Wednesday, February 19, 2020

In Our Corner



What is it like to know someone is always there fighting for you?  When I applied for college, my grades were not exactly the best.  I was not this highly regarded 3.0 student.  My aptitude tests were very good, but it was unlikely that I would end up at a major school.  However having gone to one of the better schools in the Detroit area, I was considered for the University of Detroit.  It was still a stretch.  So, as I went to the office for an informal interview with the academic advisor, my spirits were not exactly good that morning.  However, it all changed when I walked in the room.  The advisor was my old principle at the high school, who knew me and my story.  “Kent,” he said as he shook his head with a look of both disbelief and happiness.  The disbelief was he saw my grades were not the greatest, but his happiness was that he knew my capabilities.  Needless to say, I was admitted without further issue.  I wondered what discussions were happening at the admissions board.  While I could not be certain as to what happened, I am certain that ‘Fr. Leo’ was fighting for me.  I could imagine him saying to the admission team, “I know Kent.  He can do this!”  There was never a doubt in his mind even as there was in mine.

God is our champion fighting for us behind the scenes to ensure our victories.  We all know the story of how God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to move to safety from the Egyptian army.  However, we tend to focus on their side and do not see the side of the Egyptians and what they were up against.  They had seen or heard of what God had done to force Pharaoh to free the Israelites and now watched Him perform the miraculous feat of parting the sea, but nonetheless, they chased after the Israelites.  After the fire came down and chariot wheels were bent, only then did some come to a brilliant conclusion. “Let’s get out of here!” they said.  I pondered on their state of mind.  After all that had gone on leading up to this, only then did they figure out this was a bad idea?  They were beyond what I often tell people is their ‘Elsa’ moment.  They needed to ‘Let it go!’  You see, when the Lord is on your side there are battles being fought that we never know about and things changing that we ourselves may not even notice.  People who had initially blocked your pathway are being moved out, and hearts and circumstances are changing today that yesterday were stagnant.  This is perhaps at the center of why Jesus said, “But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

We must never lose faith in God’s ability to make a way when there is seemingly no way.  In seeing the plight of the Egyptian army, we can see the mountains God moved and that our enemies too understand who our God is.  Perhaps today is the moment for you to pause and reflect.  The dream you feel that is out of reach, goal that seems unrealistic, or task that is an endless road of despair may be your moment of reaching the Red Sea.  Maybe God right now is lighting fires blocking the pathway of your enemies and bending the circumstances like chariots wheels.  Do not lose hope for Jesus Christ isn’t a champion because He’s never been hit.  He’s the champion because He’s undefeated.  Rely on this as you go through your times of trials and tribulation.  How can you move forward with confidence that God is leading the way?  What circumstances should you take to Him today?  My prayer is that no matter the battle, we keep in mind God is always in our corner.  Amen.

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