Dismayed...Yet...

 

“…but when You hid your face, I was dismayed. To You, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.” (Psalm 30:7b-10, NIV)

Upon reading Psalm 30:7b-10, wonder arises about what David dealt with when he wrote this psalm. Could it come from a difficult time he had before this psalm’s writing? Why did David beg for God’s mercy? What did David mean when he wrote these words? Effective Bible study involves reading the entire chapter from which a passage comes and its surrounding chapters. Let’s study this passage and Psalm 30 in its entirety.

Whether a devotional guide gives these memory verses to read and meditate upon or you find Psalm 30:7b-10 on your own, the depth of David’s dismay is obvious. David perceived, though erroneously, that the Lord departed from him, leaving him to handle his hard times alone. He said it seemed like God hid His face from him (vs. 7b). For that reason, he experienced dismay and fear. Without the Lord, who chose, anointed, and protected him throughout his life, David knew his adversaries would have defeated him. He also realized God would not have used him as His king to unify His people, Israel.

Verse eight shows the depths of David’s despair. David considered God had ignored him. He felt like God’s mercy had left him and he was alone. To this, David pled to God in verses nine and ten. He reasoned with God in verse nine. David reminded God, as if God needed reminding, that if he was silenced by death, he could not praise God and proclaim His faithfulness. In verse ten, David begged God for mercy and help.

If a person reads just verses 7b-10, despair could overtake him. A reader facing difficulties would gain no strength or trust in a faithful God. Instead of gaining strength to endure, the person might experience discouragement and hopelessness. Yet, readers must consider the whole chapter.

When reading the whole chapter from its beginning, the introduction to the chapter should be read because it gives the reader a first impression of the intent, topic, or scope of the chapter. The introduction to Psalm 30 shows David wrote the psalm as a “dedication of the temple”. This introduction causes a question to arise since David did not build the temple. David’s son, Solomon, built it. How can this psalm be for a dedication if it has a dismayed David pleading with God at its center? Remember, a Bible passage must be read in context with the entire chapter.

After reading the chapter at least once, a student of this psalm should consider a Bible commentary or other scholars’ teachings on the text. Samuel Barth of the Jewish Theological Seminary studied and wrote about this psalm in his article titled Psalm 30: Dedication of the ‘Inner Temple’ (Psalm 30: Dedication of the “Inner Temple” - Jewish Theological Seminary. Barth gave two possibilities for how this psalm, that includes David’s dismay, could be a dedicatory psalm for the temple. He first stated that Psalm 30 leads the reader to go from the mental study of God’s word to soul praise of who God is and what He has done throughout the ages.

—From mental study to soul praise—

For today’s particular study, Barth offered a second possible reason for the Psalm 30 introduction: a dedication of the temple. He stated the “temple” in the introduction is not a physical earthly structure. Barth wrote, “The psalm is not about dedicating any earthly structure, but that each individual might be seen as a bayit (the Hebrew word for vessel.) that can, if we so choose, be dedicated to the service of God.” This means each person who sees himself as a vessel God can use gives his life to God to become a temple dedicated to Him.

--not an earthly structure but a bodily structure--

Barth’s second thought about the introduction to the psalm is what we will consider today with this study of Psalm 30. David’s dismay in verses 7b-10 is not intended to discourage a person, but to lead a person to God and cause the person to worship Him. How can that be since the middle verses, usually considered the main point of a chapter, cause discouragement in people? How does David’s dismay lead a person to dedicate himself to God for His purposes?

How does a reader shift from feeling discouraged by Psalm 30:7b-10 to worshiping God, as David’s introduction intends? Consider the verses before and after verses 7b-10. With verses 1-7a, David praised God for redeeming him from situations and enemies. He recited as a reminder for himself and his readers who God had been in his life. David praised God for who God is and for His faithfulness to and favor upon him. He reminded himself and the readers that he never needs to fear; his life was a testimony of who God is and what He had done: He is good, faithful, almighty, and provider. By recalling what God had done for David, it would lead people to recall for themselves who God had been in their lives and what He had done in their lives. These people could praise God for redeeming them, like David did. People could dedicate themselves as God’s temple for Him to use, like David did.

Transitioning from verses 1-7a onward into verses 7b-10 enables David and his readers to carry the joy from the first section of the psalm into the challenging days. With the joy and reminder of God’s faithfulness and mercy to them, they would feel more able to endure whatever hardship they would meet. Verses 7b-10 also become reminders to the readers and hearers of God’s redeeming David from his dismay and distress. They would be enabled to remember and rejoice because of God’s faithfulness to them. God, through this psalm, reminded David of His own great mercy, faithfulness, and favor towards him. He also reminded His children over many millennia since David’s time. From the first part of Psalm 30, God brought to mind His triumph over His children’s struggles so they would remember to trust in and praise Him. Because of God’s victorious triumph and who He is, a child of God can praise God more readily and choose to dedicate himself to Him, to be His living temple.

Psalm 30:11-12 tells of what God did inside of David. God changes not only circumstances; He changes the heart, mind, and spirit of each person who calls on Him. In this psalm, David went from wailing to dancing with joy when remembering God’s great favor, faithfulness, and mercy towards him (vs. 11). He sang praises to God and reminded himself never to stay silent, but outwardly to praise God. God’s redemption of David from his dismay caused his heart and mind to praise God, his body to dance, and his spirit to be renewed in faith. God can and will effect this change in His children's hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies when they call upon Him, like He did in David. David cried out to God and God heard and responded with His presence, help, guidance, and strength. When any of God’s children cry out to Him, He will respond to them similarly so that they dance with joy in praise to God. God’s redemption of His children from struggles can cause that person’s heart, mind, spirit, and body to praise God and dance with joy. They can experience a renewed faith in Him.

David did not intend the middle section of Psalm 30 to cause dismay to its readers and hearers. He meant for it to tell of God’s goodness to him and to all who seek Him in humility. This psalm’s purpose is to lead hearers and readers to recall God’s faithfulness, favor, and mercy even when times seem dark. David’s psalm causes each person to renew hope in God and praise Him—to renew his dedication to God as His temple.

The temple of God within each of His children is what they dedicate to God whenever they praise Him or pray to Him. From this temple within each of God’s children, the psalm elicits hope as they remember God’s faithfulness to David and themselves. Remembering God’s love, mercy, favor, and faithfulness to them may cause them to dance with joy and lift their hands in praise, too.

This leads us to agree with Barth. Barth is correct on both his points about Psalm 30; the introduction to Psalm 30 does both possibilities, not one of the other. It causes a person to go from mind study to soul praise. It also causes the person—child of God—to renew his faith and trust in God by recalling from the past who God has been as He helped him. This latter will cause soul praise that leads to bodily praise, such as dancing with joy. Both of these, David experienced in God’s inspiring him to write Psalm 30, like we each may have experienced as we read of David’s struggle in the middle part of this psalm.

