though troubles linger still.

well don't you just love it when you have a post ready to go on groceries, and the Lord moves you to write about something totally different?
hence this morning's post, and hence my apologies for it to be somewhat a run in of words and thoughts just pouring out.

being tested is not fun. there i said it.
not only because it can be painful, but because the time that the process takes, is longer than what we would hope for.
if you've ever been dared to put your hand above an open flame, you do so wanting to face the dare, yet after a few minutes, your flesh won't be able to stand the heat and will withdraw it immediately.
i've seen that in the same way, i will tell the Lord to take it all. to refine me, to mold me, yet when i'm in the middle of the refining fire, it begins to hurt. it begins to take longer than i'd hoped and i immediately want to withdraw and begging to pray fervently for immediate deliverance.

'you are my sword and shield, though troubles linger still.' - Chris Tomlin 'God of angel armies'

those words punched my gut this morning.
turning it all to God, giving my entire life and worries to Him doesn't always mean that trouble around me will stop, or that i will suddenly begin to walk on fluffy clouds and hop on rainbows.
it just means that while a war is going on around me, i will find refuge in His hands. i will not be harmed.

i think of the Israelites, when they were being delivered from pharaoh. as they stood at the edge of the red sea, and started to wonder if the end was near, the Lord opened up the sea and allowed them to go through.
that didn't mean that Pharaoh's chariots were suddenly immobilized or frozen. they still kept coming, chasing after God's people. and fast.

if you've ever been chased by someone, hopefully not to hurt you, but in a game of tag or something, you can feel that person on your heels and chills and the adrenaline overtakes you.
i'm guessing for some of the Israelites it felt like that. trying to walk faster, shoving people around them, fearing that the chariots would catch up to them, looking back every five minutes.
and then they were those who calmly walked, fearing nothing and admiring instead the wonder before their eyes. trouble was still lingering, yet they calmly walked to the other side where deliverance was found.

deliverance is in front of you, not behind you.
Jesus is holding your hand, my hand, and leading us out of the fire one step at a time. but He wants us to step out completely refined.

how else can we testify of His faithfulness and His deliverance, if we don't allow ourselves to be taken through the fire?

so if it takes as long as it takes to be refined according to His heart, stop looking back wondering if your troubles will overcome you. instead look forward and stand in awe of your deliverer who shields you, and holds your hand.
deliverance is in His name.