Hello creative friends, our lovely creative team member Deeds has a message to share with you today, enjoy it!
So, I was summoned to jury service. (Did anyone else laugh when reading the title of this post and the very first sentence?)
Yesterday will be etched in my brain as one of those “grueling” days that come now and then. Why grueling? Oh, and did I mention exhausting? I truly, TRULY want to shake the hands of those who are not only willing to be a juror, but are also intrigued by assisting in administering justice for their community, state, and country. Truly.
Don’t get me wrong, I would have done my best and duty as a citizen of New York to fairly and impartially render thoughts and ideas on the case as the evidence was presented. I believe heartily in patriotism and liberty, and the preservation thereof. I love my freedom in the states…
That’s not where I’m headed with this.
When I happened upon the mailing a couple weeks ago that told me I was to report to Jury Service, my stomach rotated; I was sick. “How will this even work?” That was the one and only thought going through my head right up until the morning I woke from anxious sleep and to a headache that threatened to linger all through the day (which it did). “How will this work?” I asked my husband. I hoped he’d sympathize as I fashioned all the different excuses from not showing up at all to being “rightfully” excused before even entering the courtroom. Let’s see:
Pregnant.
Nauseous.
Headache.
Head cold.
Fatigue.
Sounds like the list made at the end of a drug commercial to me, but it was not a happy place. Obviously.
Brushing my teeth and doing my best not to vomit the tiny breakfast I was able to have, I pleaded one more time with my husband, this time for advice. He’d been a juror before and liked it. Yeah, he’s one of “those.”
Lovingly, he read me something from a book he’s going through with his mentor, “The Screwtape Letters.” It’s a good book. It’s a thought-provoking book. UGH, I didn’t want thought-provoking! But as he read to me something the Senior Demon, Screwtape, conveyed to his Junior Demon, Wormwood, advice AND encouragement was rendered. I love this man of mine.
It’s not to say that Demons truly talk to each other like this, but the following narrative made total sense and made me feel that on this particular morning, I was doing the VERY THING that the Demons were discussing: worrying about the future. Check this out…
“it is far better to make them live in the future. Biological necessity makes all their passions point in that direction already, so that thought about the future inflames hope and fear.” (Chapter 15)
It is far better that we are enticed to live in the future??? Screwtape spoke of this as opposed to living in the past or even the present. You guys, I would think that the Lord’s agenda for our health and wellness is the exact opposite. Our God speaks often of not fearing. Additionally, He is very clear about NOT FEARING THE FUTURE.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:34)
This is not the only time that God says to not concern ourselves with what tomorrow will bring. It can also be a point of pride and false security to dwell on the plans we make…
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit.’” (James 4:13)
““Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.”’ (Isaiah 56:12)
The enemy, regardless of whether we be tempted to fear or boast, is concerned with our taking the glory from God – the God of ALL ETERNITY – and claiming it, placing it on ourselves. Like we understand. Like we are able to determine the course of another’s actions. Like we are able to set winds into place, and tell them where and when to blow. Like we have EVER been able to part waters, rebuke storms, send bread from heaven, or crush the enemy with rising from the dead. We do know someone who did those things…
God, regardless of what may come tomorrow, asks – beckons – us to trust and obey; to be faithful with today; to gather strength and hope from HIS storehouses that are freed up for those who love and follow Him. God asks me to trust the outcome of any situation, even the daunting and haunting nature of Jury Service.
Additionally, He tells us that during all trials (in and outside a courtroom), we are to pray – and pray without ceasing. We are to give thanks – and give thanks heartily! We are to do this not just when things are comfortable; manageable; doable; enjoyable; even predictable. This is to be done as a lifestyle which characterizes the ones who call themselves, Christians.
We have the Bible to look at for instruction and hope which is why I’ve journaled in 1 Thessalonians 5 today. It reads differently to me now that I’m on this side of yesterday.
“Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 106:1)
God is good and ever-loving; ever-reliable.
“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18)
And if God is good, we can know that His “will” is also good. It comes through Christ Jesus, our Savior and Shepherd.
This is more than just the past, present or even future. We’re following the One who deals with the ETERNAL; He is from EVERLASTING to EVERLASTING. He is God of now, tomorrow, 10 years down the road, and well into the days when we’ll look back and wonder where time has gone.
God knows.
God heals.
The battle for our souls is a great battle for our devotion and allegiance to someone. Satan doesn’t care if we follow him; if he can keep us far from following, trusting and loving the Lord and His goodness for His kids, Satan is satisfied. If he can bring us to doubt the love and purpose given to us by God our Maker, he’s met his goal. It’s been his goal from the very first time he spoke to man in the Garden of Eden. To be focused on the future, instead of the God of the future is a small but significant victory in favor of our enemy.
I want to tell you that there are far worse things than jury duty; I know that. I’ve been through bits and pieces of “hell” myself and I wouldn’t ask to return. I have loved ones and friends who currently struggle with understanding the present. We all need to hold on to Jesus; not our false understanding of what the future could bring. Jesus says to let tomorrow stay in tomorrow. Today is the time to concern ourselves with God’s will – His GOOD will – for our lives. It is His will in Christ Jesus, His Son, the only begotten One that came to take the sins of the world.
Good times come.
Hard times come.
Challenges.
Heartaches.
Birthdays.
Christmas.
God is the God of it all.
And He loves you – forever.
Much love,
Deeds
