Several months ago, I was called in to work unexpectedly for a looming hurricane and had to miss Sunday church services at Bold City Church. Luckily, as our Serve Team Coordinator, I was able to swing by to say hello to our teams and help out during our tear down after the 11am service. Just one of the many perks of being a mobile church! During that time, I was talking with Pastor Jason and his young son Liam had wandered off just a short distance away to check out a large rain puddle. Pastor Jason kept saying "Don't do it, Liam,” while Liam looked back at him with a look any of us parents recognize. He was away from his father and the temptation was too great. Liam proceeded to jump right into that puddle and stomp and dance all around in it. 

I jokingly said, "Well that is a perfect analogy of our relationship with our Father, isn't it?" We can be led to ignore God's will and do what we want to do, usually bringing us immediate pleasure and satisfaction. That's the human, sinful nature in us, right? But I also sensed there was more to the story as God brought this analogy to mind. 

Soon, Liam left his puddle and was off to demolish another one when all of a sudden, he slipped and belly-flopped right into the second puddle. Like any toddler, he began to cry for help. He laid in his puddle sobbing and wet, not knowing just what to do. Pastor Jason walked over and lifted him up to comfort him and let him know that he was going to be okay. 

That is a beautiful picture of what our Father does for us as well. God's love and grace is there for us in the middle of our mess, despite our disobedience. How often we find ourselves soaked in our sin and mistakes, and our Father picks us up right where we are and comforts us, showering us with love and grace. 

We don't have to remain in our puddles nor do we have to keep returning to them. We simply have to listen and heed our Father's voice when He speaks to us. It is important to note that I couldn’t hear exactly what Pastor Jason was saying to his son in his moment of need. See, God speaks to each of us in the same way. His voice is found in the whisper, not the shout. That’s why we have to stay close to Him and in His Word! I encourage you to get in your secret place, in the Bible and prayer, every morning and seek His voice and His will for your life. When the Holy Spirit leads us, we can dance and flourish in the rain and maybe even avoid a few of the puddles that life throws our way.

Recently, I was driving to work, minding my own business, and a semi-truck unexpectedly pulled into my lane.  With about 5 feet between the front of my car and the rear of the trailer, my view of everything ahead was blocked.  I had an awesome view of that trailer but other things like upcoming traffic signals and other cars were totally blocked.  Because I drive this route daily, I knew that we were very close to an intersection and all I could see was this huge trailer.  With almost no thought, I took my foot off the gas pedal, checked my rearview mirror, and glanced to my right to see if I could change lanes.  

My reaction to the truck is a no-brainer now. However, that wasn’t always my reaction. I can remember times shortly after I started driving that my reaction was to get as close to the back of the truck as I could and hope that we both made it through the intersection without getting hit.  During those early years of driving, I thought getting close to the truck and hoping for the best was the way to go.

Fortunately, through experience and training and seeing how others reacted, I’ve learned a much better way to handle this type of situation.

Life is a lot like that drive to work.  One minute you’re cruising along minding your own business and the next minute a semi-truck is in your lane.  Many times, my reaction has been to get as close to whatever the problem was and simply hope for the best.  Again, through experience and training and seeing how others have reacted to life’s problems, I’ve learned a much better way to address them when they come up. 

Know that trouble and problems will come your way.  Call it “defensive driving” for life. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 
John 16:33

This doesn’t mean walking around just waiting for the next hammer to fall.  It means to live confidently knowing that no matter what happens, God is in control!

Know the rules of the road. 

Arm yourself with biblical truth (scriptures) that will produce calm, confident responses to all situations.  There are many verses that give comfort and direction when we face a trial.  Here are some verses that we can use as prayers during the situation: 

“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.” 
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

“And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 50:15 (NIV)

Take your foot off the gas pedal. 

Intentionally slow down and try to create space between you and the situation.  This slow down gives you time to seek God’s will regarding how He wants you to address the issue. Many times, this change of perspective will bring possible solutions into view. 

“But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Look all around for a way out. 

Whether it’s backward, to the side, or straight through, God will provide a way for any situation. 

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (TPT)  

This verse doesn’t mean we can’t or won’t be knocked down.  It doesn’t mean we can’t or won’t be hurt.  It means that God can and will help us up.  He can and will heal us.  Lastly, what seems like utter failure in my life can be used by God to bring about a victory in someone else’s situation.

