I love a good story. The problem is that I am fainthearted and easily discouraged, so about half way through any tale, I have to resist the urge to stop reading. Every epic adventure is full of conflict and obstacles. I don’t like the dark and foreboding strands of the plot, but I know there is a happy ending coming.
One of my favorite stories as a child was Cinderella. The first part of her story made me want to yank out my pigtails and have a good cry. That mean stepmom and her bratty daughters kept that sweet girl trapped in a prison of fear and condemnation. Thankfully, the pure heart of the girl dressed in rags was rewarded in a spectacular ending. Good triumphed over evil once again.
Why do I doubt?
In my heart, I know how the story of life ends. God is just, and victory is certain. But some days, I feel a little like Cinderella trapped in a cage of unfavorable circumstances. The enemy of my soul wants to keep me clothed in rags of doubt and shame.
The writer of Hebrews understood that God’s people would face discouragement in the face of tribulation. He challenged them to not give way to fear, to never turn back, but to persevere in faith.
We must remember that our story is part of God’s greater narrative of redemption. The hero is Christ, and He has conquered death itself to ensure a glorious conclusion.
Our story is not finished yet. The Author and Finisher of our Faith has more to say through our lives about His grace and goodness.
Rather than give way to fear, let’s garner up strength from Jesus to keep moving forward in faith. The theme of our lives should always be the pursuit of Christ. As Hebrews 10 challenges, “Let us draw near.”
- When we are misjudged and maligned, let us draw near.
- When we are lost and lacking purpose, let us draw near.
- When we are broken and battered down, let us draw near.
- When we are challenged and confused, let us draw near.
David’s life beautifully illustrates how God transforms our stories when our hearts are fully surrendered to Him. Every day, we can choose to draw near as we…
- Approach God in prayer with a sincere heart: God longs for authentic worship rising up from an undivided heart. We must surrender our selfishness.
- Acknowledge God’s Word is true with complete assurance: Stand firmly on the solid foundation of Truth. Our confidence must be fully placed on His promises, not our own performance.
- Accept God’s cleansing covers all our guilt and shame: The blood of Christ covers sin’s stain completely. Don’t stay fettered to the past when confessing Christ has already set you free.
- Allow the Holy Spirit to continue His cleansing work: We must make a daily choice to yield to the Spirit and crucify our flesh. Put on love, joy, and peace and say goodbye to envy, anger, and discord.
God has invited us to boldly come right into His throne room. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow because we have full access to Him today and always. We can “hold fast” to the hope that He is coming soon to right every wrong and flood all the dark corners of this world with His everlasting light.
In the meantime, let’s draw near to Him. Let’s crawl up into His lap and listen for His tender voice. He is the best storyteller.