Don't Be a Sheep

You are walking up to the check-in desk at the airport, and there's nobody in line, yet there's a maze of ropes you need to walk through to get to the front. What do you do? Go under the ropes, or follow the rules and walk in a zig zag pattern to get there just a few seconds later? This is just one silly, trivial example of a topic that has been weighing on my heart lately: questioning why we do what we do and believe what we believe. A good friend of mine, Sasha, tells me that I am too much of a rule follower, and he is always encouraging me to question the reasoning behind why certain conventions are in place, instead of abiding by them mindlessly, like a sheep.


Another one of my best friends, Whitney, and I recently had a great conversation about this same topic, and I loved hearing her perspective on why we, as Christians, act in a certain way, given that our goal is to live in a manner which pleases our God. We do not only have be accountable for ourselves, family, and close friends, but we also know that we will face God on Judgement Day, and that all of our actions, both good and bad, will be taken into consideration. I can hardly face myself when I feel like I've failed in an area -- what would it feel like to look at God in the eyes and know that He is disappointed in your choice of actions? In whatever I do, I want to bring glory to my Father's name. There are numerous Bible verses that speak to honoring God, but the following are some of my favorite:


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


"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31


"Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." Proverbs 3:9


The Bible also speaks about finding the reasoning behind our beliefs and actions. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul writes, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good, and stay away from what is evil" (verses 16 to 22).  My favorite section of this passage is verse 21, which is: "test everything that is said." I do not think that being overly cynical is a positive characteristic to have, but I find that the people who challenge and think deeply about what they are asked to do or believe in are far wiser and more interesting than those who take everything they're told at face value.


A good example of me challenging my beliefs was asking why I had decided to wait until marriage to have sex with a guy. Was I doing this just because it says so repeatedly in the Bible? Because it also says to cover your hair and not to drink alcohol, both of which are rules I don't abide by. So why did I choose this particular sin and focus on it? The answer is so clear. I made this decision not only to appease my own conscious, but also because I understand the significance of having sex with someone outside of a marriage. God created humans, and He made us perfectly to be able to have sex, and for this act to produce more human life. We are the only creatures on earth whose primary sexual position is face-to-face, and it is a wonderful thing that He created, but it distinctively says in the Bible that sex is for two married people. If you want to listen to some incredible sermons on sexual purity, download the Austin Stone podcasts from 1/25/09 and 7/6/08. They are both so good -- I truly encourage you to take the time to listen to them, you won't regret it!!


Along the line of me questioning why I act in a certain manner, I had to think about the cost-benefit analysis of this decision. What am I giving up when I don't have sex? What is the benefit of this act vs. the cost of doing so? Disappointing myself? Disappointing God, my family, my friends? The possibility of getting pregnant? The same decision process can be used for nearly all choices we are faced with in life. Perhaps you are annoyed about the rule of high screening at the airport security area, but I would happily give up 10 extra minutes of my time if it helps to reduce the risk of terrorism. The cost-benefit analysis of a law/rule like this makes perfect sense, whereas in some other cases, this trade off is not so evident.


Obviously abstaining from sex is not the only decision I make in my life. Before I follow the speed limit that the government has dictated, or choose to tell the truth in situations where lying would make everything much less awkward, I need to know why I am doing the things I do. I think that when people have strong convictions about their beliefs, they are so much more interesting to talk to - regardless of whether or not I share the same thoughts and opinions as them. Why is it that I don't lie to people? Is it because someone has told me to? Or is it because I've been lied to in the past, and I know how it feels to be betrayed? Personally, I think it is a combination of past experiences, personal values/ethics, and obedience to authority. Is it so bad to be a rule follower? No, I don't think so. Sasha once asked me,"If someone told you to hop on one foot for an hour because it was a law, would you do it?" My reply was centered around the question: what is the purpose for doing so? What is the punishment for disobeying? Who wants me to do it, and am I, or other, going to benefit from this constant hopping? These are important questions to ask yourself, because at the end of the day, you have to be able to live at peace with yourself and glorify your Creator -- and trust me, you don't want to regret the decisions you've made along the way.