Learn from experiences, both your own and the experiences of others.

Life is an ongoing lesson and we should never stop learning. When I started driving, I felt that the best reaction to that semi in my lane was to get as close to it as possible and hope for the best. I know now that was far from a good plan. By the grace of God, I learned a better way gradually instead of having an accident.  The most eye-opening moment I can recall was being in the car with someone else driving who reacted in a much more appropriate manner.  When we keep ourselves surrounded in Biblical community, we get to see how our brothers and sisters in Christ face life’s up and downs. It gives us the chance to teach and learn from each other. 

“In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function.  And so it is in the body of Christ.  For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ.  This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others.”  Romans 12:4-5 TPT

One of the most amazing things about this formula of being as prepared as possible, being grounded in the Word, slowing down to seek God’s direction and will, recognizing and utilizing the solution He will provide, and remaining in community is that it works in all situations. Good or bad, big or small, it works. If we do our part, God will do His part. The catch here is that, like all skills, this takes practice. If we think of and use this formula as a failsafe, we are missing out. If we continuously apply this formula to our lives as our “Plan A” it becomes a lifestyle.

If I apply the driving analogy to my life to determine growth, I’ve come a long way. I started out with flawed, panicked, sometimes dangerous reactions to life’s unexpected twists and turns. Now, my reaction is much more controlled….by Him. I’m learning to follow the formula. Eventually, as I drive through this life, I’ll be constantly scanning front to back, top to bottom. Always, looking for what life brings, big or small good or bad.  Always seeking and applying God’s will to what life offers.  Always fully engaged in Biblical community, leaning on and supporting my brothers and sisters.  And I won’t even be distracted by the radio.

My driving is better than it used to be, but I want it to keep getting better.

How’s your driving?

Would you like to become brand new?

What exactly do I mean by “brand new?” No doubt you know this term in its worldly sense. We all long to drive off the lot in a brand new car (tell me you didn’t read that in the Price is Right voice.) We all dream about building that brand new home to raise a family in. Or, if you’re like me, you love that feeling of slipping on a brand new pair of shoes. 

One of the synonyms you’ll come across when searching this term and the one I think best describes how I’m going to use it is “pristine.” Merriam-Webster defines it as this: in its original condition; unspoiled; clean and fresh as if new; spotless. 

So when I speak of becoming brand new, think about becoming pristine. I’m talking about you, your spirit, the very essence of all that you are, the inner mash-up of soul, personality and all your life’s influence that combine to make up the person that is reading along here and now.

In life, we’re molded and shaped by our surrounding environment and that setting isn’t always life-giving. Maybe for you it was a chaotic home life with a void left by an absentee father. Or maybe you’ve found yourself like my daughter, just shy of seven years old and your mother was called home to heaven much earlier than expected. Many of us have something that has manifested inside our souls to create a hole we yearn to fill. Sex, drugs, pornography, alcohol, food, shopping, gossip and many other distractions are powerful tools that the enemy uses to get his hooks in you one way or another. In 1 Peter 5:8 it says, “...Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Perhaps you’ve felt that in some way. I know I have. 

When God is not the center of your life, the enemy will use any possible piece of your life to gain a foothold. 

Sometimes, this will happen in a way that might take years or even decades for you to fully realize. As I grew into adulthood, some footholds in my life turned into strongholds. They stirred up a chaotic emptiness in my soul and I would search for anything to quiet the storm. The beginning of 1 Peter 5:8 says “Be alert and of sober mind...” I went a long time failing to do just that.

Beginning in my early 20’s, I lost myself in an opiate addiction that lasted nearly 15 years. When a hook like that snags you, the enemy takes hold and it can pull you down to depths you never imagined could exist. It can imprison you in a dark pit of despair where there’s barely a light to be found. It will cloud your vision, harden your heart, and steal your hope. It’s a suffocation so evil it will tear away the very fabric of your existence and rot away the sanctity of your marriage while morphing you into a failing father. But, here’s the beauty of our merciful and graceful Heavenly Father: there is no soul beyond restoration. No brokenness He can not mend. Don’t believe me?