David’s psalm should cause two things to happen. The psalm, as a reminder and as a song to and about God, causes us to go from the study of our circumstances and God’s word to the rededication of ourselves as God’s children—His temple—to whom He is ever faithful. This dedication of ourselves will take us beyond ourselves and circumstances to soul praise to God and dancing with joy.

The psalms are to lead us to worship God in easy and hard times. David shows us how to praise God in hard times and praise Him later as we recall God’s actions towards and for us. Today, remember when God was by your side during tough times, and how His faithfulness helped you overcome challenges; then praise and thank Him.

If you have not become a child of God, today is the day to seek His mercy and grace. You do this by believing in Jesus as your Lord and your Savior and by confessing and repenting of your sins (Romans 10:9-10). Today, will you choose to live with God now and forever?

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1, NIV)

 

 

Joy despite Trials

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1: 2-3)

Consider it absolutely God’s favor and grace given to you, showing that He loves you enough to grow and strengthen you in your faith by allowing trials to come against you. God loves you and wants you to grow to be more like Jesus, who is righteous/pure. So, let God purify you in the fires of trials, like gold is purified through fire.

The growth of your faith from trials will build perseverance. This perseverance is God making you able to endure under challenges He allows in your life. It can be a cheerful endurance because you know God is FOR you. He does not give you more than you can endure, for He is faithful to you. And when you experience trials and temptations, God will show you a way through it so you can patiently bear and endure (1Corinthians 10:13).

You will grow stronger with God. Perseverance is a gift from God because He loves you. So, consider trials as joy because God is with you and is growing you.

You will be victorious with God’s guidance, power, and strength as you confront temptations and evil.

You can persevere with God.

Consider it joy that God loves you and grows you to be like Jesus and to be a victor over evil, temptations, and trials in life.

Consider it Joy that God is FOR you, not against you.

Consider it JOY that you are

Chosen

Saved

Loved

Fruit or Fire

 

“He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.” John 15:2

This metaphor of pruning branches that Jesus used has an overarching idea most people would understand. God removes unfruitful people. He grows fruitful people so they will become more fruitful. God enables fruitful people to advance His purposes more.

To understand this verse better, we must understand why a fruit farmer would cut tree branches. Jesus plainly explained the first reason. Farmers cut off dead branches from a tree to cause healthy growth of the rest of the tree. Without cutting off the dead branch, the tree will continue to send nutrients toward the dead branch instead of extending its nutrients to parts of the tree that will grow. Cutting off dead branches leads to more growth in other parts of the tree. This illustrates the metaphor's beginning.

Pruning the healthy parts of a fruit tree has several benefits. First, it strengthens the tree. Where before the tree’s sap was to grow fruit, pruning allows the tree sap to make the branch harder and stronger. Instead of sap going to grow fruit, it goes toward growing the branch. Going through hardships can cause a person to grow stronger in his faith and relationship with God.

Second, pruning a healthy branch can improve fruit production and fruit quality. Pruning stimulates new growth—offshoots—so more branches grow. As a result, each of those branches produces fruit instead of just the unpruned branch growing fruit. God’s pruning of His child causes that person to grow in many areas, so new spiritual fruit and Christian offspring grow from that believer. Pruning grows a person’s relationship with God. The deeper relationship with God causes growth of spiritual fruit, like patience, wisdom, compassion, joy, and peace. The deeper relationship with God grows the quality of that fruit, causing a deeper faith, greater peace, etc. Growth from a closer relationship with God leads to sharing the gospel and a personal testimony about God more. These lead to other people believing in Jesus and His saving them. Pruning may cause brief pain mental, heart, and/or physical. This pain is worth it to see more people saved by Jesus and experience a deeper relationship with God.

Third, pruning a branch helps a tree become more pest and disease resistant. Pruning causes growth in strength and resilience. Like a person’s health, outside influences can cause a tree to grow stronger so the tree can withstand forces that would cause it to shrivel, produce less fruit, and/or die. God allows a person to confront challenges for growth, not destruction. By going through trials, like the burnishing of metals, God removes impurities from His children. His strength alone is how they withstand adversity. Christians can progress despite adversity. James, Peter, and Paul wrote about perseverance, endurance, testing, patience, and building Christian character in James 1, 1 Peter 1, and Romans 5:3-5. Trials, though unwanted, have benefits just like pruning healthy branches has benefits.

Fourth, pruning trees opens the tree canopy so sunlight can reach more limbs and fruit. For this reason, fruit trees are wide and not very tall. More sun causes more fruit to grow on the tree. Also, by pruning the canopy, fruit does not grow higher in the tree. This makes it easier to reach all fruit during harvest season. A person who knows the Bible can only withstand some storms or temptations. A person whom Jesus saves and who grows in his relationship with God through daily prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, and obedience to Him has a faith that has grown deep and wide. Temptations, trials, storms, and disease might assail a believer and might cause him to stall in his growth, but these can cause growth in his relationship with and faith in God. These occurrences can strengthen a believer, cause new growth on branches, and result in the growth of new and larger fruit. The outcome of God's gospel is evident in one's life. People see the gospel’s impact on people around the strengthening and growing Christian as he shares his testimony and God’s gospel.

Without removing dead limbs on a tree, diseases and/or pests kill the tree or cause it to become stunted and produce minimal fruit. By pruning healthy branches, trees become stronger and produce more and better fruit. Pruning stops the spread of diseases and pests that could harm the fruit or the sap (testimony) in the tree. It allows more sunlight, which causes more fruit to grow and makes the branches more accessible to harvesters.

When we face trials and hardships, we can grow stronger and produce more and better fruit. Instead of growing stronger through trials, we can freeze up and then get hurt or killed. God prefers us to grow stronger and bear more and better fruit. He allows or causes things to grow our relationship with Him and our trust in Him. God allows hardships to confront us to prune the dead branches from our lives. We should aim to grow, so we ask God what He wants us to learn from our situations. God wants us to grow to trust Him more, to have a deeper relationship with Him, and to become more Christlike. He will send you through fires to remove impurities and strengthen you. When strengthened by God, you, too, can say, “No weapon formed against us will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

Fruit or Fire.

Faith or Fruitlessness.

Which do you choose? I pray you choose to grow in your relationship with God and to produce more and better fruit within you that leads to more fruit—Christians—for God’s kingdom.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

 (Bible verse picture from You Version Bible app)

Laugh Because...

