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Fear is a huge motivator that affects our behavior and emotions. In our community group curriculum we read, “Fear is also at the root of our self-protection mechanisms (defensiveness, contempt, criticism, shame, stonewalling, etc.). As eroding as these things are, the worst thing about fear is that it keeps us from love. . .”

In thinking about “Fear” today, I want to take another look at Psalm 3. In the NIV we read, “O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” (v.1-2)

I often get a kick out of how Eugene Peterson paraphrases scripture in The Message, “God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms, mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery: “Hah! No help for him from God!” (v.1-2)

There are different kinds of fear that affect all of us. At times, we, too, may feel surrounded by insurmountable fears! Some might include going to the dentist, being rejected by a close friend, not doing well on a test, not living up to expectations of your boss, etc. Some fear we anticipate, like the test or dentist appointment. Other fears can come upon us when we least anticipate it.

Last year, after twenty-nine years of employment, I was laid-off. I can’t say it was totally unexpected, but I was still surprised. For months afterwards, I experienced a new kind of fear. It’s one that I’ve not experienced before: fear of what might happen in the future, specifically, financial failure.

This is not a fear that I think about during my waking hours. God is providing in marvelous ways! Instead, this is a fear that can haunt me at night. It wakes me up with crazy thoughts!!

Pastor Matt said the first thing we need to do when we are afraid is to face our fear. I find that when I’m awakened in the middle of the night, the best thing I can do is get-up to journal, read the Bible, and cry-out to God, as David did. I find spending time in these activities to be so much better than wrestling in bed, trying to sleep, with crazy thoughts spinning in my mind.

Fear of what we’re facing can sometimes cause us to doubt that God is really present in our situation. At the Mt. Helix Community Group this week, we had an ice-breaker activity of writing acronyms for the word, DOUBT. I want to share two from our group. Here’s the first one:
D – Disbelief
O – Often
U – Unwittingly
B – Brews
T—Torment

I like this one because when I don’t face my fear, I do feel tormented! In addition to the activities named above that help, I’m a part of a great small group of guys with whom I can share anything. Having this kind of support is invaluable in so many ways!

The second acronym is this:
D – Devoting
O – Ourselves
U – Until
B – Belief
T – Transpires

Sometimes, in spite of what we are feeling, we need to move forward in our faith walk. This may even mean leaning on others to help us trust God in facing our fears. Moving forward can help us find a better place to be with God, to see and experience God’s blessings.

In verses 4 – 5, David writes, “To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”

In his crying aloud to God, a wonderful transformation takes place! Peace comes to David so that he can sleep. The next day he awakes and feels the Lord’s strength and power to sustain him.

How do you experience God in the midst of your worst fear? How do you find strength and help from God? What’s your story?

Jeff Glass
jeffglass@diveintoflood.com

I used to be the pastor of a small rural church near the Kings River, south of Fresno. During the winter, this area was socked-in with Tule fog. When driving, you can barely see two center lines down the road!

The church was located 3 miles outside of town, surrounded by corn, cotton, cows, and alfalfa. In front of the church was a lonely street light, the only one for a few miles along Mt. Whitney Blvd.

It was amazing to see how many cars would breakdown in front of the church, underneath that streetlight. Whether they suddenly developed mechanical troubles in front of the church, or were just holding-on to make it to the streetlight, I don’t know. But the drivers were seeking the light in order to see what was wrong with their car. Under the light, they hoped to find a solution to repairing their problems.

David wrote in Psalm 27:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? (v.1-2)

When fear comes upon us, it is vitally important that we look for the Light and bring our fears and troubles to God. In doing this, we can find grace, strength and courage to face what lies before us.

Sometimes God’s light reveals that something really is broken and we can’t fix it quickly. As pastor of that small country church, people would occasionally come to my door, asking if they could use the phone to call for help (this was before cell phones). In working on their car under the street light, they discovered they needed a part, a tow, a tool, or something else beyond their resources to fix their problem.

Like the drivers of broken-down cars in front of the church, don’t be afraid to call for help, whether you cry-out to God , close friend, or a pastor. We are all here to love and care for others, to help others see God’s light and to dwell in His presence.