I would love to talk more about this topic if you are interested. I love hearing what others have to say about the content in my posts! I appreciate you all very much :)


I'll leave you today with a song that my friend Whitney reminded me of -- I love it! Click here to listen to Sonicflood's "Before the Throne," which is so good. "When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, who made an end of all my sin."


In Jesus Christs' precious and holy name,
Ailee


"With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

His Law is Love, & His Gospel is Peace

Merry Christmas everyone! It really is the most wonderful time of the year. Everything about this holy season makes me feel joyful, from the smell of peppermint to the sound of Christmas music playing all around my house. I went to Kingsland Baptist's candlelight Christmas Eve service tonight, and as always, it was beautiful. The sight of a dark room filled with candles representing Jesus bringing light to the world once filled with darkness never ceases to amaze me.


"I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12


This will be a short post, as Santa may just be on his way to the Semple household and I know I'll be woken up bright and early by the youngest member of the family, but I just wanted to share my feelings about this special day. It's easy to lose the meaning of Christmas in the commercialism that surrounds the holiday, but the reason that this day is celebrated is to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior. Christmas has been celebrated for around 1,700 years now in countries all across the world, all as a remembrance of the Son of God who was sent to bring hope to the world. When being questioned, Jesus told the Pharisees, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father." (John 8:19) To believe in the God of Creation, you must also believe that He so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16). God loves us, and Jesus is a symbol of this truth. One of my favorite Christmas carols is O Holy Night, and I especially love the following lines: 


"Truly He taught us to love one another, 
His law is love, and His gospel is peace."


Being a Christian isn't a political thing, there shouldn't be formalities and fanciful traditions and rituals tied to the religion. Christianity is about believing in a loving God - a God who, over 2,000 years ago, set us free from the Kingdom of Darkness. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Romans 6:24)


Merry Christmas y'all. As corny as this sounds, remember that Jesus truly is the reason for the season! Have a blessed day! 


In Christ's Holy name,
Ailee


Click to listen to Glee's version of O Holy Night - so good!

Spiritually Renewed

It has been entirely too long since my last post, but it was this lull in my "Semplistic Thoughts on Life and Faith" (corny, yes) that inspired me to get to typing again. The past few weeks have been chaotic, with work assignments, traveling, Thanksgiving, and entertaining (albeit, lovely) guests. The result of this fast-paced life is me feeling spiritually distant from God -- never a good place to be. I have been reading through the New Testament, and in the past week, hadn't picked up my Bible until yesterday. I got some good reading in yesterday and today, and with a little inspiration from a friend, I am feeling much more connected with God -- spiritually renewed, if you will. 

Why do we have this times when we drift apart from the Lord? Does it happen to everyone else too? I always feel so guilty when I let life get into the way of my spiritual connection to God. He is the reason I'm living, and I should be living for Him, not for other wordly reasons. Without God at the forefront of our thoughts, other things begin to distract us further, and we become susceptible to other temptations.

One of the most encouraging things about Christianity is that our God is a God whose love knows no limits. Even when we shun God, disregard His word, or act in a manner that doesn't glorify His name, the Lord never, ever stops loving us. In Luke Chapter 15, verses 23-24, Jesus tells a parable about a father whose son disobeys him, leaving the family to go and live selfishly. This story is typically told as the "Prodigal Son" -- but I prefer to think of it as "The Story of the Loving Father." When the son decides to return to his dad, the man does not reprimand him for his actions, he instead is full of joy and runs around saying, "We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost, but now is found." God is that father, He loves us unconditionally. I honestly don't think we can fully wrap our head around that fact -- it is honestly very helpful to be blessed with two earthly parents who have been loving to me my entire life, but God loves us infinitely more. I know that the following verse is one of the most quoted in Christianity, but it is so applicable and inspiring: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Love it.

This post isn't the most thought out or spiritually provoking, but I just wanted to remind everyone that it is never too late to turn back to God if you find yourself feeling distant and making decisions you normally wouldn't make. Chris Tomlin's song "Unfailing Love" is so beautiful. The lyrics move me and I thought I'd share some of them:

You have my heart

And I am Yours forever

You are my strength

God of grace and power

And everything You hold in Your hand

Still You make time for me

I can't understand

Praise You God of Earth and sky

How beautiful is Your unfailing love

Unfailing love

Unfailing love, what a truly magnificent concept. My last comments for the post are to offer some tips for how I get spiritually reconnected with God if ever in a "rut."

