06292024 Too Late

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who does all things well. (He does, doesn’t He?) Last week I focused on God’s last-minute rescues, when He steps in just before everything collapses. But God doesn’t always do that.

What about the times when God is too late? It’s a trick question. God is never too late. Sometimes it appears that way to the human eye, however.

A few examples come quickly to mind. In Mark 5, Jairus was greatly burdened for his young daughter, who was at the point of death. He believed Jesus could save her life. But with the time spent in travel and the interruption of another healing, it became too late. Messengers arrived on the scene, reporting, “Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?” (v. 35).

Peter had great power for healing during the early days of the church. Even as he healed people nearby, Dorcas became very sick. The disciples knew Peter was close, and they sent messengers, “desiring him that he would not delay to come to them” (Acts 9:38). But when Peter arrived, Dorcas was dead, and the mourners had gathered.

Perhaps the most poignant story is that of Lazarus, both because Jesus loved Lazarus so much and also because everyone involved came to the same conclusion. The messengers had come, but Jesus waited. Finally, “when Jesus came, he found that [Lazarus] had lain in the grave four days already” (John 11:17).

What did everyone conclude? Martha said it: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (v. 21). Mary said it: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (v. 32). Some of the Jews said it: “Could not this man … have caused that even this man should not have died?” (v. 37).

They all knew it. Jesus was too late! Except He wasn’t. For Lazarus, as for Dorcas and for Jairus’ daughter, it was not too late. Each of those three was miraculously raised from the dead. Even though the situations had seemed hopeless – irreparable – God still had a plan and a solution.

That is the important issue, that God still had a plan, even in apparent hopelessness. While miraculous resurrections are not likely in our day, it remains true that God has a plan, even when it seems that all is lost. Even in Jesus’ day, not everyone who died was resurrected, not even among true followers of God. But in each death (or other final disaster) for which God was “too late,” there was a purpose and plan, and that remains true today.

Will we always know what that plan is? Certainly not. Can we trust God that there is one? By His grace, yes. We can rest assured – confident! – that if God withholds His rescue until it is too late, there is something grander and more significant that He is accomplishing.

What was God doing in the story of Jairus’ daughter? We have this commentary: “And they were astonished with a great astonishment” (Mark 4:42). Specifically, it was the parents who were astonished (Luke 8:56). My assumption is that Jairus already believed Jesus could do wonders before the “too late” experience, but afterward, both Jairus and his wife became true believers.

What about with Dorcas? The story spread, “and many believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:42).

I think the best answer is found in the story of Lazarus. Jesus Himself told the purpose for waiting until it was “too late.” He explained, “This sickness is … for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (John 11:4).

The glory of God! Is that not what we desire to happen through our lives? Through our victories, successes, and deliverances? Well, then, why not desire the same outcome through our defeats, failures, and destructions? Can we not trust God to bring glory to Himself through what doesn’t go well?

One of the most poignant illustrations in modern times happened on January 8, 1956. God was “too late” to rescue Jim Elliott and his four companions. Why did God not rescue these missionaries who were reaching out into new territory? Part of the answer remains unknown, except to God. In Through Gates of Splendor, Elisabeth Elliott confesses, “For us widows the question as to why the men who had trusted God to be both shield and defender should be allowed to be speared to death was not one that could be smoothly or finally answered in 1956, nor yet silenced in 1996.”

Yet we do know that the story of Elliot, Saint, McCully, Fleming, and Youderian greatly impacted the Christian world, both at the time and in successive decades. It is believed that in the immediate aftermath, those inspired to missionary service numbered in the hundreds. Those who rose up after these five men were able to reach the tribe, including the very ones who killed the missionaries. Elisabeth wrote dozens of books, influencing and inspiring millions of Christians.

Undoubtedly, we cannot know all that God accomplished through that “too late” tragedy. Just as certainly, we can proclaim that God received glory through it – glory on earth, glory in heaven, glory in the immediate, glory in the eternal.

Can God not do the same through our difficulties? Certainly not because of who we are in our weakness, but because of who He is in His greatness. What a motto to cling to: “In my life, Lord, be glorified.” Or, as Paul stated, “So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Philippians 1:20). Yes, Lord. If You can glorify Yourself in my life, though it be in difficulty and tragedy, even in “too late” scenarios that I never understand, then be glorified.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

06222024 Last Minute Rescue

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our Rescuer. He rescues us from sin through Christ’s sacrifice, and He rescues us throughout our lives from both physical dangers and spiritual struggles.

