we believe with all our hearts that God has asked us to go down only to have our hearts ripped apart when things start going in a direction that seems completely contrary to what we believe God is telling us?

The Bible tells us that God’s plan is always the best plan and He knows what is best for us. And I know this is true. But, to be honest, when I’m in the midst of turmoil or heartache, this does not always give me comfort. And it doesn’t make it any easier to understand the reasons why things don’t go the way I think they will. I’ve been in a situation where I believed with all my heart that God was telling me a certain thing was going to happen. And even in the midst of doubt and others telling me “No way” and circumstances that didn’t line up, I’ve tried really hard to stand firm. But not only have things not turned out the way I thought God was telling me they would, they have gone in such the opposite direction that I’m left wondering what I did wrong. Is it because I didn’t hear God correctly? Is it because I just don’t understand what God is really telling me? Or is it because I didn’t have enough faith or wasn’t firm enough in my resolve to follow God’s will?

In the Old Testament, God gave Joseph a dream. In that dream it was revealed to Joseph that he would one day rule over his family. For 13 years not only did God’s dream not come true, but the path that Joseph’s life took was so far removed from what God had told him would happen that it looked like there was no way it was ever going to happen. I wonder if Joseph ever doubted that he had actually heard from God? I wonder if he ever doubted that he got the message right? I wonder if he ever thought he was just a little crazy for listening to voices in his head? And when it took so darn long, I wonder if he ever doubted that it would actually happen at all?

For Joseph, God did exactly what He said He would do. But it took 13 long, difficult years for that dream to become reality. And along the way, God used all of Joseph’s set-backs to teach Joseph something more about Himself and to prepare Joseph for the vision that God had set before him.

Last year Annabelle built her nest in an open field. The babies didn’t survive. This year she made an adjustment and she built her nest right along the water’s edge. Sadly the babies did not survive yet again. With each set-back is Annabelle learning something new about where to build her nest so it will be as safe as possible the next time? And with each set-back, is she learning something new that will help get her closer to fulfilling God’s plan for her?

So the question might not always be: “What are we doing wrong that makes things not turn out the way we think God is telling us they will?” The answer might be that God has a much greater plan than we can even imagine. And along the path to bringing that plan to fruition God will put some obstacles in our way that will strengthen us and our faith and pull us closer to Him. God will use those obstacles to test our faith, our resolve and our trust in Him.

God’s timing is always perfect ~ even when we think He’s too late. God never lies ~ even when circumstances take us completely in the opposite direction of where we thought we were going. If God says He’s going to do something, He will do it. It just might not be when or how we think it will happen.

When we are heartbroken and hurting, it is so hard to see that any good could possibly come out of it. And knowing that God has a better plan isn’t always comforting when we are in the midst of turmoil and pain. But when things are not going the way we had hoped they would, we need to lean into God even more. And, as hard as it is, we need to try to learn the lessons that God wants us to learn. Because as stinky as it can sometimes be, God is using those seasons in our life to teach us something about Himself and to prepare us for the plan He has for us.

Remember: “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that when we are faced with set-backs, we will be able see Your hand in those set-backs and learn the lessons You have for us. I also pray that we will have the courage to see how You are using that time to strengthen us and teach us more about You. And I pray that during those times, we will not allow the enemy or anyone else to convince us to give up. Thank You, Father, for your faithfulness. Amen. ~Robin

Out of the Slimy Pit ~ by: robin moroney

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2

Before I knew God, every time I heard the saying "God only gives you what He thinks you can handle," I would say to God, “God, just so we’re clear and in case you didn’t get the memo, I can’t handle anything big. I’m a weakling and a chicken.”

And then the worst year of my life happened. It was 2004. My marriage of 21 years was very quickly heading towards divorce and my mother had just been diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable brain tumor. To say that I was at the end of my rope and exhausted would be an understatement. I was completely and totally drained ~ both emotionally and physically. I had no more to give. I was way down deep in the slimy pit. And I saw no way out.

So one day I drove into the garage, shut the door and kept the car running. I just wanted to sleep for ever and ever and never wake up. I begged God to take me Home with Him. Almost immediately God spoke to me. I know it was God’s voice because in my head God would have this huge, booming, deep voice that would have said something like: “ROBIN, GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!! IT’S NOT YOUR TIME!!!!” But the reality is that God’s voice was very quiet and very sweet and He said one word . . . . “Megan” (that’s my daughter).

And I said: “I don’t care. I can’t think about anything else any more. She’ll be fine. She has so many people around her who will love her. She’ll be fine.”

But God said again, “Megan.”

And again I argued with God. Then He placed a picture before me of my daughter standing at the edge of my grave grieving inconsolably. She was completely destroyed.

I couldn’t stand that. It broke my heart. God got to me. So I said to Him “Damn it, God! You do not play fair!!!!” And I shut off the car and went into the house.