1. Go to church
2. Listen to an Austin Stone podcast
3. Talk to a Christian friend about your feelings and invite inspiration
4. Read your Bible
5. Write/journal
6. Go to a spot where you feel most attuned with God -- for me that's anywhere serene and outdoors
7. Read Christian novels ("Same Kind of Different As Me," "Redeeming Love," and "Blue Like Jazz" are my top picks)
8. Last, but not least, pray!

We all have those times when we feel distant from God, but turn back to Him -- He is waiting with open arms. I pray that you will be inspired to take action after reading this blog, whether that be in your own spiritual life or in someone else's around you. You may never know what is going on in someone's walk of faith unless you ask them. 

In Jesus' name,

Ailee

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." 

-Hebrews 4:16

A Proverbs 31 Girlfriend

I am by no means an expert on faith-based dating (for lack of a better term) -- in fact, I've only seriously dated one person since becoming a Christian. However, this topic heavily impacts nearly everyone's lives as we are surrounded by people who are single and looking to date, already dating, and married. In my Sunday School class and in conversation with my friends, the issue of dating comes up regularly, and it has been weighing on my heart recently. Therefore, I decided to dedicate this post to my sisters in Christ by writing them a letter. The following are my thoughts regarding the role for women in a relationship. I hope that my opinions cause you to pause for a moment and think deeply on the importance of being an encouraging girlfriend, whether you are in a relationship now or are single.

Dearest Sister,
You've probably been told this a million times before, but I'll remind you again -- a guy needs to be so in love with the Lord that you must seek Him to find him. The number one most important attribute of a potential boyfriend is a common love for God. This commonality is like rock, whereas a relationship built on physical attraction is akin to sand.

When you begin your relationship, there are certain roles that the two of you are to fulfill biblically; he, the leader, and you, the encourager. Proverbs 31 speaks of the women's role in a relationship. Verse 10 reads, "Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings his good, not harm, all the days of her life." You must do whatever it takes to be supportive of your boyfriend's faith and help him to grow spiritually. You mustn't tempt him sexually or demand that he spend all of his time with you. Instead, act in a way that avoids temptation, encourage him to spend time alone with the Lord and in community with other believers, and engage him in spiritual conversations in which you push each other to grow stronger in your faith. By participating in the list of "don'ts," you are actually distracting him and causing his love for God to weaken, hence uprooting the core of your relationship which was built on your faith.

I understand that it is easy to fall into a pattern of wanting to spend all day, everyday together, and that sexual temptation is all too common nowadays, but remember that God is infinitely stronger than your greatest weaknesses and that although Christ died for your sins, we must aim to live in a way that brings glory to our Father in heaven.

Here is a prayer that may help you in times of struggle or may remind you to thank God for the relationship you have.

Lord, thank you so much for blessing me
With someone who loves You above all others,
I pray that you give me wisdom,
So that I can help my boyfriend to grow and mature spiritually,
In order for our relationship may strengthen,
Please remind me of the importance of respecting him,
So that he may in turn respect me,
Even when I am tempted, Father,
Remind me that You are here with me at all times, 
Continue to teach me Your ways.


I pray that You teach me to be selfless,
And put his spiritual needs before my selfish desires,
Help me to be an encourager in his life,
So that he may lead me in my faith,
Bless our time together and our conversations,
And help us to glorify Your name,
And never shame You with our thoughts and actions.


I pray that we be guided by the Holy Spirit,
And that our relationship can be inspirational to others,
That they may look to our connection,
And long to understand why our actions differ from those of the world,
Lord, You are good all the time,
And I am so grateful for the relationship which You help to grow,
Thank You for all You do in my life.

Dating is a topic I love to talk to people about. Many of the conversations I've engaged in recently about dating have been very encouraging and inspiring, yet some have been very concerning. I love talking to people about their thoughts regarding the posts, so please let me know if you ever want to talk about anything going on in your life, or if I can pray for you or someone else you know who is struggling.

In Jesus' name,
Ailee

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."
Proverbs 31:30

Praying for a Preview

If there has been one main lesson that God has been trying to teach me throughout the past year, it is one of patience. In all aspects of life, He has been forcing me to wait, which, as a result, causes me to rely on faith alone and less on my own understanding.

A constant prayer of mine recently has been, "I am trusting You, o Lord, my future is in Your hands … (pause) … but would You mind giving me just a little clue about what this good future You've promised me looks like?" (Psalms 31:14-15). How foolish is that? My life isn’t a Blockbuster movie- He doesn't owe it to me to show me a preview of what is to come. By not directly answering my prayers, I am being forced to trust Him in what sometimes feels like a blind manner. Instead of physically seeing my future, I must cling to His covenant as a reassurance of His love for me and as a reminder of the prosperous future that is promised to His followers in Jeremiah 29:11 (“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”)

As a result of my continuous wondering what the upcoming years have in store, I have begun to realize that I focus too much on the future and don’t spend enough time enjoying life day-by-day. Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently stated that “Life is a journey, not a destination.” I often wish I embraced this truth more wholeheartedly, as I think I would be genuinely more patient, knowing that there is no rush to get to specific deadlines, to know certain truths, to accomplish goals or tasks. In channeling my energy towards each day, I am able to focus on bettering myself in the moment – living a holy, pure life seems much more attainable when you think about it smaller increments.


Another renowned figure in American literature, Emily Dickinson, described her thoughts on religion in a poem titled “Some Keep the Sabbath by Going to Church.” In the last stanza, she stated, “So, instead of getting to heaven at last, I’m going, all along.” My interpretation of these lines is that she focuses on living her spirituality and faith on a daily basis, not just believing in God as a means to an end.

When reflecting on childlike impatience, the most vivid of memories is that of being in a car with my parents, asking the question: “Mom! Dad! Are we there yet?” 1 Corinthians 13:11 reads, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” It’s time for me to grow up, to be more patient, and to focus on living every moment in its entirety. James 4:14 is a reminder of the urgency to act in this manner. The verse says, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it is here a little while, then it’s gone.” The answer to James’ question is that we do not know, and there is sometime inertly frustrating (to me), but ultimately beautiful, about that fact, and I will continue to pray for more patience from the Lord. Needless to say, I want my “morning fog” of a life to be as meaningful as possible.

My song of the moment is “Mighty to Save” performed by Hillsong. I love it. Hopefully you enjoy it too!


In His precious and holy name,


Ailee

Cleansing Power

“Now that you are obedient children of God, do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted. But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy.” – 1 Peter 1:14-15

I spent much of my adolescence as a nonbeliever, confused about religion and unsure of what to think about God. I went to Pine Cove, a Christian camp, participated in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and dated believers, but I still did not put my faith in Jesus Christ until the beginning of my senior year when I began to go to Kingsland Baptist Church every week with Alisdair, Blake, and a group of my close girl friends. It was during this year that I became a Christian, and in the middle of my freshman year of college, I was baptized. This is a brief version of my testimony, one that I shared earlier today with the 10^th grade girls in my Sunday School class. Before I became a follower of Christ, I “did the evil things [I] wanted,” like the apostle Peter described in the verse above. My bible (NLV) says, “You did not know any better then,” and I couldn’t agree more. I was not making decisions to live a pure life like I do now, but at the time, I couldn’t fully comprehend why I should act any differently. I wanted to make my parents proud, but I was able to hide things from them that I know I cannot hide from God.

My 100 Favorite Bible Verses book states: “To be holy…is a lifetime of moment-by-moment decisions where you choose God’s moral standards over what the current culture says is acceptable… The closer you grow to God, the easier it is to keep your eyes on Him, and the more your character will grow to resemble the holiness of His own.” I love this description of what being holy means because it is so true. As I have grown closer and closer to the Lord over the past few years, living a pure, holy life has become far more easy, with much temptation from the Devil not being able to penetrate the relationship I have with God. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure.” We are all sinners, yet it is part of our duty as Christians to try to “clean sin out of our lives.” Since Jesus Christ died for our transgressions, we know that we can pray for forgiveness when we make mistakes, but this is not an excuse to repeatedly live in sin, relying solely on prayer and forgiveness. If we truly love God, we would not want to sin because we should want to make Him proud of all that we do.

