When God Gives You a "Close Shave"
- Vanguard
- Apr 8
- 7 min read
Pastor James Knox often counsels that giving detailed thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for you is one of the most effective ways to invigorate your Christian walk; doing so quickly gets your heart and your mind in the right place spiritually. This reminded me of something I wrote for Vanguard a few months ago on thankfulness (read the post at this link), so I last night I decided to spend extra time in my new prayer pattern (read the post at this link) in thanks to the Lord.
I took time to think about everything that I have to give thanks to the Lord for. It started off fairly routine by giving thanks for all the things I am accustomed to thanking Him for, but the longer I dwelt in thanksgiving, the more clearly I could see just how good God has been to me. To my great surprise, the Lord illuminated experiences from the past that normally frustrate me as things that I should be grateful for!
What I thought had only wounded me actually drove me to the Lord. Situations that had threatened to drown me were actually currents pushing me places I would never have gone had I remained "safe" and "comfortable." Losses that caused me pain were actually powerful lessons on biblical principles, and opportunities to exercise spiritual maturity (even if I didn't actually exercise it until long after the event). Trials, set-backs, and even failures suddenly became new grounds for praising God.
"How Firm a Foundation"
As I marveled in prayer, the words to the great hymn "How Firm a Foundation" came to mind, in particular, the third and fourth stanzas:
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
Like all of the truly great hymns, the lyrics are not simply emotional stirrings, but thoughts steeped in the word of God (read posts on why music matters here, here, here, and here). As much as I enjoy the lyrics to the hymn, I know we live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4), and so I started looking for the verses that correspond to the hymn. There are many that could be listed, but I found these most satisfying:
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Job 23:8-11
Job, who is at rock bottom, seeks God and cannot find Him. Have you had a similar experience? In my own life sometimes God seems closer than ever during trials, but other times it appears that He has abandoned me, even though I know it is not true (Hebrews 13:5). Even in his despair, Job has the same faith that you and I can have in difficult times. Notice what Job says:
I cannot perceive him
I cannot behold him
I cannot see him
Contrast that with what Job says God is doing:
He doth work
He hideth himself
He knoweth the way that I take
He hath tried me
In spite of Job's perception, he expresses faith that God is there, and is active on Job's behalf, and that the end result will be for Job's benefit ("I shall come forth as gold"). With that confidence by faith, Job determines to keep God's ways. You and I should follow the example of this great man of faith and do the same!
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psalm 27:33-35
Do you find yourself fallen by way of circumstances or sin? No matter how low (remember the depths of Job's experience) we must trust that we are not utterly cast down. He is upholding you, even if, like Job, His right hand is hidden from you at the moment.
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Proverbs 24:16
Perhaps you don't just find yourself fallen once, but fallen repeatedly. Maybe even seven times? The number seven is often used in Scripture for completeness, and perhaps you feel that you have hit rock bottom (like Job). Have faith! You are not utterly cast down. The Lord upholds you with His right hand, and you will rise again!
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 43:2
What fires have you walked through? What deep waters have threatened to overflow you? Have those fires actually hurt you, or have they taught, purged, and refined you?
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:3-5
The reality is that our trials and tribulations in this life - if approached with the proper perspective - are ultimately for our benefit. But it is a process we must endure. Tribulation does not immediately bring us to hope. It must first pass through patience and experience.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6
A Close Shave
I have the annoying tendency to forget valuable lessons and insights from the Lord, so I started trying to think of a way to remember the precepts He had taught me in my thanks-filled prayer. The metaphor of a razor blade came to mind.
Shaving is dangerous business if you stop to think about it - dragging a sharp blade across the surface of the skin in such a way that it removes hair without removing flesh (hopefully). It's remarkable how close you can get with that blade without actually hurting yourself. And yet that is often how the troubles, trials, and tribulations of life are. We so easily get preoccupied with the approaching blade. We get so focused on the potential danger...on what could happen. We fret and sweat as the blade moves closely along the surface of our lives. Sometimes we squirm, causing ourselves pain that never would have happened if we had just trusted God while remaining still and patient. And when its all over, we are so relieved - or so determined to never have that experience again - that we neglect to examine God's handiwork, and the flawless smooth shave He gave. We get so hung up on cleaning up the shaving cream, or tensing under the cool sting of aftershave, that we don't recognize how much better we are now.
Has God given you a close shave lately? Don't dwell on the danger of the blade, or the soapy mess that may need to be cleaned up afterward, or the quick sting of the aftershave. Focus on the results, or better yet, on the steady, benevolent hand of the one wielding the razor.
A Final Word
Although we all have many "close shaves" in life, it would be foolish to end this post without saying a word about those times when the blade doesn't just skim the surface. Sometimes the blade cuts deep. When this happens, can we still trust the benevolent hand of God? When what we thought to be another shave turns out to be a surgery, can we still remain still and patient under His hand? Worse still, when we find that, like Job, God has permitted the Enemy to raze our lives and run roughshod over our loved ones, can we still praise His name? You and I both know in our heads that the answer is "yes," but that head knowledge does not easily translate to practical living.
When you find yourself there - and we all do - hold fast, friend. The pages of Scripture are filled with men and women crying out to God in confusion, hurt, and despair.
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
Psalm 57:1-3
Sometimes their faith is rewarded swiftly, while others had to wait for weeks, months, years, or decades before their faith was justified. But make no mistake: faith in God always pays off. It may not come when you would like, or how you would like, but the Almighty will prove Himself mighty on your behalf. Cling to Him, and press on toward the mark. When you can't run, walk. When you can't walk, crawl. And when you can't crawl, trust that He will carry you.
If you're going through some terrible trial right now, or you're just weary and need encouragement to press on, consider taking a few minutes to read some of these posts. Click the titles to link to each.
The Dilemma of Unanswered Prayer
God's denial of your desire may be a source of great heartache, and the source of greater victory.
There is something to be said about the power and value of giving thanks. Naturally, the Bible says it best!
Scripture compares the spiritual life to warfare. So how do we stay in the fight when the war rages hot?
The Christian life is spiritual warfare. How do we maintain our spiritual health on the battlefield?
The Christian life is spiritual warfare. Whether we are wounded, weary, or both, three questions can help us stay in the fight.
Every Christian will suffer from defeats in spiritual warfare. How can we honor our Lord when we fall short? Scripture shows us how!
Pastor Estep gives us encouragement to keep going.
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