Is God Really All We Need?

Yes, I realize that this is some what of a semantic argument. Get over it and read it anyways!

     Often, when going through struggles we hear people tells us, "Just trust in God, He is all you need!" Really? I mean seriously?!? My life is falling apart and this crap is what you tell me! I fear that people actually believe this is good advise. I fear it because far to many times I have witnessed people take this advise only to crash and burn. I hate to pop bubbles, but this is simply not a good motto to live your life by!
     Christianity is based on the reality that man cannot do it on his own; man is unable to live a life void of sin. Sin, that which scars all of humanity, has but one consequence and that is death (Romans 6:23 Ephesians 2:1). So God sent his only son Jesus who stepped out of Heaven and became a man to do what we could not, live a blameless life without sin (John 3:16). Jesus shows his love for us by taking upon himself the sins of the world, by becoming the atoning sacrifice for our sins through death, and by freeing us from the bondage of sin through his resurrection (Romans 5:8 2 Corinthians 5:21 Ephesians 2:4-6). So yes, it goes without saying that as a Christian Jesus is all we need for salvation because salvation only comes through him (John 14:6 Romans 10:9).
     But what about life? What about the day to day struggles of this world? What about the unexpected hardships that knock us down? I am sure it does not come as a shock to anyone that life is hard and full of surprises, both good and bad. Jesus himself acknowledged this and said that we can take comfort during these times because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).  In addition to this, the bible tells us that no matter what happens God will never abandon us and so we should be content in our life (Heb 13:5). Now do not misunderstand me, for there to be any hope for us getting through this life we have to trust God, but trusting God means that we trust all of what He says.
     I do not know whether it is pride, insecurity, a desire not to be a burden, shame or countless other things the result in this motto becoming twisted into meaning that we need God and nothing else. When this happens, this motto becomes the justification for us to start shutting out everyone and everything else and keeping our struggles and hardships to ourselves. We turn to fasting and reading our bibles and praying to God for help, yet often we still seem to find ourselves becoming exhausted and worn out all the while wondering why God is ignoring us. We become discouraged because even though we are doing what we think we are suppose to, we still find ourselves sinking! There is merit and power in fasting and scripture and praying to God, but guys God is not all we need! I can hear you all thinking it, "Heresy! Heresy, I say!" Well calm down and give me a chance to explain.
     God did not just give us himself, He gave us each other! WE are the body of Christ: each of us is a different and unique part, but each of us is still dependent upon the other parts in order to succeed (1 Corinthians 12: 12-27). From beginning to end the bible speaks of our need of other believers. Adam who walked with God had a need for companionship and thus God created Eve. The trend continues on throughout the bible from Moses who had Arron and Hur to Joshua who had Caleb or to David with his "Mighty Men" and Jesus with his inner circle of disciples. God speaks to our need for one another in Proverbs telling us that friends sharpen us through love, support, council and sometimes even harsh rebukes . Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 God tells us that friendships not only bless us, but that together we become stronger. Jesus tells us the second greatest command is to love each and that this love should be the very thing that marks us as believers (John 13:34-35). Galatians 6:2 tells us we are to help bear the burdens of life for one another. To make it through this life, we need each other.
     If our only hope is in God through Jesus, how can God not be all that we need? The answer is because God, being the author and perfecter of our lives, has created us with an inherent need for one another. The bible not only reinforces this need, but it instructs us how to meet it in each other. In all his infinite wisdom, God uses this need to allow us to see and feel a tangible glimpse of His unending love for us. This is why the very idea that it is weak to need or accept help spits in the very nature of God. It was never God's plan for us to be in this world alone, to walk in our faith alone, or to go through the difficulties and hardships of this world alone.

The Harsh Reality of How Much You Are Needed!