In 2 Corinthians 7:1, the Bible says, “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” I love that Paul uses the term “cleanse ourselves,” because I genuinely feel as if I was cleansed when I became a Christian, made new by the Holy Spirit.  After spending seventeen years allowing myself to be “defiled,” as Paul puts it, I was made completely pure again, and for this, I will be forever thankful. I know many Christians that choose to have sex outside of marriage, and I would never judge them for this decision, but I personally think that is it important to “work toward complete holiness because we fear God,” like Paul stated. I was once discussing premarital sex with a Christian guy friend, and he pointed to James 2:10, which says “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.” His point was to say that all sins are weighed equally in God’s eyes, i.e. cussing is as bad a sin as sex outside of marriage. The logic to this reasoning seems so broken, yet reflective of our today's culture. Instead of saying "Oh, okay, well then I'll have sex if it's just as bad as cussing," I believe that our response needs to be more along the lines of– “So, shouldn’t you focus on not swearing?”

When we put our faith in the Lord, our bodies are not only made pure, but so are our souls. In Psalm 86:11-13, David writes, “Teach me Your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to Your truth. Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor You; with all my heart I will praise You, O Lord my God; I will give glory to Your name forever, for Your love for me is very great, You have rescued me from the depths of death.” This verse is one of my absolute favorites. God grants us purity when we pray for it – what a miracle indeed. Praise the Lord :)

Of course, we are all sinners and are bound to slip up from time to time, whether that be judging someone for something they say or getting drunk and giving in to our body's desires. It is important to remember that God will forgive when you repent of your sins, but it is also crucial to understand what James 1:13-14 says about the root of temptation: “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” Matt Carter, the pastor at the Austin Stone, preached an incredible series on Temptation in August, 2010, and I highly recommend that you listen to the sermons on iTunes.

Lastly, I want to end with one of the most moving Christian songs I know. “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” I pray that these lyrics to “Amazing Grace” stir the same emotions in you as they do in me. Salvation is such a beautiful gift, one for which I simply cannot thank God enough. My prayer for anyone who may still be feeling lost or confused is that they too will be able to proudly say, “Now I see.”

In His name,

Ailee

Walking or Sinking

“Champagne makes you feel like it's Sunday and better days are just around the corner." I read this quote by Marlene Dietrich yesterday, and it made me happy, not only because I love champagne but also at the possibility of making every day Sunday. The Sabbath is truly my favorite day of the week, and today has been simply wonderful. I decided to focus on the issue of trusting God in my personal Bible time this week, as this is one aspect of my faith that I struggle with often, given my tendency to be a little bit (ha!) of a control freak. A few months ago, I even painted a canvas (above) with a verse from the book of Psalms to remind myself that my future is in God's hands, not my own.


The topic of trusting God has many different components, but this post will focus on the following four aspects: trusting that God answers prayers no matter how big the request may be, how God reminds us to trust Him, remaining faithful in times of joy and hardship, and the ways in which we exhibit our lack of trust. 


The power of prayer: what a beautiful place to start :) I am just finishing off  book 3  of The Yada Yada Prayer Group book series by Christian author Neta Jackson, and throughout the novels, I have been constantly reminded that my prayer life lacks a certain rigor and fervency that I see in these (yes, fictional) women. When the Yada Yada Prayer Group are faced with a range of severe challenges, the first thing these strong ladies do is turn to the Lord and ask for His help. Although I am an avid prayer, I have a tendency to think and worry about the situation before remembering that I can always turn to God. In a sermon at the Austin Stone on June 6, 2010, guest pastor Halim Suh said, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can't see." Halim's definition of faith is spot on - we are fully trusting the Lord when we are confident that our prayers will be answered. Holding back and forgetting to give my burden to God in prayer is a sign that sometimes I forget that God is capable of all things. Ayiesha Wood sings a very powerful song called "Big Enough," that touches on the power of God: "You turned water into wine - how extraordinary, gave sight to the blind - and still I carry my own load when you told me, To take Your yoke ‘cause Yours is easy. And even though my issues seem trivial, You alone are never too imperial, it's just the way that You love me, it's enough to convince me. And I don't wanna box You in, You've been doing big things since the world began, Sometimes I just don't wanna believe, That You're big enough - but You're big enough yeah." He truly is big enough, and I think that we sometimes need to be reminded that He has, indeed, "been doing big things since the world began."


