TRAPPED!

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV

Trapped! A bathtub crawl space full of gopher dirt. Then this morning, as workmen return, I learn the walls are also full of gopher dirt... Trapped – not the gopher, but me! That is how I feel. I am unsure of what to do or how to do it.  This is a long term problem. Concerns includes finances, health… I don’t see a way out, as one thing leads to another. Even the workmen are confused. I feel like I am circling a drain of despair that wants to suck me in. 

I find myself taking another trip to Home Depot, teary and feeling weary and inadequate to the task. But God,… right?  I feel Holy Spirit nudge my spirit and remind me to stop this thinking and put on the belt of truth. “Lisa, what is the truth you know? Speak it out!”  And so I begin, “I am not marked by circumstances or feelings. I am marked by the honor of bearing Your name!”  I begin to call out the Lord’s character, attributes and names, “You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider! You are Creator of me, and of those gophers and can tell them to leave. Wonderful Counselor full of wisdom – You will help me. You are my Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace, and will settle my mind and heart. You are Alpha and Omega and see the outcome of this situation from its very beginning. You are Keeper of me, Husband who will cover me…” And He began to renew my mind. What I find is that my circumstances may remain unchanged, my armor, belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet and Sword are once again in place and the truth of Him taking care of me continues on. 

Have you been there? Melancholy. Befuddled. In a funk. Hurt feelings.  Someone or something is on our last nerve. Despair. Grief. Failure. Loneliness... You name any number of situations and feelings, and we’ve all been there, sometimes simultaneously.  We ask, “How long, O Lord?” An hour or day can seem like forever! My mind and heart can feel like the title of a book my kids used to read, “Diary of A Wimpy Kid”.

The operative word here is “feel” and “feelings”. But, it is imperative to know that we are not marked by feelings and circumstances. We must know the enemy would like to blindside and cheat us; to try to undermine us. Jesus lays out the enemy’s job description: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy...” Jn. 10:10 NKJ  Note, it is not that he might or could- it is that he DOES come to do this. So, we must ask ourselves, is this the thought that God would have about me or this situation? Is what I say out loud or to myself, what God would say – often not. 

So, we catch ourselves, we call on Him and the Lord sets our minds straight. We hear truth that reminds us we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are beloved and cherished by Him. We are guarded by Him and hidden in Him. He will never leave or forsake us. As we go through rivers and fires, He is with us.  He sympathizes with our weaknesses.  “… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJ 

Lisa Flanagan