I am part of a group of men at my church studying the entertaining yet profound fictional Christian classic, The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis. These "letters" are those of a senior devil, Screwtape, instructing a junior demon, Wormwood, in the management of his efforts to thwart the developing Christian walk of a particular young Englishman at the beginning of World War II. As you would expect, Screwtape wants every bad spiritual result for this "patient" and has goals which are the exact opposite of those of Christians and our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he refers to as "the Enemy".

One of Screwtape's insightful observations is that we mortals suffer from the effects of a very powerful law which makes us highly vulnerable to spiritual attack. This is the repeated waxing and waning of all aspects of human faith which he refers to as "The Law of Undulation". While the spirit of humans, he says, "can be directed to an eternal object, their bodies, passions, and imaginations are in continual change, for to be in time means to change." He notes that "Their nearest approach to constancy, therefore, is undulation — the repeated return to a level from which they repeatedly fall back, a series of troughs and peaks." Unfortunately for Screwtape, as he notes, it is in the troughs that Christ does His best work.

Lewis' wise observation is on target: The Law of Undulation applies to all aspects of our lives, but particularly to our spiritual focus and to the degree of satisfaction that we find in both our secular and spiritual work. At times, we feel very dedicated, finding rewards seemingly at every turn. At other times, the obstacles seem insurmountable and our goals recede into a dark distance far beyond our reach. During those times, it is very helpful to keep in mind that The Law of Undulation is at work. Instead, we often see the present situation as a permanent one. The truth is that, given time, with God's help, our focus will eventually narrow and our hearts will be lifted.

In one of my deeper troughs lately, I found myself feeling that, while I was doing more for God, somehow God was not doing more and more for me. (— as if God needs anything from me and has not already done the most important thing He could ever do for me: provide my salvation.) I had prayed repeatedly for His help to accomplish my goals, instead of attempting to discern His. I continually feared catastrophe and failure in numerous situations. My valley became deeper and deeper, and I became more and more fearful.

But, as always, another thread of Bible study began to work in God's own way. In examining The Law of Undulation, our group had discussed what can help us through the troughs and allow us to move toward a new peak: hope and perseverance. As Paul tells us in today's Scripture, for Christians in the low points of our journey, there will be sufferings, but we must persevere through that suffering to build character from which will come increased hope. It is no accident that the theme of perseverance is found in the words of several New Testament writers, such as Hebrews 12:1b, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (NIV) and James 1:3, "The testing of your faith develops perseverance." This "perseverance" is not about human willpower, but something much greater: perseverance in faith. Sometimes my troughs are there because, although I am seeking God's assistance, I am not by faith giving control to the Lord to carry my burdens. These messages from God combined to bring me to a place of hope. God was, in fact, deeply blessing me.

To find peace, I realize that we need to give over our concerns to Him and cease to be fearful. We have to relearn repeatedly that God will take care of us with His infinite power. As for me, this realization has flooded me with warmth and comfort. I have not yet left the valley, but I can definitely see the peaks in the distance and my direction is upward toward God.

We have God's hope, and with His help, we will persevere in faith as we walk into the sunlight.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to give over to You our anxiety and fear, and to rely on You for all of our lives. Help us to persevere in faith and hope as we move onward. Amen.

I am a small businessman, and I can't help but worry over the state of the economy today: "What if all the work I'm doing now gets finished and no new clients call me? What if clients do not pay?" I think, among other worries, "What if… What if…?" I see others losing their jobs and livelihood, and I worry, worry, worry.

But I must look back at Elijah and remember that I am, and we are all, every one of us, just like him — all the time, whatever the economic conditions, good or bad. We are all fed by ravens. We are all completely dependent on God for everything in our lives. Those clients call me or walk in the door of any business just like the ravens came over the hill with bread and meat to feed Elijah each day. I am fed by ravens every day. There are no effective "business plans". There are no meaningful "economic stimulus programs" — and there never were — throughout human history.

We may mean well in planning, and certainly, we should help as many others as we can. But as to each of us individually, no matter what position we are in, it can all disappear in an instant. That business can dry up; that grant can end; that job can disappear; the economy can tank; poor health can rob us at any time of the ability to care for ourselves. This is true today, and it was also true when we thought, "The times are good." We just forget this essential fact more easily when we believe that things are going well. Being self-reliant is a good character trait, but we can never save ourselves. Our reliance on our own abilities or on another's charity is always, to some extent, an illusion.

Although I must work hard to build my business and support my family, and everyone must work hard to the best of our ability, if I am in God's will, as Elijah was, in the long run, one way or another, God will care for me and my family as He so chooses. If we are obedient, He will care for us. He will provide our daily bread. All that we have comes from Him each day of our lives and always will. For that, we must be truly thankful.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending the ravens to feed us today and every day. May we remember that it all comes from You, whatever we may think, moment by moment. Thank You for saving us. Amen.

I was downcast, worried, and in physical pain in several different locations on my middle-aged body. It was a rainy Saturday, and I returned to bed after breakfast, thankful for a moment's relaxation. For some time, I had struggled with where God would have me go and what He would have me do next. In my selfishness, as I approached a different era in my life, I had sought some grand mission, some clear new role in my Christian life. I had served for many years in church lay leadership; however, in recent months, by God's will, I had found myself in smaller-scale, but more personal, one-on-one service in a local veteran's hospital. In that morning of recaptured rest, I do not know how God did it, but He comforted me and soothed me. He led me to realize that the smallest assignment for Him is of infinite importance because it is His work. His Kingdom is unseen, but infinite and timeless. Our lives and our work here are fleeting unless we build that Kingdom, and where we do, the smallest act — the smallest service to a single person — becomes of infinite importance. We should not look for the grand assignment, but look for Him where He is working and join Him each day. We should take joy in the small tasks He provides for us to perform. The God we serve asks us to be faithful in the small things, and He will take care of the rest.

Prayer: God, help us to listen to hear what Your will is for us and how we may serve You each day. Guard us, God. Thank You for saving us. Amen.

Every Christmas season, I treasure the wonderful carol, "Good King Wenceslas", written by a man named John Mason Neale in 1853. The song tells of the good king who ventured out into the bitter weather on the "Feast of Stephen" to take food and fuel to the poor. The Feast of Stephen was traditionally celebrated on the day after Christmas, December 26th.

King Wenceslas was a real person who lived in the tenth century. He ruled a part of what is today the Czech Republic and was legendary for his devotion to Christ and for his charity. At the end of the song, we are reminded that, like the good king, those who help others in reality bless themselves:

Therefore, Christian men be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

Certainly it is not because of charitable works that we are provided salvation. It is only the sacrifice of Christ and the free grace of God that saves us. But clearly, Christ showed us the way not only to obtain eternal life in the next world but also what sort of life we should lead in this one. His was a life of perfect sacrifice for others.

In Matthew chapter 25, Christ tells us of the judgment day and how satisfied He will be with those who helped the hungry, poor, and needy in this life. To help others is to help Him! He expects us to help others in every season, but we often feel the message most strongly at Christmas. Our enthusiasm diminishes after the holiday. Like Wenceslas, let's resolve together to extend charitable works beyond Christmas to the entire year and to the rest of our lives. Let's ask God to guide us to a life of service.

Prayer: Please God, help us each to see the opportunities for service that You have in mind for us, and guide us to that work. Thank You for saving us. Amen.