God’s Sovereignty In Our Suffering
It’s not supposed to be this way. All the problems, stress and heart break were not how God created this world to work in his original design. There are situations and circumstances in our lives where we just cannot find the words to express to others how we feel. Even the ones we love most cannot seem to bring us comfort during these times. You know the times I am talking about. Where it feels like you can’t breathe. Sometimes to the point where you wonder if life is worth it. Situations where you question God. Question how a good God can let something like this happen. Death. Life altering diagnosis. Break Up. Divorce. Affairs. Losing your job. Infertility. Imprisonment. Rejection of your life dreams, goals and schools. Times where you are convinced there is not even the smallest speck of hope. I am here to tell you, there is. You have been knocked down, but after you read this God will help you get back up. “About Benjamin he said: “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” -Psalm 37:23-24 and 1 Chronicles 12:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” -Romans 8:18 The worst of what you are going through now cannot compare with the glory that will be reveled in us, when we have Jesus.
Life is hard, really hard; however, God has equipped us to be able to cope with it. One of my best friend’s Lauren once boldly stated that if God has allowed a painful situation to happen, whether it was in her life through a relationship or problems with miscarriages and infertility, she was so confident and bold God would put it on her heart to be ok and to have peace. What amazed me to was her trust in God even though I saw the tears and how bad she was hurting. She trusted God is the giver and taker of life, the child is His to give and take, and on His timing. Our life is not our own it is God’s, and this can either frustrate us (I have been there) or completely comfort us that He cares more about our lives, pain and situations than we do, and He wants His story written out perfectly for us.
Flashbacks and nightmares are part healing that result from trauma, helping us process what we are doing through. We do relaxation techniques and social support. It is proven in therapy if you have people with the same diagnosis treated at the same time it improves their outcome. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) where the therapist acts as an educator teaching patients to become more aware of what and how they are thinking and feeling, and how to change their thinking and behavior based on the knowledge
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” -Matthew 5:4 There is a big difference how the Bible tells us to mourn and the world. When I have gone through pain, I was shocked at how many feel you should move on immediately. It was almost as if the world felt the source of healing is simply distraction, instead of going to the healer himself. “Those who sow with tears will reap with song of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying see to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” -Psalm 126:5-6 Pain is real. God can turn your pain to peace, but the only way is to go through pain and get in the word, search after Him many times before you feel the peace. Grief is a way of God letting us know something is not right, that something is happening that he did not design for us to originally go through before sin entered the world. This world is beyond broken. When we experience these situations where we find it hard to breathe and go on, God says to mourn. I think as Christians, we have the false impression God always expects us to have a smile on our face. Yes, he does call us to have an eternal joy, but this is so much different than a temporary earthly happiness. God wants us to be genuine.
Never force yourself or anyone out of their grief, but simply be there alongside them as they grieve, checking in on them. I am one that desires to fix everyone’s problems, but I am not God, I can’t. However, Jesus can and reminding someone of our Savior’s love by being with them in the hard time is everything. As much as I want to help, sometimes all you can do, especially when someone has lost a loved one who has died, all you can do is let the individual know how sorry you are and that you are praying for them, continuing to check in. It is a tough balance in the sense you never want to be forceful to ask someone if you can bring them a meal, but more often than not they appreciate it, and even if they are not ready to see you or have interaction with others, you can always drop it off. Sometimes when we ask others to let us know when they need help, they do not feel comfortable doing so.
