Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Kevin Corbin

  • Those Little Doubts

    Christians often live their lives with an open question towards God. Sometimes we openly verbalize it, and other times it hovers in the background. That question is “God, show me your plan.”  I don’t think it’s a conscious thing, but we’re treating God as a fortune teller or oracle of some kind. It’s true that God is outside of time and sees it all, but that doesn’t mean we need to know all the answers.  Those questions reveal the secret little doubts that we can sometimes harbor.  

    We know God will come through for others and truly believe that. Yet, we listen to the whispers of the enemy or our own self-doubts and doubt that we are worthy of Him coming through for us.

    There are some verses from the Bible that most of us have memorized:

    Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

    Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
    In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.     Proverbs 3:6-6

    Those verses are easy to recite and, in some ways, easy to believe, but much harder to live out in practice. We want to see where our footsteps will land rather than trusting God to guide us. Those nagging little doubts about our worthiness hold us back.

    Of course, based on our own merits, none of us is worthy. That’s why we needed Jesus in the first place. As believers, we are co-heirs with Christ, worthy not because of our own merit but because of who He is. God sees us with the imputed righteousness of Christ.

    There is a story in three of the four gospels of a man who wants Jesus to heal his Son. Jesus asked the man if he believed, and the reply is how we sometimes feel.

    Immediately the boy’s father cried out and was saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24

    Can we relate?

    James calls us to be doers of the word, not just hearers. Jesus calls us to obey His commands. That takes faith. Our faith calls us to step past our little doubts.

    What if instead of treating God as our personal oracle, or listening to those little doubts, we simply started living life as His Word and Spirit call us? What if we strove for lives of simple trust or obedience? 

    How would that change the way we live?

    Some simple self-examination and prayer might be in order. Where are we not trusting Him? Where are we wanting to move in certainty rather than faith? What’s holding us back from simple obedience?

    God will not fail us.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    When we say no to God

    SUMMARY

    I unpack why we quietly treat God like a fortune teller, demanding to see the plan instead of trusting Him with it. Real faith isn’t about certainty; it’s about obedience even while the doubts are still talking.

    TAKE AWAY

    We often ask God to reveal the future rather than trusting His guidance 

    Little doubts about our own worthiness can quietly undermine our faith 

    True faith looks like obedience, not certainty

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

    The church needs you

  • Rebound Stronger – How trials build unshakeable faith

    girl on a trampoline high in the air - rebound stronger

    Our granddaughters have a trampoline in the backyard. They and their friends are quite adept at leaps, spins, rolls and general acrobatics. Sometimes, I have to look away because I envision one of them coming off and breaking a bone or two or going right through the fabric.

    I did some quick research on the physics of trampolines and came across this: “A trampoline works by temporarily storing energy. As you land, your downward force stretches the tightly woven mat and the springs around its edge. The deeper the mat bends, the more elastic potential energy is stored. When the springs recoil, that stored energy is released upward, pushing against you with a force that can exceed your body weight. In effect, the very force that pulls you downward becomes the source of your lift. The harder and more completely you press into the trampoline, the greater the potential for an upward rebound—provided your timing and balance allow that energy to be directed efficiently into the next jump.”

    The harder you apply downward pressure, the further upward you go. There is a bit of a spiritual principle here, although not exactly the same. God allows us to undergo trials and tribulations. It is in those dark places where our faith is tested that our faith grows the most.

    An untested faith is simply a hope. Faith that comes through again and again is strengthened. In essence, we bounce up higher and higher. We rebound from the trials strengthened and more Christ like.

    Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4

    Dark times are a part of life in a sin-filled and fallen world. Even Christians have them. In fact Christians may face even harder times because the world hates our Lord. Once we get to glory, that won’t be an issue, but in the meantime we persevere.

    We take the pressure, strengthened by God and rebound to a stronger faith. Paul understood that truth.

    I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13

    We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

    So next time it feels too much, remember Jesus has your back. He goes ahead of you and walks beside. Hold fast and bounce back stronger.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed,

    Kevin

    Seeing Jesus more clearly each day

    SUMMARY

    Watching my granddaughters flip and spin on that trampoline, I started thinking about how the harder they press down, the higher they fly. That same principle shows up in the Christian life: the trials that press us down are what God uses to build a faith that rebounds stronger than before.

    TAKEAWAY

    Trampolines store energy through downward pressure and release it as upward lift

    James 1:2-4 shows that tested faith produces perseverance, not just endurance

    Paul’s example in Philippians and 2 Corinthians proves we’re pressed but never crushed

    Tribulation Produces Perseverance

    Pressed but still standing

    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.

    Find a good church

    Some thoughts on finding a good church