Get a Grip

Psalms 46:10,11

Has anybody ever told you to “get a grip!” Did you have a parent, teacher, or preacher that told you that “you need to get a grip on life!” I’m sure each of us have or will have heard this many times in our lifetime. To get a grip on something simply means pull it together, latch on, or a quiet confidence that something promised will come to pass.

Oswald Chamber’s My Utmost for His Highest has been my devotion of choice for this year. I read it many years ago and was blessed by it but now reading it again has been fresh, insightful, and encouraging. His February 22nd devotion is titled “The Discipline of Spiritual Tenacity.” In that devotion he speaks of tenacity be an essential Christian quality. Webster defines tenacity as “adhesiveness, the qualities of bodies that makes them adhere or stick to one another.” We can say it like this “it is staying with the process regardless of how things seem to appear now.” It is to never waiver in our faith when things look as though the outcome appears to be different from the beginning. Jesus said that He would come back and reign as “king of kings and Lord of lords” but until then we will live in an evil, turbulent world where Satan is doing his best “to kill, steal, and destroy.” Paul said, “the promises in him (Christ) are yes and amen!” What Jesus said would come to pass will come to pass regardless of how things look at the present moment. We just need to lay hold of Him!

So how do we as Christians get a grip? Simply by “being still and knowing the He is God.” We latch on to Him by trusting that “all things will work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purposes.” We may not understand or perceive how He is going to bring it about, but by firmly getting a grip and grasping onto His word we know that His plan will come to pass.

You may feel that your world is falling apart. Your mountain may be falling into the sea, and you feel that your seas are rough. But as we look into the gospel, we see that Jesus is the master of the seas and in time will speak peace and calm into your life. Our world feels like it’s falling apart. Shaking, quaking, and unraveling, but fear not little child, “it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” In the midst of all this turmoil, God is in our midst, and He is our refuge, a present help in trouble.

I close with this quote from an early mentor of mine and many other preachers in this county, Rev. Wayne Tuttle. At my ordination service he shared with me the challenges that many ministers face and how it can sometimes be overwhelming. It may feel as if everything around you is falling apart. But he looked at me and said something I will never forget. He said "God is a constant in an ever-changing world.” That was 17 years ago, and I have never forgotten it. Sometimes we may lose our way in all the confusion. Sometimes we may lose heart which ultimately cause us to lose strength. But God is the strength of our hearts and can always be found in the same place where we always find him. That place is upon His throne!

The Apostle Paul encouraged young Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of eternal life.” When we get a grasp of the fact that God is sovereign and through His providence is in control of all things and holds all things together then we can be confident in the fact that nothing shall separate us from His love as long as we stick with Him!

Pastor Robby