Survivors

There are many tribes of people who live on the Amazon River. I recently observed a particular tribe on a television documentary who challenged me to a better understanding of what it means to survive. With survival as their main goal in life, this tribe devised ways to escape their harsh surroundings and natural elements. They had to work together as a team to build their homes and hunt for food. To survive, they needed to focus and gain strength for their journeys ahead.

In the spiritual world, we are no different than this Amazon tribe. We are trying to survive in a jungle of activity overload and choice overload. In 1978, there were 11, 767 items in the average grocery store. By 1992, that number increased to 24,531 with 186 different types of cereal alone! We are trying to survive as Christians among a culture that continually bombards us with ungodly influences and immorality of every kind. How will we survive? This is no reality T.V. show! This is real life!

One of the keys to survival is to gain strength. In Isiah 30:15, the Lord says, "In quietness and trust is your strength." These two words, "quietness" and "trust" are words that are packed with great energy. It is no small task to quiet oneself and to completely trust in the Lord. To quiet yourself means to be rid of anxiety or to "settle your heart." Fortunately, God wants to help us quiet our hearts. Zephaniah 3:17 says that "He will quiet you with His love." There is nothing more precious in all of human existence than that moment when God quickens us to how much He loves us. We can then become more than conquerors (or survivors) through Him who loves us. (Rom. 8:37) God promises that His love is perfect and it casts out fear. (I John 4:18) If we truly understand His love for us, then it will be so much easier for us to trust in Him to take care of our circumstances.

Throughout the different trials in my life, the Lord has asked me two very important questions, "Do you know that I love you?" and "Do you trust me?" I have come to realize that I cannot even answer these questions with a "yes" until I become so weak, that I allow God's love to empower me. This is true strength. This is survival. The beautiful aspect of God's love is that He not only uses our trying circumstances to reveal His love to us, but He uses them to perfect our love for Him.

We are living in enemy territory--in a world that is against us. I am so thankful that God is on our side! He is fighting for us and He will empower us to survive as we learn to rest in His love and trust Him to provide for our every need. Lord, perfect Your love in us so that we may gain strength for the journey ahead. May we see the urgency to rest in Your love as we live as survivors in a jungle that would seek to devour us. You are our Hope, our Fortress and our Deliverer. We depend on You!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness...
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand...