Two days ago I joined the throng of vaccine candidates in a winding queue under California’s cooperating sky for my second COVID vaccination. I was skipping along feeling great and humming with CAPITAL B BELIEF. Heck, it was EASTER SUNDAY! I had no idea then that my encounter with a needle in 43 minutes would turn into today’s message on CAPITAL B BELIEF. But that is exactly what happened. Here’s the story.
The first 17 hours post vaccination were not memorable in any way. I was feeling great until hour 18 handed me three unpleasant symptoms: 1) Shiver-and-shake chills that my car’s seat warmer couldn’t penetrate; 2) A full-blown body ache that shot through me like Luke’s lightsaber; and 3) Fatigue that felt like I had been run over by a Japanese bullet train racing past Mt. Fuji.
I kept my laptop running for a few hours but then clambered into my car for the drive home. The next thing I remember is dropping my briefcase on the stairs and crawling into bed with my clothes and shoes.
The message? We cannot escape this truth: It’s not a question of if . . . it’s when the challenges of life will show up.
In the scheme of things, a negative vaccine reaction is not that big of a deal. But it does offer a perfect example of how something can appear suddenly and disrupt the peaceful rhythm of our life.
Our response to the reality of life’s periodic challenges is to spend time with God every day to seek and secure his wisdom and discernment. To strengthen our faith. To make our belief CAPITAL B BELIEF so when the threats and setbacks of life come, our belief does not drop to lower-case.
We simply remember what has not changed: God’s love for us and his promise to never leave our side. To never leave us hanging. To never leave us in the dark.
We avoid the Enemy’s darkness by infusing our soul with the truth of GOD’S LIGHT. Then, when the darkness comes, it may cast a dark shadow while it’s present, but we can be confident and certain that God’s light will prevail.
Jesus Christ is light and he has overcome the world’s darkness (1 John 1:5). Remembering that is what keeps our belief spelled with a CAPITAL B.
I ask God that his confidence be my confidence. That his strength be my strength. That his light overcome my darkness. Most importantly, I ask him to send me forth with his anointing, fully assured that he is with my every step—even when the steps are uncertain.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
How often do you store up God’s wisdom BEFORE stuff “goes wrong”? If you haven’t done it in a while, try it today. Even now.
MY PRAYER
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25
