Wow. It’s been over a month since I’ve taken the time to write and put my thoughts down. Not because I haven’t wanted to write, but because I’ve been super busy. Between work life and family life, it’s just been busy. Work especially. I’ve been trying to keep up with everything at work and even that seems impossible sometimes. The constant schedule changes, sleep schedules all messed up, and trying to keep up with everyone, it’s been wild lately. (I work in law enforcement, and I work night shift so that’s self explanatory lol). And I blinked and its already December 2nd and 2025 is coming to a close.
I could sit here and complain, I won’t do that. I am really trying to have a heart full of gratitude for being tired for a job that I once prayed for and for a life that I’m living. But I would be lying if I didn’t say it’s been rough recently. Everything seems so tensely lately. And I mean with just life in general. People are not happy, morale seems low with people in certain areas, and things just feel “off.” Like there’s a shift in things that we can’t see. This post isn’t a preachy type of post; I’m just writing my thoughts down. Because I know I’m not the only one who’s been feeling this sort of way. And I’m just willing to talk about it and have a discussion.
Things are different now. The world I grew up in during the 1990’s and early 2000’s no longer exist. And it just feels weird and sad that I have to accept that. However, all hope isn’t lost. Maybe it’s just scary to accept something new. Maybe it’s scary to think about the world my children are going to grow up in. How influenced these little minds are right now and how the “iPad generation” is so influenced digitally. But there’s hope in it all and things don’t always have to seem doomily and gloomy. Life is still very valuable and precious. There is much to be thankful for and things we can control. We can control our emotions, and our responses to certain situations. We can be thankful for the small things and the things that truly matter. We can choose to not let circumstances dictate our emotions and ability to think clearly.
As we enter into the Christmas season, I’m reminded a lot of how truly I’m blessed by God to be where I am at in life and where I’m headed. I’m thankful for many things, but I’m thankful for Jesus. There’s a lot going on, but day by day we’re going to make it. I plan on writing more once I have time to settle down and relax and collect my thoughts, but I wanted to take some time to write and remind myself I still have an outlet here to think when I need too. I hope all is well with everyone who reads this, and I hope you all have a wonderful start to December and this Christmas Season!
It’s been a few days since I’ve taken the time to write. Like everyone else, I’ve been busy with work and other things just going on in life. It’s hard sometimes trying to balance it all. I’m not complaining, I’m just stating the obvious. When I’ve had the time, I try to handwrite in my personal journal. Nothing crazy, just a short 10-15 mins to write my thoughts down and what I’m thinking. Normally I keep it to myself and don’t share publicly, but I was stricken to write the other day about how privileged I am to live the life that I have. It truly is a blessing. And I feel compelled to share it. Is it perfect? No. But have I learned to be content and joyful with it? Yes. It’s a blessing that only comes from my Lord.
Last week was busy and I had the weekend off too. We had some family friends over the house on Sunday after church. The kids were exceptionally loud, and it was chaotic in the living room. The old me would have been the old grumpy man (like Clint Eastwood from Gran Turino grumpy) that would have been upset at all the noise. I probably would have yelled and screamed at the kids and told them to be quiet. But let me tell you how God is in the business of changing hearts…. Instead, I smiled and almost cried. The fact that my home is a place of comfort for my kids, and other children and other families makes me happy. My heart is honestly full. I want people to walk through my front door knowing that they are welcomed and safe. And it’s hard for me to say this coming from a career in the military and law enforcement where I’m always on guard and I always want to be left alone…But to see other people and children feel safe and content in my home makes me happy.