In Acts 12, Peter was in need of physical rescue. Herod had killed James (12:2), and the positive Jewish response prompted Herod to take Peter as his next victim (12:3). Peter was apprehended and put in prison under heavy guard (12:4). I assume “four quaternions of soldiers” refers to four groups of four soldiers, each of which had a six-hour shift, thus providing round-the-clock coverage. Two of the four soldiers were chained to Peter, while the other two watched the gate (12:6).

Peter was taken during the days of unleavened bread (12:3), a seven-day celebration that I believe ended at or around Easter. Apparently, the ongoing festival influenced Herod to delay additional action, “intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (12:4). “Peter therefore was kept in prison” (12:5) for what was apparently several days. Meanwhile, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (12:5).

Herod had a plan for Peter, intending to “bring him forth to the people” (12:5&6). At face value, this seems ambiguous. The context, however, strongly suggests that Peter was to be put to death. That is what happened to James, whose death directly led to Peter’s being imprisoned. It seems to be what the church expected as they unified in prayer. It seems to be what Peter expected, as his first thoughts after his divine release were that God had “delivered [him] out of the hand of Herod” (12:11). Based on what had happened to James, and the Jews’ pleasure in it, it seems that “the expectation of the people of the Jews” regarding Peter would have been the same outcome.

Herod’s plan had timing. He was waiting for the feast of unleavened bread to end and for Easter to pass. Herod’s plan was about to take effect. “And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night” (12:6). The passage does not reveal that anyone other than Herod (and God) were aware of the specific timing. Surely the Jews were anticipating action; at the very least, it would be quite logical for them to speculate that the timing would come after the feast. Peter himself and the praying Christians may have anticipated the same timing. Maybe Herod had made an announcement. The important thing is that God knew.

What is clear is that God’s rescue came just in time. At the last minute, so to speak. Doom and destruction, probably death, were coming in the morning. Sometime during the night, God sent an angel to release Peter. In the morning, Herod was left surprised and scrambling, sending out search parties for the escaped fugitive.

In his imprisonment, Peter probably did not know how long he would be in prison, nor did he know for certain what would happen when he was taken out. Release accompanied by more threats? A beating? Renewed imprisonment after being made a spectacle? Death?

Peter had already come to the point of “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (5:41). Undoubtedly, he shared the mindset of Paul: “So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. … having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:20-23).

Whether or not Peter was aware of the intended outcome or of the specific timing, he had a measure of peace, as he slept between the soldiers. That did not mean the situation was easy or pleasant. Peter had to spend several days in jail. Constantly chained, constantly guarded. The conditions could not have been good, and the threat constantly loomed. But God delivered just in the nick of time.

This wasn’t the first time God had delivered Peter at the last minute. In Mark 4, Jesus was with His disciples in a ship. There was a great storm with strong wind and crashing waves. The disciples thought they were going to perish. When they finally woke Jesus at the last minute before they were sure they would sink, Jesus calmed the storm.

Or how about the double deliverance? Another storm, and Jesus was not with the disciples (Matthew 14). Again, they were tossed by the storm, but Jesus arrived just in time. Then Peter wanted to walk on the water. He started okay, but then in fear, he began to sink. Jesus snatched Peter just as he was disappearing into the tempestuous sea.

I think Peter had a level of trust during his imprisonment. He may not have known what God would do, but he knew what God could do. He knew that rescue was possible, even at the last minute.

God is never late. God always has options. He could have delivered Peter sooner. We don’t know why God waited until the last minute, but reality is that the last minute is good enough. Sometimes we do need to be “in jail” for a season. Sometimes a threat needs to hang over our heads for a while. A last-minute deliverance has a level of wonder to it, as it requires the maximum amount of trust and showcases God’s deliverance in a wonderful way.