Let me take you back a little: it’s Christmas 2018 and there I find myself in a jail cell...yet again. I was beginning to lose count of the arrests at that point. The gut-wrenching sickness you feel when you wake up on Christmas morning and, instead of hearing the sweet sound of your precious daughter’s excited voice, you hear the clanging of the cold, metal doors to your 8x10 cell. That’s a darkness I wish on no one. Shameful. Worthless. Depressed. Just pick a negative feeling and I am sure I felt it at that moment. Can’t get worse than that. 

But, here’s the thing about rock bottom: if you continue to give the enemy control of your life, he’ll just keep digging the hole deeper. There is no real bottom. The next day, December 26th, 2018, I awoke to that now all too familiar sound. Although I didn’t know it when waking, for better or worse this day would come to set the tone for the rest of my life. At 9:00am I was led to a small room and through a plexiglass window, I was told that my wife had passed away. In the middle of the night while sleeping peacefully, she left this life. She was 33 years old and my very best friend.

In the middle of all those circumstances, how did I wrap my head around it all? Well, I don’t know that I did. The memory of that day is a blur. One clear view through the midst of the fog is the face of a man who means the world to me. If you call Bold City Church your home, he’s your Lead Pastor. The words of Jason Masters hit home that day and still echo in my thoughts often. He told me that what I chose to do moving forward could change the course of my future family’s history. Generations could be changed and saved by the actions I took from that moment on. 

That night, after I climbed up to my bed on the top bunk, staring at my cinder block surroundings, I tried to collect myself and conjure up some kind of plan moving forward. Obviously, I needed some supernatural assistance. Nothing in this world was going to deliver me out of the depths I was in and to the heights I hoped to reach. I had searched everywhere to find it and it didn’t exist. I needed something more. My daughter deserved something more. 

So, I did what I should’ve done many times before. I asked God to help me and prayed for Him to give me an encouraging word. Here’s what He told me in that moment, “My son, I love you and I’m so sorry you’re here. We have two options, two stories you can write. The first is you go on trying to lead yourself and control your everyday life. Do that and when Reese is your age she’ll tell of the loss of her mother and a failed father. A childhood filled with missed opportunities and sadness. Or you can give me the reins, have faith, and trust me with everything you’ve got. Do that and Reese will still tell of a lost mother, but she’ll also tell of a redeemed father. One who stepped up and led her to a life full of joy and peace. She’ll tell of an unbreakable bond with her Daddy that not only molded and shaped her, but countless others as well. Let me work through you and let’s see what we can do together.” 

In that moment, He also reminded me of a scripture I first read in jail a couple years before. It’s James 1:12 and it says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that The Lord has promised to those who love him.” So I made up my mind to battle. I made up my mind that no matter how rocky or stormy the seas became, when He calls me out of the boat I’ll reach for His hand and trust Him fully. 

In the time since, instead of cowering in the fetal position and feeling pity for my situation and what my life had become, with God as my strength, I picked myself up and vowed to fight with every fiber of my being. From the deepest depths of my soul I would rage against the very darkness that once filled it. 

What’s my ultimate goal in sharing this with you? I simply want you to feel the freedom I now feel, too. Perhaps your story is different from mine, but you find yourself also missing something. Maybe you can’t even put your finger on it, but you feel it’s emptiness nevertheless. Whether you realize it or not, we’re immersed in spiritual warfare everyday of our lives. Remember 1 Peter 5:8? If you’ve felt Satan’s grip on you in any way; I’m sorry. I empathize with you and I love you. But now, it’s time to join me in the fight! 

How do I fight something I can’t always see, touch, or hear? Fortunately, God tells us how. 

 ”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:10-17

After reading that, maybe you find yourself thinking like I once did: How do I apply this to my everyday life in a practical way? Well, it’s simple enough. Make your secret place your top priority. Begin everyday in silence then worship, just you and God. Talk to Him. Ask Him things. Pray for revelation in your life. Pray for blessings over your family. Open your Bible, read it, and actually do what it’s telling you to do. Begin to practice all of that and your life will look radically different in the best way you could possibly imagine. Trust me, I know. 

Now, it’s time for you to get in the game. As I’ve learned all too well, this life can end in an instant. You must make the most of it. God has promises on your life and wants to take you to new heights! You’ve got this. Keep in mind, if Satan ever tries to remind you of the past from which you came, just stop and pray a verse I’ve often prayed Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”