Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; Your Word is my source of hope.”
Today, I struggle with what to write. It is a cloudy, overcast day, matching my spirit. Yet I know that as I feel drained by the events of the last several weeks, with our son’s sweet wife struggling for life, there is One who is never drained, One who can give me hope and fill me with life-giving light when the enemy would have me see only darkness and would have me despair. I don’t try to hide my pain from God. After all, He knows my every thought! So, like the descendants of Korah, I pray, “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! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You—even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as Your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life.” Psalm 42:5-9 Life’s trials many times bring emotional responses. They can make us feel we are standing in the ocean where the seemingly solid sand under our feet dissolves and the ocean's great waves surge over us, drawing us out to sea. But we must never allow emotion to overrule the truth of who God is. Daily the LORD pours His compassionate love out upon us; He who knows when the sparrow falls understands fully and completely our times of sorrow; imagine the Father’s when He had to turn His face away from Jesus who was suffering an excruciating death upon the cross because He had taken the sin of mankind upon Himself. No, God is no stranger to emotion; we know this because we are made in His image. However, God would not have us focus on our emotions in the midst of life’s trials; our focus is to remain centered upon Him and His promise of HOPE. Feeling overwhelmed, I once again turn to God’s Word, my source of light, life, and hope. It is God, and only He, who can lift my spirit and place the happenings of life in perspective: “So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” Psalm 31:24 I know that as I meditate on God’s lovingkindness, I will be led from a darkness that could be overpowering into His life-giving light and that my strength will be renewed. Focusing on how much He loves me, enough to die in my place for my sins, brings me the joy of knowing that I will share eternity with Him and with the loved ones He’s placed in my life, including those who precede me in death. If you are struggling with a trial in life now, and even if not, join me in meditating on some of the following verses, focusing on our hope, and let your heart's sorrows be lifted as you experience the fulfillment of God's promises. Romans 15:4 “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” (This is faith; this is trust.) Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.” (Believing in Christ gives us eternal life: “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”) Hebrews 6:18-20 “ So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Thank You, Father, for Jesus! “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” Jeremiah 17:7) Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (How wonderful it is to know that our Lord God is with us during every step we take through life: “The Lord replied, ‘I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.’ ” Exodus 33:14) Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (The wise understand how brief our earthly life is and that we are to make every moment of it count in glorifying the Father. However, while this life is as short as a quick whisper, eternity lasts forever, and therein lies our hope: “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23) All of us face trials in life, some deeply heart-wrenching, but we must look beyond them to the hope we have in our majestic, compassionate, kind, and loving God—the One who is always concerned about our welfare and that of those we love. In my mind, I now look through the massive and billowing charcoal-gray storm clouds our enemy would drown us in to that of our loving God’s presence above. Here I find peaceful, comforting, and azure skies illuminated by the brilliance of life-sustaining rays emanating both from earth’s sun, but more importantly, from His Son—our eternal life source. GOD IS GOOD! His plan is perfect. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34 I choose to trust and hope in our good, good Father—the One who loves us most and plans for our ultimate victory in life “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!” Job 19:25-26 MORE VERSES: Psalm 71:5 “For You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” Psalm 130:5 “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His Word.” Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Romans 5:1 “Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Thessalonians 2:16-17 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.” Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” PRAYER: Dear Father, as I dwell on Your goodness, kindness, and the hope I have in You, let me always remember Jesus’ words: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.” John 14:1 I do choose to trust, Father, therefore help me not be dismayed when Your plan differs from that of my limited understanding and will! Rather, help me be an imitator of Jesus: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” Luke 22:42 Your will, Father—it always is right and best. So, Father, when I tend to be overwhelmed by life’s difficult times, let me always remember that You know ALL--everything that has taken place in the past and all that will take place in the future. I choose to believe in Your proven goodness, and as Corrie Ten Boom wrote, “Never (to) be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 1 1. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/corrie_ten_boom_381184 SONG: "Joy of the Lord" Though tears may fall My son will rise, my song will rise to You Though my heart may fail My song will rise, my song will rise to You While there's breath in my lungs I will praise You, Lord In the dead of night I'll lift my eyes, I'll lift my eyes to You When the waters rise I'll lift my eyes, I'll lift my eyes to You While there's hope in my heart I will praise You, Lord The joy of the Lord is my strength The joy of the Lord is my strength In the darkness I'll dance In the shadows I'll sing The joy of the Lord is my strength When I cannot see You with my eyes Let faith arise to You When I cannot feel Your hand in mine Let faith arise to You God of mercy and love I will praise You, Lord Oh You shine with glory Lord of light I feel alive with You In Your presence now I come alive I am alive with You There is strength when I say I will praise You, Lord When sorrow comes my way You are the shield around me Always You remain Like courage in the fight I hear You call my name Jesus, I am coming Walking on the waves Reaching for Your light Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Christopher Dean Llewellyn / Edmond Martin Cash / Gareth Andrew Gilkeson Joy Of The Lord lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Comments are closed.
|
Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
December 2022
Categories |