Tag: answered

9.j. “Fear not, O land;  be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

Joel 2:18  Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

Joel 2:21  “Fear not, O land;  be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

Joel 2:23  “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication;

Joel 2:26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied , and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

I am sure we have not seen the full impact of Covid-19 in the US.  Listening to people and their anger, fear, and worry seems to be placed on the measures put in place to slow the spread of the impact, how it has impacted their lives, hoarding that makes it hard to get supplies and their employment.  I heard someone say if he looked at this within his own family is seems almost unfair but that we are all in this together and what impacts him impacts others as well.  I think he had the right mind for the situation we are all in.

God is in control and His plans are never wrong.  I don’t understand what the world is going through but I wondered if this could be a call or final calling to all the people of the world to return to Him, seek Him, and trust in Him.  We seek and want to believe this is a “one-off” thing in nature but this is nothing of the sort.  If it is God’s final call for people to turn to Him, know that the return of Christ is very near.  The day of tribulation is very near.  Think about the measures that are in place across the globe.  Would you ever think the nations of the world could agree on anything, but here we are.  All doing virtually the same thing to try to stop spread of this disease.  How long will it be is yet to be determined, no one knows but God.  Yet outside of Christian circles there is no sounding of the trumpet calling people to gather and seek God with repentant hearts.  How bad does it have to get before our eyes look to heaven?  It is only when we do that we will be glad and rejoice for the Lord’s removal of this disease among us.

So while we await the hand of God to do wondrous works over this situation we can still rejoice in Him, we can be kind to one another, we can do acts of kindness, and we can spread hope through Jesus Christ.

4.t. Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Job 5:8  “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13    And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Psalms 50:15     and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalms 77:1-2   I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.

Jonah 2:1-7   Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,  saying, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Psalms 37:5    Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

1 Peter 4:19   Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

What great words of comfort, hope, and confidence.  It is easy to read these in our comfort, blessings, and prosperity.  It is easy for us to hold true and faithful in times without trials or troubles.  These words may come to us while in good times and give us comfort in thinking about “the possibility of trouble landing on my doorstep” and how we would then, in faith, call out to Jesus. However, trouble has a way of sneaking up on us.  It hits us from the blindside.  It grabs us from behind and tries to choke us out.  It does not play fair or give any respect to who we are.  Trials and troubles come upon all mankind, good and bad.

We can see from these scriptures that men called out to God in their time of trouble.  Trials have a way of humbling the soul before God or driving a hatred deep within.  The difference is the condition of the heart, mind, and soul of the person.  The heart holds things dear to the soul.  If the heart is holding dear to things of this world over the things of God trials will either push them away or draw them closer.  When the heart is holding dear to things of this world the study of God’s word and spending daily time in scripture and desiring to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit’s leading are not anywhere near their heart.  Be mindful of this because it very well can be the place where you are close to being and not even know it.  Our sinful nature and with Satan’s lies and deception we can slip into this void of darkness unknowingly.  Each of us needs brothers and sisters to spur us on to good works, faithful living, God-honoring, reliant, trusting, and obedient lives.  When we do this for each other we grow in knowledge and understanding.  Our desire for things of God increases.  Our hope and faith become more firm.  Our lives become beacons of the light of Jesus Christ to those in darkness.  Trials and troubles have the possibility to darken our souls.  Let us be faithful to each other and hold each other accountable to walk worthy of our calling to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

He lifted them up and carried them

Exodus 3:7Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey

1 Samuel 9:16  “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.”

Psalms 22:24  For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Psalms 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Psalms 106:44  Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.

Psalms 142:3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!

Hebrews 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Psalms 145:19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

When we face trials we never know when they will end or how hard they will become, or when God will lead us out of this dreaded darkness.  How many times do we wish the trial never happened to us?  How many times do we question why me, why now?  What did I do wrong?

Certainly there are some trials that are the consequence of our own doing.  We know it or we come to that understanding after trying to blame everyone else.    Other times it is because of things out of our control and when this happens so come the questions?

Is God there?

Does He hear me?

Will He do something?

When will He act on my behalf?

Does He care?

We must remember that we live in a sinful world and trouble happens.  We live in a world where satan and demons  are real and able to influence bad things from people.  We live in a fallen world with sinful people who will sin and do us harm.  Does this in anyway mean that God is not sovereign, powerful, loving, steadfast, merciful, full of grace, and all knowing? No it does not.

We are told this is not our home for God has made us a home in eternity.  Things that happen here are temporary and happen for a reason that fits into God’s plans and purposes even if we don’t understanding and knowledge of the details.  God loves us.  He gave His Son as a ransom for us.  He prepared us a place in eternity.  He sent the Holy spirit to comfort us, lead us, teach us, and help grow our faith in God through these trials.

Does placing our troubles in God’s powerful and loving hands mean they are going away in what timing we think they should.  No  it does not.  It does though transfer the full weight of the burden on Him and gives us hope for today and joy for tomorrow.

Everyone of us can attest to the troubles that have come our way.  Some heavier that others.  Some we can say we that we gave them into God’s hands during our darkest time and the burden was lifted but the trial was still present.  There was a peace that came over us that allowed us to face the day and then next.  We found strength and hope.  We knew in our heart, mind and soul no matter what happens we are confident in God’s plan and purpose.  We came out the other side of the trial with greater faith, being more humble, better able to empathize with others, willing to help others, and a greater reliance and comfort in God.

Encouragement

 

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”

”Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”

Psalms 69:3o   I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

Psalms 40:3    He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 118:21   I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

Psalms 118:28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalms 25:9   He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Psalms 34:2    My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

Isaiah 61:1-3   to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

John 16:22   So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

In place of sorrow there will be rejoicing.  Sometimes I do not understand the affliction and trials others bear and how they seem to rise above them and give God praise.  It is inspiring to see those who bear the affliction and those who love them walk in a way that does not complain but rather continues to seek God and His love and mercy.  It is inspiring to see them quote promises of God and hold fast to Him.  It is encouraging to see their faith in action – God is able but even if He chooses not to act in this matter we hold fast to Him.  Holding on and trusting God is possible when our walk with Him is lived out and His word is in our heart. Seek Him today and hold fast to His promises. He is certainly able to do more than we ask and much more than we can think.