Why God?

I think a lot of people give up on God. Life gets hard, sooner or later. Many get disappointed in God because something happened that shook them to the core. Some may even try to pray but don’t feel like God answers. God has failed to meet expectations. The result? You give up on God. God wasn’t there when you needed Him most. So, you do life with God at a distance.

What questions do you have for God today? What questions for God keep you from God?

God, why won’t you heal ________?
Why can’t you just answer this prayer?
Why did you allow ___________to happen?
Why won’t you restore this relationship?
Why did you allow trauma/abuse in my life?
Why do you allow good people to suffer?
Why do I have to wait so long?
Why am I going through this situation?

I remember going through a mysterious pain behind my knee years ago that literally changed my day-to-day life. The debilitating pain would occur out of nowhere and I could hardly take it. I went to doctor after doctor for answers and finally ended up at Mayo Clinic. Even Mayo didn’t know what it was! It wasn’t until a year later, that I was diagnosed with an issue with a nerve that caused all the madness. So many people prayed during that time for healing. I questioned God and his ways. Thankfully, with extensive therapy and lots of prayers, God healed me.

I find that we don’t really like God’s answers when they don't line up with what we want. I want God to want what I want. During that season of chronic pain, I wanted to see the reasons God allowed it and exercise my option to disagree with Him! I find this verse gives me perspective in times I question God:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that these very tough circumstances in life have actually drawn me closer to God. He knows what is best for me and always working in every life situation, for my good. It is through these difficult times, I have the opportunity to believe in God for what seems impossible.

We tend to believe only what we can fathom and see. What we fail to see is what God can do! Matthew 19:26 says, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Check out this song that helps me get out of my human expectations and see the power and greatness of my God. I can believe in miracles! I can pray for miracles! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTkYjd3RD6k

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. 

Change

This week, my husband, Ben, went from a relaxed summer of fly fishing on the Guadelupe River and hiking in Colorado to a crazy week of teaching at the university. He also said goodbye to a fellow colleague and friend who will soon be moving out of state. So much change in one week! Maybe you have some change going on as well?

Change is inevitable for all of us. Change can be good and change can be hard. How can change be good? Change can bring new opportunities. Change helps us grow. Change helps us develop resilience. Change keeps us flexible. Change keeps us from monotony.

Yet, change can be hard. Change is stressful! We all have observed a myriad of changes during the last few years. COVID has and is still affecting all of us to some extent. Change can make us feel like we’ve lost control. Change can make us feel unclear about the future. We actually can fear change and how it will affect us personally.

In my life, I have experienced much change. To be honest, I love “sameness” and really appreciate sticking to an even keel life. Yet, I’ve made some significant moves in my life that weren’t always easy. There were times I didn’t like change, but eventually, I saw God do some pretty cool things because I was willing to change. God gave me a verse decades ago that truly was His guidance for me in the midst of change. It’s found in Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  

Let’s consider what we can learn about change through this verse:

We can be grateful for the past and anticipate the future. God basically says “Don’t live in the past!” Maybe you’ve heard people say “I wish it was like it used to be….” Or “I really prefer to stay in my comfort zone.” We too can get stuck in the past! Our comfort zones seem safe! Yet, when we’re grateful for the past while choosing to live in the present, we won’t get stuck!

God’s promise is for something new. God literally says “See, I am doing a new thing!” The most important word in this entire verse is SEE. God is clearly doing something new….now it springs up! See! He is working even when we don’t see that He is working! God calls us to trust Him even in what is not seen yet.

Be open to the new things in your life! How would your life change if you let go of your comfort zone? Opening ourselves up to new things doesn’t have to be hard. It’s usually more about us changing our personal perspective than about making a huge lifestyle change. When we are open to change, we actually become change agents! We help others change too!

How are you currently experiencing a change in your life? How are you doing with those changes? May you see, really see, that God is doing a new thing in your life.

The song, In Jesus Name, by Katy Nichols, seemed to resonate with me when I think about change. He's the God of possible! Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VukxLl6HLE

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Judging Others

Judging people has become a national pastime. You certainly see it on social media loud and clear. You can also feel the judgment of others, sometimes when they don’t even say one word! None of us like to be judged, but we are certainly quick to judge.

Judgments are spontaneous and often inaccurate interpretations of our environment that influence our thinking and behavior. (Exercises for Non-judgmental Thinking, Christy Matta) Judgments go further when we pass on our judgments to others, and they join in on the fun.

Now don’t judge me. But there are times when we need to make judgments and discern what’s best in a situation. I obviously get that. However, our tendency is to emotionally react to something or someone and quickly make the judgment, even in our minds.  We don’t even know when we’re doing it!

Do you realize how your judgments hurt other people? I don’t think most people realize this. God certainly doesn’t look lightly on this topic because, honestly, He is a just, merciful judge and His ways and intentions are for our good and the good of others. (Psalm 145:8-9) In the New Testament, Jesus commands in Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, that you may not be judge.” Wow….I would say that’s something to consider.

Judging others is rooted in our own insecurity and pride. Our pride has a way of justifying our judgment because we think we know better than another person. It’s tempting not to stop there. Then, criticism, gossip, and making assumptions about others follow. Not good, folks. And here’s the kicker, we even judge ourselves!!!