 

“Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.” (Psalms 143: 8)

One possible personal translation of this might be,

“God, cause me to hear Your devoted love of Your redeeming (rescuing) me from my enemies at daybreak, for I have put my total trust in You alone. Teach me know—to perceive, recognize, acknowledge, and confess—You and Your ways in which I should live, for I give You my soul—my whole being. I desire to come before you in total faith, with love, by confession of Your might and sovereignty, so I offer myself to You as Your servant and child.”

The psalmist stated his enemies pursued him, wanting to kill him. Because of this, his inner being fainted in fear. The psalmist grew weary of his enemies’ dogged pursuit of his life. Then he remembered Yahweh God, whom He knows intimately, and His works. This recollection and the writer’s circumstances compelled him to seek God. The writer acknowledged only God could rescue him. None surpasses Yahweh, thus he raised his hands in petition, offering, and praise.

What did the psalmist want? To escape the fear of capture and death. To have peace. How can we be sure of this? Read the rest of this psalm. His requests to God included:

First, in verse nine, the psalmist wrote, “Deliver me from my enemies.” His request came from recognizing God is almighty. The psalmist understood that God is the only being who can rescue him in totality—in heart, mind, body, and spirit. Ultimately, only God had the power to redeem him from every enemy.

Second, in verse ten, the psalmist said, “Teach me to do Your good will. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” The writer wanted more than bodily and emotional redemption. He wanted to know Yahweh better. He acknowledged the existence of the Holy Spirit and requested God's constant presence. The Spirit would teach and guide him to know God and to live his life for God and His purposes. The psalmist asked God to lead him on level ground, without difficulties. Avoiding life’s struggles is a human inclination, but don’t we often learn more by walking with God “through the valley of the shadow of death?” The crucible of fire in our lives grows us. Those are the times of testing, of practicing what we have learned, so we reinforce the lessons taught. The psalmist acknowledged God with his whole being in this verse. He wanted to learn (head and spirit) from God so he would live (body, mind, heart, and spirit) for God.

Third, with verse eleven, the psalmist appealed to God’s reputation. People had heard about His mighty acts and His children. The writer said, “So that people continue to see You as almighty and sovereign over Your people and creation, revive me.” By “revive me,” the psalmist meant more than just for others so they would remember and/or see God. He asked God to show Himself to him so he would not fear that his enemies would overcome him. The psalmist asked God to revive him by the fullness of His favor and love because of God’s righteousness. (God alone knows the right course of action.) The writer stated and requested, by God’s rightness, by His omniscience and omnipotence, to bring the psalmist’s soul (his being) out of distress. The psalmist recognized God’s rescuing of him in his time of distress, which affected his heart, mind, body, and spirit. This rescuing of his life, the writer stated, affected his eternal being, his soul, too. According to the psalmist, God rescues his entire being, not just a portion. God’s righteousness and redemption affected his eternity. God is sovereign over time, including before it begins and after its conclusion. He rescues people from trials and redeems them from eternal separation. God is the God of time, including before and after time. To this eventual and eternal future, the writer stated his hope and his faith in Yahweh God, the self-existent One.

Fourth, because of this recognition of God’s sovereignty and might and his confidence in God, the psalmist repeated his plea in verse twelve. “Because of Your loving devotion to Your people, to me, remove my enemies from chasing and harming me.” He emphatically repeated this by writing, “Wipe out (exterminate) everyone who harasses me.”

The psalmist recognized, remembered, acknowledged, and confessed God as Sovereign and almighty. By his plea, he proclaimed that God, in His omniscience and omnipotence, possessed the ability to rescue him mentally, emotionally, bodily, and in his spirit. This psalmist explained God could redeem him beyond temporal time—for eternity. This man wanted rescuing from his current enemies and believed God could and would fully redeem his being eternally by saving his soul.

In remembering Yahweh God, the psalmist may have laughed, knowing within his entire being that his enemies were incapable of ever separating Him from God (Romans 8:31-39). When your enemies harass and afflict you, do you laugh because you know God with your heart, soul, mind, and body and believe He has redeemed you for eternity as His own child?

Laugh in the face of your enemy.

How? Profess faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and your Savior and be saved.

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

The psalmist recognized God’s might and sovereignty and offered himself to God as His servant and child because of his trust and belief in God. Do you?

Hope Beyond Reason

 

 

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

-Romans 15:4 NASB

 

This instruction came from the written teaching of God through His appointed men and women that are included in the Bible. This instruction was and should still be the teaching of Christian doctrine that extends to lifestyle application. 

 

Applying what God says in the Bible as learned from Him through the reading and studying of the Bible and listening to sound teaching and preaching on it keeps a Christian steady in his or her loyalty to faith and godliness, even when going through the biggest trials of life. Applying Christian doctrine from the Bible provides comfort and encouragement because of God calling and speaking peace to the believers through His Spirit dwelling in them. This steadfastness of faith and encouragement, both gifts given by the Spirit, provide hope during trials and reminds us of our ultimate and unchanging hope of being children of God through salvation. 

 

This hope goes beyond human understanding and surpasses any trial or tribulation of the believer. It is greater than the laws of nature and beyond human rationale. It is holding on to what is sure. 

 

When a large hole is in the hull of a ship and hope sways to despair, believers can continue to hold onto God at that moment and for the future. They can receive encouragement and perseverance so they don’t lose hope. Even when our lives seem to have a gaping hole and is foundering, we have hope that God has a plan for that moment, a plan of imminent and ultimate rescue because we are His children. God still carries us in His hands. He never leaves or forsakes us. So have hope. Have faith. God is with you; His Spirit dwells in you. Trust Him.

Turning Troubles

 

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

— 1 Peter 5:8-9

 

“Stay alert” means be free from the illusions (influences) of sins. Be always cautious, watchful, and on guard, always alert for Satan’s trickery, deceit, trouble. Be calm about it and know he is out there wanting to tempt God’s children away from Him. Satan walks around you like a lion encircles sheep, looking for the weaknesses of one or more of them. He is waiting to devour you and your testimony about God to discredit you and your faith so others will not believe in Jesus. Satan wants to disconnect your close relationship with God so you live in misery and despair. 

 

The first two commands—stay alert and watch out—could be passive activities, just watch and take care. Or they could include action, like a soldier walking on top of a city’s walls continuing to see if an enemy approaches. In verse eight, Peter meant the latter. Actively stay alert and watch out for Satan. How does a Christian actively stay alert to Satan’s attempts to intrude into his/her life? Keep growing in your relationship with God. Keep listening to and obeying Him. 

