Some people fail to comprehend that Pastor's and their families "go through it" too. The last several months have been some of the most trying times in my life as a pastor. I'm not going to even begin writing about what it has been about... that's not the point. Suffice it to say that the pounding attacks of the enemy have just been relentless now for about 5 months. It's not just been one area, but rather it seems that no matter what direction I've looked, or what area of my life, there has been another blow landed before I even saw it coming. I'd love to report that it's all better now... but the fact is, it is not. In fact, it's been far worse the last few weeks. I've found myself uttering those famous words of "faith"... "what else can happen?"
Now, I'm not writing to complain. Far from it. I'm writing tonight to say this... that even in the midst of an all out assault from the pits of Hell, my God is faithful and true. In every area in which I, or my family, have been attacked, God has proven himself to us. Now, let me be clear... he has not moved in the way that I would have chosen for him to move. The answers that have come have not been the answer that I asked for or even that I believed to be the appropriate response at the time, but the fact is that as I look back over these past weeks and months, I am in awe of what the Lord has done in our lives. There is no explanation for the fact that we are still standing.... BUT GOD!
I frequently remind the people of Harvest Church that God has never said that we'd walk a carefree life without problems. In fact, the Bible reminds us that we will face the lion's den. We will face persecution. The 3 Hebrew boys had to walk into the furnace. No, the Bible does not promise a stress free, problem free life... but it does say that when we walk through the fire, the flames will not kindle upon us, nor will the smoke even settle on us. It says when we pass through the waters, we will not go DOWN, but THROUGH! These last several months have been a reminder to my family and I that even in the tormenting wind and rain, God is with us... He is our strength, our comfort, our shield, our provision. Whatever it is that we have need of, God is!
The last couple of weeks the attacks ratcheted up even more, and frankly, I was getting pretty frustrated and battle weary and I told the Lord in prayer that I felt like I was going down for the last time. Suddenly, I heard in my spirit these words... "Down is not your destiny." From that moment, about a week ago, to today, I've been hanging on those words... and this Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching a message entitled, "Down is not your destiny." Yes, sometimes we are assailed and bombarded from attacks from the pits of Hell, but we must hold on and know that in our darkest hour, God is still by our side, and he has a plan to bring us out and to take us higher than we've ever been before. We cannot be tempted to quit when we get knocked down. We must get up and go on... holding on to the promise that has been given to us. We may not understand what we are walking through... but God still has His eyes locked on us, and we are never alone!
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