The things that challenge our faith are, at times, the things we deem too practical to be of God. Radical faith has everything to do with securing our trust in our God at all costs, and less to do with sensationalizing our relationship with Him. God is audacious enough to use the simplest approach to encourage our obedience, not every situation calls for a burning bush. With this in mind, it’s safe to say that trauma and mental health illnesses need the Word of God AND therapy. Getting help, seemingly outside of church practices, can very well be a God idea.
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. Deuteronomy 28:1
We witness the power of God throughout the Old Testament: Moses parts the Red Sea, Sarah gives birth to Isaac in her 90s, and 10 plagues ruin Egypt. We observe the literal way God got our attention, how He uses signs and wonders to exemplify His power. In the New Testament we witness God’s power through the life of Jesus: a virgin birth, water into wine, and saving the whole world through the humble offering at Calvary. What we forget are the practical steps between miracles, how God made it plain for biblical giants to understand and obey. The path between wandering in the desert to liberating a whole people was paved in simplicity.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
The Church is referred to as a hospital for the sick, lost, and dying when it should really be treated as a governing institution that represents the power, wealth, and love of God. It would be easier to delegate where trauma victims can get help if we didn’t send them off with just a scripture and a bottle of anointed oil. The Word of God is the source of our help and there are other resources, like therapy and counseling, that come alongside His word that helps us to do the work. Addiction, depression, child abuse, cause so much suffering and we, the people of God, do hold the answer to that suffering; Christ! We must also know how to meet people where they are, just as God has done for us, and in the simplest way, lead them to a life of liberty.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. Psalm 128:1
We read of God’s promises but at times don’t know how to attain them. We know we ought to walk in victory but don’t know what that looks like on a daily basis. We know we need to break bad habits but have no idea how to stop. All of it requires radical faith AND practicality. We can’t declare the blessings of God over our lives, desperately pray for a miracle and disobey His will. God calls us to accountability; pray, fast, worship, AND to follow instructions, take baby steps, and obey. Getting the help we need to live prosperous lives is a God idea, it may not come from a burning bush, most of the time it comes from a still small voice that tells us to go to therapy, or read a book, or clean our home. The path to the miraculous is paved with practical obedience! Don’t miss it!
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