 

Peter wrote commanding believers in Christ to stand firm against Satan. What did he mean? Standing firm means resisting and opposing, refuse to be moved from your faith in God—Father, Son, and Spirit. Publicly and conspicuously declare your convictions about Jesus. Don’t let go of those convictions and the faith and salvation God gives you. Be faithful to God remembering He is faithful to you. Remember who He is, what He’s done, and how He’s intervened in your life. How does one remember this in the heat of the battle? By being so closely connected to God that you know Him and cling to Him with your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This close relationship comes by prayer, reading the Bible and studying, and meditating on it. A close relationship with God also comes by worshipping God and fellowshipping with other believers and by listening to preachers and teachers who rightly proclaim the word of God.

 

Standing firm is active opposition and requires daily preparation in anticipation of Satan’s attacks. Satan will attack, undoubtedly. So prepare yourself by growing stronger in, by, and through the LORD. Remember, you are not the only one Satan will or has attacked. All believers worldwide face his relentless attacks. Jesus did not fall to the temptations Satan put before Him. We each can stand firm as Christians knowing we are not battling on our own. God gives us His wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and strength to endure. His hand never leaves His child; no one can snatch us away from Him. Look to your believing brothers and sisters and recognize they, too, battle Satan. He is not choosing only you to attack. 

 

Use the opportunity of attack to grow closer to God. Use it to grow your faith. Use it to testify to onlookers about God’s love for you and them and the salvation God gives through the death of His Son, Jesus. Spin the attack to be a positive experience and let your life proclaim about Jesus.

 

Stay alert! Be always watchful! Stand firm! Actively prepare and fight, then your relationship with God will grow stronger and other people will hear about His love and the salvation He offers.

Truth

 

“For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed I came from God.” John 16:27 [Berean Study Bible]

Because of the truths of God, Christians can possess peace. John 16 records Jesus said this. Jesus returned to heaven as the conqueror of sin and death because He is God’s Son, the One with power to do these things. The Spirit of truth, whom Jesus sends, lives within people who believe in Him, according to Jesus in John 16:12-15. Jesus said in verse thirteen, “He [the Spirit] will guide you into all truth.” The Spirit is and has truth. He is part of the Triune Godhead. Jesus said, “He [Holy Spirit] will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is mine and disclosing it to you. Everything that belongs to the Father is mine.” (John 16:13c-15) Understand this well; the Spirit of truth is truth and reveals truth. This truth is part of God. Solely, it comes from God and is one of His characteristics; it comes from who He is. God’s being defines truth. The Spirit will reveal to the disciples of Jesus (past, present, and future) the truths of God and about God, Father, Son, and Spirit.

Deliberately, Jesus prepared His disciples for the trials and tribulations they would face by teaching about the Spirit. The soldiers of the temple, commanded by the Chief priest, were soon to confront Jesus and arrest Him. Just as Jesus foretold about them, His disciples fled. Secretly, one followed Him as the soldiers led Him away. This disciple, Peter, denied Him thrice before the rooster crowed, as Jesus foretold. (Luke 22:54-62) Jesus spoke to prepare His disciples for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual upheaval that would soon come upon them because of His arrest and crucifixion. Jesus explained their grief would turn to joy. (John 15:22)

Lovingly, Jesus prepared His disciples for the trials and tribulations they would face in their near future, and for the trials they would experience the rest of their lives as His disciples. He did not end his teaching with defeatism. Jesus said they would receive joy. These disciples may have wondered with great confusion how joy arose from trials. Jesus told them in cloaked language and metaphors. He gave them a promise to hold on to, a hope for them to realize they would not face the trials and tribulations alone. Just as Jesus walked with and taught them while He lived on earth, He would be with them opening the doorway for them to pray and petition the Father. He explained if they asked for anything in His name, the Father would give it to them. Because of the faith the disciples had in Jesus and because of the love the Father and Son gave them, Jesus told them when they prayed in His name, asking as He desired, the Father would give them what they requested. Though Jesus no longer walked on earth with the disciples, through the Spirit and prayer to the Father, He remained with them. Jesus taught them in John 16:23-24, and 27 to receive complete joy knowing the Father loves them and will give them everything needed. Jesus intended His promises to give them joy in all situations and hope because He is with them through the Spirit.

This joy is not fleeting or based on circumstances. Jesus said this joy, the joy of knowing Him, receiving God’s love, and knowing truth through the Spirit, is complete. Anything from God is complete. Wholly, giving no half measures, He gives from His being. Joy comes from God; it is complete. Joy’s definition comes from God’s character. The disciples of Jesus can gain complete joy because He died, rose to life, and ascended to sit on His throne. His disciples can possess joy because God never leaves His people. They can have joy because they have hope of eternal life no struggle can replace. Completely, the disciples gain joy through God.

The disciples believed Him. They expected the Spirit of truth and joy. They expected tribulation and trials. The disciples knew God loved them. Faithfully, they knew Jesus is the Son of God. They could get and keep peace with this understanding and through His Spirit. (John 16:31-33) Because the disciples had this hope and accepted the truths of the Spirit and acted upon them, they could experience the complete joy and peace the Spirit gives.

Jesus told His disciples He would return to the Father. He explained they would face trials and tribulations. Disciples of Christ can know and act upon the gifts the Spirit gives them. They can accept and live with joy and peace, knowing nothing can separate them from God. God gives the strength and courage to get through hard times. He gives them determination to walk with Him. God gives His Spirit to remind them of these truths. He loves His people more than anything they will encounter. God will never leave nor forsake His children. This hope comes as a reminder from the Spirit of truth and brings them joy and peace.

Take joy! Have peace! Jesus has overcome the world! 

Jesus, I forget your words often, especially when I feel panicked in a tough situation. Help me remember Your love for me. Help me recall You offer complete joy and peace in every situation. No difficulty in life can ever defeat You and me with You. Lord, please don’t consider my fear as doubt of Who You are. You are my Savior, God’s Son. Forgive my fear before I remember You are my strength and hope. Remind me You are with me when I face tough times. Give me Your strength and courage. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. You are God and I will not fear. Amen.

Gateway to Strength in Suffering

⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.   ⁵The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. ⁶ Even when we are weighted down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you.

⁹ But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us. (2 Corinthians 1:4-6, 9b-10 [NLT])

Two gates are available through which you can walk freely.  One gate is partially open, and you can see green grass and flowers, but the sign says no one who has gone through this gate has survived. The second gate is closed. It has a sign on it that says all who go through this gate will live. Your choices cause you to stop and question which gate and road you should use to leave the past. Think on these gates as we study 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 and Romans 10:9-10.

Each of us knows what it feels like to live in troubling times. Some people have experienced religious persecution. Others have lived with insufficient food or a place to live. Still others experienced family and friends mocking them because of believing in a God from the past who seems irrelevant to the current day. Each of these situations are trials. God allowed trials to occur and sometimes ordains them. How we perceive them determines if we grow from them and become stronger believers in God, if we blame God, stop growing in our relationship with Him, or give up on our faith in God altogether. To get through these times, we should recall our time of coming to faith in Jesus Christ as well as recall the life of Paul and other faithful Christians throughout history who remained faithful to God despite trials. Suffering for Christ is what Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. His second letter to the Corinthians will help us grow in our faith like it did for the Corinthian church during the first century.