Maybe we need to just start believing that a person’s intentions are good until proven differently. Some years back, for a class, I was asked to memorize a portion of scripture, Colossians 3:1-17. It truly is such a beautiful portion of scripture that depicts so well the Christian life. Hidden in this gem of scripture is a winsome beautiful way of living:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:12-13)

What would it look like if you lived this verse? You would not be judging, criticizing, or demeaning people, that’s for sure. When we take a non-judgmental stance, we’re different. We’re not engaging with all the gossip or hearsay. We’re not standoffish to those we dislike. We give up judging for what we think that person did or didn’t do umpteen years ago. You’re free to love. Free to care. The world needs more people like this.

With my own personal feelings on this topic, I find Lauren Daigle’s song, You Say, so helpful to listen to:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9cokosaXLA

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Let's Talk!-God

Do you believe God answers prayer? Do you believe God answers your prayers? If you don’t believe God answers prayer, why would you pray? If you don’t believe God could answer your prayers, why would you pray?

The reason why I start my day at 0-dark-hundred is that I believe that God answers my prayers. It is a sacred time where I sit down, journal, read Scripture, talk to God, and share with Him just what’s on my heart. I need God. Call me weak. Ok, I know that. But I need God.

Throughout the Bible, you can read about men and women who believed God answered prayers and prayed like crazy. People like Abraham, Hannah, Moses, Paul, Daniel, David, Nehemiah, and even Jesus to name a few.  Reading the Bible really helps me understand prayer as well! I see in the Bible that not everyone had their prayers answered the way they wanted them answered. God might know that the thing you’re praying for is not the best thing for you or that someone you’re praying for. Just remember, He always wants the best for us! Always.

Sometimes, the answer is “wait.” Oh, boy, I know about waiting! I prayed and prayed for a husband for a long time and God finally answered my prayers! What if I had given up praying? What if I doubted Him? Even though hard at times, I never doubted that He would provide His very best for me. And He did. Ben!

I would just love for you to understand how personal God is. He longs to be in a relationship with You. Check out this amazing passage in 2 Kings 20:4-6:

 “And it happened before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you.”

Did you see how personal God is? “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears.” Do you believe that?

Did you know that He knows every struggle you’re going through?
Do you believe that He knows where you got your wounds and scars?
Did you know that He saw the tears that you shed recently?
Did you know that God knows all your fears?
Do you believe that He weeps when you weep?  
Did you know He knows when your heart is hardened toward Him?

Beth Moore writes “The weakest person praying is stronger than the mightiest one who’s not.” Call me weak, but prayer is where I get my strength.
God is so personal and truly the air that I breathe! Take a listen! That's "Who You Are to Me" with Lady A @ Chris Tomlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJdp4V2itXw

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

August Peace of Mind

Now that it’s August 1, we can officially let out a sigh of relief that we only have approximately 65 or so days until it cools down. I’m so relieved to know that we’re almost there. At least pre-season football starts Thursday, so that gives me an extra sigh of relief. (Go Cowboys!) Fall is JUST around the corner. 

My mind can play tricks on me this time of year. I’m so ready for cooler temps and a good ole’ fashion rainstorm! Just the thought of cuddling up with a book while the rain is pounding on the roof sounds so refreshing. But I’m going to have to wait a bit longer for that yummy fall weather.

How about an August peace of mind? How about making a choice today to enjoy God’s peace, no matter what the circumstances? You see, true peace doesn’t come from the absence of trouble, but from the active and tangible presence of a loving God. You and I can live in the peace of God even when life isn't always to our liking.

I’ve been meditating on a verse found in Isaiah 26:3 this week: “You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (ESV) Did you see that? Perfect peace. It’s when we are supported by God’s unchanging love, constant presence, and mighty power, we are not shaken by the things that typically shake us. You see, peace doesn’t have anything to do with our circumstances. God’s peace can carry us through anything.

Interesting how in Hebrew, the term ‘perfect peace’ is actually shalom shalom. The repetition in Hebrew communicates the intensity of the word. It’s not just shalom; it is shalom shalom, perfect peace. (Enduringword.com) When we keep our minds settled on the LORD himself, we can be kept in perfect peace.

Where do you set your mind? Is it in the crummy hot weather or all the challenging circumstances? Or living each day with gratitude, joy, and peace? How we think and what we think about matters. Where we set our minds is essential in our relationship with God. “The Hebrew word sawmak (stayed) comes from the root ‘to prop’ and has the idea of ‘to lean upon or take hold of.’” (Enduringword.com) I’m curious, what sustains your mind? What upholds your mind? What does your mind lean on? Are you fixed on the worries of the day? What people think? If this or that will happen? When these things occupy our minds, we struggle for perfect peace. To have this perfect peace, your mind can’t occasionally lean into God when it feels like it, it needs to be stayed on Him.

Maybe it’s time for an August reset? I want an August peace of mind. May God help you and I walk in His peace, day by day.

Take a listen and may it be a prayer for your perfect peace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRNCWlD4E6c

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.