Have You Been To Lo-debar?

I had an exhausting chat with a gentleman a few days ago. He went on about “how tough things have been” (colloquialism for financial challenges) for him; and all this in the same way he has done every time he has visited me in the three years. Indeed he was at his worst this time and understandably so, because his financial challenge is at it’s very worst and he sees no way out or forward for himself. In all the three years or more, he has been and still is, waiting for a major financial boost which he believes is the only thing that will take him forward. This time, he further explained that his “pill of hardship” is even more difficult to chew, because he has lived a “clean life” devoid of sin yet God would not inject the much needed capital that would transform his life. Of course, he forgets that all our righteousness is as “filthy rags” before God. Though he is born again, he acted like one under the law making a list of all the bad things he stayed away from unlike several others whom God appears to be blessing.

Galatians 5:  4 – 5 “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.”

It is bad enough that he was unintentionally working out his righteousness; his attitude becomes even more destructive, because he was obviously complaining and murmuring against God, without intending to do so, which said attitude only separates one from God. Indeed, the bible lets us know that God hates murmurers and complainers. Since he was full of bitterness, thanking God was far from his mind and all because he was at “Lo-debar”; that place where every believer would come through at some or several point(s) in the course of life. Whilst it is true that it can happen suddenly making it more painful, it is easier to embrace it whilst steadfastly looking to Jesus Christ with a deep assurance of faith that the season would pass leaving one with a testimony and their mouth filled with laughter. It is a time to draw strength from God and waste no energy wrestling with life. Though God does not take us there, He allows it for a purpose and is working to bring you to a wealthy place but if you get disconnected from Him how does He then bring you out? You may think you don’t have strength to hold on but that is because you have not tapped into that which is on the inside of you because everyone is strong who knows this God; you need to tap into it.

Psalm 66: 12 amp “You made men (charioteers) ride over our heads (in defeat); we went through fire and through water, yet you brought us into a broad place of abundance (to be refreshed).

Daniel 11: 32b KJV “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Lo-debar is that low place where Mephibosheth was. If you ever find yourself there or are there as you read, please tap into that strength that you may hold on. There are witnesses who have been and come through successfully so you will too. Naomi was there and she came through; Ruth was there also like several others. Indeed, Naomi fainted but thank God for grace that sent her Ruth whose strength provided support for her. This is not physical strength but the strength that comes from having a real and true knowledge of God who resides in us. Interestingly, Naomi had known God for much longer than Ruth had. Indeed Ruth’s knowledge of God came from knowing Naomi and her family; yet she got to know Him even better so much so that she became a pillar of strength that Naomi drew support from. This thing has nothing to do with the length of time one has been a believer, but everything to do with how much of Him one wants. God will respond to anyone who seeks Him diligently.

2 Samuel 9: 3 – 5 “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family... one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet… ‘where is he’ the king asked…In Lo-debar…so David sent for him and brought him…his name was Mephibosheth.”

Lo-debar is that place where Mephibosheth who once lived in the palace now lived; not even in his own house but with another household and in their home. Who would have thought one’s circumstances could change so radically? But it did and suddenly too. Thank God his response was appropriate. The strength one needs to survive in Lo-debar and respond appropriately when it’s time to leave is not physical otherwise Mephibosheth who was lame in both legs would not have survived and made it out of there; it has everything to do with knowledge of God which is the result of deep hunger for and pursuit of Him as well as a readiness for Him to come so that one can respond correctly despite the difficulties one is engulfed in.

1 Corinthians 10: 10 “And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.”

Murmurers will most likely miss God when he comes to take them out of Lo-debar because murmuring and complaining impairs vision. It limits thanksgiving which the Psalmist says prepares the way for God’s salvation. How can anyone thank God genuinely if they see no reason to do so. Nobody will take for you the steps you need to take to go forward, God will make a way and grant one the grace to walk through it but it has to be your decision and feet to walk; hence the gentleman has been there for longer than God intended. Of course, Lo-debar is not the most desirable of places but a valley experience that we will all go through if we must become whom God has destined for us to be and accomplish that for which we were saved. Don’t hide from it and don’t seek it: it shall surely come at some point and you can’t be there even one minute longer than necessary. God bless and strengthen you.