We are called to trust in the process. Nov 2024

by khurst2@gmail.com | Nov 11, 2024 | Chaplain, News

“Then the Lord answered me and said:
‘Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.’”
(Habakkuk 2:2-3)

When the prophet Habakkuk wrote these profound words, he was experiencing a spiritual crisis. Questioning the goodness of God, Habakkuk observed his home in turmoil and felt a deep sense of hopelessness. He desperately needed a message of hope due to his experiences and the loss of faith he endured. In his despair, he cried out to God:

“O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’
And You will not save.
Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4)

God’s response to Habakkuk’s lament was unexpected:

“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.” (Habakkuk 1:5)

When faced with discomfort and uncertainty, our instinct is often to seek immediate answers and relief. We are reluctant to endure the waiting period, preferring to jump straight to joy. However, this is not the way life unfolds. Sometimes, we must learn to wait and trust, believing that “this too shall pass.”

Life is marked by seasons, and in times of waiting, we are called to trust in the process. As God assured Habakkuk:

“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”

In our waiting, we find strength, patience, and renewed faith, trusting that the appointed time will come.

Each time we pass a level, we become stronger. Oct 2024

by khurst2@gmail.com | Oct 1, 2024 | Chaplain, News

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though you may stumble, you will not fall, for the Lord upholds you with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

I’m tired. I’m more than tired. I’m worn out. I don’t drink or smoke, but I have strongly considered taking up both vices these past few days because I feel burdened, like a heavy weight is on my shoulders.

It feels like when you do back squats. The weight sits on your shoulders and pushes you down, and it is a struggle to stand up. To do it correctly, you can’t rely on momentum to get up. You must control the weight, which means your legs, core, and back must be strong. If you want to make it a full-body workout, then you do an overhead squat, which entails holding the barbell over your head and then going into the squat. That means your arms must become stronger. Typically, you do a couple of rounds, gradually increasing the weight of each round until you reach your max. When you reach your max, your next goal is to surpass that.

This workout hurts. You wake up the next day thinking you need to be in traction. But the interesting thing is, if you consistently work out, it only hurts for a few days. The pain is a sign that you are getting stronger. And the stronger you get, the easier it becomes to get up.

The same is true for tests and trials. They come to make us stronger. But the only way we can get stronger is to keep getting up. Each time we pass a level, we become stronger. When we feel stuck on a level that requires more training to build up our muscles. The more you train at that level, the stronger you become until you can stand back up without straining.

Keep standing up because that’s the only way to get that weight off your shoulders.

Love never fails… September 2024

by khurst2@gmail.com | Sep 7, 2024 | Chaplain, News

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails…”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

The year is 1992, and I am in the car headed to school, listening to the radio. Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” comes on, and I sing my little elementary school heart out as if I could relate to what Mary was talking about. I could not. Thirty-two years later, it seems Mary still hasn’t found that real love she sang about.

What is real love?

Despite the countless songs, movies, books, and TV shows about love, the current divorce rate in the United States, which hovers around 42%, suggests we aren’t getting any better at it.

What is real love?

Recently, my father was hospitalized and had to undergo surgery. While visiting home, I watched my mother faithfully tend to him. She only leaves his side when my sister or I are with him. Now that he is home from the hospital, she continues to work tirelessly caring for him. Years earlier, after my mom had surgery, he did the same for her. This past June, they celebrated 54 years of marriage, having known each other since elementary school. This is real love.

Real love is the way my grandfather cared for my grandmother while she battled cancer. Even after she passed away, he gave instructions on how she should be dressed at her funeral.

Real love is the way my uncle cares for my aunt, who is currently battling cancer. I watch him sort her pills and ensure she stays on schedule with her medications. He makes sure she eats right and rests as necessary.

Real love is the spouses of our wounded warriors who faithfully stand by their partners, even when they may not physically be who or what they used to be when they met.

This is real love. It’s not “that Jada and that Will love.” It isn’t lust confused for love. It’s not sunshine and roses every day.

Real love is “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.” Real love is loyal.

Looks and limbs may fade. But real love never fails.