I invite you to read all of Psalm 27 for today’s devotion. As you do, think about these questions:
• What fear do you carry in your life today?
• Where would you like God’s light to shine in your life?
• How can you be a light to others?

Jeff Glass
jeffglass@diveintoflood.com

So what happens when we’re in the middle of the storms of life and fear is on every side of us?  What about when your job prospects are looking terrible and the possibility of promotion is low?  Or when infertility rears emotionally draining ugly head?  Or your family life is non-existent and friends are hard to come by?  Or depression becomes a reality?  All part of a litany of life struggles; all part of a long list of fear-inducing circumstances that challenge us to either believe that Jesus is out there watching over us, or not.

Take a look at the disciples when they faced fear.  In Matthew 14, they were at their wits’ end with a terrible storm and a boat that was close to capsizing-in the middle of the night of course (don’t  things always seem scarier at 3 am than at 3 pm?)  Jesus came to them, walking on water, and they were terrified:

“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:26-27)

When we are scared of the hostile circumstances life has us in, do we see Jesus as a ghost walking on water, or do we listen to His advice and take courage.  Are we really afraid of the bad things, (a.k.a. Monsters), that are lurking out there behind the closet or under our bed, or is it something else that instills fear in us?  Maybe we’re scared of what will happen if we see Christ who he truly is and embrace what might happen if we “take courage” and follow Him.  Many times in my own life, I’ve felt it was harder to trust God than to run from Him.  When Jesus appeared to the disciples, did the storm calm down immediately?  Nope-it sure didn’t.  It’s not until Jesus climbs into the boat with Peter that the winds subsided.  If the the storms in your life haven’t calmed down, maybe Christ you haven’t allowed Christ to come aboard.

How scared are you of the storms in your life?  Is God out there calling you to have courage in Him?  Where are you-in the boat? Or are you stepping out of relative safety into the tempest?  What does Jesus want us to do with our fear?  I think His words in verse 27 answer that question:  Take courage.  Are you?

Stan Fisher

stan.fisher74@gmail.com

Fear-Not just for kids anymore . . .

What do we often think about when we talk about fear?  As children it’s usually monsters or scary things.  But as we grow older our fear becomes more about life; we fear failure, we fear loss, we fear missing out on the good things that life supposedly has in store for us, and many others.  In retrospect, much of our adult fear is just a manifestation of our childhood fear. Unless you are watching a Pixar movie, monsters have nothing good for us in life.  Same with our adult fears-they only serve to take the joy out of our lives.  If we let our fear run our life then joy will never enter the picture.

So how does God fit into this?  David makes it clear in Psalm 3 that he is scared of the army of his son Absalom who is attempting a coup on David’s throne.  David not only fears for his kingdom but his own life.  David fears the failure of his reign; being ousted by a coup will not only take his life, but it will most likely lead to the destruction of the Israelites, which would be the ultimate failure in David’s eyes. Yet, in this very dark time he turns to the only one who can help him.  David seeks God with all his heart during this time.  David recognizes God’s presence, he understand the sustainment and shield that only God can provide—that is why he goes to Him in prayer.

Where do you go when fear knocks at your door?  Do you pull the covers over your head and hope it goes away?  Or do you crawl out of bed and run to your Father’s room?  I think it is clear what David did-he turned to the Father Almighty for solace and safety.  What is keeping you from following David’s example?

Stan Fisher

Stan.fisher74@gmail.com

Do you find it easy to doubt?

Maybe you’ve heard yourself ask questions like these:

“Man! That guy is 5 years younger than me and he’s driving a nicer car than mine…how did my life get so off track?” or

“Geez…I work and work and can’t seem to get ahead, maybe I don’t really have to report this as income this year”

I’ve definitely heard myself say this “that guy has that much influence and he’s not even a Christian?” or “that person has great hair!”

I find it interesting that my temptation to doubt is always greatest when I feel I’m the lesser person.  I get this competitive longing to win, and when I don’t win the prize I want in that moment, something inside me tells me I’m a loser…  ”I should have gone to medical school or become a rock star or lawyer or brilliant computer programmer or something “better” than I am right now so my life can have some sort of meaning or significance or even just a Lotus Elise or cool jeans. ”

I’m convinced this is an ancient struggle.

