The Scarlet Thread Series

“And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9 NASB

It is human nature to grow discouraged at times. Our finite being does not have the perspective of an infinite God, a God who has a plan; a plan established before the foundation of the world. We humans are stuck in our own time-warp, one that reflects our desires and wishes, not necessarily God’s.

Floundering in the Bog

Even as Christians, we often are self-centered, ploughing and plunging around in a bog of dejection, miring ourselves in self-pity rather than moving forward toward the outstretched arms of the God who created us and delivered us to the other side of hopelessness. As we twist and turn toward how we want things to go, we sink deeper and soon feel more desperate and despairing.

The testing of our faith

But you say, I don’t want to be tested; I hate being in this bog of discouragement. Testing is painful, and, in the end, I might have to give up my desires in favor of God’s plan. Yet James tells us that the trials and testing of our faith produce endurance. Endurance implies I must stay in the bog for a while instead of instant gratification of my desires or a swift rescue.

While waiting for Him to rescue me

God gets our attention in trials and disappointment. Faith needs to be exercised to be strong enough to stand up to the world and its troubles. A strong faith in Him sets our feet on solid ground instead of the sinking sand of a world that is passing away. Abraham, when God ordered him to sacrifice the promised seed, his long-awaited son Isaac, did not despair or insist on his own way, but offered Isaac up knowing that an eternal and sovereign God could make everything right. Abraham is the father of faith.

Rewards

One of the first Bible verses I memorized after becoming a Christian was Philippians 1:6; the assurance that I was indeed saved, that He would continue to perfect me, and someday I would be released from the worldly bog and receive the crown of life. The perfecting part includes discouragement. The harvest that Paul spoke of in Galatians is my recognition that no bout of discouragement or despair can separate me from the love of Christ–not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, peril, or sword. Like Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego in the fiery furnace, I have One who will ultimately fulfill His plan, His way, while at the same time allowing me to emerge unscathed. So, when the mire of despair surrounds us and doubt plummets us, we know that we belong to the One who foreknew and called us to become conformed to the image of His Son, perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

As an postscript to my recent post on the boarder rally and the disturbing things we heard and saw, I cannot let an unexpected blessing go to waste. In these times the news fills our senses with the evil deeds of others; of betrayal; hypocrisy and lies. It is easy to let them guide you into an “ain’t it awful” attitude.

Returning from the rally dusty, thirsty, and exhausted, we travelled through the dark Arizona countryside. We were in the middle of nowhere and if not, we could see it from there. Suddenly a streak appeared in our headlights. A giant pig/peccary known here as a javelina, darted across the road and we hit it with our right bumper. Speaking of blessings, if it had made contact on the driver’s side, we might have lost control. We kept going amidst the sound of something dragging and a few lights flashing on our dash. We limped into the tiny town of Hereford, Arizona and stopped at the first gas/convenience store and to assess the damage.

We drive a Ford Explorer, and at first glance, the upper bumper seemed okay. A kindly older gentleman (probably our age) was filling his tank and asked if we had a problem. He at once got a flashlight from his car and looked underneath (I will always carry a flashlight from now on). I expected to see gory remains of the javelina, but we discovered instead the sensor cable hanging from the front bumper, along with the radiator housing, and several other things. Then we noticed part of the bumper either was gone or leaning at a rakish angle. That accounted for the dragging sound we heard.

Soon two more young men came up and gave their assessment. They went into the convenience store and bought some rope and refused to accept reimbursement. Another gentleman with an unkempt beard looking like someone from the movie “Deliverance” arrived on the scene. He laid down with the rope and tried to tie up the hanging fragments with no luck.

A Cochise County Sheriff Deputy arrived next and surveyed the damage. He acknowledged that a full-grown Javelina is indeed a sturdy animal and the fact the countryside was teeming with them. He watched the man with the beard for a moment and went back to his car. He returned with zip ties used for restraining prisoners and that did the trick.

All these ordinary Americans were polite, caring, and ready to help a stranger. It warmed my heart and took away the fear and stress we would have to find a place to spend the night…and then what? When we offered to compensate the bearded man for all his trouble, he shook his head and said, “No, that would ruin my blessing.”