Normally I wouldn’t share my personal journal for everyone to see, but I think this would bring some comfort and some light to someone who’s dealing with things in their life. It’s a privilege to live the life we live. It’s a blessing to be alive. Do I have all the answers? I most certainty do not. I’m human just like the rest of you and struggle with many things. And I know you do too which is why I write because I want you to know that you are not alone and I share your feelings. What I do have is the perspective to share my life’s experiences with others. Below is a what I wrote in my journal on 10/26/2025. There’s lots of spelling errors and my handwriting is trash so bear with me LOL. I just try to jot down what I have written quickly:
Horrible handwriting I know – but again it’s meant for me LOL. It’s so easily to get distracted with life. It’s so easy to focus on the negative things rather than just have gratitude for what your situation is or what you currently have. Our western culture has pushed this narrative on us that we have to be comfortable. That if we’re not comfortable, we must be doing something wrong. Finding joy in tough situations is uncomfortable. Doing something outside of your normal routine is uncomfortable. Comfort will kill and destroy you if you let it run your life and dictate your emotions. And here me out – I’m not saying that we need to give up air conditioning LOL, I’m talking about your wants versus your needs. I’m talking about finding joy even in the hard situations. Still thanking God for your most basic of needs being met even if the world is crumbling around you. I’m talking about being grateful for air that fills your lungs, eyes that see colors in the beauty of the sky at sunset, the smell of good food, -that’s the gratitude I’m talking about. It’s uncomfortable to find comfort even in things you may not truly understand or don’t have an explanation for.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven by a pasture full of horses and cattle and wished I had my own huge ranch to work on (and yes – I know the difficulty of how hard and dedicated you have to be to devote your life to it. I’ve experienced it firsthand and witnessed it too. I’ve been to many ranches and have talked to many ranchers. It’s not something that’s done overnight. But the life is worth it to some people). And there has been times I’ve let my mind wander the point of depression and tears because of what I did not have. I was missing the point. I was not focused on what I had. Now when I drive by these big pastures, I thank God for allowing me to see the beauty in them. I take enjoyment with seeing the beauty behind nature and His creation. I don’t get lost anymore in dreaming too much to a point where it becomes an idol or an obsession. Does that mean we should stop dreaming or wondering? No! Absolutely not. We should all work towards something if we are charged to do it and have a vision and a dream. What I’m simply saying is just don’t ideas, dreams, or visions become your identity to the point of where you are living in the future instead of the present. I’ve found joy in my current job and what I do because it’s important and it’s needed (and sometimes wild and crazily fun). Should that ever change it will because God changed it.
I remember during my time in the Army, I went through some type of training about resilience, and I can’t remember what it was called. But there was a phrase that we used to joke about called “hunt the good stuff.” It’s really a mind game you have to play with yourself to have gratitude in all seasons in your life. It’s very easy to spiral out of control and drive yourself into the ground in a deep dark depressive state. I’ve been there. I’ve tried to cope with it all. But taking the time to not only focus on the good, and thanking God even for the smallest things will impact your perspective. Give it a try and see what happens. I hope you all have a good week and enjoy the season change!
I’ve never actually seen this sign before. While driving down the road the other morning, I saw a yellow sign with the letters “Path Narrows.” Meaning, the sidewalk narrows down along the shoulder of the roadway. And then I immediately thought of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-14 which says:
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[f] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (New Living Translation).
The more and more I chose to discover God and to follow Jesus, the more I learn how narrow this road actually is and how difficult it can be at sometimes. This goes with everything in life. Personally, I’ve been learning how to embrace my discomfort and “suffering,” and letting God truly teach me in the right /correct ways I should be going. This past week was definitely a test for me. There’s much to talk about here so bear with me and stick around if you can.
Access – That Powerful Hour of Prayer
About a month or so ago, maybe a few months now, I discovered this church online out of Atlanta, Georgia called “2819.” It’s a small church but has a big internet/social media presence. The numbers 2819 come from a passage in Matthew 28:19 which states:
19 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (New Living Translation).
