Obedience is Success: Darkness will not overcome Light

You hear it, an almost incessant buzz in your mind causing no little irritation right behind your eyes. The refrain is almost always the same . . . "It doesn't matter what you do, you will probably blow it." Like gnats ruining a beautiful summer picnic, the constant nag of failure buzzes around your mind and your heart as you try to put the "good face" on and persevere.

I've heard that buzz before. It seems to be the haunt of the human species. It hovers in the background (especially when life appears to be going off the rails). The song is not one we like, but it seems like a constant soundtrack.

If you are hearing the siren song of failure lately, let me offer this attempt at encouragement. Your attempts to do the right thing are not failures. Things may not have worked out as you hoped, that is true! Things may even seem to "blow up" as you try to do what is right. Been there, done that. Nonetheless, the fact that you looked for and attempted the right thing speaks of success and not failure.

Obedience is success. I've discovered that there is an obedience to faith. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that obedience is the evidence of faithful loyalty to God and to his Messiah. If you have attempted to obey God, if you have aimed yourself in the direction of following Jesus faithfully, then you have not failed.

Yes, there may still be darkness and the stagnant soundtrack of "failure" may still play in your head. I understand, but I have also learned that the song of failure rarely plays when I do nothing. Remember, there is no shadow without the light. When you faithfully follow the Light, there will no doubt be some times when the shadows show up.

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul admitted to some dark moments in his ministry. He even notes that he was overwhelmed "beyond our strength ​— ​so that we even despaired of life itself." (2 Cor. 1:8). Elijah (in 1 Kings 19) despaired of his ministry and in fear of his life hid in a cave. The Bible shows us many examples of people who did the right thing and shortly after encountered shadows.

Why? It is reminder that the world we live in now has darkness, but the better news is that a dawn is breaking and light is shining. The same God who delivered us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will be faithful to complete the work he began in us.

I wish I could take the shadow away, I wish I could sing a song that would replace that woeful failure soundtrack once for all. I am not that talented, but I know that one day these things will pass. One day we will see the Light of God shine with no shadow. One day we will be in his presence and the song of Moses will replace the soundtrack of failure. Soon . . . hopefully very soon . . . Satan will be crushed beneath our feet.

Until then, know that I am praying with and for you. I understand what it means to feel fragile, to be in the valley of "failure." Nonetheless, I want us to turn our faces to Jesus, the one who enlightens every person, and I want us to walk faithfully towards that Light. Come on, you can even lean on me if you need (and we'll no doubt find ourselves leaning on him--the Solid Rock). I see you, and I am confident that God will honor your obedience. Further up and further in. Head towards the Light, weary pilgrim . . . we are almost home.

"Failed": A Word of Encouragement to those who think they are "Failures"

 “Failed.” Your greatest fear realized, you are certain you have failed. I mean, just look around at everyone else. They are succeeding. Their acclaim is clear. They are “living the dream,” and here you sit, failing again. I get it, you really tried. You had aspirations, dreams, you even put in some hard work to achieve what you thought was your “destiny.” You even experienced some early success—people seemed to clamor for your help, for your attention, for your advice. Now? Well, now you just sit wondering what happened. You went from helping hundreds (Is “thousands” too arrogant?) to basically being ignored. I understand. You hoped for more, longed for it, you even tried your best to obtain it.

“Failed.” It stings especially since no one wants to be second place (or, WORSE, “last” place)! How I hate failure, and yet how often I have felt like that is only thing at which I seem to succeed (there is an irony there, succeeding at failing). So, what do you do? Quit? That’s just more failure. No, here’s what you will do: you’ll get up tomorrow, brush your teeth, put on your clothes, and you’ll go out and live a life of service to others even if no one notices.

Here is the rub, though, people do notice. In fact, there are many (I am among them) who see your perseverance and stubborn obedience to Jesus and are encouraged. Your continued faithfulness to serve God and to serve others is evidence of a success. Right now it feels like “failure” is all you can see, but you need to understand that the story isn’t over yet. What seems like “failure” may result in amazing victory, only time will tell.

When you think you’ve failed, remember this: Jesus knows you and your heart. If you are heading towards him, you are no failure. There are also many of us who take courage from so-called “failures” like you. We see your faithfulness and your stubborn willingness to follow God no matter what, and we see HOPE and SUCCESS. I understand it doesn’t “feel” that way, but it is true nonetheless. Jesus is here for you, and so am I. I want to learn from and to bless you! Walk on, weary pilgrim, you aren’t home yet, and your witness/work here is not done. We need you!