The mainstream media harangues us with distortions about all Americans being bad people coming from a bad history, but I now had proof their narrative is not the truth. I knew it before, but this was a good reminder. I hope someday I can pay that blessing forward to someone else in trouble.

We headed back to SaddleBrooke Ranch in a now-unairconditioned car. The javelina had wrecked the compressor/condenser too. I did not realize as we approached Tucson, that it could still be 95 degrees at 10:30 p.m.

The Bible teaches we are to praise God continuously no matter our circumstances. At times that is so hard to do. We find ourselves mired in the muck of anger, fear, bitterness, and foreboding; a prison of our own making. Before we realize it, our stress levels rise, and we lose our joy. Praising and thanking God is more for our sakes than His. As we recall His attributes; His omnipotence, sovereignty, justice, truth, and mercy, our spirits lift as if we are already in the heavenly realm. We were still able to drive the car; we were unhurt in our confrontation with the javelina, and we were going to make it home. Sometimes counting our blessings is all we can do.

The sun hung like a brass coin in the blue sky. The 100-degree heat enveloped us like a shroud. Clouds of dust rose as we walked to our destination—a border rally sponsored by FAIR. Then we saw it—miles and miles of iron fencing, a stark sentinel in a deceptively peaceful scene. The realization of what that much-debated wall meant hit all of us like a massive wave from the sea.

I stared at it a long time, trying to sort out my feelings—awe at its massiveness, understanding that the wall was a barrier, and a realization of what it means to be American. Lee Greenwood’s anthem “I’m proud to be an American” resounded through the surrounding mountains and in my heart. As I sang the words, I realized that my pride in being an American didn’t say it all. I am thankful to be an American! I am thankful for the founding fathers, though imperfect, who prepared a document, the Constitution, unique throughout world history. I am thankful for those who died protecting our borders in war. I am grateful to those who protect our sovereignty today. I am thankful for my freedom. All I could do was raise my eyes to the heavens and thank the One upon Whom this nation was founded. However, with that freedom comes a responsibility for us all. We cannot allow blatant encroachment of that precious Constitution to go on without speaking up.

Standing at the wall, looking across to another nation, whose border patrol was clearly in view, I understood why so many want to come to this country. Hearing the stories of the price these people pay the cartels to transport them, the rapes, the sex trafficking, the drugs, and who knows what else, struck both sympathy and fear into my heart.

The wall in this sector is complete. BUT the technology that should go with the wall is absent because our current president has shut it down. Speech after speech ranging from the former ICE director to Angel Family members who have lost loved ones to illegal immigrants or deadly drugs that come in with the tide of humanity being allowed to enter our country with immunity.

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution says: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of government and shall protect each of them against invasion….” The Federal government has usurped state’s rights by allowing the pouring in of people who themselves have been manipulated by the cartels. They charge exorbitant fees and often coerce them to carry drugs on their person. The cartels use them as a distraction for their real money-maker—drugs. Unaccompanied children, and children who have no biological commonality with the “families” they are travelling with, are put at risk, pawns in a deadly game of drug and sex trafficking.

There has been an exponential increase in drugs entering this country since the Biden administration took over, particularly Fentanyl, a drug so deadly it only takes minute dosages to kill. China is the largest producer of Fentanyl.  Much of it comes through Mexico and the southern border. Often disguised as a Percocet tablet, it has the ability to kill. That on its own should be enough to close the border.  Yet, as there is an enormous increase of confiscated drugs throughout our nation, there seems to be no sense of urgency for our government to do their duty—protect our borders and Americans.  

Many sheriffs from all over the country attended, proving that this is not just a border state problem. These drugs and trafficked persons are sent throughout the country, forcing states to assimilate, feed, and supply medical service for them at taxpayer expense. A sheriff from Massachusetts said they have the largest illegal problem in the country, showing it is an American problem. All the sheriffs stood before us holding banners of faces, approximately 200 to a page, represented American lives lost at the hand of drunken illegal drivers, gangs, and drugs. The line of banners stretched as far as I could see. I thought of my own grandchildren who, while not prone to taking drugs, might be enticed to “try” a phony Percocet as an experiment. I thought of the sex slaves and laborers—the modern slavery—and I wept.

Freedom comes at a price—the very least Americans should do is to understand our republic, its laws, and Constitution. The “silent majority” cannot afford to stay silent anymore.