I’m sure by now you have seen this church trending in social media about the event called “Access,” a prayer event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta which occurred this past Sunday October 12th. If you have not, about 30,000 to 40,000 people showed up to pray. Yes, you read that right. For prayer. The leader of this church has a passion for God and the spread of the gospel. I wouldn’t say he has a “fire and brimstone” style of preaching, but rather a calling to preach the entire truth of God’s word and not only the topics to make you feel good. He preaches and proclaims words from the scriptures which will convict you and cause you to think. I saw snippets of his preaching on Instagram and created an algorithm where I would hear him preach more. Then I started watching his sermons on YouTube, and then ultimately tuning in virtually on Sundays, being dubbed a “digital disciple” as the church calls it. Alot of what he said stuck with me and convicted me of things in my life that needed to change. Phillip Anthony Mitchell does a fantastic job of preaching the word of God. And for the record I am not here to idolize, worship, or place him on a pedestal. I am only stating the way he teaches and preaches is convicting for many people. It is truly a gift from God himself. He explicitly instructs and challenges everyone to read the scriptures for themselves. He also instructs everyone to not simply get their biblical information from social media and him. He aggressively tells people who hears his voice, whether in person or through the screen, to pray and read the bible for themselves and to not simply just take his word for it. All this leads up to the event Access I went to this past Sunday.
Earlier in the year 2819 church decided to host a prayer event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. This event was planned where Christ followers could gather and pray together for many different things. Everything was on the table for prayer. The more and more the church talked about the event, I felt this stirring in my soul that I needed to go. I wanted to go. Not to be entertained, but to be in the presence of God with other believers. For God to truly hear and see how serious we are about Him (Sounds crazy right? We could just pray at home and in church, but is it really that crazy? We will drive or fly to a concert to see our favorite musician, or a sporting event, so why not gather together for God? Doesn’t seem so crazy when you put it that way now does it?). I made the decision that I wanted to go and started to plan for it. I reached out to my brother and asked if he wanted to go. We both were going to attend and pray for our families, joining in unison with others to pray for the issues happening around the world and in our society. And for our own personal issues and prayer requests. You see, Access was a corporate prayer event. The purpose was to join together in prayer; voices heard in unison to open a “portal” towards heaven. To bang on heaven’s door that God’s people are serious about the Lord’s business. Does God hear our prayers anywhere at any time? Of course. But the act of doing something like this publicly and so openly shows how serious His people are about him. This was not an event to just pray for physical stuff or material items, but to really pour our hearts out for the issues of life and for God’s will to be done. The way it was planned and how it was explained was time would be set aside for individuals to pray for their specific individual needs and requests, and then time set aside to pray in unison for specific issues corporately. This would all be done in an hour followed up worship. Hence why 2819 also dubbed it “that powerful hour of prayer.”
About a week before the event, my brother informed me he was not able to make it as plans had changed. That really bummed me out because I really did not want to go alone. And then my soul stirred again: I needed to bring my family to this event. This kind of caught me off guard because I was not planning on taking them. And the only reason and excuse I tried to give myself was out of fear. Fear for being in an unfamiliar city (a big city at that), fear over the possibly of a mass shooting or a terrorist attack (as this was going to be a large gathering of Christian folk in a confined space), and just the uncertainty of not being in control and feeling like I would be on guard more than being there for God. But nonetheless, I pushed through that fear and made the decision to take my family. I booked the hotel room, and we were going be obedient to what God called me to do in that moment. The plan was to leave on Sunday around 4:30 AM and drive to Atlanta, putting us there around 12:00 PM as the church requested people to start showing up around that time. The doors to the arena would open at 3:00 PM, allowing adequate time to get in. The prayer would begin at 5:00 PM. But before I get into the details of the day, the week leading up was challenging in itself.
