Fearing God When We Don’t Feel Like It
What if we lived in a world without turn signals? No blink, blink. No communication.
Screech!
Boom!
Bam!
Certainly there would be accidents, near accidents, and potential chaos of the driving kind.
I recently followed a truck whose driver failed to use his turn signal. Fortunately, our van had good brakes, my adrenalin pumped fluidly, and an accident was avoided. However, the drive would have been much smoother had that driver used his communication, a simple flick of the turn signal.
In those situations, frustration often says, “Hey, you aren’t communicating!”
Sometimes frustration shuts down communication in our spiritual travels as well.
There are times when we’re driving through life that we encounter a turn in the road called hurt, offense, discouragement, or a lack of confidence.
Been there?
Our emotions want to fly, directing traffic in a whole new manner. Flicking the turn signal is last on the list. Wild emotions and the driver behind them don’t care about godly communication. They don’t care about the fear of the Lord. They care only about self. They’ll set each of us in a jumbled pile of mangled spiritual metal mess, the heave and ho of an accident made worse by a lack of communication with God.
No blink, blink.
We sulk.
We sit in anger.
We do anything but humble ourselves in fear of the Lord because, well, we don’t feel like it.
We’re hurt, by golly!
We’re angry, justified, I tell you.
We’re discouraged to the point of feeling hopeless. We may even cry out, “Where are you, God?”
Blink, blink.
Signal, sweet girl.
Press in.
Flick the signal handle and communicate with God.
Fear the Lord.
It’s easy to shut down from everyone when we’re hurt in one way or another. But it’s in those moments when we need communication with God even more so.
When the heavy gets heavy, we truly need the light of his might.
The silent treatment saved no one, but the might of his forgiveness did.
Being offended is never a faithful refuge, but God always is.
Revenge isn’t wise, but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Go there, my sweet friend.
I’m cheering you on as a fellow traveler who is walking there now.
I’ve had to throw pride aside and grab that turn signal recently. I’ve had to force myself to communicate with God, because I certainly didn’t feel like it. I felt like sulking, and I did for a bit. Okay, longer than a bit. It was a few bits. How godly is that, right? How mature…
However, this is a battle that I’m certain I don’t face alone. That’s why I’m putting it here, so we can get real, humble ourselves, and encourage one another on to maturity. It’s God’s will for us.
If we’re going to grow up in the Lord, humbly fearing the Lord is paramount.
Everything builds as we fear him.
It’s in the fear of the Lord that we find his refuge. It is there that we are protected, delivered.
And isn’t that what our hearts want anyway, to be protected, to be delivered?
Here are a couple of scriptures the Lord brought to mind as I faced the communication struggle in the wake of discouragement. Perhaps it’ll be your blink blink as well.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
PS 34:7-8 NIV ’84
Underneath all the frustration, I wanted the Lord’s encampment. I desired his deliverance.
The deep within said, “Taste,” while shallow emotions attempted to grip my mouth shut.
Have you ever tried to feed a toddler spinach, peas, or some other good-for-you yummy as the child sat there, mouth clamped shut? If they opened up, they would see how good it is.
It’s like that sometimes in the spiritual. Mouth clamped tight, we’re not tasting.
However, a girl’s heart, mine and yours included, knows that refuge in God is safety. Something deep within us knows, and when we’re ready to release the control, humbly bow the knee, seek the Lord with fervency, we open and taste.
And it is good.
Have you given God a cold shoulder? Walked or glanced away…just for a bit or maybe a while…because the hurt or frustration is playing tug of war with you?
Grab that turn signal and communicate with God, my friend.
Take the road to maturity and choose to walk in the fear of the Lord today. It’s not too late. You won’t be alone. Several of us will join you. And God Almighty will be praised.
Blink, blink.
Father God,
I come to you humbly today. Forgive my sin. Forgive me for not running to you. Father, I don’t want to sit here in discouragement (offense, hurt, etc.). I want to sit in fear of you, in the refuge of your peace, in the awesomeness of your presence. Lord, I love you. Show me the way from here. Guide my steps, thoughts, and words. And may my life bring glory to you. Amen.
Linking with Kelly @Purposeful Faith, Crystal @Intentionally Pursuing, Holly @ #TestimonyTuesday, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Holley Gerth, Debi @Counting My Blessings, and Susan @ #DancewithJesus.
Good morning from your next door neighbor at Kelly’s! You had me at that striking photo … and it’s so good to meet you here in your online home!
It’s nice to meet you as well, Linda. Welcome!
