Those Stubborn Doubts - Martin Wiles

When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Matthew 28:17 NLT

Some made promises, but I doubted they’d keep them.

No middle schooler wants to be uprooted and moved hundreds of miles from his friends—but that’s what happened when Dad decided to pastor a church in Jackson, Tennessee. Except for the first three months of my life—which I don’t recall—I’d never lived anywhere but South Carolina. All my friends lived there. Now I’d have to leave family and friends behind for an adventure I never asked to go on.

We’ll come to see you. We’ll keep in touch. We’ll write. I heard the promises, but I doubted any of them would come true. And except for my grandmother, they didn’t.

Over the next three years, I made new friends. Then Dad decided to move back to South Carolina. I heard the promises again from our new friends, but I doubted they’d come true. I saw several friends on a couple of occasions after we moved, but the friendships were doomed once we moved.

Some of Jesus’ followers struggled with doubts too. After His resurrection, Jesus instructed them to meet Him in Galilee. When they saw Him, most believed … but some doubted.

Doubt isn’t a fatal sin unless it keeps me from believing in Jesus as my Savior … the one who can forgive my sins and reconcile me with God the Father. Those in this instance who doubted had earlier believed in Jesus as the Messiah and also possessed much biblical knowledge.  

Doubt accompanies our fallen nature. Even when given a new nature by Christ, doubt can linger. We pray for deliverance from a life trial, but doubt God will deliver. We pray for healing from a disease, but doubt God’s ability to heal. We pray for God to bring back a wandering spouse or heal a friendship, but don’t really believe He can.

God understands our doubts—He knows our nature. Although doubt in the form of unbelief keeps us from a relationship with God—and hinders our prayer life—God is a loving heavenly Father who never turns His back on us merely because we struggle with doubts. He wants to transform those doubts into faith so our spiritual fortitude can grow and so we’ll be prepared for this life of faith travel.

Give your doubts to God. What He does with them will amaze you.

Prayer: Father, we give our doubts to You and ask You to form them into faith.

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Throwback Tuesday - Filling in the Gaps - Martin Wiles

Filling in the Gaps

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT

Whether shopping or working, I had a bird’s eye view of them. 

Greenback stamps in paper form were a staple at Piggly Wiggly grocery stores. I began working with Piggly Wiggly at 14 years of age as a bagboy and was well familiar with these jewels. Since my grandparents and parents were regular customers, I could find an abundance of stamps lying around at any given time. Read more...

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Not Enough Space - Martin Wiles

He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19 NIV

We had a lot; then we had a little.

For a time while I pastored a church in the lower part of South Carolina, my wife and I lived in a church-provided home where we enjoyed 2200 square feet of living area. Since we had collected many antiques over the years, this house gave us room to display all of them. And, of course, loving antiques as we do, we added a few more.

Then I resigned. We moved back to the Upstate of South Carolina and into a patio townhouse with half the space we had enjoyed. Packing 2200 square feet of furniture and other items into 1100 square feet proved impossible. For a while, we rented a storage building to house the overflow. As time passed, we figured we’d never use most of those items, so we began selling. Before long, all we had fit into our smaller living area.

Then we got older and became satisfied with less square footage. Body aches and pains, along with changing life situations, made us happy we only had a small area to care for. It may not have appeared spacious at first, but it slowly transformed before our eyes.

The psalmist gladly said God brought him into a spacious place. Not literally, but spiritually. God rescued him from his enemies—and that gave him enough space. More than he needed—or perhaps wanted.

God has a way of taking us into spacious places. We witness one of His most remarkable ways through forgiveness. Realizing we have sinned against Him, we run to Him through repentance and confession. He graciously grants forgiveness of all our sins—thereby taking us into a spacious place of freedom from condemnation and guilt. Thereafter, His mercy flows daily, keeping our spacious place fresh and vibrant.

Regardless of our life situation, God’s space becomes enough. As my wife and I experienced, God gives a new mindset and a new perspective. What might have looked bad or challenging, we now see with different eyes. We see space where we didn’t see any before.

If life seems crowded, ask God to take you to His spacious place where you see with new eyes.

Prayer: Father, lead us to the spacious place where we realize what You give is all we need.

Tweetable: What do you need to re-prioritize? 

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Just Be Still - Martin Wiles

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. Exodus 14:13 NLT

Telling two of my grandboys to be still wastes my breath.

My daughters two boys—a five and a three-year-old—are typical boys. They don’t know the meaning of being still. Asking them to sit still while I read them a book or while they eat at the table proves difficult. As does sitting still in a chair on the occasions when we put them in time out for not listening. Their age … and personality … makes them want to move.

I can’t say much. When still, I feel as if I’m wasting time. Perhaps because my dad said, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” I suppose I transferred that to an idle body, too.

I discovered how difficult remaining still is when I had an MRI on my back. The technician said, “Don’t move.” Doing so would distort the images. Every part of my body that never itches, itched. But I dared not scratch.

Being still must have challenged the Israelites as well. Egypt lay behind them—but so did the Egyptian army which was hot on their tails. In front of them lay the Red Sea. They couldn’t move in either direction. Moses instructed them to remain still. God would rescue them. And He did by parting the Red Sea.

Being still is difficult in our noisy world. After teaching middle schoolers all day, my wife doesn’t understand why I want quiet when I get home. She’s listened to whining youngins all day and wants to watch TV or listen to music. I want to hear nothing. I need quiet to think … to hear God.

Busyness and noise drown out God’s voice. We need quiet to hear Him, and this won’t come unless we’re intentional about creating quiet time in our day. When we don’t, we miss out on what God wants to say to us. And what He says is always important to our life journey. He may just want to say that He loves us. Or remind us that He hasn’t forgotten us. Or that He has our situation under control. But we must be still to hear.

Find a quiet time each day where You can listen to God’s still small voice.

Prayer: Father, take us to those quiet places where we can hear from You.

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Flashback Friday - Appointed to Death - Martin Wiles

Appointed to Death

Death is a reality.

And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27 NLT

In her essay, “The Existential Frankenstein,” Jennifer McMahon attempts to prove several conclusions about death. The phenomena are ones proposed by existential philosopher, Martin Heidegger, and psychological theorist, Ernest Becker. They include denying death, ignoring the prospect of death, attempting to conquer death, and accepting death. By alluding to various scenes in the movie Frankenstein, she attempts to illustrate the first three phenomena. In addressing certain aspects of horror flicks, McMahon makes true statements about real life. Read more...

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Quail to the Rescue - Martin Wiles

That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. Exodus 16:13 NLT

One by one, they dropped from the tree.

As a young lad growing up in the flatlands of South Carolina, seeing blackbirds in the fall and winter months was common. Thousands decorated the sky, and I clapped to make them separate. Hundreds adorned trees, then dropped one by one to consume the fruit beneath.

For many years now, I’ve not seen blackbirds as I once did. Perhaps their migratory patterns have changed. Maybe I live in the wrong region.

Then, one day I saw them again as I took my late afternoon walk one warm winter day in February. Hundreds covered an oak tree. Two by two they dropped to the ground beneath to eat the acorns that lay on the ground. Memories of carefree days when I was young and the world seemed like a better place returned.

But I’ve never seen thousands of quail as the Israelites did. No sooner had God delivered them from 400 years of slavery than they grumbled because they didn’t have food and water. God solved the problem. As evening neared, He sent thousands of quail upon their camp. So many that they couldn’t eat them all. A demonstration of His grace and wrath.

The story reminds me that God will provide for His people … for me … one among millions, but also that His provision varies. Such as the time when my wife and I experienced a rough financial period and someone deposited #100 in our bank account. Thinking a teller had put money in the wrong account, we called our daughter who’s a teller at the bank. No mistake, but it was a cash deposit so she couldn’t tell us who made it. We thanked them anyway—and God—for placing our need upon their hearts.

Sometime, God provides for us in miraculous ways. He sends the quail … or the money. On other occasions, He gives us the wisdom to figure things out. For my wife and I, the latter has been the norm. We still give God the credit. Regardless of the way He chooses to provide, God will provide.

Trust that God will meet your needs because You are His child. He has promised.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending just what we need when we need it.

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Joy from Tears - Martin Wiles

When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. Psalm 84:6 NLT

The tears flowed only inward—if then.

I grew up in a home where tears rarely appeared. I never remember my father crying—not even when he performed his grandmother, mother, and father’s funerals. Nor when some church members he pastored treated him in unkind ways. Perhaps he did when he had his quiet moments with God, but never in front of me.

Nor did I ever witness my mother cry. Not when she lost her father and mother. Or when one of us three boys would do something stupid that got us in trouble. Or when one of our marriages fell apart. No tears of sadness. No tears of joy.

I suppose my parents got this honestly because I never saw their parents cry either—and I spent enough time with both sets of grandparents to notice.

So, I followed suit. No tears. Not outwardly at least. But I was a crier. Inwardly. When I watched a sad movie. When a pet died. I’d secretly wipe the tears, hoping no one noticed them streaming down my face.

The change came when Dad died. As the music played at his funeral, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They flooded from my eyes. Loud wails pushed from my throat. I’d never experienced this type of grief before.

According to the psalmist, those on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem would find joy even as they passed through the Valley of Weeping.

God has a way of bringing joy from tears—tears we shouldn’t hold back in times of sorrow and in times of joy. Society once taught boys not to cry. Doing so wasn’t manly. Perhaps my grandparents taught my dad that. But tears bring a cleansing to our souls, especially in times of sorrow. Our pent-up emotions are released. Stress is released. Tears help joy return.

Tears demonstrate empathy when we shed them for others. They also demonstrate our trust that God controls the situation bringing the tears. We trust His judgment … and timing.

Tears don’t mean we’re happy about what we’re crying about. Happiness and joy differ. Happiness depends on the circumstances. We can experience joy regardless of the circumstances by remembering God is in control.

Go ahead. Shed those tears. God will gently dap them away and give you a new perspective.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the tears that cleanse our souls.

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Throwback Tuesday - Can I Know the Truth? - Martin Wiles

 Can I Know the Truth?

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.” John 18:38 NLT

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but truth isn’t. 

What is truth? Is there truth? Where can I find it? Is truth for me truth for everyone? Does it change? All questions people wrangle with and reach different conclusions. Relativism makes truth relative, or changeable. Individual relativism allows the individual to set the parameters. Cultural relativism lets each culture define truth. Imagine the missionary’s surprise when, after telling a native tribe about Judas betraying Jesus, he noticed they praised Judas instead of seeing his error. In their culture, betrayal was an honorable trait. Read more...

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When Darkness Abounds - Martin Wiles

Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere. Job 23:17 NLT

He needed no flashlight—and feared nothing. I did.

My first job after graduating high school was with Orkin Exterminating Company working under houses. Doing so wasn’t a pleasant experience. Broken sewer lines, snakes, snake skins, low areas, protruding nails, spiders, junk. I saw it all.

An older gentleman trained me. What amazed me about him was he never used his flashlight when he went underneath a house—until he reached the area where work was needed. Me, on the other hand? I used mine before I ever stuck my head under the house. It wasn’t so much the darkness that bothered me, but what I knew could be in the darkness. I wanted light.

Darkness surrounded Job. Because of a test between God and Satan concerning why Job obeyed God, Job had lost everything but his life—and that hung in the balance. Family, real estate, servants. All gone. Except for a wife who told him to curse God and die, which he refused to do.

Dark periods punctuate life’s journey. Death, disease, pain, brokenness, rebellion, unforgiveness, financial ruin. Whatever the darkness, someone … many people … have experienced it. And we don’t always know the purpose. Job didn’t. He didn’t know God had given Satan permission to ruin his life just to prove Job would remain faithful to God—regardless of how terrible things became.

But there is purpose. Fate does not rule the world—or our lives. God controls our journey and allows or brings certain things to grow us spiritually, to test our faithfulness, and to teach us things about ourselves we need to know.

What we need in the dark periods is light. Light brought an entirely new perspective to my under-the-house experiences. And the light of Christ does the same for dark periods. Through gut-wrenching prayer, intense periods of meditation on God’s Word, and the counsel of spiritually mature friends, light shines into our dark periods.

As the old man plunged under the houses with no light, so we can plunge into our dark periods with confidence God will bring good from them. Job did. He said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last” (19:25).

Darkness may surround you, but remember God provides the light that will get you through each day.

Prayer: Father, give us light in our dark periods so our faith and trust in You will grow.

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Looking with Fear - Martin Wiles

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. Exodus 14:13 NLT

For four long hours, I trembled in fear. The only thing that stood between me, my son, and our certain demise was a .38 pistol.

On one of those rare instances when my son hiked with me in the mountains, we decided on an overnight camping trip—a short distance down the Appalachian Trail. The trail was easy, and we planned to stay in one of the shelters. No setting up a tent, which hopefully would help my son enjoy the trip a little more.

At dusk, two young men arrived and set up a tent site twenty yards away. We spoke, ate our supper, fixed our sleeping quarters, and hit the sack. Several hours into the night, I heard pots clanging and voices yelling. I knew the verdict. Black bears robbed their camp, stealing the only food they had to eat for their three-day excursion. 

Sweat beaded on my trembling body. Would the bears amber into our shelter looking for food, which we didn’t have? My son slept while I feared. Although the bears never entered our spot, I lay awake all night, frightened of the deadly possibilities that roamed just a few yards away.

Moses led 600,000 men plus women and children, and they all feared as they watched the Egyptian army coming to recapture them and return them to Egypt where once again they’d serve as slaves. The Red Sea lay in the other direction. Despite danger behind and ahead, their leader told them not to fear. God would intervene. And He did. He opened the Red Sea for the Israelites and then closed it on the Egyptians.

When it comes to living life, only two options exist: live it with fear or live it with faith. Choosing fear means living with worry, anxiety, and a prevailing attitude of uncertainty—all of which make life miserable. We’ll make our own plans, manipulate people and situations for our own good, live with selfishness, and always wonder whether we’ve done enough.

Living with faith brings the opposite results. Since we trust God to guide our life and handle each situation, we can operate each day with peace and joy. He’ll handle anything that comes our way—or give us the wisdom to. We’ll lie down in peace at night, knowing He protects us.

Don’t let fear rob your life of joy. Live with faith.

Prayer: Father, help us to live each day by faith and not fear.

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Flashback Friday - Why Do Many Christians Not Live for Christ - Martin Wiles

 Why Do Many Professing Christians Not Live for Christ

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16 NLT

I remember the day she accepted Christ as her Savior, but now she was gone.

Mary* was a teenager who came from a shallow religious family. Her mother was the only spiritual light in her life. Mary followed in her mother’s footsteps for a number of years. She married a wonderful Christian man, and they had two children together. Yet for some unknown reason, Mary decided to walk away from them all—God included. Twelve years have passed, and she still hasn’t returned. Oh, she might take her grandchildren to church, but she continues to live a lifestyle that’s radically different from a dedicated believer. Read more...

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Gone…and Forgotten - Martin Wiles

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. Ecclesiastes 9:15 NKJV

If others will forget everything I do … and me … what’s the point in doing anything?

I’ve forgotten most of the friends I’ve made. I surely can’t remember all the toys I had as a child. Nor can I remember the names of all the schools I attended, since Dad was a preacher and we moved around a lot. As I get older, I even struggle to remember current things. Such as my wife’s birthday, my anniversary, the kids’ birthdays, and the grandkids’ birthdays.

Unless I keep in mind Solomon’s purpose in writing the book, I’ll be sorely depressed by the time I finish reading his meanderings. In this instance, he tells of a wise man who by some act of wisdom saved a city from destruction … but he was forgotten soon thereafter.

The story makes me wonder about my own life. Although a number of people know me now, how many will remember me after I’m dead—and for how long? After all, those who know me now will face my fate. Will they tell their children about me so they will remember me? Or will my name soon fade into oblivion after my demise? Will my children pass along memories about me to their children … and grandchildren? Will I be gone—and quickly forgotten?

Maybe this is why Jesus instructed us to store our treasures in heaven rather than on earth. A place where moth and rust cannot destroy them, nor can thieves steal them. I, and my life contributions, will be quickly forgotten on earth, but not if I store them in heaven.

Through a life of obedience to God, I send treasures to heaven where they are safe and secure and where God will never forget them. I’ll receive rewards for things done with the proper motives—crowns I’ll quickly cast at the feet of Jesus.

Of course, being so heavenly minded makes me no earthly good—and I should be earthly good. Through technology … by placing encouraging words from God on the Internet … I can help keep my memory alive for years after my death. And more importantly, I can make sure God’s Word keeps affecting people’s lives long after I’m gone and forgotten.

What can you do to keep your influence alive long after you’ve gone?

Prayer: Father, help us live each day in light of eternity, knowing the things of this world are only temporary.

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Letting Go - Martin Wiles

But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left.” Genesis 42:38 NLT

She loves to play fetch; she doesn’t love to let go.

Two years ago, my wife and I inherited a Chihuahua-terrier mix. This Chihuahua differed from others I’d owned. She wasn’t moody and welcomed visitors she’d seen before—but at the same time alerted us to strangers. And she loved to play fetch—not something I’ve ever known a Chihuahua to enjoy.

Although she loves to fetch her favorite toys, she doesn’t enjoy letting go. I play tug of war with her for a few minutes, then stop. When I do, she lays the toy down, wanting me to throw it. As long as I toss the toy, she’ll fetch it. She loves holding on; she reluctantly lets go.

Jacob knew a little about holding on, too. He had two sons by his beloved wife: Joseph and Benjamin. His other sons hated Joseph, sold him into slavery, and told their father a wild animal had killed him. What they didn’t know was that their hated brother now commanded the food distribution program in Egypt. And since a famine ravaged their homeland, the family needed to see him to get food. They also needed Benjamin. Joseph wanted to see his blood brother and wouldn’t give his other brothers food unless they brought him along. Jacob, facing starvation, reluctantly let him go.

Letting go isn’t the easiest thing in the world. For parents who are sending their child off to their first day of school … or college. For Moms and Dads who are giving their son or daughter away in marriage. For one spouse who is telling the other spouse goodbye as they leave on a military tour of duty. Or for family and friends telling a loved one goodbye as they leave to serve on the mission field.

Neither is it easy to let go of hurt, disobedience, or pride. When others hurt us, we hurt. Letting go through forgiveness takes courage, giving up sinful habits we enjoy takes guts, and learning to let God guide us rather than using our own ingenuity takes humility.

To enjoy life as God intends takes a lifetime of letting go. Until we do, the peace we seek will lay unexperienced in our laps, just as the bone I refuse to throw lies in my lap.

Let go of whatever holds you back from God’s best.

Prayer: Father, give us the courage to let go of the things that prevent us from experiencing Your best.

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Throwback Tuesday - Does God Really Need Me? - MartinWiles

 Does God Really Need Me?

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Matthew 3:9 NLT

Is it possible that an omnipotent and omniscient being actually needs me?

Among our most important needs are security, self-worth, and significance. Believing there is an individual who can consistently meet these three needs without failure positions me for disappointment. I can’t constantly meet all the needs of any one person nor can they return the favor. Only God has the ability to satisfy every need I have without ever failing. Read more...

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Leave the Heavy Loads - Martin Wiles

He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. Mark 6:8 NLT

Fear caused me to pack heavily; experience taught me to pack lightly.

For a number of years, I hiked and backpacked in the mountains. Day hikes required only a small pack with snacks, water, and emergency equipment. Overnight hikes required more forethought.

Since I’m the sort of guy who likes to plan for unforeseen events, my backpack always weighed too heavy. The first backpacking trip my daughter and I made witnessed two packs far heavier than necessary, ruining the experience.

As I gained more experience, I learned to leave some things behind and to manipulate other items so they’d weigh less. This made the trip more enjoyable, and I discovered I could live with less than I had imagined. I also learned to trust God to care for me instead of trying to imagine everything that might happen and then prepare for it.

I never got my pack to weigh what thru-hikers’ backpacks do. I suppose I just didn’t have enough trust to leave behind as much as they do.

As Jesus sent the twelve disciples on a gospel-spreading mission, He told them to take only a walking stick and the clothes on their backs. Those they stayed with on their journey would provide for them. Somewhat like me taking nothing but a hiking stick on a backpacking trip and depending on fellow backpackers to feed me and give me a tent to sleep in. A scary scenario.

Clothes, tents, food, and hygiene items aren’t the only things that can weigh us down. Fear, anxiety, unforgiveness, and worry come to mind—unwelcome bedfellows who encumber life’s backpack and weigh down my shoulders. 

Fortunately, we don’t have to carry them around. God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Jesus says we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow because today has enough troubles of its own—and He’s in control of tomorrow. Nor should we let anxiety ruin our lives. Rather, we should give our concerns to God who, in return, will give us peace beyond our understanding. He will also give us the power to forgive those who wrong us.

Don’t carry around loads God never intended for you to bear. Leave the heavy loads with God and travel lightly.

Prayer: Father, give us the faith and courage to leave behind the things You never intended for us to carry.

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