<p><img class="caption" src="images/stories/johnElliott.jpg" border="0" alt="John G. Elliott" title="John G. Elliott" hspace="7" width="123" height="107" align="left" /><em><strong>He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear. In the end he will look in triumph on his foes”<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"> (Psalm 112:7&amp;8)</span></strong></em></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;">A letter arrives. Bad News. A bill comes in the mail. A text. A news cast. A feeling forms in your gut. The feeling is hard to shake. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;">I do not think that the person who lives by faith immediately dismisses evil tidings and seemingly insurmountable obstacles with a simple wave of the hand. The arrow stings when it strikes. For a brief period, darkness seems to overwhelm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;">But faith strikes a match. A tiny candle is lit. Soon, one candle after another brightens the dark place until it becomes a haven of light. Faith looks<em> back</em> before it can look <em>ahead</em>. Faith functions best when it goes back to the solid rock of Promise. As we repeat (preferably out loud) and meditate upon a sure word of God, more candles are lit in the midst of the dark moment which otherwise would churn our insides into a sea of anguish and hopelessness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;">It is exceedingly helpful to think about the times in your past when you know that God delivered you. Praise Him for those times and then allow faith to reason that He will do it again. Hope is given birth anew based upon the word of promise and the calling to mind of His faithfulness. This exercise of faith is not automatic. It must be actively renewed or else it will languish. Then faith and hope unite to dismiss the fear. Allow faith and hope to mature and go a step further and trample upon the lies that gave birth to the unbelief that inspired the fear!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;">Difficult circumstances demand this kind of faith. The process usually begins with the onset of anguished feelings. The candles are lit, one by one. As soon as possible, praise and thanksgiving must emerge so that the forces of heaven can be engaged which then cause the deception of fear to be trampled beneath your feet. Note: praise is like a piece of clothing that must be taken out of the closet and put on your body!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;">Yesterday’s victory in this does not guarantee today’s success. The process must be re-visited anew when the arrow pierces afresh. Bad news, in all its varieties, shapes and sizes, is thus subjected to the ever watchful eye of Heaven’s Almighty Majesty: the Ancient of Days; Who has never been caught off-guard by bad news and Who never gets nervous about the future. This same One lives insides you and me. When we engage this incredible truth, our troubles, our bills, our impossible circumstances become a foot stool under His feet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><a href="http://johngelliott.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-size: small;">Go to JohnGElliot.com &gt;&gt;&gt;</span></span></strong></a></span></p>