Paul wrote this sometimes-puzzling statement to the Corinthians in his second letter to them. The Corinthian believers had struggled through divisions and quarrels among themselves and were more unified by the time Paul wrote this letter. This second letter to the Corinthians tells us more of Paul’s life and of God’s plan for His people to help others. Paul explained his calling by Jesus to apostleship because some people considered his meekness as weakness. He wrote to help them understand he was just as important a disciple of Christ as the other disciples. Paul emphasized this point in the second letter so they would not disregard what he taught them about Jesus and living as Christians. In Paul’s clarifying his calling to the Corinthians, he told of his suffering for the cause of Christ so all people would know about the salvation Jesus gives to those who believe in and profess Him as Lord and Savior. As Paul wrote in this letter, he suffered often to share the gospel. Paul stated all who believe in Jesus and seek to live out their faith in word and deed would share in Christ’s sufferings. He taught we experience suffering for our faith for several reasons: 1. To grow our faith in and trust of God, 2. To show others our faith in God so they would believe, and 3. To teach us more about God through suffering so we can offer strength and consolation to others who also suffer for Christ. Let’s understand what Paul meant and how it relates to our salvation.

In Romans 10:9-13, Paul said

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. It is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never disgraced. Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (NLT)

To receive salvation, we must believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and declare our faith with our lips. The action of being saved, spoken of here, comes from the Greek word sozo, which also means to be healed, preserved, and rescued. Paul specifically meant in Romans 10 to be saved from eternal death and separation from God because of our sins. In earlier parts of this passage, Paul stated Moses wrote about a righteousness that comes from the law if the Israelites had lived according to God’s laws. Yet, the laws only served to prove humanity’s unrighteousness because they are sinful. People cannot make themselves righteous. Only God’s power and mercy can make people righteous. (Romans 9). So, God made a way for people to be made just or right with Him. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for the penalty of each person’s sins, so they would be made right with Him. People only must believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths Jesus is Lord to be saved.

To take this to 2 Corinthians 1 then, how does this correlate? Consider what Paul said in verse 9-10. He said, “We expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger and will rescue us again.” (NLT) Paul used the word “rescue” in 2 Corinthians 1 like he used the word “save” in Romans 10. God is the only One who can rescue us from sin, trials, temptations, and persecutions. As we are to testify of God’s rescuing us from sin and death by belief in Jesus with our words and actions, so we are to testify of God’s rescuing us from trials, temptations, and persecutions. Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 1 stated he stopped relying on himself because he had no power to end his suffering. When he realized he was powerless, he said he relied on God who raises the dead. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, Paul stated God could rescue him from danger. Paul gave a verbal testimony to God’s saving him while on earth.

Consider Romans 10 and 2 Corinthians 1 further. Paul told the Romans to do more than trust in a God. He told them to believe in God’s Son for their salvation. This heart action of belief leads to physical action. Believers in Jesus are to profess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord-your Master and the One who rules your life. A Lord tells you where to go, what to do, and what to say. Christians are people who believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and the One whom God resurrected from the dead. They are to confess with their mouths out loud, so all people hear He is the Lord. With 2 Corinthians 1, Paul taught followers of Jesus are to live their lives obeying Him. Being a child of God requires heart and head belief that leads to professing that belief and living out one’s faith. His reliance on God to rescue him from trials and persecution gave him a physical, lived-out testimony of his faith in God to save him.

What are some reasons we are to act out our belief in Jesus Christ? Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1? He said in verses six through seven,

 When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. (NLT)

We act out our belief in Jesus so others will praise God with us. (vs. 11) We act our belief, too, so other people will grow because they saw how God intervened in our lives and how we grew through it.  By acting out our belief in Jesus, people will receive comfort at God’s intervention when they face trials; they will remember God’s faithfulness and stand firm in their own faith. Besides these reasons, living out our faith will give a testimony to unbelievers about Jesus so they might give their lives to Him, too. In essence, God allows trials to grow and comfort us, and, as a domino effect, comfort and strengthen others when they go through them. Additionally, trials could lead people to Christ. Proclaiming God’s provision, saving, comforting, guiding, etc. must occur. One cannot experience these things, recognize God did them, and not proclaim about God. It’s like the Jewish understanding of “to hear”. Once you hear something, it requires an action-to act or not to act. Once God works in our lives, we are impelled to tell what He did.

One other point we must remember; God gives promises to us by which we can stand firm in our faith. We can gain strength as we remember God’s promises to His children and remember how He has helped His children in the past. The hope given because of these verses helps us to stand strong when we face trials. The verses below are a brief list of some of God’s promises.

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 & Hebrews 13:5 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I hold you by your right hand-I, the LORD your God. And, I say to you, don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”

Isaiah 43:2 “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppressions, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

Isaiah 54:17 “But in that coming day, no weapon turned again you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

John 16:33 “I (Jesus) have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:17 “And since we are His children, we are heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.

Romans 8:35 & 37 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?” ^{37 “}No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptations to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:10 “In His kindness, God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.”

So, what’s the point here? Obviously, the point is we will go through trials to grow us. More still, we will go through trials so other people can hear about and understand how we went through them with God’s leading, comforting, and providing a way and, thereby, grow and receive comfort themselves. Added to this, our trials serve to lead other people to Christ. As we go through these trials, we can know we are not alone, but God is with us. He promises He is with us and will give us the strength needed to get through that time.

At the start of this article, we read about two gates. Now you’ve had time to consider, which gate will you choose to open and enter? Will you open the gate that appears to promise green fields and beautiful flowers, but without assurance of life? Or, will you choose the second gate not knowing exactly where it will lead, but knowing you will live? You now realize God leads the person who enters the second gate and He will protect, provide, and guide that person. Which gate will you choose-assurance of life or seeming beauty in life?

Some people wonder why Christians would choose to follow Jesus because He seems to take the fun away from life by not allowing you to drink, do drugs, gamble, or live your life any way you want. Other people see Christians who professed faith in Jesus, but the activities of their lives haven’t changed. They wonder why they would want to become a Christian if they see no difference between that “Christians” life and their own life. Besides these, people look at obedient Jesus-following Christians who willingly change careers, move to other countries, and/or refuse to keep living their old way. They question why these Christians willingly give up good jobs, family, and fun lives just to follow a person they cannot see. These people, all people, need to see and hear our professions of faith put into action. They need to hear not just our conversion testimony, but our testimonies of how God led us through hard times, comforted us, and grew us. These watchers need to see and understand why you chose Jesus, continue to follow Him, and the results of that. Some people will never trust in Jesus. Yet, other people will after having seen the comfort, guidance, and protection God gives His children. At this point, these people will give their lives to Jesus. They will join others over generations who “give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety,” provision, guidance, encouragement, and growth. (2 Corinthians 1:11 [NLT]) Then these people will come to know God and grow in Him because of our faith in, professing about and obedience to God.