The Long Winding Road to Emmaus: Retold for Contemporary Pilgrims

“O Lord my God, when the storm is loud, and the night is dark, and the soul is sad, and the heart oppressed; then, as a weary traveler, may I look to you; and beholding the light of your love, may it bear me on, until I learn to sing your song in the night. Amen.” From Little Book of Prayers by George Dawson.

Job 13:15a "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him." (NASU)

Luke 24:21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened." (NASU)

Sometimes in the midst of the trials and burdens of life, we lose sight of our anchor. We feel tossed and thrown as on a wild and restless sea. Our emotions tell us that things will never be good, all will be despair and loss. Our hope seems shipwrecked, our desire to go on in life sinks into depression. We see nothing good, only evil all around us. Our enemies (both physical and spiritual) seem to have the upper hand, they seem to be winning the day. Things are just not working out the way we expected! The victory we felt sure would come has not yet manifested itself, and we feel ourselves sinking ever deeper into a pit in which we cannot get the proper traction to climb. The clock is ticking down, our hope is gone, our day is over, and Christ has not come.

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, we had hoped that Jesus would be the one who would rescue us. We had fervently prayed that maybe, just maybe, today would be the day when we would “live happily ever after” and find our dreams coming true. We shake our heads and go out for a walk. Maybe some fresh air and a quick walk will clear out the cob webs in our minds. Still, the topic of our recent failure hangs like a cloud over our heads, raining down doubt and fear.

We chat quietly together, commiserating a bit in our sorrow, in our recent loss. We try to remember all the "good reasons" we came to this time--like the first time we heard the story of Jesus, or the first time we met him, or even when we experienced firsthand some of his mighty works. Still, sorrow clings to our soul like a wet coat in a sudden thunderstorm. We can't get rid of the sense of sadness, it is drenched on us and sticks to our bodies. We wonder why we even brought the subject up and continue to make our journey in silence. Maybe time alone with our thoughts will help.

Suddenly, a stranger approaches. He seems rather ignorant of our experiences, and besides that he has a fairly sunny disposition. He is definitely someone we want to avoid at this moment. No pie in the sky false hope will satisfy us. We fear that he will say something like, “Cheer up! Keep a stiff upper lip! Things will work out in the end!” We try to avoid the stranger, yet he resolutely comes our direction. He seems determined to interrupt our brooding, our despair. He is on a mission, and we seem to be his primary targets. We try to ignore him, but then he speaks.

“So, what’s going on? Why the sad face?” he inquires. Out of pure human kindness we try to explain our pain in as brief a manner as possible. We do not want to burden strangers with our “little” concerns, after all. The stranger hears our story and stands tall. Looking at us he says boldly, “Foolish ones, slow of heart to believe what God has said!”

The force of his accusation causes us to stumble in our walk. How dare this stranger tell us our business? How dare he interject his thoughts into our moment of pain, our sorrow? Just who does he think he is to interrupt our musings with his “pollyanna” announcement? We look at him with disdain and think that he likely has nothing of real value to offer.

Then, he begins to speak to us again. Starting with the beginning of our story and bringing us pretty much up to date he tells us things we knew but somehow in our anguish had forgotten. As he speaks, our hearts get a bit lighter. We can literally feel a burning inside that slowly (painfully slowly) begins to purify our thoughts and hearts. His words seem to dry the wet sorrow drenching us. Like sunshine after a thunderstorm, we begin to feel a bit of relief. Spring may yet come! We even feel encouraged (a little at least) .

We invite the stranger to eat with us, and he offers to say grace. As he prays, we realize his true identity. He is Jesus, our Lord, the one who was beaten brutally, was painfully crucified, who died with the full weight of our sin upon his broken and bruised body. He has been there all along, listening to us, sympathizing (or is it empathizing?) with our pain and anguish. He has been waiting to comfort us with his presence. He loves us in this way, even when he seems silent.

We beg him to stay. Oh, the situations of our life haven’t changed dramatically. We still have problems, and those problems seem just as depressing and burdensome as before. The difference is that we have Jesus in the house, and the light of his love gives us courage to press on, he becomes an anchor for our souls. Why? Simply stated—“Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through him and his love we may not have better situations or circumstances, but we can still be “more than conquerors through him who loved us” in the trials we share as his joint heirs. How? Talk to him. Let him talk. Trust his character. He is faithful even when we are faithless. We genuinely matter to him.

He longs to say to you "Keep pressing on, I have not forsaken you. I love you."

As we walk our soggy paths of life, we should pause and wait for the Lord. Let him catch up to us in our musings. Listen to his words (even the ones that gently rebuke). Get in his presence, let him pray for us  and with us. Let his words and actions encourage and empower. Remember, he walks with us whether we acknowledge him or not. Why not sit in his presence for a minute and acknowledge his concern for us?

Thanks for reading!