Tammy On Tuesday ~ If God Be God…

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Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7

I feel as though today’s blog post might be fairly short because what I want to share with you is a simple quote.

I don’t know what you are burdened down with today. I don’t know what has gripped you and won’t let go.

Frankly, for me, it’s been fear. I’ve been struggling with fear due to situations outside of my control. Wondering what’s around the bend. And it’s hitting me on many fronts.

But maybe for you it’s pride, or guilt, or doubt, or anger, or addiction, or, well, you fill in the blank.________________.

What are you struggling with right now?

Did you every find yourself in a tumultuous place where your mind and emotions are swirling and spinning around you – only to suddenly be made perfectly still because truth breaks through and anchors your soul in God? It might be a verse, or a song, or a sermon, or a book. You find yourself saying, “That’s just what I needed to hear!”

That was me this morning. I woke up at 4:00AM. I had many concerns on my heart and I felt anxious and fearful. I went to my quiet place to confess these burdens to the Lord and I prayed for reprieve. “God, I know you do not give me the spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7) Please help me not to be fearful but to trust you.” Then I waited a bit. Still felt pretty anxious. “God, when will this take effect? Did you hear me say I don’t want to be afraid? I still feel afraid. Should I just sit here until I don’t? Are you working on this just now?”

I took a few moments to read in Isaiah where I left off. Three times I read the words, “Fear not.” Or “Don’t be afraid.” In this passage, God was telling Israel, His chosen people, that they could trust Him and that He would redeem them. He went as far as to say,

Isaiah 43

1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.

    O Israel, the one who formed you says,

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

    I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters,

    I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

    you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

    you will not be burned up;

    the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

And then He goes on to say,

You are honored and I love you. Do not be afraid for I am with you.

That’s great stuff. Right? Look at the character of the God I serve…

But that’s just it. Do I trust Him? That has been the question pressing in…and it kinda stings.

Did you know the King James version of the Bible includes 29 instances of the phrase “be not afraid.” The New American Standard Bible includes the phrases “do not fear” 57 times and “do not be afraid” 46 times. Some argue that “fear not” and similar phrases are present in the bible 365 times.

– from reference.com

I read through these verses. I saw the words. And they had little power to move me. “Do not be afraid.” Why couldn’t I take refuge in the truth I was reading?

Fear comes from feeling you don’t have control over a situation.

But Fear for the believer comes from feeling God does not control this situation OR God does not intend to work on your behalf the very best outcome for you.

I think we find out, as Christ followers, very early on that much in life is outside of our control, however, nothing is beyond God’s authority. So our real struggle is not to work through the issue of control when we are afraid as much as it is to work through our fear of trusting God.

Ouch.

So let me get to the one simple quote I read this morning by a Puritan named Richard Sibbes that anchored my soul and calmed the storm of emotions in my heart and mind. Here it is.

If God be God, cling to Him.

 If I was a southern preacher, I’d get out a hanky and wave it around. 

That’s it! It was that simple but carried with it a ton of weight. If God be God, cling to Him.

“Tammy, if God be God – if you claim to worship the God of Truth and believe He is who He says He is…here’s your plan of action. Cling. To. Him.

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Psalm 63:8 says, My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

David is speaking here. He’s learned to cling to God.  But let’s look at the passage leading up to this verse. It describes what clinging looks like.

1 O God, you are my God;

    I earnestly search for you.

   My soul thirsts for you;

   my whole body longs for you

   in this parched and weary land

    where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary

    and gazed upon your power and glory.

3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;

    how I praise you!

4 I will praise you as long as I live,

    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

    I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you,

    meditating on you through the night.

7 Because you are my helper,

    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

8 I cling to you;

    your strong right hand holds me securely.

David’s focus was not his problems. It was on his God. I realized I had given my problem too much attention and God not enough. So even God’s Words of life weren’t reaching my heart.

But this quote…It came to me like a bear hug and God wouldn’t let go until my heart was quiet.

If God be God, cling to Him.

Friend, what’s your burden? Have you made God your God? Well, why not let Him be God over all today. And do what I plan to do…cling to Him!