Actually, we may not know the enemy’s intended day of destruction, but God knows all the plans and all the deadlines. Sooner or later, God will deliver. Based on His purposes, God might deliver us quickly, or He might leave us struggling and suffering, uncertain of the outcome, maybe even facing “inescapable” doom. But until the impending destruction arrives, no matter how difficult the situation, God still has opportunity to deliver, even at the last minute. May He grant us the ability to wait peacefully, confidently, submissively.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

06152024 Character and Actions of God

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the amazing and complex God, who is all that a divine being should be. Truly, He is the great God!

Can I share a testimony with you of one of the most timely and important lessons God has ever taught me? Last week I finally formulated into precise words some thoughts that have been with me for a while. These conclusions showed me to be in a dark, deep pit, and I knew I needed to deal with them. On Sunday I spent all day with God, journaling, trying to organize and analyze my thoughts and seek His wisdom and guidance to order them aright.

In a nutshell, I know what I believe about God. I’ve staked everything on who He is and what He has done. Some of what I know about God is that He loves me, that He answers prayer, that He loves to rescue His people, and that He cares for me. I believe those things. But in my human mind, those statements would suggest certain actions by God, and those are not the actions I see Him doing. It would be easy for an unbeliever or skeptic (or my own stumbling self) to look at my life and say, “Prove it. Explain to me how those statements about God can be true, because when I look at your life, I do not see Him loving or caring or rescuing or answering prayer. It looks more like He is heartlessly ignoring.” I found myself hard pressed to give an answer to that. If asked for a testimony of God’s current work in my life, I would flounder.

Over the years God has taught me much about Himself and about trials. I mentally agree with those truths. I choose to believe. I know God can’t be wrong. But because a lot of that acknowledged and accepted truth does not line up with my life, I am confused about how to interpret God’s work or how to continue having hope. My question is not about why God is working the way He is. Rather, it is about how someone of His character can even do what He is doing.

One possible interpretation of Psalm 77:10 is the psalmist expressing his grief that God has changed. This does seem to be the thrust of vs. 3-9, beginning with, “I remembered God, and was troubled.” The verses are filled with anguish that God seems to “be favourable no more.” Gone are His mercy, His promise, His grace, and His tender mercies. My heart relates to the psalmist, and I agree that such thoughts invoke deep sorrow. My logic and experience want to bemoan that He has changed, even while my heart cries out, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

My final paragraph after journaling all day still had so much uncertainty and anguish. Even as I fought to cling to truth, no matter how illogical it seemed, I felt spiritually numb, like I was waiting for a time of breakthrough when I have strong conviction again. In fact, twice in my final written lines, I talked about waiting, and twice in those same lines, I said I didn’t know what to do about my dilemma.

In approximately twelve hours, I had God’s glorious answer. I woke up during the night and was quoting through Psalm 23. As much time as I have spent in that psalm, I saw something new. It struck me that the Shepherd is doing different things at different times – sometimes watching over us as we rest in green pastures, sometimes leading us beside quiet waters, sometimes accompanying us through dark valleys, sometimes providing for us as we are surrounded by enemies, sometimes filling our cup to overflowing, for example. Regardless of the activity, He is always there, working out His purposes and guiding His sheep. Some of the puzzles of the previous day just fell into place in the form of this truth: God always is all that He is, but He is not always doing the same thing.

I had been right that God’s character does not change. He is always loving, always compassionate, always faithful, always good, always just, always wise, always powerful. But His actions are not always the same, because His purposes are not always the same. Sometimes His purpose is to comfort, sometimes to encourage, sometimes to correct, sometimes to develop character, sometimes to purify, sometimes to prune, sometimes to protect. They are all good things. Psalm 23 itself suggests all the following actions: protecting, supplying needs, edifying, guiding, reassuring, comforting, correcting, rescuing, preparing for service, and blessing.

It's much like a parent who always loves, but at different times that love is expressed through different actions, including punishment, scolding, instruction, assigning chores, talking, playing together, hugging, etc., but it’s all for the good of the child. “Coincidentally,” the evening before, I had watched a Walton’s episode in which one of the adult children had to scold and physically remove a child who was too close to the stove, and another adult child struggled with yelling at the troops he was training. The father explained that these actions were kindness if they kept the child from a bad burn or the soldiers from being killed in battle. On a higher level, both God’s gentle actions and His harsher actions are ultimately kind, and they are all a reflection of His unchanging character; they are all motivated by love, guided by wisdom, achieved through power, accompanied by faithfulness, and all in order to accomplish good for the follower.

