The Lord laid something on my heart a few days ago and today I see the true meaning of it.
When we are weak, when we are in a storm, when we are confused, when we feel lost, when we can't see His purpose, when we feel utterly depleted and empty...that is where He meets us. That is where we are called to give the last grain of our mustard seed to others. That is where we are called to give our last flicker of the flame to light another's world.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (New International Version)
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (King James version)
That word, "Understanding" in Hebrew (bee-naw) means: Knowledge, meaning, wisdom. Bee-naw is derived from the Hebrew word "Bene" meaning: to separate mentally, or distinguish. To consider, discern, feel, inform, have intelligence of, be prudent, to view wisely.
The word, "Heart" in this scripture in Hebrew (labe) means: used widely for the feelings, the will, courage (or lack of), and even the intellect.
The word "direct" in verse 6 in Hebrew (yaw-shar) means: to be straight or even, to be or cause to make right, pleasant or prosperous. To be pleasing and upright. To take the straight way.
To paraphrase Proverbs 3:5 & 6, these scriptures are literally saying: Do not trust your own or other's opinions, ideas or feelings. We must trust and listen to His guiding. We must learn to operate in the Spirit. Go where He says "go." Walk where He says "walk." Trust where, who, and what He says "trust." Sure, we can ask for prayer and inspiration from trusted Christian prayer warriors, but go to God FIRST. Do not rely on feelings, this walk isn't about how we feel; it's about what He has called us to do. When we learn to give our opinions, feelings and ideas to the mighty One that created us, His word says that he will direct us. He will guide us, He will protect us, He will make us right, He will prosper our way.
Titus 1:2 says God does not lie. Hebrews 6:18 says it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie. Who else can we fully trust to get us through the trials, the confusion and frustration, and the storms of this life? No one. His Word says to trust and acknowledge Him, to put away our own reasoning and feelings. When we do this He WILL guide us, protect us, and prosper us. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and God cannot lie - so BELIEVE IT! When the Word promises us a blessing, it is the plain and simple truth.
Romans 5:1-5 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice IN our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Many have misquoted this scripture to say "rejoice FOR our sufferings." No. God does not expect us to be happy that we are experiencing emotional, physical, or spiritual pain. He says to rejoice as we go "through" the storm. Why? Because He is our Hope, He will bring us through victoriously. He will protect, guide, and prosper us.
And this is where I came to the conclusion mentioned in the first paragraph of this article. When we are weak, He gives us strength. When we are lost, He lights our path. When we are confused, He comforts our heart. When we are desperate, He hears our cry. When we share, He gives us more. Shift your focus from self to others. When we concentrate on the needs of someone else, our problems tend to diminish. Like the old saying, "I just thought I had problems..." You may not have a whole speech to share with a group of people, or a Bible study to share, but a prayer and a kind word for another will do wonders for your own sense of peace.
I challenge you today: Share a prayer, a scripture, a testimony with someone hurting. Or - keep it simple: share a smile, sometimes that's the best encouragement you can give to someone.