Hard Day’s Night

I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.         Isaiah 41:9-10 (NLT)

A song from my childhood came to my mind as I was reading this Scripture. A Hard Day’s Night was a song written and performed by the Beatles (1964) that describe the feelings of many people when they come to the end of their work week. As a nurse, my work week was rather fluid and sometimes I wasn’t sure if it ever did end! But this week has been one of those long, hard weeks. And then I read this Scripture ans I thought, “It’s my attitude that is dragging me down. Look at what God says about what He does in my life!”

I am a servant of God. I am here to serve – not be served. God chose me for a job and a purpose. I am not here to wander through this life but to grow in my relationship with my LORD that He may use me to build His Kingdom. I am His precious child that He loves so very much.

There is nothing to fear. Several things happened this week that brought fear prowling around the edges of my life. A young man that I know was deployed to Afghanistan, another friend shared a not good health report, and then there are the day-to-day annoyances and uncertainties that come to us all. And God, the Creator of all including me, says, “I am here. You have nothing to fear because I am here with you. Do not be discouraged by what you see but be encouraged by Who you cannot see with your eyes but see clearly with your spirit.”

God wins. God has provided me with the end of the story and so I know that He wins and so do all His children! Trials, suffering all the “stuff” that tries to weigh me down are momentary and God’s promises of eternal life that will be more than I can imagine is the place to set my eyes.

It is so easy to get caught up in the now and what I can see happening at the moment. Like a child, I live in the moment and crave that instant gratification. I remember taking my children to get their shots. By the second round of shots – they knew what was coming and they did not want to hear that it would only hurt for a moment and it was to prevent a nasty sickness that would last so much longer. They didn’t want the pain of now.

My friends, my brothers and sisters, this world may be headed for much worse days. There may be more wars and rumors of wars and great suffering. We must train our minds and hearts to focus on what is eternal. It is with that focus that we can learn to live in the victory of Jesus Christ that takes us far beyond this time and this place. It is that victorious life that so many are and will be searching for. We have been given it freely and so freely we are to give it away. Take time today to listen to both of these songs. Sing them with all your heart. Write the words in your spirit that in the days and nights and months and years ahead you will remember the truth of who you are and how you live.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus sung by Michael W. Smith

Above All written Paul Baloche and Lenny Leblanc, sung by Michael W. Smith