     Looking back on these past few weeks, I have really been struggling. It has been almost two years since I first got diagnosed with Leukemia and it has been a year since I received my bone marrow transplant.  During all this time, all of my dreams had to be put on hold and some had to be given up.  I love my life and I am thankful to be alive, but I will not lie and say that there are not days when I am overwhelmed by it all and struggle to keep going.
     Before I got sick, part of what I was known for was my hair and my strength. I can remember being in Guatemala and carrying walls up the side of this mountain by myself while it took two and three other people to carry the same thing. If people needed help moving they would call me to help carry the heavy stuff. My strength had become part of what defined me. Then there was my hair, my long dark curly hair. I loved my hair, I loved my "jew fro" and so did other people and so it to became part of what defined me. When I think back over the way that Leukemia has changed me, I cannot help but to think of Samson, Samson who was also known for his strength and long hair. And just like Jezebel, Leukemia came and took my hair and my strength. As stupid as it may sound to some, it still hurts to I realize that I can't do things like I did before and that I do not look like I did before.
     But it isn't just the superficial things that I struggle with; I had dreams, dreams of being a missionary, dreams of traveling into the jungles of South America and Africa. Now I struggle to see that happening, me who gets a minor cold and ends up in the hospital for a week, how could I ever go walking around in the jungle? And it isn't just those dreams of what I would do with my life, but of who I would be. I dreamed of being a father since I was a kid. To have a doctor tell you that if you want to live you will have to go through chemo and radiation treatments that will prevent that from ever happening. To think it is ok because there is always adoption only to watch as literally millions of dollars of medical bills constantly are coming in. It is hard to have spent most of your life wanting something so desperately, only to get stuck in a hospital room for weeks at a time with nothing to do but watch those dreams slip away.
     No I cannot and will not pretend like just because I am alive, just because I am surviving that everyday is full of joy and thanksgiving. That is hard to admit having met some wonderful people and families that went through the same thing but did not make it. I know that I should be on my knees night and day thanking God for all that He has brought me through, but some days I find it hard to do anything but sit at home and weep. I know that this is hard for some of you to read because I know that you love me and care about me, but this has to be said because their is a truth behind it all that people need to know. No matter what struggles you face day to day, there will be days when you feel sad and depressed and you feel like just giving up and quitting. Those days happen, those moments will come and we have to be aware of that sad reality.
     The importance to what I am saying, is not for the person that might be having one of those days right now. The importance in what I am saying is for you who are watching people going through one of those days. People always want to tell me how proud they are of me for staying positive and not giving up through this battle, but the grim reality of it all is that if I had faced this on my own I would have given up and died a long time ago. I am not here because of my own perseverance, I am here because of all the people who have rallied around me and encouraged me through all these ups and downs. The people who prayed night and day for me, who fasted days and weeks at a time for me, who sat in my hospital room keeping me company, who sent emails and text and letters of encouragement, who sacrificed their time to take me back and forth to the doctors, who never for one moment let me forget who I was or feel unloved. Those are the heroes of my story.
     We are so quick to think we are powerless, that we are not able to do anything. I hear so many people try to convince themselves that they are worthless, but that just is not true. I have a mother and a father that are so grateful that because of your help they still have a son. I have two sisters that could not hug you enough for helping to make sure that their little brother is still alive. I have countless friends and family that will read this and cry tears of joy because of all that you have done for me. Every person has worth and value because every person has the ability to extend a hand to help someone up, to open up their arms and give someone a hug, to offer a shoulder for someone to lean on. If ever you doubt your worth, look into the eyes of those around you and know just how much power is in the smallest of gestures or the softest or words. This world cannot and will not survive without you!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

What Goes Up Must Come Down!

I am having dinner with a couple of friends the other night and after some amazing chicken, we get to talking about my friend Hollywood's film getting accepted into the Sidewalk Film Festival. As I am congratulating her, I realize that I have never seen any of Hollywood's films. We go upstairs and she pulls out some DVDs and we start watching a few. One particular short she played was a film called Luck. A guy walking down the sidewalk finds a penny on the ground; he picks it up and proceeds to toss it into the air. He stands there for a few seconds looking perplexed as the penny does not come back down. Confused the young man simply walks away; as he does so, we see handfuls of pennies fall where the young man had been standing. Then the Lord began to move in me.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." God wants to you to have desires because he wants to fulfil them. The key to this is delighting yourself in the Lord. When He becomes your central focus, the reason behind your being, then your desires become His own. Too many people are so quick to give up their hopes and their dreams. If it was worth believing in so much, it is the thing that fills your heart with so much passion that it became your dream, then how can you so easily toss it aside? God gave you a heart and filled it with desires. If you are following Him and trusting in Him, then why would you think that they are bad?

In this life I have learned two very important things. The first is to never lose hope in your dreams. There maybe times when God says, "wait" or even "no" but don't lose hope. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Issac, but when Abraham drew his knife God stopped him (Gen 22). God told Jonah to proclaim that the destruction of Nineveh would take place period. He never said Nineveh would be destroyed unless the people repented, he simple said this was what WAS going to happen. Yet the King declared the city to repent and fast praying for God's mercy. God relented and Nineveh was spared (Jonah 3). Never lose hope in your dreams. If it is the desire of your heart then seek it. God doesn't desire us to be disappointed and if we live in surrender to Him, the He will not fill our hearts with pipe dreams.

The second thing I have learned is that when God speaks you listen! God is serious when he speaks. God told Lot and his wife to leave Sodom, to flee and not look back. When Lot's wife looked back and immediately she turned into a pillar of salt (Gen 19). God gave specific instructions that no one was allowed to touch the ark. The ark was to be carried using poles and even then only by consecrated priest. While the ark was being transported, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark and immediately was struck dead! (2 Sam 6) While I hold fast to my dreams, when God said "wait" I waited and God said "no" I stopped. I never lost hope and I never let my dreams fade away, but I remained obedient and did as I was told with joy in my heart and gladness in my soul. I don't fear God saying no because I know that He works all things for my good.(Rom 8:28). The key to that is understanding we don't decide what good is! We may not like everything that God does, but that doesn't mean it isn't still for my good.

As I watched the young man in the film give up on the penny coming back down and walk away, it saddened me. It reminded me of people who give up when the penny doesn't immediately come back down. If you want it, go after it with all you have. If God says no, then be obedient, but understand obedience doesn't mean you lose hope, it simply means you obey. Right now, I am not living my dream. My dream, my passion is to preach! It burns in every bone of my body like a fire unable to be quenched. I have spent years and thousands of dollars pursuing this dream, yet every time I start to step out, God has said, "No, I want you to serve here." So now, here I am serving God joyfully and thankful that God is using me, even though this isn't my dream. I hold my dream in my heart and I retain hope that when God sees it as being to my good, that the penny will come back down and it will come down abundantly! Until that time I remain hopeful, but I remain obedient. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, I have learned to be content with life because if I am obedient, I will always be right where God has placed me. If this is God's will and I am in it, then why should I be down cast or disheartened that I find myself outside of my dream? In the end, if I die and leave my dreams unfulfilled, do you really think I am going to be arrive in to Heaven bitter that I lived my life in obedience to God's will?