August  2006

Break Through

"The one who is in you (Jesus Christ) is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Lately I came across a song titled Break Through written by an artist called Tommy Walker. This is not an upbeat song nor has any sophisticated musical artistry in it. But the words of the song meant volumes to me. As I listened to that song, it reminded me of the many times I had been thru trials and problems in my life when I have lost all hope and control over my problems, but then the Lord who is in me did and still does prove to me that He is greater than all of those problems.

Throughout the Bible, if there's one profound fact which stands out in every page of the Bible, it is the fact that thru the many problems which God's children faced, God "broke through" and saved them by His loving hand. When the people of Israel (in the bible) were put in a situation where there's a big sea in front of them and the enemies behind them, when they had given up all hope of living their life the next moment, the Lord broke through the waves and tides and made a way for His children.

Maybe this message is for you too my friend. I really don't know what kind of a situation you are in, right now. Maybe everything's going well in your life. If yes, then let's praise God and keep confessing the fact that He who is in us is greater than every situation of our lives. But if you are one of those people in a messed-up situation where you have lost all hope, or you have prayed too hard for years together but nothing seems to have worked yet, remember this my friend, our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is greater than all of your situations. Situations and Circumstances may threaten us even unto death, but be comforted and confident of the fact that "Greater is He who is in you, than your circumstances".

When we come thru such testing times, and when we the Lord's love emerges thru those trials, when we are finally out of those times of troubles, then we will know and value how the hand of the Lord has kept us safe thru all of those times when we have lost all control and hope.

Let me explain this a bit more clearly. The Lord does not bring problems into our life just to prove or show off His power. In the bible, in the book of John chapter 16 verse 33, Jesus made it very clear that "In this world you will have trouble", because the world chooses to stray away from the way of God and is many times messed up. But then Jesus continues that verse and says "But take heart! I have overcome the world.". That's the beauty of our God. Though we live in a world infected with problems, we can still live with utmost joy and boldness because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has overcome the world and sin once and for all, by His death on the cross and His resurrection.

One day a mother put her daughter in school as usual. By the end of the day, when the mother was getting ready to pick her daughter back from school, due to some unavoidable work, she could not make it to school on time. Her little innocent daughter started to walk back from school towards home. Unfortunately, that evening it was getting dark as there's going to be a thunder storm soon. The little girl, while walking back home, saw lightning in the sky. For every lightning she saw, she would stop walking and look at the lightning and smile. The poor mother, drove towards school hurriedly and, while on the way, saw her daughter walking back home on the road. She quickly parked her car and called out to her daughter. By the way, she noticed this weird action of her daughter, the way she stopped for every lightning and smiled at the sky. When mother asked the girl why she stopped for every lightning and smiled at the sky, the little girl said "Mom, can't you see that Jesus is taking pictures of me? That's why I am smiling".

My friend, that's child-like faith. If only you could put all your trust in this Jesus, you can be sure that even though tough times come your way, you can face it and smile, because Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. Even before you could close this page, I would like for you to read thru the words of the song Break Through. May the song be your prayer as you face your day today.

Have a blessed day !!!

Your friend,
Eshcol