With God, we are assured of life.

Without God, what we see won’t be what we get.

Everybody gets to decide whether they will believe in Jesus, profess He is the Son of God, and obey Him. God loves us and gives us free will. Today, if you are not a professing Christian, you get to choose which gate you will open, the one with green fields and beautiful flowers, but no guidance or assurance, or the one with assurances Almighty God will lead, protect, provide, and comfort. If you have professed faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, but that was the last thing you did in your Christian walk, today God asks you to walk with Him, obey Him, and grow with Him. You will be rewarded in yourself and other people will receive comfort, praise God, and/or come to know Jesus as their Savior, too.

Jesus has overcome the world, so you don’t need to be afraid to live out your testimony. (John 16:33 [NLT])

No matter what we go through on earth, God will glorify His children by faith with Jesus in heaven because we are co-heirs with Him. (Romans 8:17)

In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9 [NLT])

As for me, I choose to rely God who raises the dead.

Who will you choose to walk with through life’s easy and hard times?

Lord, you know me. I get caught up in whatever I am doing, fighting the fight and struggling, then I forget You are there for me. I struggle hard and only when I come to the last of my strength do I remember You are waiting for me to let you fight the battle with me. You are my strength. You are might rock. You said to share the yoke with You, and I forgot. Please forgive me for trying to live in my own strength. Forgive me for forgetting I don’t have to fight my battles alone. Forgive me for forgetting You. You are almighty, gracious, faithful, and loving. Nothing can defeat You. Please help me remember when I get caught up in my life You are always there for me. Thank you for loving me when I forget You or sin against You. Thank you for having a plan for me. In whom will I fear? No one, God. You are greatest of all. Amen.

Perspective and the Donkey

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us imposters. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. (2 Cor. 6:4-5, 8-10 [NLT])

Do you ever feel like the donkey harnessed to a mill walking in circles all day every day to grind the farmer’s grain? That’s how it can seem when you are working hard, and no one notices. Consider the devotional below to understand what Paul teaches about this.

How is your devotion to God? Did you receive His vision of the task to which He calls you? Did you begin to do it, but after a while decide it was rote and mundane, and then forget to keep your eyes on God? The physical aspect became drudgery and, possibly, you became bitter about why you, you of all people, had to do this work. You then stumbled, found yourself attacked by other people questioning your motives, and really began wondering why you were doing these things.

Paul spoke about this. He wrote about continuing to do what Jesus told him to do, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that, Paul said he suffered. In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, he listed some things he and his companions endured. By writing of his travails, Paul encouraged other believers to continue keeping their eyes on Christ. These verses told other Christians what happens when they follow Jesus.

Remember, Paul was a persecutor before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. He actively sought to imprison or kill Jesus-followers so they would not lead the Jews away from the true faith. After Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he became one with other Christ-followers. He suffered torture, imprisonment, attempts to kill him, poverty, hunger, etc. In reading each of Paul’s letters in the New Testament, we realize he never stopped telling people about Jesus Christ. He never declared being poor, touching the sick, or being imprisoned was beneath him, a Jew of Jews trained by Gamaliel. (Acts 22:3, Philippians 3:3-6)

Never once do we read in the Bible that Paul turned his back on Jesus. His hardships, troubles, and calamities did not cause his zeal to disappear, but served as a reminder to him that he was a true Christ-follower. Paul suffered as Jesus suffered. Jesus said His followers would experience what He did and more. (Matthew 24:9, Matthew 10:17, 22, John 15:19, 21, John 16:2) Paul took this to heart as an encouragement. Though he asked God to relieve him of the thorn in his side, he endured in his own weakness because God said His “power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) Paul willingly endured many things for the sake of Christ to reach all people with the gospel so that none would perish.

What are we willing to endure for Christ? Drudgery? Unimportance? Exhaustion? Persecution? Mockery? Poverty? Death? Do we think about these things and become upset by them? Do we consider them undeserved and rail against them? Do we consider it a badge of honor for people to misuse us for the sake of the gospel of Christ?

The donkey at the mill sees the ground, carrot, and grinding stones all day every day. He doesn’t see the final product, the meal. Don’t consider yourself like this donkey who doesn’t have an end-goal perspective. Consider the meal from the mill that will come as you continue to keep your eyes on God and gain His perspective. People will be saved.

Perspective is everything. At whom you look is most important.

Looking at yourself can cause anger and feelings of insignificance.

Looking to God causes you to have His perspective. He desires all people be saved from sin and death.

God is greater than our circumstances.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Keep His perspective; though He was rich, He became poor so all people may be saved.

Keep your eyes on God.

Keep God’s perspective.

Lord, I have done it again. I came to You and gave myself to You for Your service, heard Your call and began doing what You said. Next thing I knew, I felt unrecognized and taken for granted. I felt people taking advantage of me. Now I realize I took my eyes off You and had a worldly perspective. Please forgive me for not seeking You each moment of the days. Forgive me for walking in my own strength and getting upset because of what other people said or did or didn’t say or do. This work is not about me, but about You. I can do nothing to save people, nor can I do anything in my own strength. I need You, Lord. I need You to guide me, give me Your strength and peace, and make me able to do the work You called me to do. Lord, clothe me fully with Yourself and remove the tatters of the old nature from me. I surrender myself fully to You right now. Guard me against my right to myself and help me to be humble. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wolves, Roses, and Joy

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again-my Savior and my God! (Psalm 43:5 [NLT])

Many people believe Christians do not face hard times. They have this idea that once a person becomes Jesus’ follower, life will be a bed of roses and no wolves will batter the door of his or her life. Those of us who have been Christians for a while know the truth. We know life has hard times in store for everyone because we live in a sinful world. At times, life is harder for Christians because we believe in Jesus and follow Him. How could life be harder for Christians than non-Christians? Because Satan constantly wages war against Christians attempting to discredit them and Christ. Satan is the incessant wolf at the door. For people who are not followers of Jesus, they might question why Satan would fight more with Christians? Let’s consider a few role models of the faith and their lives.