I love this line: “It’s easy to shut down from everyone when we’re hurt in one way or another. But it’s in those moments when we need communication with God even more so.” I have a tendency to shut down towards God and towards others in a difficult situation. It is during those times that we need to open up our communication to God.
Love this post! Blessed to be your neighbor from #TestimonyTuesday.
Blessed by your visit. 🙂
Oh, these words Kristi! Right to my heart. Had an experience last week of wildly turning down a “road” in my heart that I didn’t see coming, and boy was the person I was sharing with blindsided (no turn signal…) and it took me a bit to even think about where God was in it. Ashamed to say it, but it’s true. Thankful for your words and their pointing me back on course : ) Blessings!
So thankful God has a way of speaking directly to us. Blessing back to you, Bethany..
Kristi, what a beautiful reminder that God is our refuge. I’ve had those moments too when I wanted to hold onto my anger a little longer and knew that in His presence forgiveness is what He would ask. But in His presence before His throne was grace to forgive others and receive forgiveness for myself. Thank you, Kristi, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Before his throne, yes, Crystal. You’re always a blessing on your visits. 🙂
This is a brilliant post – I needed this word today. I so often shut down instead of running open hearted to God. Clamping an encampment around my heart for protection instead of allowing God to encamp around me and protect me fully. Beautifully writtern, thank you 🙂
So thankful God knows our needs and sends a word. He’s faithful. Thanks for stopping in, Tania.
There are people I talk to who will never understand the “fear” of the Lord… a holy reverence that keeps us in tune with Him… they have grown so relaxed in their faith, that the reverence is missing, and they miss the gifts that come with that, especially the ones you mentioned here. And I can say for sure that I easily fell into that trap a time or two as well.
But I loved this hope that we can have the Lord’s encampment and deliverance established in us where He is!
As always, my soul finds so much good news here, Kristi! Visiting from the #TellHisStory and the #RaRaLinkup today 🙂 xxoo
He’s a mighty God. I’m thankful you’re finding good news here. That’s confirmation, Christine, that these fingers are pecking on the right keys. Praise God. Keep pecking away on your end as well, my writing buddy.
I love the verse that our Heavenly Father gave you from the Psalms about the fear of the Lord and how you used it as a banner for spurring us on to stay in open communication with the Lord, EVEN when we want to sulk or be angry, reminding us of the blessings we will receive when we seek refuge in Him.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for visiting, Karen. Your visit is a blessing.
Hi Kristi! I love your graphic and this: “The silent treatment saved no one, but the might of his forgiveness did.” Such a good reminder to keep open the lines of communication between me and God AND me and others. Beautiful.
Thanks for popping in, Betsy, and thank you for the graphic comment. 🙂 True, communication between people and God…those lines are all vital.
“Flick the signal handle and communicate with God.” Don’t run, don’t hide, stay present and honest and trust God’s got us… Yes. This. Thank you!
Lovely to meet thru Holley’s link up today.
Lovely meeting you as well, Laurie.
Kristi, this post blessed me . . . these words touched me . . . “If we’re going to grow up in the Lord, humbly fearing the Lord is paramount.
Everything builds as we fear him.”
A beautiful, faithful reminder, and I think of Job’s words–“Though He slay me, YET will I trust Him.”
Thank you for sharing . . .
Yes, yet I will trust him. Love it, Rebekah. Thanks for stopping in.
Your frustration speaks kinder words than mine! Thanks for sharing this great reminder to stay in communication with God!
You’re welcome, Liz. (Be assured, some days my frustration looks a little kinder than others!) Thank God for mercy.
I love your imagery here, Kristi. It draws me right into to what you’re saying and wow, I’ve been there. I’ve sat and sulked and been offended rather than to move forward and come to God. Thank you for sharing your heart here today. Blessed by your words, friend!
I imagine most, if not all, of us have “been there”. You’re a blessing, Betsy. Thank you.
Your graphic and verse are so powerful. I don’t know that I’ve really noticed that part of the verse before. So often we hear the words that follow – the taste and see. Maybe because of the song. I was blessed by reading
Kamea, you are a blessing. It’s wonderful when God shows us something new, isn’t it?
Wonderful, Kristi. Yes, I’ve definitely had those moments, (more than I’d like to admit.) So thankful today for His faithfulness when I am sulking! He is so patient with me:) Blessings, friend.
God’s faithfulness is good! Blessings to you as well, my TX friend.
When the heavy gets heavy, we truly need the light of his might.
Kristi that is TRUTH! Love this post as it sure points out where our paths have been similar. Hugs. Susan
Thanks, Susan. Hugs.