From Striving To Seeing

Do not be afraid, God is with us. He will strengthen you and help you see He is the One who is always doing and has done great things. 

“When King David was very old, Adonijah…put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready…His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?”…Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah…has become king…let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon…King David said…As surely as the Lord lives…I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me…Take your Lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule…Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?” At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed.”

1 Kings 1:1-49

Have you ever been in an incredibly awkward situation? It does not get more awkward than this passage. Adonijah held a coronation party only he forgot you cannot crown yourself king. The guests didn’t even have time to enjoy the dessert before the music died. All of his friends left pretty quickly when they realized he had no power. Fnny how that happens.

What was missing?  Why did Adonijah end up in such an awkward situation? He never sought the Lord. He just went after what he wanted. He pursued his own desires rather than asking what God wanted done. Is this just an Adonijah issue or do we often skip the same step? Are our prayers for God to make our plans come to pass or are we wanting God’s will to be done. 

“I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” Psalms 142:1-7

In the first chapter, David’s grew weak physically. In this song, he said his spirit was weak within him. He looked around and realized he needed help that was beyond what people could give. He believed God would answer his prayer and would do what needed to be done. His help was from the Lord. The Lord was his portion and refuge. Is that our approach? How often do we go into problem-solving mode based on what we think rather than seeking God? Adonijah crowned himself king and we can make the same mistake when we try to do life in our own strength. 

David revealed his heart by declaring set me free from my prison so I may praise your name. One of the questions to consider is how God is glorified if your prayers are answered. If you get what you want does, God get what He wants? When something is in the will of God for the glory of God, it will happen. God’s will is for people to love Him back living to praise and glorify his name. 

“I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them…This is meaningless…Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied. Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. For who knows what is good for a person in life…Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?” 

Ecclesiastes 6:1-19

Solomon looked back over his life and reflected on what he saw. Here was a man who had great wealth, but you wonder whether he would do what he did during his life all over again. It sure doesn’t sound like it.  What good is great wealth with no gladness in your heart or gratitude producing joy? 

Solomon wanted people to consider why they did what they did. It was a heart check. Are we living for God or living for our own desires? Solomon said your appetite will never be satisfied, but he did say that you can see what is better. His advice was to shift your focus from what you do not have to what God has already given. Contentment not craving helps us draw closer to Christ. 

The point of his teaching is the people should look to God. God is the One who gave us all that we have and He is the only one who knows what happens after we move on. He is present and a provider. Rather than crown ourselves kings or queens, we would find real satisfaction by serving the King of Kings. 

“Be silent before me…Let the nations renew their strength!…Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service…you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen…I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid…do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One…you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel. “The poor and needy search for water…I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, I will turn the desert into pools of water…so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:1-20

Repetition matters. It is a way that we emphasize what is most important within a message that we share. What does God repeat the most in this passage through his prophet Isaiah? He said do not be afraid I am with you.  Why would He say this in the context of today’s passages?

Ask yourself what the number one barrier to doing God‘s will is. Is it not fear? Fear will poison the purest heart. It impacts our lives in every way. It is the reason we return from living to please God to pursuing self protection or self promotion. It is the reason we have a scarcity mindset and listen to Satan. Fear is a liar. 

God is Spirit and Truth. He is perfect love and perfect love casts out fear. He only speaks in truth and the truth is He is with us, for us and will never forsake us. What fears have been influencing you? How could declaring the truth of God’s words help you follow Jesus? 

“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs…no one could bind him…he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. When he saw Jesus …he ran and fell on his knees in front of him…Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs…He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake…when they saw the man who had been possessed…sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region…the man…begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you…a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal…spent all she had…When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him…If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped…At once Jesus…asked, “Who touched my clothes?” Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering…Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:1-42

What happens when we encounter Jesus and speak the truth?  We find healing from pain we never thought would leave us and hope for the future. Jesus cast out demons and ended a woman’s suffering. More than just miracles, these moments are meant to point us to the truth that God is who He said He is and does what He said He would do. 

The invitation in all five passages is to stop grasping and start trusting. Adonijah grasped for a throne that was never his to take. David cried out because he knew his strength was not enough. Solomon warned that a life spent chasing more will still leave the heart empty. Isaiah spoke directly to fearful people and reminded them that God Himself would take hold of their hands. When all seems lost, Jesus comes near, He speaks with authority, He drives out darkness, He heals what no one else can heal, and He says, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” The answer to fear is not pretending we are strong. The answer is remembering who is with us.

So where have been striving instead of surrendering to the Lord? God is not asking us to carry our lives in our own hands. He wants us to know we are held in His. He is the God who strengthens the weak, helps the helpless, frees the captive, and makes rivers flow in deserts. He does not abandon His people in their need. He comes to them, speaks truth over them, and does what only He can do.

Do not be afraid. He is with us. He will strengthen you, help you, and uphold you with His righteous right hand. As He does, your life will become a testimony of His mercy and power. As Solomon said there is a better way to live and that way is by trusting God all the time. Silence the voice of fear and live in the light of truth by giving God all the glory and being glad for all He has already done. Do this and you will see even greater miracles as you follow the Messiah.