David, the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts 13:22), though chosen by God to be the king over His people, the Israelites, battled against his enemies. He was a man who had blood on his hands. The Philistines, Saul and his army, Absalom’s army, and many others fought against David because of jealousy, anger, or a desire for his land, people, and resources. Even though God chose David, David still had difficult times. Some of those difficulties came because of his own decisions, like when he lay with another man’s wife. Wolves, temptations and persecutions from Satan battered his door. Yet, during his difficult times, David still praised God and looked up to Him as his strength, protection, joy, and hope. In Psalm 43, he pleaded with God to rescue him from unjust people. David wrote many lamentations and included in them stanzas expressing his hope in God who was his strength, refuge, fortress, and joy. David’s life was not a bed of roses. If anything, David lived like a shepherd, outdoors on rock and dirt much of the time, as he fought against his adversaries. As king you’d expect him to have lived a luxurious life. David’s enemies, the wolves, did not give him time to rest and live that kind of life. Yet, he still had the joy of God. David chose to seek God in the midst of his trials.

Job was a very righteous man, he revered God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). He had seven sons and three daughters. Job owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. People considered him the greatest man in the East. (Job 1:2-3) One day Satan entered the heavenly court and God asked him, “Where have you come from?” During their conversation, Satan said to the Lord,

Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse You to your face.

“All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” (Job 1:9-12 [NLT])

Satan threw everything at Job except for his own death. Even his three friends turned on him and told him to plead for God’s forgiveness. Surely, they thought, he had sinned against God and the horrible things happening to him were because of that sin. Job lost his ten children, servants, wife, herds, grain, produce, and buildings. Satan took everything he owned away. Yet, Job did not turn away from following and obeying the LORD (Yahweh, the eternal One). Instead, during the trials Satan threw at him, Job said, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at the last.” (Job 19:25 [NLT]) Job, though a righteous man, lived a life that was not a bed of roses. Yes, God blessed him, and those blessings were very good, but he faced trials. The wolves battered his door. To prove the faith of Job, God allowed Satan to test him. Satan’s test failed. Job’s life demonstrates Satan trying God’s children. It shows this child of God’s life was not always fragrant and pleasant. After the season of trails by Satan, God blessed Job more than He had in the first part of his life. He doubled the number of his animals and gave him seven more sons and three more daughters. Besides this, Job included his daughters in his will along with their brothers to receive an inheritance. Doing this was very unusual because only men could inherit in their patriarchal society. Job remained firm in his faith in God during his trials. He grew stronger because of them. During his time of trials, Job chose to seek God and draw on His joy to get him through his difficult times.

Consider any of the disciples of Christ. They each faced persecution. People killed several of them. Many of the disciples faced imprisonment. Even today, Jesus’ followers face persecution, torture, and martyrdom because of their faith. Christians’ lives are not always a bed of roses. Yes, God blesses them, but they, too, face hard times–illnesses, lack of money, hunger, taunting, persecution, mocking, and death at the hands of other people. People who are not Christians consider the persecutions and wonder why a person would risk living like that and then they, themselves, turn away or they become the persecutors. Another group of people consider today’s Christians and the history of Christians and wonder what would make a person so strong in his or her faith to continue following Jesus when he or she knows persecution will come. Consider what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:16-18, 21-23, 28, & 34-39,

¹⁶ Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about Me.
²¹ A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are My followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
²⁸ Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
³⁴ Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.
³⁵ I have come to set a “man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ Your enemies will be right in your own household!”
³⁷ If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, you are not worthy of being Mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it. [NLT]

Jesus told His disciples that Christians’ lives will not always be a bed of roses. Their lives showed this to be true. Expect trials, persecutions, and even death. Students and slaves should expect no less that what happened to their teachers and masters. Wolves will batter the door of your homes if you are a Christian. Satan wants to discredit you and your testimony about Jesus. Notice, Jesus’ disciples chose to go through the trials, but they didn’t do it alone. They drew on the strength God gives. They counted it all joy. A joy they received from the source of joy, God, the Father.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 [ESV])

Christians should expect and will live through hard times. Jesus said it and believers lived out this truth in the Old and New Testaments, and in every generation since then. Satan is the incessant wolf at the door. He constantly tries to defeat the testimony of Christians about Christ. Yet, we need not fear. We can have joy even in difficult times. Why? Because God is our Redeemer. He is our refugee and strength. From Him we can have joy and hope. How can we have joy even while suffering? David explained and proclaimed it in Psalm 43:4. “There I will go to the altar of God, to God-the source of all my joy. I will praise You with my harp, O God, my God!” [NLT] Because God is the source of joy, we can have joy since we are Christians. Because Jesus defeated death and sin, we have hope beyond what we are facing and beyond this mortal life. Go to the altar of God. Rejoice because God is your joy. Your source never dries up like the land, water, and human bodies. It never rusts or corrodes.

Our Source of Joy is Eternal.

God is our Source of Joy!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 [NIV])

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 [NIV])

Lord, You are the fountain of all blessings. From You flows hope, joy, love, truth, righteousness, and all good things. Forgive me for losing hope and grasping only the joy of the moment instead of seeking You, the fount of blessings and the God of my soul. Lord, help me recall You and Your promises and blessings when I walk through dark times. Help me stand strong in Your strength remembering the hope You have given me through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Help me have joy even when facing trials because You are my strength and shield. Because of You, I have hope. Lord, help me not to shrink away from difficulties, but to walk courageously through them with You so I may grow closer to You and become more like You. Because of Your grace, I not only can prevail in these situations, but I have eternal life with You. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Darkness and Holidays

Times can be hard. Life can be hard. Each person will face times of pain, separation, loneliness, despair, grief, and loss. These times seem to hit us hardest during holiday seasons. We each want to be joyful and cheery. We want to laugh, but the pain often overwhelms us. What should cause joy to erupt from us, holidays and celebrations, causes inner turmoil and pain. Tears easily come to our eyes as we think of that which assaults us.

Some people mean to be kind when they tell you, “Dig deep and you can overcome the problem.” Other people say you must put your mind to it and pull yourself out of the black, dark hole. Some people shake their heads and consider you a weak person for allowing yourself to stay in the miry bog. Satan wants you in that place. He pushes down on you, so you feel alone and overwhelmed with your pain, grief, loss, loneliness, despair, and separation.

When you dig deep within yourself, you can only go as deep as your own strength. We are human and only have mortal strength. Our strength is not overcoming strength. Putting your mind to the problem isn’t always enough. Our minds are fragile and not strong enough to overcome every pressure of life. We are human and so we are not strong enough to combat alone some of the troubles Satan throws at us. Yet, there is One who is stronger than anything or anyone who can come against you. God, the Creator of everyone and everything, is greater and stronger than anything the forces of darkness can hurl at you. None of us is strong enough to combat the arrows and darts of Satan all the time, but God is.

