Facing the Truth

Warriors Arise: December 16, 2020

1 Samuel 30:21-23 (NKJV) Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man's wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.”

Have you ever thought about what one decision might mean? One decision could crush a child's heart. One decision could devastate a woman, wife or daughter. One decision could cause a good man to reject his family and purpose. I grew up in the Mid-West, rural Iowa to be specific. We are taught to face adversity, to pick yourself up by your boot straps, be responsible for what is yours, have an outstanding work ethic, and have a good attitude no matter the situation. I couldn't stay in misery or discouragement. I had to find a way to turn the situation around and it had to start with my attitude. I had to believe things would get better if I just worked harder.

There were several situations in my life I wanted to run from. Why? Because I was tired of trying with all my might, having the positive attitude, believing for something I no longer believed was for me. I began saying, "Everything is hard for me, it is just the way life has always been and will always be." I had lost hope. I no longer believed if I had the a good attitude, worked diligently, made myself take the high road when the liars spoke, that life would get any better. Honestly, I don't recall a bad attitude, just believed that life would always be hard. I even reasoned that since my life started out this way, God was preparing me at a young age to live the hard life. I think back to that time when I didn't know the enemy was real nor how to fight the enemy. Yes, I could learn from very difficult situation but I was not supposed to embrace a life of difficulty. I had started believing the hard life was only for me, so I chose it. That is when I realized, this isn't right. This isn't God. That is when I went in pursuit of really knowing God for myself. I read my Bible differently and talked to God from the depths of my heart. God revealed how much He loved me, how much He hurt for me when life was difficult and the enemy attacked. He never wanted any of that for me. He also revealed a number of times when He was the One holding me together so I wouldn't fall apart. He was the one holding my hand when I wanted to run. He was the one who helped me up when I fell. He was the one who gave me the hope to believe there would be a better day. He took me back to several hard days and the situations that overwhelmed me. He showed me exactly where He was. He was right there with me.

Have you been in a position where no one wanted you? A part of a group that no longer saw you as a part of them. It can be extremely painful and devastating. Even though you are in pain, you feel numb at the same time. These 200 men, how did they feel being left behind? How did they feel when they heard that the other warriors returned?

I want to encourage you to take some time to return to that dreadful moment you experienced. Ask God to reveal Himself. Ask God to show you were He was. Ask God to open your eyes to see Him. When you see Him, you will know He never wanted you to go through that painful experience. God is for you. He wants you to know He has never left you. He has always been there for you. Just because you didn't see Him doesn't mean He wasn't there. Return and receive the love of the Father. The truth, You have always been there to lift me up and put my broken heart back together.

Father, I ask for You to come and bring life to me. I don't want to remember those times. I have blocked them out for a reason. I don't want to dig things up from my past and re-live the pain again. But if I don't, I know I won't see You. I want to see You with me especially in the difficult and devastating times. I ask for You to come and revive hope. I ask for You to open my eyes and show me Your presence. You are good and Your love for me never ends. I ask for You to come and restore what was stolen from me in each and every scaring event in my life. You are for me. You have always been with me. You never left me alone. I am Yours and will forever live blessed by Your presence in my life and Your never failing love in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.