Are you broken and weary by the trials and trouble of life? Do you look upon your life and despair think that all hope is lost? I challenge you to aspire to hope again. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” Isaiah 35:1,2 Jesus Christ lives! That is your hope. You can never change the fact that Jesus gave up His life that you could live. Will you trust fully in His provision? Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Trials
And we will see the Lord in His glory: Isaiah 35
Refuge, hope, and salvation found in Jesus Christ: Isaiah 17 and 18
Do you possess a continual eternal perspective that envelopes your life? If we had a consistent eternal perspective we could endure the ups and downs of life with little or no regard because we would always be steadfast upon the truths of God. Our eternal perspective is always shifting depending on our emotions and circumstances. We are consistently scrambling to overcome every moment of tribulation before we become overwhelmed and sadly we easily forget the truth that God is our unmovable hope. ”For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore, though you plant pleasant plants and sow the vine-branch of a stranger, though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, and make them blossom in the morning that you sow, yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain.” Isaiah 17:10,11 God is a refuge for those who know Him. God is hope for those who seek Him. God is the source of salvation to those who believe. Do you know God? Do you know His refuge, hope, and salvation? Continue Reading…
Dependance in the face of deadly opposition: Psalm 3
Where did David turn for help when he was hunted by his son Absalom? 2 Samuel details the calamity that came upon David from within his own family when Absalom desired to kill him and take the throne of Israel. How would you react if one of your children desired to see you killed? In Psalms 3 we find out how David endured his time of exile as his son sought to kill him.
Though the adversaries all around David increased and their counsel proclaimed that no help could be found in God, David chose to cling to God for his help and hope. God was the shield and glory of David. Do you have the faith and confidence to run to God when you face insurmountable obstacles? Continue Reading…
Peace, hope and purpose found in a proper perspective: Job Summary
The story in the book of Job is portrayed on two distinct levels. At the macro-level we see the impetus for the calamity that befalls Job when God discusses His servant with Satan resulting in God allowing Satan to bring calamity upon Job. On the micro-level we see the loss of family, wealth and health for Job along with the futile comfort offered by his friends Zophar, Bildad and Eliphaz. How do we cope when calamities come upon us when outwardly we only see our life from the midst of trouble and tribulation? Can hope be had in the midst of calamity? How do we deal with the anger and despair that vies for our attention when we are in the midst of trouble?
Job was faced with his way of life being disturbed and radically changed when his children, livestock and health were struck by Satan. Job had no foreknowledge that these events that transformed his life were ordained and allowed by God. His main concern was questioning why these events happened to him, an upright man who sought God above all. The knowledge and faith that Job had in God was great but his perspective on his situation was fixed inwardly and not upon God. Continue Reading…
Amid the painful moments, do blessings abound: Job 1 and 2
As I read through Job 1 and 2 many questions were brought to mind about the personality and character of Job. What type of father was he and what type of husband? What was the most influencing factor in Job’s life? Did Job express the love of God through his life to those around him? How are parents to instill and encourage a strong faith in God to their children? Did Job condone the feasting of his children? “And then the days of the feast had run their course, Job, would send and consecrate [his children], and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.” Job 1:5 Continue Reading…
Tears shed in troubled times: 2 Kings 19 and 20
In the moments when your world is crashing down upon you and the outlook for life is bleak how do your reactions and actions portray you? What moments have you faced in life that made your whole world come to a halt? Where did you turn? How did you act? The way we act in the midst of trouble, trial, and tribulation will show who we truly are and what we believe. Do your actions point towards an almighty God who is the wellspring of hope or do your actions lash out against fate and destiny in remorse over your lot in life?
At the end of 2 Kings 18 the Assyrians besiege Judah and Hezekiah the king of Judah found himself in the midst of a moment where he was unsure of the future and hope was dwindling. In the midst of this troubled time Hezekiah seeks out God and He proves himself faithful to Judah by turning away the army of Assyria. Continue Reading…
What is learned in exile from all you know: 2 Kings 17 and 18
Why is Israel besieged and taken captive in 2 Kings chapter 17? What does captivity mean for the people within Israel? Does the captivity of Israel mean that God has turned His back on Israel? What lesson can be learned from Israel’s disobedience? These people who were led into captivity had no regard for God because generation after generation they had done what we fitting in their own eyes without care for God. They worshiped the gods of the inhabitants of the promised land, which they were consistently warned about not doing. Was it easy for the people to turn away from God because they made one sinful choice after another which led them far from God? Continue Reading…
Hope in God despite trouble, trials, and tribulation: 2 Samuel Summary
What type of leadership is necessary within your family? How do you react to someone who has hurt you and betrayed your trust? How do you survive through life when trouble, trials, and tribulation seem to engulf you? These are some of the questions of life that are answered in 2 Samuel. The book of 2 Samuel builds upon the previous books of the old testament by showing us what clinging to God looks like in life. I found hope to make it through the difficult moments in life as I looked at the life that David lived. He was far from perfect and marked by many faults and failures yet God was completely faithful to David. Continue Reading…
