Puppet Strings
Posted on February 22, 2018 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“In God I have put my trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” — Psalm 56:11
One day, while dispatching the men of the colony to work in maintenance, I noticed their reaction to the jobs that were handed out. Some were relieved and some had a look of defeat. I decided to use this as a teachable moment. I asked “Would some of you be happier with a different job today?” Of course the answer was “AMEN!” After the second let down of the morning, I began to bring to their attention that the God of the Bible wants to deliver them from the “Puppet strings” of man. You could imagine the look on their faces. I went on to explain one of the benefits of a saving faith in Jesus is the deliverance from allowing circumstances to dictate your attitude.
This was something that I learned watching Ken Brown go through his illness when I came to work at Keswick. He would come in day after day never complaining and choosing to trust God in his present circumstance. As a matter of fact, he would look for how God was going to be glorified in his illness He would often quote 2nd Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”
I explained how ridiculous it was to put their joy, or lack thereof, on a piece of paper that I was holding with their job for the day on it. When our peace comes from God, what can interfere with that? This is not to downplay tragic things in our life, and I understand that things happen that can make our knees buckle. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 4:7-9, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
I think it’s important to remember that we are in God’s hands and the power of the Holy Spirit is going to give us the strength for our everyday battles through circumstances. If we’re honest, we are inclined to complaining about being treated unfair instead of committing everything we do unto the Lord. Then we can say, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1st Corinthians 15:58). God wants to use the mundane daily work load to show others that we have cut our “Puppet Strings” from the world and it cannot steal our joy. Just maybe someone might ask, “How come you never complain?” This could open up a conversation that has eternal value. Amen!
Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.
The Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 26-27| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Think about this: “Circumstances which we have resented, situations which we have found desperately difficult, have all been the means in the hands of God of driving the nails into the self-life which so easily complains.”
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. Psalm 33:22
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Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