During the week leading up to the event, I was preparing my heart and my mind for what I thought was going to encounter and experience. I even attempted to fast on Friday, just to get my mindset right. But in doing so I discovered that I was fasting wrong. It was a good learning experience for me to really learn on what it meant to fast and the application for it, so I know for next time. (For those that do not know, fasting is abstinence from food for a period(s) of time. It’s meant to focus the attention on Christ and to take the attention off of our humanness, denying ourselves. There are many different reasons to fast. Jesus fasted for 40 days, and He commanded in the scriptures “when you fast” so it is obligatory to do as such). The following day (Saturday) I went and took care of some errands and hung out with my family for a bit. But later that evening, this wall and overwhelming sense of depression and nervousness came over me. And it came out of nowhere. I was snippy towards my family. I began to feel sad and upset and just depressed. I even asked my wife if we should even continue to go. I began to doubt, to worry, and be afraid. Worried that my truck would break down or worried something bad would happen. But through some prayer and some grit, I pushed those emotions aside and listened to my wife’s words of encouragement that we needed to go as a family. So we went to bed, barely slept, and that alarm at 4:00 AM came quick. We were then out the door and on the road.
The drive was approximately 6 hours. I love road trips and enjoy driving (75 mph in the middle and right lanes, I got the best fuel mileage ever in my truck LOL). We only had to stop twice (once for fuel and a bathroom break) but nonetheless, we made it to Atlanta around 12:00PM. When I turned down the street where the arena was, I was OVERWHELMED with the amount of people I saw. I mean let me tell you, the feeling in the pit of my stomach of the anxiety and nervousness of how crowed it was. The line to get in the area was so full and packed full of people, it had wrapped around the building twice. And mind you we haven’t event parked yet. That was the next challenge. But somehow, and I believe through the Lord’s blessing, I found a parking spot close by and was able to park. I was able to pay and did not have any issues with that. We gathered our belongings and began to walk as a family towards the arena.
The amount of people already on site was astronomical. We couldn’t even find where the line began. The line was wrapped around the arena at least two times. We had no idea where the end of the line began. And this entire time, I had doubts, fear, and anxiety almost crippling me. I was so overwhelmed with the fact that I was in such a confined public space and exposed to danger, that I almost turned around to get back to the safety of my truck and leave. But I kept hearing in my mind over and over, “faith without works is dead,” referencing a passage in James 2:26:
26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[d] so also faith is dead without good works. (New Living Translation).
I even saw people wearing clothing that said, “faith over fear.” So, I dug down with the grit that I had, and we pushed on through the fear. I had no idea where we were going, but it we tried to find the end of the line to get in. Eventually I made the decision to find some shade as it was starting to get hot. I wasn’t as concerned where the line began now but wanted to make sure there was shade for my wife and kids. Near the arena was a patch of grass people were lined up around with were some trees along the permitter. So, we took shade underneath on of the trees and relaxed for a bit. We talked with different people from various parts of the United States and watched all the kids play together in the grass. The lines were getting bigger, and the crowds were still growing! It was honestly a sight to behold. There was also another group that had showed up to protest. Who protests at a prayer event? Either way I was past being fearful and scared so didn’t give them any thought or attention. I continued on with talking with others in line with me.
The line eventually started moving and we ended up moving from the shady spot to underneath an electronic billboard sign. It was finally 3:00 PM and the doors opened. People were starting to finally go into the arena. The line was moving very slow. So slow that I started to think that we are probably not going to get inside the arena. Why? Because the State Farm Arena can only hold somewhere between 17,000 – 21,000 people based upon the configuration they have setup for whatever event. Well 4:30 PM came and the news started to spread across the crowd that they were at max capacity. The doors were then shut, and they were directing people to the overflow at the Georgia World Congress Center. That place was rapidly filling up, and we were blocks away from there. So, after standing in line for over 5 hours, hot, sweaty, tired and hungry, I made the decision to take the family back to the tree where we first arrived to for shade. We then prayed together for a short time. Once we were done, we navigated through the crowded streets, found my truck, and went to the hotel room to check in for the night and relax before heading home the following day.