“I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” – Ps 73:3

Even the Psalmist is tempted to envy the prosperity of those around him…those who may not even know who God is.  He probably thought: “If those guys are doing so well and seem so rich, then why don’t I just go do what they’re doing?  I mean it seems like they’re healthier than me, better dressed than me, their lives seem easier and less complicated.  They’re not even afraid of death like I am.  They’re fearless and savvy.  They seem to have life down, they get richer  and richer and act like they own the planet.  They even question the knowledge and existence of God because they never needed Him in the first place to become so great.”

And I’m reminded of that old familiar vacuum of doubt making it’s way into my heart…

“Am I really doing what God wants for me?”…

“can I even really hear Gods voice?”…

“Is this even worth it?”…

“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;  in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” – Ps 73:13

…”I keep following the rules, but I keep finishing last”…

The story continues.  The Psalmist reveals to us his heart’s journey as he colors in the picture of how grace and faith prevail.

It’s apparent the Psalmist’s perspective is realigned as he converses with God.  God’s goodness is his anchor and he believes God will do a good thing if he perseveres.

But I think there’s another angle to consider…  This is a window into our character.

In our quest for faithfullness, we usually begin with doubt.

It is doubt that causes us to ask questions and provides the opportunity for God to prove that he is faithful.  It is these moments when our faith is tested.

“The testing of our faith produces perseverence.” -James 1:3

When we’re tested and we decide to believe God in those moments of decision and trust His ways, this trust over-and-over-and-over again, over time is perseverance, and perseverance over-and-over-and-over again, over time is faithfulness.

We walk from doubt …through perseverence …to faithfullness and our final destination is Servant Leadership as we become the faithful, the dependable, a solid rock. We become someone who stabilizes the group…only because our stability is derived from God Himself.  We are given clear vision and learn the ability to ascertain Gods voice clearly.  We become the one God uses to serve His people.

The more faithful we are, the less we doubt because we’ve experienced that God is trustworthy.  Our character begins to look like God’s.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Ps 73:26

So I find that I’m at peace with the answers to my questions above.  My life isn’t so “off track” after all.  I can report my taxes to the IRS without fear.  Even though I don’t have the stylish “medium shag”  hairdo of a Switchfoot bandmember, my wife still thinks I look okay.  More importantly I’m comfortable with saying that I can hear God’s voice when I listen.  I’m pretty sure He loves me and looking back, every time I took a chance on God, he’s followed through.  It is worth it after all.  Otherwise I wouldn’t be here sharing my experience with you the reader.

“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Ps 73:28

Greg Gunn

gcgunn1@yahoo.com

How would you define Courage?  Recently, I saw a few good definitions on Dictionary.com:  Intrepidness, bravery, fearlessness, resolve, determination…all great definitinos, but I kind of disagree.

Probably my favorite definition for courage is this: “the act of helping a person when the fear of injury to them outweighs the fear of injury to yourself”

When I think of this definition, I usually think of something heroic like firemen or soldiers facing impossible odds on the behalf of those in need.  Do you relate?

Have you ever felt the odds were against you?

I work in the field of cardiology and daily I see people whose hearts are beating at a fraction of what they should.  Many times their heart pumps at a mere 10-20 % of it’s potential.   We give them medications to make them comfortable, or try to improve an already failing organ to possibly extend their life, but you kinda know they live with the question of “until when” in the backs of their minds.  It’s interesting how some deal with the reality of their own mortality.  In many cases I feel like I’m dichotomically trying to convince them that the “odds” are against them, yet still be a voice of hope and healing.  This in itself is quite a challenge.  But occasionally you meet those patients who have remarkable spirits and you are left in wonder  and inspired to handle your own circumstances as graciously as they handle theirs.  I had a patient just like this last week.  Her name is Mrs. B.

Psalm 3 reminds me of Mrs. B because she knows the odds are stacked against her.  Her poor health is her enemy.  She is elderly.  She has a husband who had a massive stroke many years ago and is wheelchair bound.  He needs 24/7 assistance for everything from holding a fork to using the bathroom or taking a bath.  We all know people like this.  The ill caring for the ill.  The sick grandmothers who take care of the sick grandfathers.  This is Mrs. B.

