Memory Verse for the week of 1/24/2010:
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9.
Today’s Passage: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15
As I grow older and certainly as I have experienced cancer and treatments, I meet more and more people who are suffering from diseases, grief, hardship and various trials. When we first faced the big “C” diagnosis, my husband and I decided to make it a positive journey. I wanted to grow closer to God and develop a Christ-like nature. Although I had been a Christian for many years in name, I had not developed a mature Christian attitude of hope and peace and needed to more boldly share the gospel with others.
Since making that determination, some days I truly feel closer to God and more mature while other days I feel that I do not live up to the decision I made. Yet God keeps lifting me up and renewing my spirit so that I can begin again. This is the gift of repentance and forgiveness that God has given us. He also has helped me to reach out to others and comfort them with the same comfort He and my church family all over the world have given to me.
Reaching out is not without its heartache. Within the past week, I have been acquainted with two wonderful people who have passed away. Another dear friend is expected to pass at any time and is heavily sedated until that time. I had already begun writing this devotional last week but due to the grief that these families are experiencing and the sadness that I feel for them, I have rewritten some of it as I found it appropriate to our situations. I pray that you find it helpful in your own life and that the Scriptures give you peace and comfort through your trials.
It is hard to imagine that there are blessings in suffering, especially when a child, family member, close friend or a member of our church family is in pain. We should have hope and joy within us but we will not always be happy and full of cheer. Remember that the same God who gave us laughter gave us tears. There is a time for both as we are taught in Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 4: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
It is not rational to believe that Christians should always be laughing or always be moderate in emotion. Paul wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15. There is not always laughter but there can always be hope in God’s promises. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that is based upon faith in the Lord. Joy is often confused with happiness but God did not create us to be happy all of the time. Jesus certainly was joyful and hopeful but there were many times when He looked upon others with compassion and sorrow. He cried for Lazarus’ family and friends as they mourned. We know that Jesus felt great sorrow as evidenced by the shortest verse in the Bible and yet one of the most emotional: “Jesus wept”. John 11:35.
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then planned her husband’s murder in 2 Samuel 11. Because of these sins, the child that David and Bathsheba had borne was struck ill. David lay on the ground all night, fasting and pleading with the Lord to spare the child. The boy died after seven days of illness. David’s servants were terrified to tell him that the child was dead because of the intense fervor in which he had prayed to God while the child was sick. Yet after learning that his son had died, David got up, cleaned himself up and went to worship the Lord. He explained to the confused servants, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:22-23
David’s response shows that he knew that if he obeyed God and was faithful to Him, he would see his son again. During the time that the child was suffering, he prayed to God that he might live. Yet afterward, he worshipped. Though David was not happy during the time that his child was sick, he had faith and hope in the Lord God. We can have that same faith in God and hope of heaven that if we obey God faithfully until the end, we will see the saved again. What a blessed reunion that will be in heaven!
Job lost all of his livestock, nearly every one of his servants and all of his children in one day. Imagine the great sense of loss and devastation that he felt. Job was so crushed by the news that he tore his robe and shaved his head in grief. Yet that is not all that Job did. He also “fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’ ” Job 1:20-21. What a faithful man Job was! James 5:11 reminds us of Job’s perseverance and God’s compassion and mercy.
Both of these examples teach us what James meant when he was inspired by the Spirit of God to write, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4. Just as parents must allow children to make mistakes sometimes in order to learn valuable lessons, God too allows us to experience heartache at times in order that we may grow. This can be out of correction (Proverbs 3:12), to teach us how to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4) or to mature us that we may grow in Christian virtues (Romans 5:3-4 and James 1:2-4). Regardless, God knows what is best and we must trust in Him that good may come out of even the greatest of trials (Romans 8:28).
While in Houston, I bought a collection of wallet cards that state, “When we remember the valleys, the mountaintops are even more beautiful”. The Scripture imprinted on the back is Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.” The card is similar to a statement I typically write, “After the storm comes the rainbow” based on God’s promise to us in Genesis 9. I'm sure similar phrases have been written by others and perhaps it has even been written exactly the same by another author but it gives me comfort to think of God's covenant of a beautiful rainbow that followed the great storm in Noah's day.
Suffering can come in many forms. Sometimes our suffering comes from our choice to stand up for Christ. In Acts 14:22, Paul and Barnabas exhorted the disciples in the region to keep the faith because they were going to suffer much for God. “Exhort” is also translated as “encourage”. Their words were an encouragement to the disciples. Imagine being so eager to live for the Lord that to be told you will suffer for Him is an encouragement!
Certainly, not all suffering is directly linked to our Christian walk. Sometimes we make mistakes and must endure the consequences. The Spirit inspired Peter to write that it is of little credit to suffer patiently if we did wrong; yet “when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.” 1 Peter 2:20. Other suffering is due to the fact that this is an imperfect world and the innocent suffer. Regardless of what we face, we can have hope in the Lord and trust in Him just as Job did. He did not know that the things he suffered were caused directly by Satan but he knew that God is in control of everything. He had tremendous faith in his Jehovah to take care of him.
Below are some of the many passages of comfort and encouragement from God’s Word as well as a poem that I wanted to share. I hope that you find peace and comfort in them.
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” Isaiah 53:3. Our Lord suffered greatly because He loved us so much.
“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:2-5
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:17-18
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
“Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” I Peter 1:5-9. Christians share similar suffering for the cause of Christ all over the world.
A friend gave me a plaque several years ago that I display on my kitchen wall. The poem is simple but so beautiful in its expression of our Lord’s promises.
“GOD’S PROMISE
God did not promise...
Days without pain
Laughter without sorrow
Or sun without rain.
But God did promise . . .
Strength for the day
Comfort for the tears
And a light for the way.
And for all who believe in
His kingdom above,
He answers their faith
with everlasting love!
--Author Unknown
May God give you strength for today, comfort for your tears and the joy that comes from trusting in Him to take care of you. The Lord bless you and keep you today.