I wish I could say that at that moment my life turned great. I’d like to say that my husband showed up at the door and told me that he was stupid for leaving and couldn’t live without me. I’d like to say that my mother got better. But none of those things happened. In fact, my year didn’t get a whole lot better. My mother passed away in March; my marriage ended in April; in June I had to move out of my lovely three bedroom house with a pool into a cramped two bedroom apartment; July, August and September all brought hurricanes to Central Florida; in October I packed everything up and left the only state I had ever known and moved to Atlanta; November & December I spent living with my aunt and uncle in Atlanta and looking for a job.

No, my life did not magically get all rosy and great. Little bunnies and deer did not come out of the forest to sing to me. And little birds did not come and sit on the windowsill or tie a ribbon in my hair. Nope. My life was still pretty much in the toilet.

But what did come to me in the instant that I got out of the car was God and His assurance that He would never, ever let me go. At that moment, I literally saw His hands reach down into my slimy pit and lift me out. I know it was God because I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is no way that I could have ever gotten out of that pit in my own strength. I am weak and I’m a scardy cat. And quite frankly, it was so much easier laying around in that pit. And it would have been so much easier to just sit in my car and go to sleep. But God wouldn’t let me. He was relentless in His love for me.

Did I have a choice in the matter? Yes I did. I could have chosen to ignore God’s hands and His voice and just sit there in my pit and let it close in around me. But God’s voice was so sweet. And His hands were so strong and gentle and loving. So I reached up so He could help me climb out.

And I have not regretted it for one second. I have felt God with me every minute of every day since. He was with me when He opened all the doors for me to move to Atlanta. He was with me when my dog got sick and I thought she was going to die (she didn't). He was with me a few years ago when I had another heartbreak and I stood at the edge of the pit tempted to slide back in. He was right there beside me, taking my hands and pulling me back from the darkness and into His strong and loving arms.

Does God promise us that our lives will be like a Disney cartoon full of happiness and bright sunshine? No, He doesn’t. In fact, Jesus compared following Him to picking up a cross. He said “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Is there something in your life that seems so insurmountable that you feel like giving up? Please don’t. Please make the choice to reach up and hold tightly to God’s hands. Please make the choice to allow God to wrap you in His strong, loving arms. He’s there waiting for you to make that choice. I promise you won’t regret it. And God promises that He will give you everything you need to overcome your insurmountable obstacles.

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Jesus will be there. And He will help you. And He will make you stronger. And He will lift you out of your slimy pit. And He will set your feet on firm ground again. And again. And again!!!

Remember: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
I pray that when you feel overwhelmed with the heartache and pain in your life and when you feel like giving up, that you will turn just a little, see God’s hands, reach up and allow Him to lift you out of your slimy pit. ~Robin

Standing Firm ~ by: robin moroney

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 5:58

There is a family of geese outside my office window. We've named them Annabelle and Bigelow. Last week I saw Annabelle building a nest. I did some research and discovered that once the female lays her eggs, she will continually sit on the nest until the eggs hatch. That can be anywhere from 28 to 30 days. I watched Annabelle sit there all day as a huge storm came rolling in. The weather report said lots of rain, hail and possible tornadoes. And still she sat there on her nest. When I got to work this morning, the wind was absolutely howling. I truly feared that some trees were going to topple over. I looked out my window and there sat Annabelle on her nest. Her feathers were almost standing on end from the wind but she stayed right there attending her babies.

It reminded me of all the times God has asked me to do something. Something that I thought was just too impossible. Something that I really didn't want to do. I thought of all the times God has asked me to do something and I didn't because it just seemed like too much work or just plain crazy.

When God asks us to do something, He wants us to do it NO MATTER WHAT. No matter how difficult it is or how boring it is or how crazy it may seem. And He assures us in His Word that if He asks us to do something, He'll give us just what we need, right when we need it to carry out His will.

God told Gideon that He was going to deliver the Midianites into his hands. Gideon's response was that his clan was the weakest of them all. But God assured him that He would do what He said He would do. And then God made it seem worse ~ He narrowed down Gideon's men to only 300. How were 300 men supposed to fight an entire army?!?!? I wonder if Gideon ever thought, "Yeah, I don't think so. I can't do that." But in spite of the incredible odds against him, Gideon did what God asked him to do. He stood firm in his faith and trust in God. And God delivered the Midianites into his hands. What seemed completely impossible to mortal man, God made possible. Just like He said He would.
I wish I had that kind of faith. I'm always arguing with God and saying, "Yeah, I don't think so. I can't do that." And you know what, I can't do the things that God asks me to do. And neither could Gideon or David or Noah or Moses. But GOD can. God can do all things. And if God asks us to do something, He will absolutely give us everything we need to get it done. Including courage.

We have a choice. We can either walk away and tell God "no" when it gets too difficult or too scary or too boring. Or we can stand firm through all things in the spot God has us in.
It's your choice. Will you walk away when it seems too difficult or impossible? Will you walk away during the hail and the wind and the rain? Will you walk away during the ridicule and the snide comments and disbelief of others? Or will you stand firm in your faith and trust in God? You can't do it alone. But with God, you can.

Remember: "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37
I pray that God will give you, and me, the strength and courage we need today to accomplish what He has laid on our heart to do. ~Robin