She came in to our clinic because she has chest pain whenever she exerts herself .   She did many tests and the results were positive for blockages in the arteries of her heart.  The thing is, her WHOLE LIFE is exerting herself  as she cares for her husband.  She lifts him and feeds him.  She is his full time caregiver.  She admitted that this was causing her anxiety and difficulty sleeping.  She recently started new medication that didn’t really help.  She was tired and at the end of her rope.

David in verse 3 shows that the people around him were of no help.  Many told him that God probably won’t be delivering him from his enemies any time soon.  It’s possible that a well meaning friend was saying “maybe God is punishing you right now” or “sorry David, we can’t hang because you’re probably getting what you deserve at this moment!”  … all of these attacks, from both his enemies and friends were occurring all at once.  Kind of like me (her friend) telling Mrs. B, she’s really sick  with heart disease (her enemy) and she should find someone else to help care for her husband.  I told her she needs time for herself and needs to take a break every once in a while.  I told her she can’t expect her body to handle such stress.  So how do you think she responded?

She was offended.

She said, “my husband is my life and he needs me right now, please help me feel well enough so I can take care of him”

“…he is my life…”

Courageous.

So David was forced to cry out to God.

Literally…

…cry out…

…”aloud”…

In the middle of crying out aloud to God, he realized that God was his shield.  It was God who protected him against enemies and “friends” who attacked with verbal weapons as well as physical ones. David through his cries, in the midst of his despair and fear, and maybe even a feeling of betrayal, was touched by God. And God gave him peace.  God realigned his perspective. He was so affected by God that he was able to fall asleep.  Ooooh, the blessing of restful, comfortable, rejuvenating, peaceful, deep sleep…without taking Ambien or Lunesta. Without being woken up by the kids!  He then woke up and was infused with energy for the task at hand.  Almost like he was fueled by a supernatural source of strength.

When was the last time you slept so soundly?

When was the last time you got up after prayer and were moved to advance despite the odds being against you?

David said:

“I wake again because the Lord sustains me”

…then…

“I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side”

At some point, I was compelled to ask Mrs. B if she had a social support network, like if she went to church or temple.  She said she’d like to go to church, but was too busy caring for her husband to make it there.  I then asked if she prayed.  She said she did.  So I asked if I could pray with her their in the exam room and she said “yes, but only if you speak the words.”  So I prayed basically that God would take care of her so she could take care of her husband.  This was a beautiful moment for me.

After our “amens”, she hugged me with tears in her eyes and said thank you.  Of course I gave her the medications she needed for her heart, but what she told me before she left was priceless:

“I think I’ll be able to sleep peacfully tonight”

Mrs. B in the mist of her despair and anxiety chose to set aside the concerns of her own frailty to care for her husband who is convalesced.  She came before God and I believe her soul was refreshed.  David feared death and had no support.  He “cried” out to God and was given peace and perspective.  He woke up ready to take on “tens of thousands on every side”  He recognized the Lord as his deliverer and was even compelled to pray a blessing on God’s people.

Firemen jump into burning buildings or crumbling skyscrapers ready to save people they don’t know, soldiers are willing to take a bullet for a country full of people they have yet to meet.

Jesus took upon himself the weight and consequences of your sin and mine and died on the cross on our behalf.

Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is this: “the act of helping a person when the fear of injury to them outweighs the fear of injury to yourself”

Mrs. B is courageous, Jesus was couragous…how about you?

Greg Gunn

gcgunn1@yahoo.com

Each one of us has a personal testimony of what God has done in our lives.  They are incredibly powerful, because there is not a single person that can refute them.  And every life story is unique since God interacts with each one of us in our own personal way. There is something in our past that convinced us that Jesus Christ is real and is worthy of us following Him.  Yet our doubts will often quiet these memories. It could have been an experience where you could not deny God’s presence.  It could have been an unwavering belief in a certain truth.  Whatever it was, it changed your life.