How does that help us while we are battling to stay afloat in the raging waters of our troubles? Because God is greater, stronger, more powerful, faithful, and loving, He wants to walk with us as we go through troubling times. Nothing can overpower God; He is immortal and omnipotent. Consider what Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in Romans 8: 28, 31, 33, 35, & 37-39,

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, not depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [NASB]

Jesus is the Conqueror, and with Him as His disciples, we can overwhelmingly conquer whatever Satan hurls toward us. Consider, too, God said to seek Him, and He will be found. The Bible records God saying this many times: Jeremiah 29:12-14, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Deuteronomy 4:29, and Proverbs 8:17. Other scriptures passages state this, too. God tells us He is always available to us; we must seek Him with our whole being-our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

How can you get through your trials, troubles, and pain? Seek God. How do you seek God?

Pray. Humble yourself and seek Him. Ask Him to make Himself known to you. Tell Him your troubles, pain, and difficulties. Express your understanding that you cannot handle these alone. Give your troubles, your burdens to Him. Paul said in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” God already knows your situation, but when you come to Him in prayer, you humble yourself and recognize you are too feeble to fix the problem and God is almighty; He is able. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Listen for God’s guidance. Wait for Him and His relief. Lean fully on Him.  “Trust in the Lord 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 3:5-6 [NASB]) God will be with you. He will walk with you through your hard times and give you His strength and peace for the journey.

Read the Bible. Added to praying, you can read the Bible, God’s Word, to hear from Him, to gain encouragement and guidance, and to know Him better. Through Scripture reading, God reminds you how He has worked in the past. He tells you how He wants you to live in the present. God assures you He walks with you through this current trouble, pain, and trial. Hear God’s words to Joshua and the Israelites in Joshua 1:5b. “I will not fail you or forsake you.” Consider Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave or forsake you.” David wrote in Psalm 46:10-11, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted over the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Over and over in the Bible, God reminds us He will be with us if we seek Him with our whole being. God loves each of us and wants to be your God, to guide you, give you strength, and remind you of the hope you have in Christ Jesus.

Pray again. After you’ve read God’s Word, and He’s brought to your mind His words and deeds of power and encouraged you, pray again. Pray thanking Him for His love, guidance, power, and faithfulness. Pray asking Him to give you His strength to get through your trials. Pray asking Him to help you keep your eyes on Him and not on your storm. Pray asking Him to fill you with His joy even in the midst of your troubles, pain, and trials. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, pray asking Him to save you from your sins and to give you new life in Him. God is always faithful to His children. He says He will always be found by those who seek Him with their whole being. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you, too, will be a child of God.

Other. Maybe prayer and reading the Bible is enough for you or possibly God has given you another voice by which to express yourself. Use that voice, whether in music, song, writing, dance, art, or whatever the medium to bring your cares before God, process His Word, and give Him your trust, your heart, and your trouble. Let that voice help give you release and relief by giving your cares to God. Express your faith in Him to walk with you through your hard time, and gain strength from Him-His faithfulness, love, and power. Consider how David felt in the midst of trials. He took them to God and lamented to God about his situation. Then he praised God for what He was doing and would do to bring him through those hard times. Consider Psalm 34. David began this psalm praising God. He then moved to acknowledging God comes to the aid of the righteous. David ended this psalm with this comforting thought in verse twenty-two, “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” David and other righteous people throughout history have used this “other voice” God gave them as a gift to talk with God, process their own situations, and recall and resolve for themselves that God is good and is able to take care of all our needs, including walking with us through hard times. Besides crying out to God by your “other voice,” you can speak with a Christian pastor, elder, or other Christian. They can pray with you and help you carry your burdens to God while encouraging as you face your trying days.

During life’s holidays, troubles, pain, and trials can cause us to sink within ourselves and not celebrate. If we allow them, they will keep us in a vortex of darkness and anguish with no joy. God does not want us to go through these times alone. He gives us hope because He loves us. God is greater than anything that comes against us. Consider Mary. She became pregnant before Joseph laid with her. By law, Joseph could have broken the engagement. Mary must have been frightened about what the outcome might be. Yet, the angel told her not to fear. (Luke 1:30) Mary trusted God to make this situation of being pregnant outside of marriage work for good, God’s good. Joseph, when he learned Mary was pregnant, did not want to disgrace her because he was a righteous man. Because of this, he planned to send her away quietly so she would not have her reputation ruined. God sent a dream to Joseph in Matthew 1:20. In that dream, an angel of the Lord said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Joseph gave his trouble and potential ruined reputation to God and trusted Him to make everything work out for the best. God chooses all His children for a purpose. He has a purpose for everyone. God’s purposes are always for the best. Had Mary or Joseph acted on their predicament without God’s intervention, she or he may have done good things according to the Law, but not what was best according to God.

God is here for each person who calls on Him with their whole being. His plans are best. God’s plan includes growing us to be more like Jesus and to be in a close relationship with Him. That can happen through hard times. It can happen in good times, too. Right now, if you are experiencing anguish, pain, loneliness, trials, grief, fear, or any other difficulty, don’t give up. Don’t isolate yourself and spiral down into the dark pit into which Satan wants to trap you. Let Him guide you and give you strength. Your hope, our hope, is in the Lord who made heaven and earth. This LORD God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born as a human on earth so He could die to give us salvation and an eternal relationship with Him. This is our hope. Jesus is our hope. If you are going through a hard time right now; turn to God. Pray. Read the Bible. Pray again. Use your “other voice” and bring it all to God. Seek a Christian friend or pastor to help you. Don’t let Satan take you down into the dark pit.

There is hope.

Jesus is the hope of the world.

And once more, Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13 [NASB])

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 [NASB])

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [NASB])

Oh, Lord, so often I have felt like I couldn’t go on. I felt like the dark vortex would swallow me and I wanted to give up. But then You, in Your great love for me and in Your faithfulness, reminded me of Who You are, what You’ve done, and how much You love me. Lord, You took me back to Your Word and showed me You have always been with Your children through the hard times, and, Lord, I know Your love never fails. You are faithful. Lord, forgive me for not coming to you sooner. Forgive me for giving up on the hope You provide because of the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Lord, I promise I will always walk with You. Please walk with me now through this dark trial. Grow me to be like Your Son and to be in a closer relationship with You because of this trial. Lord, keep reminding me of the hope You give and fill me with Your Spirit so that Your joy is my strength. Help me have joy and rejoice even when I am going through darkness because of who You are. You are my strength and shield. You are my fortress and my very present help in times of trouble. Thank you, Lord for what You’ve done. Thank you for what You will do in my situation and in me. Thank you for being faithful even when I lost hope and felt forsaken. Thank you for not letting go of me when I let go of You. I love you, Lord. Amen.