"Imagine That"

What do you think about....?

As a father who has experienced divorce and one that had decided that he would marry and commit his entire life to a relationship and his family, I have to admit that there were times following the divorce when I had a really hard time trusting anyone. There were days when I just wouldn't let anyone get in my safety zone and they knew it! I even kept the one who loved me the most at a distance. It's sad but it's true.

I had thoughts like, "How would the God that can control all things let something like this happen to me? How could my life be so miserable and unsuccessful if I had been a good person and cared about others. Couldn't God have prevented this?". These thoughts were normal, but they stemmed from a lack of understanding. I didn't understand that a God who truly loves someone will not force them to do something.

Could you imagine me forcing someone to marry me instead of it being by their free choice? I would have to sleep with one eye open or have the dog test my food when they cooked something! Forcing someone to love or do something you want is the opposite of love. It would be the same as when someone is raped and forced to cooperate or else! That isn't even close to love in any way shape or form. No matter what anyone has told you in the past or led you to believe, forced companionship is not love; it is selfishness and evil! Wouldn't you agree?

Then think about the relationship that we have with God and how He loves us so much that He will give His only son, BUT He also loves us so much that He will not force us to do what He chooses for our lives. We must accept or reject this offer!

This brings me back to my feelings that I had to figure out following a divorce. If any of you have never experienced this in your life, I am going to share with you the key thing that you will be able to share with someone who has. The matter of trust is the hardest thing to discuss but it is the key to healing! There must begin a new relationship with God where the divorced parent can feel safe in trusting God again. There must be a realization that God is not forceful and that He doesn't treat us like some people treat each other! He loves the person who is hurting and will freely offer His hope and healing, but it must be accepted.

Here are a few verses that meant so much to me when I was going through this struggle and learning to trust that God's desire was to love and not to force His love on us.

2Samuel 22:31-33
31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
33 God is my strength and power: and he makes my way perfect.

Yes, He is my strength and power and He does make my way perfect. This word "perfect" in the Hebrew is "tamiym", pronounced taw-meem and it means "entire(literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth: -without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, whole.

Psalm 141:8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

In this verse the word destitute in the Hebrew is "arah" and is pronounced aw-raw. It's meaning is to be (causatively make) bare; hence to empty, pour out, demolish: - leave destitute, discover, empty, make naked, pour (out), raise, spread self, uncover.

David the Psalmist is saying to God, I am keeping my mind on you Lord because I trust in you; don't leave my life empty and demolished! I trust you God; fill me with life again and give me something that has meaning in this world; give me a purpose to live!

Isaiah 26:3-4
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in you.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Look at the words "perfect peace" in the first verse with me. These two words actually have the came exact translation in the Hebrew translation. Here is the description from Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary.

The Hebrew word is shâlôm shâlôm
It is pronounced shaw-lome', shaw-lome'
From H7999; safe, that is, (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, that is, health, prosperity, peace: - X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X greet, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ly), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.

Then let's look at the word "mind" in the Hebrew. Just stay with me here because this is going to all come together in a way you will have a hard time forgetting.

The Hebrew word is yêtser
It is pronounced yay'-tser
From H3335; a form; figuratively conception (that is, purpose): - frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.

Then I want you to look at the translation for "stayed".

The Hebrew word is sâmak
It is pronounced saw-mak'
A primitive root; to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense): - bear up, establish, (up-) hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain.

Now let's pull this all together and see what the Prophet Isaiah was telling us! He was saying this in verse three.

"Lord, you will keep the people who do right in your shalom shalom, safe and healthy in peace and prosperity; I'm talking about the people who will let their "yetser samak"; let their imagination and mind stand fast and have survive BECAUSE they don't know who to trust!"

That's not what it says! The end of the verse says "BECAUSE they trust and put their confidence in the LORD!"

Their minds are going to be strong and their thoughts are going to be on God because they Trust in Him!

No matter what you have been through, you can know my friend without a doubt that the Lord of all creation loves and cares for you today! Even the Kings and the wisest man that even lived found comfort in knowing this when they went through trials! They were human and experienced the same things we did. I have experienced most any type of trial that you can go through, not by choice but it has strengthened me to keep my thoughts laid on the Lord because I have found that I can have confidence that He does care for me and that He does love me with a love so pure that it surpasses ALL understanding.

That brings me to my final verse and I will leave you with this to go through your day, your week, your year and your life. Trust your thoughts and imaginations with God in whom you have confidence. He is the greatest confidence in whom you can TRUST!

Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.