The Theme of Being Obedient
So, we didn’t get to go inside. Time wasted right? I mean 5 hours of standing outside, sweating in the heat, dealing with large crowds, people cutting in line, children who became uncomfortable, no food, no water, no bathroom, was all for nothing? Nope. It wasn’t about any of that. I truly believe I was supposed to stand in that line and wait. Wait for God. Why though? The simplest answer: Because God said so. And sometimes that’s the only answer you’ll get. For the first time in my life, I heard a call to do something. And that something was to drive to Atlanta, Georgia on a Sunday with my family. Yes, I was sad I didn’t get to experience what others were seeing and feeling inside the arena, and yes, I wanted to pray with others for the issues at hand and experience the absolute presence of God. But in that moment, I had to reject my feelings about what I wanted and reject my expectations. It wasn’t about what I wanted. And once again I had trust God in that He knew what He was doing. When we began to leave the arena and head back to my truck, I saw people worshiping and praying in the streets. Singing songs and being joyful. God’s presence was not limited to just a building. The amount of people who were joyful and showed up for God was astounding. My experience with Access and fellowshipping with 2819 church was not about me, it was about being obedient. I had to confront my fears of things which could possibly go wrong. I had to push through my emotions and get out of my comfort zone. Had I let my fears decide my fate and I listened to my emotions, I would have regretted it very much. And through this whole experience I’ve learned about the importance of obedience and just listening for God. It’s not easy. Choosing this life is not easy at all, but again it’s not about us. Once you get past that hurdle realizing that life is not about what you can get out of it, but rather what you can do for God, your life will change drastically. I know this was a long read but thank you for taking the time to read through it all. I hope it brings encouragement to you.
I’d like to start today with a question: Has there ever been a time in your life you have heard from God? It could be something big or small, through a song, through your heart, through a friend, but really ask yourself – have you heard from God? If your answer is no or you seem unsure as to why not, let me ask you another question – Have you ever listened for God? Have you ever taken the time to just sit and listen and wait for a response? Not many of us have actually done that.
It’s not a secret in our western culture that our lives are so full of noise. Families, relationships, social media, loud exhausts on vehicles, headphones in the gym, even in a classic Christmas movie –
“…and then, oh, the noise! Oh the noise, noise, noise, NOISE! They’ll bang on tong-tinglers. They’ll blow their floo-flounders. They’ll crash on jang-jinglers and bounce on boing-bounders.” (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)“
We are in a constant state of noise and wonder why we have so much anxiety built up and can’t sleep at night. We sit and “doomscroll” daily with 15 to 30 second video clips on Instagram and YouTube and wonder why we have so many issues resting our minds. We were never designed to absorb so much information so fast. So, I’ll ask a question similar to the one I asked before – Have you ever taken the time to just sit in silence? If you’re a military veteran like me, it’s hard to do because all you hear is that awful ringing in your ear from tinnitus. But if you can manage to sit in utter silence and not say anything for a while, it can be powerful.
I was watching an Instagram clip the other day like I normally do. I’m also a victim of the doomscrolling so if I called it out, I’m guilty of it too. I’ve tried to get my algorithm right with things that are encouraging and fulfilling. Sometimes I get some funny stuff, but I’ve tried to get rid of the nonsense. I came across this pastor who I’ve been following on IG. His name is Preston Morrison. I saw this IG reel in which he spoke about not talking or saying anything but rather being silent in God’s presence and waiting until you’ll hear Him. Below is the clip – give it a watch:
So that got me thinking – If you personally know me, you know how much I like to talk. I am always trying to talk and speak. And sometimes it’s a competition to who can take control of the conversation and lead it. Even if I do not have anything productive to say, I just talk. But this moment seemed different. To give a quick backstory to all this – I woke up one morning in March of this year and really felt a tug in my soul to start reading my bible again and to start taking it seriously. To start taking God and sin seriously. Since then, I’ve been really digging deep, trying to get into a routine where He is a part of my daily lifestyle. Not as a religious thing or a cliche label, but more so to just spend that time with God.
