Tag: troubles

Categories
Genesis Devotions

Though I may face troubles in this world

grapevine bearing fruit

Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (which means “forget”) and said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family.”

And the second son he named Ephraim (which means “fruitful”) and said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Genesis 41:51-52)

Jesus, you said that in this world I would see suffering, and I have. (John 16:33)

But as with Joseph, the day will come when all my troubles will be in the past and they will no longer be able to touch me. (Revelation 21:24)

Thank you that my present sufferings cannot compare with my future glory. (Romans 8:18)

Thank you that in the midst of my sufferings, when I don’t know how to pray, your Spirit prays for me. (Romans 8:26)

Thank you that you will work all things for the good of us who love you, whom you’ve called according to your purpose. (Romans 8:28)

That’s my hope. You are my hope.

So as I still remain in this land filled with trouble, I choose to trust you. Fulfill your purpose in me and make me fruitful. In your name I pray. Amen.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

When God allows hard times

Psalms

You caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes… (Psalm 71:20a)

That seems a little cruel doesn’t it?

God causes us to experience many troubles and misfortunes?

Yes, he does.

This is not to say that God actively wields a bat against us.

Many times, the troubles and misfortunes we face are of our own making. Sometimes, they are the results of others’ actions. And other times, they are the result of living in a broken world.

God could, I suppose, actively intervene and keep those troubles and misfortunes from us. And by his grace, he sometimes does.

I would dare say there are many troubles or misfortunes that God in his grace has protected us from that we are totally unaware of.

But he does allow us to experience troubles and misfortunes in our lives.

Why? Because God is cruel? Because he hates us?

No.

Rather, as David says,

…but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. (20b)

Through our troubles, we learn to lean on him. (6)

We learn to hope in him. (14)

And as he raises us up, we learn that he is indeed good. (16-17)

We stand in awe of him and cry out with David,

 Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you? (19)

But as you go through your trials, remember one more thing. Jesus knows what it means to endure suffering too.

The writer of Hebrews says,

For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings…

[Jesus] had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement, for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:10, 17)

Yes, God causes us to go through suffering. But he caused his Son to go through it first. And because of that, the writer of Hebrews can tell us,

For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted (or “tested”, the word is the same in Greek), [Jesus] is able to help those who are tempted (“tested”). (Hebrews 2:18)

Categories
1 Corinthians

Because we have hope

Hope

Nobody said life was easy.

And neither did Paul. He was a man who had been stoned, shipwrecked, persecuted, imprisoned, and even more.

What could keep a person going in the face of all these trials? The hope that he had.

Paul had told the Corinthians earlier in this chapter,

Now if there is no resurrection…why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

I die every day–I mean that, brothers–just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained?

If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15:29-32)

But there is a resurrection. And after talking of the hope he had, that one day we will be changed, raised imperishable, and immortal, Paul exhorts us,

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

There is so much in this world that can shake us. Our troubles, our trials, our worries. And they may cause us to think that it isn’t worth it anymore to keep living as a Christian. To keep serving the Lord.

But Paul encourages us not to let the storms of life move us. To keep doing the things God has called us to do.

Why? Because in the end, we will find that it was all worth it. And one day, we’ll look into the face of Christ, and he will say to us with a smile, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And on seeing his face, all that we went through will be revealed for what they truly are: “light and momentary troubles” which are far exceeded and outweighed by the glory that awaits us.

I love how the Living Bible put it in Psalm 17:15.

When I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face-to-face. (Psalm 17:15, TLB)

So if you’re discouraged, if you are feeling down because of what you are suffering through, if you feel like you’re losing hope, then as the old song goes,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.

Categories
Psalms

Petitioning the King

Psalms

Psalm 5 is probably one of my favorite psalms.  I still love to sing the old chorus that goes to the King James Version.

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.  (Psalm 5:1-3)

As I look at this Psalm, I get the picture of a person coming into the king’s courtroom, asking for justice and help.

Bowing before him, they cry out, “My King and My God, have mercy on me.  I need your help.  Listen to my plea.”

There is an air of utter humility there, but also of loving trust.

“Lord, in the morning when I get up, my first thought turns to you.  I lay down my requests before you and wait in expectation knowing that you do love me, that you do care, and will answer my cry.”

What problem David was going through at  this time, we don’t know.  But as usual, when he faced troubles, fears, and anxieties, he turned to his King.  And so should we.

We can come before him not because we are more righteous than the people that hurt us, but because of his great mercy towards us.

And though people may hurt us, and lie to us, we can know that God will never do so.  He is a good King, and will grant us justice when we cry to him.  And he will spread his wings over us.

David prayed,

Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.  (11-12)

As I read this, I think of the parable of Jesus where he talked about a woman who sought justice from an unjust judge.  And it was only after harassing him day after day that the judge granted her the justice she sought.

Jesus contrasts that judge with our loving Father, saying,

Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?

I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:7-8)

There were times when David had to wait day after day, year after year for God to deliver him from his troubles.  But he never lost his faith in God.

Morning after morning, he kept coming before God with his petitions.  God in his love heard him.  And ultimately he delivered him.

When we face troubles in this life, may we too have the faith of David, knowing that God hears, that he cares, and that he will answer.