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 - Trouble
And we will see the Lord in His glory: Isaiah 35
Turn aside from the Idols of the world: Psalm 135
Will you join me in praising God, the Lord of heaven and earth and creator of all things? The situation you find yourself in today will not change the truth that God is worthy of your praise and adoration. Do you praise God and wholeheartedly adore Him? Do you find yourself wondering why God should be praised? As we face life’s monotony and a varying array of trouble there hope for us found in praising God. What is the basis of praise? In Psalm 135 we are exhorted by the psalmist to praise the Lord but along with this exhortation we are given a reason to praise Him. “For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.” Psalm 135:5 The foundation of praise is built upon the deeds of God and intrinsically found in His nature. Continue Reading…
Out of the deep pit of misery through God’s great deliverance: Psalm 116
How do we view the deliverance of God? Do we earnestly desire God’s deliverance in the good and prosperous times of life? Our cry for help is birthed while we are in the midst of our trouble. “The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!” Psalm 116:3,4 Do not seek to be clever, witty, resourceful or self-reliant when you are overtaken by trouble. You cannot deliver yourself out of your circumstances but God is able to fully deliver us when we call out to Him. “The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and he saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” Psalm 116:6-8 There is no pit too deep that we can fall into that God cannot reach down and deliver us out of. Will you call upon the name of the Lord in throughout the day to day troubles? Will you trust Him? Continue Reading…
Cry out, question God and remember His sufficiency: Psalm 88
What do you think, say and do in your moments of doubt, confusion and despair? Do you hold fast to God, unwavering in your faith and trust? We are incapable of maintaining a consistent trust and faith apart from God because the curse of sin upon us. In Psalm 88 Herman, one of the sons of Korah, is enduring a constant barrage of despair and oppression. He cries out to God questioning why these troubles are happening and what purpose can be found in a season of trials. ”Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? Psalm 88:10-12 Continue Reading…
Our perception darkens but God’s perspective brings light: Psalm 79
How would you define your life today? Would you look upon your life and see a continual blessings from God? Do you live in the the current state of blessedness that is yours because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross of Calvary? We can easily take our salvation for granted as we are worn down by the concerns of the world. We are lavishly blessed beyond all belief through Jesus Christ. We need not fall into the self-deceptive thinking that we are not good enough, ill equipped and hopeless to make it through life. The mighty power of God that was displayed on Calvary bridged the infinite gap that had left us separated, excluded, estranged and hopelessly alone in the world. The fellowship that was restored brought us into the intimate household of God, brought us access to God and gave us full citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Do you live in the wondrous truth of your position in Jesus Christ? Continue Reading…
Manifested hope can never be overshadowed by emotions: Psalm 77
Are you oppressed and weary from the tasks that are set before you? Do you look upon the decisions that must be made in your life and wonder what to do? Does distress find you more frequently in the night than restful sleep? Do you look back upon your past with fondness thinking that things were much easier in the days past? Do you wonder if God has rejected you or become angry with you? What can be done? “My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; my voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; in the night my hand was stretched out with out weariness; my soul refused to be comforted.” Psalm 77:1,2 Do you turn to God in your distress? Do you plead before God in your distress pouring out your heart? Continue Reading…
Fix your eyes upon an everlasting hope: Psalm 74
What do you do when the you are overwhelmed by the sin cursed world, enemies surrounding you prosper and you feel forgotten? Who are the enemies of christians today? The people who are the adversaries of God are the enemies of christians today. If the wicked of this world crucified Jesus Christ will they spare those who are His disciples? Our lives exist in the midst of a spiritual war zone that seeks to claim as many causalities as possible. The theme of Psalm 74 is one of dependance upon God in moments when that spiritual war is felt more acutely. 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…
Contrast shows peoples true feelings: Job 29 and 30
Do we long for the glorious past? Do we sometimes think that God has forgotten us? In Job 29 and 30 Job reflects on everything that has changed since the calamity fell upon him. As Job speaks we get a greater understanding and picture of his life. Prior to losing his children, livelihood and health, Job’s life was marked by renown, admiration, respect, notoriety, charity and compassion. People looked at Job with an awe and wonder at all that he was blessed with and all that he did for others. Did this acknowledgement from men cause pride to develop in Job? After suffering so much loss Job was taunted, spit upon and talked about as he suffered persecution and cruelty from those who once looked up to him. There is a stark contrast between the life of Job before and after the troubling times. Continue Reading…
The greatness of God brings hope in trouble: Job 25 and 26
What is the difference between the views presented by Bildad and Job? What are they both saying in Job 25 and 26? Both men are speaking about how power and might of God. If you stop the comparison between these two men at this point you are missing an important key. When Bildad speaks to Job in chapter 25 the emphasis is on man and how he is so inferior to God. I’ll agree that God is infinitely supperior to man but are these words of comfort to someone in Job’s situation? With God being so great man is truly worthless and unable to be made just before God doesn’t bring comfort. Continue Reading…