I have always been an intellectual doubter.  I want to read all the evidence, and it takes time for me to fully believe something.  Yet in the midst of my numerous questions in life, I have never doubted that a God exists.  Ironically, the concept that kept most of my undergraduate classmates from believing in God was the one thing that made it impossible for me to deny Him.  I was an engineering student, and we were taught science to be our god.  Therefore, I was supposed to believe in evolution.  Yet whenever I would observe nature, or think about the universe, I would notice things so complex and beautiful that it took way more “blind faith” to believe that this whole universe exists out of chance.  This whole universe is eerily structured to allow life, with humanity as the pinnacle of that life, to exist and thrive.  Dinesh D’Souza does a great job in his book “What’s So Great about Christianity” explaining how science points to God, so I won’t try to present an amazing argument.

Here is my point: whenever I question what I see around me, or have the feeling that God is distant and uninvolved, I take a drive down to Sunset Cliffs.  I sit and stare at the expansive ocean.  Just admiring the beautiful creation helps me focus and remember that I do not question if God exists.  And then I remember in all of my studies, Christianity makes the most sense.  The evidence points to Jesus Christ living the life we should have lived, dying the death we deserved to die, and then being resurrected.  Yet all of this starts at Creation for me.  What is your core belief that keeps you centered?  What convinced you in the first place to give your life to Jesus?  There are times that we need to go back to our first love.

When we go back to our first love, we remember the gospel message.  If we really believe Jesus came into this world, suffered temptation, mocking, and an incredibly painful death, and then conquered death for the chance to have a relationship with us, then our doubts start to look a bit silly.  Does God really love us?  God could not have expressed His love any more convincingly.  Is He powerful?  He defeated death!  Is God a just God?  He sacrificed to make everything right in the end.  When we realize the extent that God went to just in order to have a relationship with us, it makes it harder to question His intentions.  No matter what our emotions or thoughts seem to say, God loves us overwhelmingly!!  Spend some time today remembering how amazing Jesus’ gift is to you, and what convinced you in the first place.

- Eric Lehman

It has been mentioned throughout the week that it is quite normal to have doubts, and it would actually be more shocking if somebody went through life without ever having questions regarding what they saw or experienced.  Maybe you have never doubted that God exists, but I would be surprised if you claim you have never doubted God’s intentions for actions or a seemingly passive approach.  Our doubts all have different degrees and have different reasons as their source.  For example, I have had many intellectual doubts throughout my journey, and seem to always be cynical the first time I hear things, especially of the miraculous nature.  Yet I meet others who are able to believe things quite naturally and seem to be way more faithful to God.  Let’s take a look at one of Jesus’ disciples.

John 20:24-27

²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

The tough part about this account for me is that I identify quite easily with Thomas’ response.  When I read it, I think to myself, “I would respond the exact same way!!”  If you tell me a man raised from the dead, I want to see some proof!!  And I feel like it would be naïve for me to believe something without questioning it first!

Yet we often view Thomas as a man of less faith.  We exalt Peter for his passionate responses of loyalty, yet belittle the man who is more thorough with his declaration of belief.  This stands out even more when we realize we still call him “Doubting Thomas.”  Great, the only thing he is remembered for is the fact that he doubted!  I’ll be honest, I used my sarcasm for harm at times in my life.  I can’t imagine being called “Jerkface Eric” the rest of my life because I ridiculed somebody in high school!  Yet that is what happens with Thomas.  We forget the ministry that he had throughout his life, and only remember him for having such little faith that he needed to touch the nail holes in Jesus hands.

Take a look at how Jesus responds though!  I have often read this as being condescending.  STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE!!!  But I am not sure that Jesus was necessarily being harsh with His words.  He knows Thomas and how he is wired.  He turns to him, shows him what he needs to see, and encourages him to believe!

Some of us have more doubts than others.  Some of us have intellectual barriers, while others have emotional.  God invites us to bring our doubts to Him. Our doubts and questions are an avenue to understanding God more, and having a genuine intimacy with Him.  The Soma conference reminds me how Jesus has created us each unique, and desires to have an honest connection with us, whether we have many questions like Thomas, or jump out of the boat and walk on water like Peter.  God loves each one of us, and desires to meet us where we are at.