God always is all that He is, but He is not always doing the same thing. He is not always working in the same location: green pastures, quiet waters, dark valleys, surrounded by enemies. He is not always using the same tools: grass, water, rod, staff, food, oil, drink. His actions, His settings, and His tools are guided by His purposes, and therefore His interactions at different times might look very different, depending on what He is currently seeking to accomplish.

What a relief of an oppressive burden! God’s character has not changed; in fact, His character prompts His actions. His work in my life is in accord with who He is, and it is so wonderful to be able to declare that with confidence and enthusiasm. “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. Verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me” (Psalm 66:16-17, 19-20).

Regardless of the current circumstances of your life, I trust that You will also find all that you need in our great God, who knows best how to do what He wants to do, and who remains constantly true to Himself.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

06082024 On Our Side

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our loving and patient God. Many professing believers today see God only as a God of love, a view which raises serious complications. Many others grew up seeing God only as a God of justice, ready to smash them at the smallest provocation, a view which also raises complications.

God is both loving and just, and He intersects those characteristics perfectly. It took me far too long in life to get an appropriate picture of God’s love, even for His children. What continues to amaze me is God’s love even for those who do not belong to Him.

I have recently seen this concept illustrated toward the nation of Israel, meaning the northern kingdom after the division. God was a God of justice, for sure. There were at least three kings so wicked that God completely annihilated their lines after just one generation on the throne, leaving not a single descendent. (God could do that even when there were seventy sons, as in the case of Ahab!) Another died after a fall because he asked help from false gods instead of Jehovah. Eventually God gave them to captivity in Assyria, and much of II Kings 17 tells the reason. In spite of God’s warnings, Israel was rebellious, idolatrous, and wicked. So God eventually judged.

The same God who punished evil had a soft heart toward those who showed some signs of humility. None of the kings of Israel were good, and there were not many redeeming qualities. God still loved those people, and on numerous occasions He expressed that love. I don’t think my list is exhaustive, but I would like to share some of the situations that I noted.

God sent a prophet with warnings to Joram regarding planned attacks. Joram took heed to those warnings, which appears to indicate that he believed God’s message to him (II Kings 6:8-10). God not only protected Joram from those planned attacks, but He later delivered him twice more, including from a terrible siege and famine (6:19-21; 7:6-7).

Jehu was probably the best of the bad. When a prophet arrived to anoint Jehu, he also gave some instructions (or predictions) from God (II Kings 9:6-7). Jehu obeyed those commands (10:1-11); additionally, he acted in accord with a separate prophesy that he had known of (9:24-26). He also eradicated Baal (10:25-28). God blessed Jehu’s actions of justice and established his legacy on the throne for four generations, which I believe is by far the longest line of succession for Israel.

Jehoahaz did evil and kindled God’s anger, prompting oppression by Syria. When Jehoahaz humbled himself and prayed, God sent a deliverer and rescued Israel from bondage (II Kings 13:4-5).

Jeroboam II did evil, but God allowed him to regain some territory, and the reason is beautiful. “For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (II Kings 14:26-27).

In spite of their sin, God loved these people. God’s heart of compassion was stirred. His faithfulness remained. I find these stories encouraging for two reasons.

First, there is hope for the people that you are trying to reach, because God loves them. He sees their misery, and He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). He is delaying His final judgment to give these people time to believe and repent. He responds to the tiniest steps and to the slenderest heart inclinations toward Him. He is waiting for the opportunity to pour out His love and deliverance.

Second, if God responds so readily to wicked people who seek Him, can we as believers doubt His heart and inclination toward us? Surely His heart is inclined toward His children. He is not trying to crush us for our failures; rather, He wants to deliver and build us up. He wants to help and encourage. He wants to guide us out of our failures and into a stronger and closer walk with Him. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8a). Certainly we should try to avoid offending our righteous God (James 4:8b-10), but we can take great hope in knowing that He doesn’t want to crush us. He wants to support, redeem, encourage, confirm, and bless. And He responds to our most feeble cries.

May this wonderful God of love give you hope and strength this week as you continue reaching out to those who desperately need that love.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

06012024 Too Hard

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the All-Possible God for whom there is no impossible. It’s a good thing we have Him at our side, because lots of things are impossible for us.