If you have a family, kids, or close friends, you want to spend time with them naturally. You do activities, hang out, watch movies, etc. But if you only spent 1 hour on Sunday with them and didn’t do anything during the week and communicate with them, what kind of relationship do you think you would have? It sounds absurd right? Who in a committed relationship would do that? But It’s the same thing with God. Many of us only give him that little slice of time on a Sunday and that’s it for the week. So, there’s really no relationship or communion. You’ve only checked off the box. And again, I am not perfect because I struggle with all of you. I’m looped in the same category which is why I’m always continuing to grow and learn. I just want to say it publicly so you all can see we are not alone in this.
So, when I got done seeing this IG post, I went into my room and sat at my computer. It’s hard for me to sit in utter silence because of my tinnitus, so I have a fan and put on some instrumental worship music I found on YouTube. And I just sat at my desk. Eyes closed and didn’t say a word. I focused on my breathing and just relaxed. And I thought about my life. My past, the present, and where I would like to go in the future. I didn’t meditate on “the universe trying to validate my feelings”, I just mediated on God, where God brought me, and what He has done for me. Below is one of the videos I sat and listened to giving the credit to William Augusto.
I have a journal that my mother gave to me in 2013 right before I deployed to Afghanistan. In that journal were the words of many people who knew my family and me. Many people wrote in it. There were words of encouragement, words of wisdom, and things that people wrote to me I never really cherished until many many years later. So while I sat at my desk and kept silent, I wrote in that journal. I wrote about the exact things we are discussing right now. I wrote to myself, and I wrote to God. And after I was done, I sat in silence for some more time. Then I flipped to the very first page in the journal. My old High School Principal/Headmaster wrote in there giving me words of encouragement. (And Mr. Salvatelli if you ever see this thank you from the bottom of my heart).
You see, what I haven’t discussed yet is for a long time I was feeling a sense of hopelessness, worry, and anxiety about my future. Like my life wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I felt that after doing 11 years in the military and doing over 10+ years in the public sector, I felt as if I’ve already lived my life to the fullest. That things were already set to remain as they are until it’s time to die. But I read the first thing my High School principal wrote which was Psalm 32:8 (NKJV) –
8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."
Another version says this:
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." (New Living Translation)
Then he wrote to me “when the Lord has instructed, you are ready.” Mind you, these words were written to me over 13 years ago as I was preparing to head to Afghanistan for 9 months. But in 2025, these words rang true. For a long time, I had many desires that were above just wanting God. I was worried about the future and about life. But after reading those words, it was like God directly speaking to me in a small whisper like voice. Telling me personally that he will guide my life, advise me, and watch over me. But God also has a very funny sense of humor. The next verse in Psalm 32:9 said this:
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
I read this verse and laughed out loud in tears hysterically. You see I love horses and the western lifestyle and culture. Horses have impacted my life in a very special way. They are so and near and dear to me. In fact, when I came home from a military deployment in 2021, my mother-in-law’s Quarter Horse/Morgan really helped me with my mental health. And one of the things I really desire to have in life is to be around horses and live that lifestyle. I’d consider myself a decent rider, but I definitely do not know it all. There’s a lot more I will share regarding my “horse life” later on in another blog post.
But through the laughter there was a lesson with this too. With most horses, you need a bit and bridle to turn their head and help them move where you want to go. Some horses are more stubborn than others. But with enough training and time, the rider will develop a special bond. When the bond between horse and rider is in sync with one another, the need for a bit and bridle is not heavily relied on as the horse will rely on the “cues” you give them. I took this commentary out of my study bible:
“God describes some people as being like horses or mules that have to be controlled by bits and bridles. Rather than letting God guide them step by step, they stubbornly leave God only one option. If God was to keep them useful for him, he must use discipline and punishment. God longs to guide us with love and wisdom rather than punishment. He offers to teach us with the best way to go. Accept the advice written in God’s word and don’t let your stubbornness keep you from obeying God.”
Sometimes, God has to use a special bit to get our attention and to guide us where we need to go. The goal is hopefully as you get older and walk with God more, the need to use a bit goes away and you rely on His “cues” to lead and direct you. I hope and pray that this post here brings you some encouragement. I enjoyed writing it and hope you the reader are encouraged.
-Mike
This is Mo. She was my mother-in-law’s Morgan/Quarter Horse. I loved her deeply and in 2023 we had to say goodbye to her. She was 28-years-old.
Something significant happened to me today when I was on my way to the gym and it destroyed my heart…It absolutely crushed me. Bear with me here please. And before I go any further, I just want to set the record straight and declare publicly – “God is absolutely NOT dead.” So please don’t turn away from reading. Keep reading. It’s not going to take that long.
I was sitting at a traffic light waiting to for the light to change so I could turn. When the light cycled, I made the turn, straightened out my truck, and kept heading in the direction I needed to go. For those that do not know, I live in Florida. Our state laws do not require us to have a front license plate, so for the most part you can put anything you want on the front of your vehicle where a front license plate would go. Alot of people have custom emblems, their favorite sports teams, etc., etc., (you get the idea). Well, I happened to pass by this car going in the opposite direction and the front plate caught my attention. In bright bold red letters it said “GOD IS DEAD.” When I saw those words, my heart sank, like someone just handed me a 1000-pound boulder and the weight of it crushed me. It really made me so upset that I started praying out of grief for whoever that person was. And mind you, I did not see them or make eye contact with them, so I had no clue who I was praying for, but I knew needed to pray, and pray specifically for them.
I prayed the rest of my way to the gym and once I got there I checked in and began working out, but I could not focus at all. I was still bothered by the fact that someone thought God was dead. Then I began thinking how common that mindset is in our communities and society. Think about it for a second- How many of us have had that mindset before? I know I have. Maybe not thinking God is flat out dead but thinking He’s just not interested in what’s going on in the world or truly cares about what happens to us. Some people also tend to view God as a “thing” or a deity that just set the world in motion and is no longer interested in interacting with us the created. Or what about those who feel God isn’t present because there’s so much evil running rampant in the world with so much chaos that we actually question where God is and what he’s doing? You know the question heard all the time – If God is real why is there so much evil in the world? That’s a discussion for a later time and the short answer to that question is because of the free choice and free will us men and women have. God is not a magician, and we are not robots. We have a free choice to do evil or to do good. And because we are evil and fallen, born into it by nature, we need redemption because we cannot save ourselves. God is holy and cannot know sin. Hence why Jesus comes in and provides that salvation which connects the gap between creation and God. More to follow on this at a later time – I have to finish my first thought lol.
I’m reminded of the prophet Habakkuk who complained to God about this exact thing. Evil occurred during his time between 612 BC and 589 BC and was running rampant with no end in sight. Habakkuk literary complained to God and in his complaint, God answered him. (The book of Habakkuk is only 3 chapters long and the main theme discusses Habakkuk’s struggle and doubt, God’s sovereignty, and hope. It also talks about Habakkuk being troubled and brining those troubles to God with God ultimately answering him. I would encourage you to read it. I took the source of this information out of Tyndale House Publishers Life Application Study Bible – New Living Translation Second Edition – Published in 2007. Below is the link to Habakkuk 3 from http://www.biblegateway.com)
I was also reminded of the times where I see God, especially right before I go into work during the nighttime hours. I always see a beauty in a sunset It reminded me of Psalm 19:
Psalm 19 For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.[a] 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. 6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Footnotes
19:3 Or There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Times are absolutely rough right now for a lot of people. There is a lot of questions people have and there are a lot more questions answers. I sure do not have all the answers, but I just want to be an encouraging voice that helps to remind you that yes there is a God, yes He is in control, and yes we need to just be patient sometimes. You can always pray and talk to God wherever you’re at. And you don’t have to have all the answers. Just take some time to rest your mind. And always Pray. I hope this encouraged someone.
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