In addition to having confidence in God through our prayers, God's desire for us to trust Him is so strong that He sanctioned one day of every week to be the Sabbath, when we are to rest and be rejuvenated spiritually (Genesis 2:1-3). In Deuteronomy 5:12-15, another purpose for the Sabbath is laid out. "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you... Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with His strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day." So, the Bible is saying that on this day of rest, we are to be reminded that if victory or success comes into our life, it is because of God, and God alone. The Israelites being lead out of Egypt and into the Promised Land was not because of their own ability, but instead an act of God's "strong hand and powerful arm." In an Austin Stone sermon from November 8, 2009, Pastor Matt Carter talks about how he is able to relax on his Sabbath day by reading the Bible and spending time with the Lord, yet he was experiencing trouble giving up the desire to plan ahead for the following week's service. This drive for future preparation is, in essence, like saying to God, "I don't trust you." I often have struggled with the same issue as Matt; however, because we know that God has "plans to prosper [us] and not to harm [us], plans to give [us] hope and a future," our trust in the Lord should be strong enough for us to fully let go on the Sabbath and to sit in awe at His bigness (Jeremiah 29:11). When we hope for great things, the Bible says that we can be "confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5). 


The following statement may just be my opinion, but I find trusting in God far easier to do when life is going smoothly as opposed to when I am faced with trials and tribulations. Luckily, I have not had to deal with anything too grave in my life, with the exception of the year in which I lost three grandparents. Nevertheless, the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew chapter 14 is something I think about often. The disciples were in a boat when strong winds began to rise and they were facing heavy waves. In the middle of the storm, the disciples see Jesus walking toward them on water, and although they cry out, "It's a ghost," Jesus tells them not to be afraid. He says to them, "The 'I Am' is here." Then Peter calls out to Jesus, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water," to which Jesus complied. As Peter steps off the boat, he begins to walk on the water, until he suddenly feels the strong wind and sees the massive waves. Feeling terrified, Peter instantly begins to sink, yelling, "Save me, Lord!" In verse 31, the Bible says that "Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 'You have so little faith...Why did you doubt me?" This story makes me question what I would do in the same situation. I would absolutely love to say that I would look at the storm and know without a sliver of a doubt that I trusted Jesus, but I am not sure that I wouldn't react more like Peter and feel scared. When the wind and waves were not obvious to Peter, he trusted in God, but when he saw the treacherous weather, his trust wavered. When faced with trials in life, the Bible says that we should not only maintain our trust in the Lord, but that we should also "consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" (James 1:2-3). Isn't that marvelous? I love trying to reframe negatives and make them into positives, and I feel this verse from James reminds us to do just that.


Lastly, it is important to consider how we, as Christ followers, exhibit a lack of trust in our daily lives. In Francis Chan's book titled Crazy Love, Chan says that by worrying and stressing, we "communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in [our] life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small indeed. Why are we so quick to forget God?" In addition, Chan adds that "worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what is happening in our lives" (Chapter 2, pg. 41-42). Is that not the truth?! I read this paragraph, reread it, and read it again. I worry far too much, and I know that instead of stressing over something I am not in control of, I should do as Philippians 4:6 tells me, and "...not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done." This ties back perfectly to the first application, trusting that God answers our prayers. 


I genuinely hope that the issues and verses in this post are applicable to others' lives in addition to mine. I pray that our trust in the Lord's 'bigness' continues to grow stronger, that our prayers become more powerful, that we remember our future is in God's hands, that we will be able to trust in God in both good times and bad, and that instead of worrying and stressing, that we find peace in knowing that "in the context of God's strength, our problems are small indeed."


I love worship music :) So I thought I'd share my recommendation for this week. Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels: "Our God Reigns" (starts at 4:31)


In His name,
Ailee


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." 
Proverbs 3:5-6