It was the same for Moses. God used life to prepare Moses for his intended task. Moses was brought up in the palace where he was instructed well beyond the scope of other men. Moses then spent forty years in the desert where he learned humility and patience. He was personally called by God, equipped with confirmatory signs, given the words to speak, and led each day by God’s guiding presence.

Nevertheless, the task of leading Israel was too hard for him. After more than a year of experience in leading the people, Moses hit a roadblock. A lengthy pause in the journey, during which the tabernacle was completed, ended, and Israel now set out toward the destination of the Promised land (Numbers 10:11-13, 29).

After three days, the people complained so harshly that God responded with a fire that burned some of the camp (11:1). The people bemoaned their boring menu of manna, manna, and more manna, longing for the abundant variety back in Egypt (11:4-6). The people’s hearts were so burdened that they stood weeping in the doorways of their tents (11:10).

Perhaps vs. 4-9 are the details of the complaint in v. 1, which led to God’s wrath, but if the events are ordered chronologically, this was a renewed complaint even after God’s judgment. According to verse 13, the weeping was due to the despair about the food, but God’s recent displeasure may have been a factor also.

Either way, this was a difficult spell with the people at what should have been a high point. There should have been renewed devotion after completing the tabernacle. There ought to have been building anticipation as they finally resumed the journey toward Canaan.

Moses reached a crisis point. He was “displeased” (11:10), and he carried his complaint to God. “Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?” (11:11). Under the weight of the burden, Moses came to a conclusion: “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me” (11:14). Moses was extremely discouraged and frustrated, ready to quit the whole thing (11:15). He simply could not do it anymore.

How many ministers for God have come to this same conclusion? The job is too hard. It would not necessarily have to be the case, but such a conclusion could come under similar circumstances as Moses had. The person in question has trained for this. God has called him. God has empowered him and guided him. God has used life to mold him for just this task. The time of ministry might seem like it should be one of renewal and anticipation.

Yet the people being ministered to are a burden. They obstinately continue in the same weaknesses, even after feeling the effects of God’s displeasure. They fail to focus on the positive of the present, the wonder of what God is doing on their behalf. They dwell on past pleasures, which probably were not nearly as wonderful as they remember them to be. They are overcome with despondency, not able to proceed forward or even function properly.

What leader wouldn’t be overwhelmed and discouraged? Yes, the burden is too heavy. It is interesting that God did not argue with Moses or try to convince him otherwise. Instead, God stepped in with a plan to help Moses bear the heavy burden. God devised a network of seventy elders that He would equip to help carry the load (11:16-17). God supplied the support that Moses needed.

God also gave Moses a response to share with the people (11:18-20). God was going to supply a month’s worth of meat for them, in response to their complaint. In the process, He was going to teach the people a lesson and call them out on their constant complaining.

Most importantly, God let Moses know that Moses did not have to carry the burden. It was God’s burden. God would deal with the people’s complaint. God would provide food for them. God had all the power and resilience that Moses lacked. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not” (11:23).

I think God’s response was designed, in part, specifically to encourage Moses. God responded to Moses’ current sense of being overwhelmed by immediately giving guidance for distributing the burden and by immediately responding to the complaint of the people. These were very practical responses to soothe and comfort Moses in the need of the hour. Then the deeper and underlying encouragement to Moses was that Moses was not the one who had to bear the burden. It was too heavy for Moses, but it was not too heavy for God. Moses was never intended to be the one carrying the weight of his ministry; it was always God.

I love the kind and supportive heart of God in this incident. Instead of condemning or berating Moses for being so discouraged, God encouraged and helped him. The help was not a nebulous reassurance that things would work out okay; it was practical and immediate. Moses may not have been ready to immediately hear the words, “You don’t have to carry the burden. That’s My job.” But God ministered to Moses to keep him from collapsing, and through His practical answers, I believe He reassured Moses of precisely that message.

Maybe you aren’t as discouraged and overwhelmed as Moses was, but there are some encouraging truths in this account, even for lesser challenges. The work is God’s. The burden falls on Him. You don’t have to do it alone. He cares about when it is hard for you. He will help you with the practical struggles, and He is the Helper that enables it all. May God bless you as you walk forward in His strength.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA