Blindsided

Sometimes you never see it coming. You sail through life on calm seas. You float along on gentle streams. Everything goes along smoothly. Then out of nowhere, you get blindsided by a trial, spiritual attack, set back, or adversity. The force of the blow disorients you throwing all your life in upheaval. In that moment, when it feels the weight of the world is crashing in on you, what do you believe about God then?

I fear many have a tissue paper faith both thin and flimsy. On occasion you cross paths with those who have endured with God. They have been blindsided multiple times. They stay the course. They do not lose heart. The persevere in prayer. They don't stop believing in God or His promises. These are people who have been blindsided and they keep standing. Draw near to such people. Learn from them.

It is more common to find people who complain, whine and doubt when blindsided. They fold up like a tent. Because they are not grounded in God's word, the roots of their faith have not grown deep. They have not sunk their hearts and minds deep into the soil of God's sovereignty. They live the life of faith on a roller coaster of highs and lows based on their circumstances.

People get blindsided all the time. Good people. God fearing people. A woman I love very dearly has ben blindsided by Alzheimer. She is slowly losing her memory a little more each day. People I love and care for have been hit by the Corona virus. It impacts many churches. Friends Brenda and I love are dealing with a prodigal child. Another friend is dealing with two ailing parents quickly fading from life to eternity at the same time.

Brenda and I have been. Multiple times over the years. Multiple times just over the past two weeks.

Life hits hard. It slams against the fragile frame of most people's faith. The winds howl and blow. The rains fall. The floodwaters rise. Some are not able to withstand the blow. They crumble because the foundation of their life was not built on trust in God and His word. It was built on the flimsy fleeting pleasures of this life. The pleasures of the world are temporarily satisfying at best.

It is not a matter of if we get blindsided for most people. It is a matter of when we get blindsided and will we be prepared? Will we be emotionally buoyant? Will the foundation of our family stand in tact when the hard blows come? Will our faith crumble and shatter like chards of glass?

It is a beautiful things to see people deeply rooted in God who have stood tests. Those people are like oaks planted by streams of water. May God make each of us like that.

Matthew 7:24-27 (YLT)
²⁴  `Therefore, every one who doth hear of me these words, and doth do them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock;
<sup>25</sup>  and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell not, for it had been founded on the rock.
<sup>26</sup>  `And every one who is hearing of me these words, and is not doing them, shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
²⁷  and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.'

 Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB)
¹

 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

²  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

³  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.