- Eric Lehman

John the Baptist had come to have a profound relationship with Jesus during the course of his life. This is a man that recognized Jesus as the messiah while he was still in his mother’s womb. From John’s jump for joy, to him baptizing Jesus and watching the Holy Spirit descend and stay upon Him, John the Baptist is one person who should not have any problem believing that Jesus was indeed the ‘Lamb of God’.

That is why this question, asked by John, has always stood out to me:

‘Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else’ (Matthew 11:3)

It’s interesting to think that these uncertain thoughts only entered Johns mind when he was sitting alone in prison. Separated from his community, John was under attack by toxic thoughts, fears and doubts that he was not anticipating having to battle. Sitting alone in a dirty jail cell, John did not fear death, but was afraid that perhaps what he had built his life on was a sham. Had he been deceived? Was he dying for nothing?

In the middle of all these doubts John still knew Jesus, he was not afraid to take his fears to the One in which he has put his trust.  Jesus knew Johns doubts, he entered into that with him, and gave the disciples of John encouragement to bring back to him. ‘The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.’ (Matthew 11:4-6)

When we go through seasons that leave us feeling alone, tired, abandoned and anxious, when we feel as though God is not holding our right hand, we need only to reach out to Him. Jesus will always send the help that is needed. We may not always recognize that, but we must have faith that it is there. He hears our cries for help, and knows our deepest doubts. He will not condemn us for them. We rest assured in the fact that He has paid for any and all sin that may expose itself in the fears and temptations that come with our doubts.

Jesus said something else of John, this happening right after he had questioned the validity and authenticity of the Son of Man. One of the most awesome things ever said about another man. ‘Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist’ (Matthew 11:11). That is how Jesus answers doubts…he loves and affirms.

My prayer is that when we experience our deepest doubts, we not be weakened by the worries and uncertainties that these doubts bring. Instead may we have the fortitude to take our questions directly to our Glorious Savior, and may we open our ears and our hearts to hear His triumphant answers.

Kyle Healy

kylehealy@yahoo.com

Have you ever noticed that the hardest times to pray are often when we need to do so the most? Amidst rising doubts, nagging hurts and busy schedules we too easily lose the will to come to God in prayer.

There could be several reasons for this tendency. Sometimes prayer is undesirable because it forces us to face pain in our lives from which we would rather escape. Approaching God in honest prayer requires time and persistence that we at times feel unable to give. There are times where our hearts are so full of doubt that it is hard to imagine what good prayer would do. Self-reliance often convinces us to put our heads down and charge through difficulties on our own, without regard for God.

Martin Luther used to spend ah hour each morning in prayer. One particularly busy morning his assistant suggested that maybe they should shorten their time of prayer for the day. Luther replied that because they were so busy that day they should pray for three hours instead. Often what we need to do the most is what we feel least inclined to do. Rather than pushing us away from God doubts and pains should stimulate a renewed drive to spend time with him in prayer.

Sometimes we avoid prayer because we want to stay mad about our life situation. Lifting our hearts to God in prayer would suggest that we are ready to let go of our anger and this is not always the case. Yet, it is in coming to God through honest prayer where we reach our turning points.

Picture Asaph in Psalms 73. He has looked around him and observed a troubling scene. Those who don’t love God are making plenty of money and leading apparently happy lives while those who try to live for God don’t seem to derive any special benefit. Asaph becomes so bothered by what he finds that he is tempted to slip away from what he believes. The turning point emerges when Asaph enters God’s house, despite his inclinations to run in the opposite direction. In God’s presence he rediscovers the truth that turns his situation away around.

During a recent weekend I found myself quite frustrated with my circumstances. Prayer was the farthest thing from my mind. When I finally gave in and expressed myself to God in prayer, the cloud over my heart began to lift so that I could enjoy the moment again. I later recognized that the turning point came when I prayed, expressing my frustration to God.

Let’s learn from Asaph that when we are most tempted not to pray is when we need to do so the most. No matter how we may feel about it, moving toward God in prayer can change us and open our hearts to the turning points that he desires to bring to our situations.