Seasonal Discomfort

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –I Thessalonians 5:18

Men, life can get very hard. There are always going to be struggles, trials, hurts, pain, bad circumstances and the list goes on and on but just because bad things happen doesn’t mean that some good can’t come out of it. God often uses bad situations to work his good. This is another way he shows his power to us in our lives. He will take our weaknesses and manifest himself to work through our shortcomings to show us his strength. We are nothing without the Holy Spirit's working inside of us so give credit where credit is do.

This verse tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. This doesn’t mean we’re all crazy by acting excited when something unfortunate happens. This is just another opportunity to trust God and give it over to him to work his will out in the situation. Even when it hurts to pray, thank God that he know what’s best. He wants you to trust him and praise him for his goodness and love in those moments even through the pain of it. Trust me, he knows it hurts and he hurts with you but he also is asking, “My child, will you trust me through this time in your life?”

We live in a fallen world. Bad things are going to happen. Will you stand your ground for you and your family and determine to trust God and give him praise anyway or will you be like the farmer shaking his fist in the air at the sky as the tornado tears up the ground? Remember, God sends tests our way to see if we will stay faithful to him. It’s easy to trust and praise God for his goodness when the times are good, but will you stay faithful when the storms of life come your way? Will you be the man of God who stands his ground when everybody else has turned their back on God? Look at the story of Job as he is our Biblical example of how to stay faithful to God in the midst of the pain. He had his children die, he lost his nice things, he got sick, his wife told him to curse God and die, yet he refused to turn his back on God even though he admitted he didn't understand why these bad things were happening to him and why God had allowed it. In the end, God restored double to him what was lost. Faithfulness, trust, and thankfulness even when it hurts are essential attributes to becoming a true man of God and a strong leader. Just like lifting weights in the gym, to become strong you must endure some discomfort and pain but the results are so worth it.

Stay thankful amongst the storms of life and remember, “This too shall pass.”

Never Changing

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:19

Men, we need to remember that Jesus is a friend that will never let us down. He's consistent and always there to pick you up when you fall short. You can put your full trust and confidence in him because he will never fail you. He's constant and never changes. The same hope and trust that the great men of the Bible such as David, Daniel, Moses, and Noah put in him back thousands of years ago is available to you because he and his character hasn't changed one bit.

In a world full of people failing us and friends letting us down, we have the Rock we can lean on and go to him whether during the good times or the challenging times. It's so important for us to not put too much of our hope and trust in people or our possessions in this life, because we will eventually be disappointed by them. People change and don't always do what we think they should do but as these verses say, Jesus is the same as he was yesterday and he's always been faithful to supply all our needs. Don't let people or possessions become a god to you. Let God be your God, sitting on the proper throne of your life. It's when we don't have him in the proper place of our life that we fall down.

So many people have been let down by their parents, or by a someone they really looked up to and admired. In many circumstances it has turned their whole world upside down with the disappointment and hurt of these people's mistakes, sins, and short comings. It can even lead to bitterness or turning away from God. If this has happened to you, I'm truly sorry you've been hurt so bad! I beg you to please give it to God; let it go; forgive them, and remember that only God will never fail you. Who do you need to forgive today? Who or what have you been putting too much of your hope and confidence in? God is jealous for us and seems to always find a way to get our attention back on him. Many times we have to go through the storms of life to be able to see and recognize again his hand on our life. Rest assured men, in a world full of people looking for answers you have the One that you can always go to and depend on his goodness to give you strength. In him you can have confidence, assurance, and peace. Walk tall in this truth as a man of God.

 In a life full of unexpected change, we can experience HE who never changes.

Controlled Strength

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay', says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:19-21

Yes, men you read this verse right. Fist fighting and acting all macho in your words and actions is not the way to handle confrontation that arises. A lot of guys seem to think that fighting is the macho way to show that you're a real man who isn't about to get pushed around or looked at as weak. They think this is a form of looking superior to the other party in the confrontation. This is contrary to what God says about this kind of situation.

God has called you to protect those loved ones around you, yes, but this doesn't mean you have to go looking for a fight to show how tough you are. It doesn't make you a man to throw a punch at somebody. It makes you more of a man to be able to talk yourself out of a hairy situation and walk away untouched. Don't get me wrong here; there come times where you're going to have to show your teeth and get dirty but this should never be your first response, rather a last resort. I know how we're wired as guys, we want adventure and action and fighting for some is just a natural result of this but knowing you can fight but choosing to walk away from it with your head high is a much more attractive trait to have in your tool kit. This shows leadership and control. Any little weak minded boy can get in a fight. It takes a man to walk away. A word to the wise too, if you meet a girl who wants you to start fights with other guys to prove yourself as a man to her, run away from this kind of girl, she's major trouble!

This is so important because by being able to control your temper, emotions, and actions, it is the key to being a leader in your own life. Remember, any fool can fight. Have you ever seen the little dog barking and clawing at a much larger dog almost as if the larger dog is just toying with the little dog letting him think he's intimidating him? With one swipe this big dog could send the little guy to doggy heaven but he stays reserved and powerful but doesn't act on his strength to hurt the smaller dog. Be this kind of a guy. The one that is strong and powerful but keeps his strength and emotions in check and under control. If you react every time somebody messes with you, cut it out! Detach those strings that get a bad reaction out of you and take the high road. This is especially important when dealing with women. Don't react negatively every time they say something you don't like. Take the high road and walk tall. Protect them in your response. God sees your sacrifice men, even when it's tough to bite your tongue or hold your fist in your pocket. He's got your back and his vengeance is way more severe than anything you can administer, so leave the punishment up to him and don't forget to pray for your persecutors. God tells us to overlook an offense and kill 'em with kindness and watch what it can do. Overcome evil with good.

Controlled strength is a leadership quality every man must learn on his path to authentic manhood.

Resting on the Rock

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." -Psalms 34:18-19

How's your mental and spiritual health doing right now at this moment? Take a second to stop and just be present in this moment to consider where you're at in these areas. Sometimes you just need to block out the noise of your life for a few minutes and meditate on the areas God wants to teach you and show you things about yourself that you may not have been able to see. Maybe there's a thought or an attitude that needs some tweaking that he desires to show you and to present a better way to respond to. Perhaps you've been so busy you haven't been able to just stop and take inventory. Take a second right now and just meditate on God and think about where you are in this very moment.

Guys, do you know that God promises to be near the hurt and brokenhearted people? Do you know he aches with you as your Father? He cares dearly and desperately for you. He's actually jealous for you and will fight on your behalf. This is another reason why he hates sin so much and grieves when you decide to turn away to a lifestyle of sin. He knows the damage and hurt it brings to you. He loves you so much that even sometimes he has to "spank" you and allow unpleasant things into your life to get your attention and teach you a better way. He can't just let you get away with sin. He cares too much! Also, he will allow this to happen so he can show up on your behalf and administer his power through your situation. He cares, guys.

He knows we are going to have struggles and troubles but he promises to deliver you from them in his way and in his timing. Many times though we have to learn to let go of telling God how WE think he should answer it and just surrender the situation, circumstance, or disappointment to him. Often, we don't feel God's presence but he's there with you whether you understand it or not; whether you feel his hand there or not. Men, it's going to be okay. God is near to you. Rest in the truth that he cares and he can work it out as you surrender to his way and his will. A real man of God is strong when resting on the Rock! Open your heart and mind to him now.

He hurts when you hurt and he catches every tear with his nail scarred hands.