Trying to Survive

Two weeks ago, Arkansas had a down pouring of rain. Jay’s crop was hit with floodwaters. In some areas, 14 inches. Jay being chairman of the board of Producers Rice Mill he gets to share with others what happens to the crops when heavy rain hits. He showed rice that was coming up. The plant was trying to stretch out of the water. The plant was trying to survive.  

Last year a pandemic hit our country. Covid attacked countries harming people in many ways. We were disconnected from everything ordinary. We stayed at home, kept 6 feet apart, and wore masks. We were fearful, we were anxious, and we were unsure of many things. The vaccine scared many, and some still choose not to be vaccinated. We thought that once 2020 was over, we would be in the clear, but here we are in 2021, and we are still just like the rice plant trying to survive.  

We are trying to get back to what our normal use to be, but things have changed. Covid has given people excuses in some ways not to attend or be present.  This being present isn’t just at activities such as church but they are also not present for others.   Some are still filled with anxiety and fear. Uncertainty continues to reign. On top of Covid, people have still had loss and sorrow. We are all still struggling. We have to learn how to cope with so much and many of us aren’t equipped.  

As I wrote, I continued to write the word we. WE are trying to survive; WE are still struggling. We are trying to do so much.

As I listened to brother Bryan last week and his sermon, it hit me. I know what the problem is?  

In the Bible, Abraham and Sarah wanted a child. Sarah wanted a child so badly that she took matters into her own hands. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out so well. She ended up bitter and mad. She was impatient and couldn’t wait on the way God wanted the situation to play out. She wanted it fixed, and she wanted it fixed now. She didn’t want to wait on God to fix the problem, even though He had told Abraham, you will be the father of many nations.  (Genesis)

Does this sound familiar? Do we want our lives fixed from the current situation of 2020 now?

Move on to the Israelites walking in the wilderness. They were tired and worn out. They were so exhausted from wondering how to get to the promised land they even thought they shouldn’t have left Egypt. They were getting close to their dream. Moses sent 12 men to look at the new ground. Two men came back and were so excited, ready to go they trusted God’s plan, but the other ten no way. They were scared and refused to go forward. Why didn’t they believe? Why didn’t they trust God? Even though God said, I have this land for you, even though God said go they had little faith.   (Numbers)

Peter, Peter walked on water when he looked at Jesus. When he took his focus off of him, he began to sink.  

In these situations, the people were making their own decisions, doing it their way, thinking as I, what I think. They were impatient; they were nervous, anxious, not trusting, not faithful. They were taking their eyes off of Christ.  

Then we skip to the Sermon on the Mount. Thousands came to hear Jesus speak. Jesus spoke and spoke. The people became hungry and tired. The disciples told Jesus the people are ready to go you need to wrap it up, but Jesus said, bring me fish. By Jesus’s hand, the people were fed. They were fed his way, not their way. They were satisfied. God fed them all.  (Matthew)

Just like the people in Biblical times, everyone is trying to survive. Everyone is trying to move through life one day at a time.  The one problem we all have is trying to take situations and circumstances into our own hands. Look at the stories in the Bible when they did it their way, but then look at the stories in the Bible when it was done God’s way.  

I heard a song the other day by Reba Macintyre- Back to God. The lyrics say, “the only answer is to give the world back to God.” Maybe that is what we need to try to do to survive. Instead of surviving by me and My, perhaps we should shift to we and work with God to survive. 

Do it His way.  

Start today surviving His way. If you keep the week’s challenges that I give, it is a great place to start.

Challenges of the week:

• Keep your daily appointment with Christ
• Dive deep into His word
• Go to God in prayer and ask for guidance and how to do every day His way
• Fill your cup with Christ