Jesus knows the pain. He experienced every hurt we could possibly imagine all at one time. Abandonment from his disciples and family, even abandonment from Himself (aka God) for a split second when God had to pour the wrath of all our sins on Him. Even though we mourn, we mourn with hope. Hope that this world is not all there is, and hope being with Christ in heaven is better than here. The thought of going to heaven should make us excited, not because we have this vision of getting everything we could ever want, but because Jesus is there, and we are so in love with Him that is the only place we want to be. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” -Psalm 34:17-18 and Psalm 54:7 Jesus is here to heal your broken heart. Many times, we feel a sense of guilt when moving forward with our lives after losing someone who could not be closer to us. We need to remind ourselves it is not that we are moving on, only moving forward. If we do not mourn, we can fall into depression. Kubler-Ross stages of grief are denial, anger, depression and integration. Also, depression can come off as denial and poor attention to substance abuse. I feel we rotate between all of these when grieving and there does not always seem to be the clear-cut order. I want to encourage you that if you try to avoid grieving and mourning, it does not get rid of the feelings. Even if in the moment you do not feel the weight and depth of the cut, it will linger. Just like my patients who may think that not looking at their arm or avoiding doing their therapy their diagnosis will simply “get better,” soon realize the pain continues to linger. Be patient with yourself during this hard time, and understand even when your emotions change, God has not. God is deeper than your feelings, wants you to talk to him about how you feel and know He cares.
People will say they have tried to find God, not have had no luck but this can’t be true. “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” -James 4:8 and Lamentations 3:57 Tired of waiting on God? Maybe he is waiting on you! Just like other relationships, you will also come to find if you do not actively pursue or put that time into practice, you may feel the intimacy fading. This is never because God has moved, but we do. God is ever present no matter how we feel. Our feelings are not truth. We do not feel his presence because in our darkest times we tend to withdraw. I know I have. God is saying to stay near to him meaning continue to pray, talk to him, even if you’re talking is tears and yelling. This also means talking to people God has given you. Do not leave yourself in isolation. Satan loves when we are isolated, because he can better get into our head and thoughts, using our weaknesses to destroy us. Lay your pride down and get help. “Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” -Psalm 31:23-24
Ask others to pray for you. You do not even have to talk about the situation if you do not want. Just surround yourself with your family and friends. Even though our circumstances are not always good, God still is. Only he can have the power to turn our dark situations into hopeful circumstances. When I have gone through dark times, sometimes it helps remembering Jesus gave his all for me, and that is enough. Sometimes I feel as if God owes me. As if he needs to turn this situation around for me. Even though he wants to, and ultimately will, I know in the end he has already given more than I could ever need. We deserve condemnation, and anything good we ever get is a blessing. I think we forget that. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” -2 Corinthian 4:8-9 Through the worst hurts, God will heal what is impossible to do on our own. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave nor forsake you.” -Joshua 1:5
When we are diagnosed with a life threatening or life changing disease, it can be hard to see the purpose it can have. “When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it.” -John 11:4 Nothing can happen to you without God’s permission. Does this mean God creates evil or if you sin and there are consequences, that is God’s fault? No. He does not cause evil but with our free will he allows it and uses them because he is more powerful. You see, if he did not give us the ability to have free will, there would be no ability for us to freely chose to love him either. God knew the wrong choices we would make but having a genuine love and relationship with us must mean he thought it was worth it.
When I am in pain, I want to argue that God should have never created us in the first place. Why make us or put us in situations that are only going to hurt? We have all experienced this type of pain. What I realize though when I argue that God should not have created me, so I do not feel the pain, I realize I am arguing with the very being that gave me the ability to argue at all. When you let your kids choose their gender, or if you yourself have chosen to have a different gender, you are going against the very being which gave you the ability to choose in the first place. If you love God, He will work this out for your good. He will work this out for you. I may not know you, but I am confident in this because I am confident in Him. “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” -Daniel 9:4 and Nehemiah 4:14 This is hard for us to wrap our minds around because God is clear “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts Isaiah 55:8-10. “Yes, from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” -Isaiah 43:13 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” -Ecclesiastes 11:5, Isaiah 44:24-25 and Jeremiah 50:19
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for
the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” – Isaiah 55:11-13 and Ecclesiastes 3:14.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” 1 Corinthians 1:25.
Listen, this does not mean God approves sin such as murder, divorce, rape or any other tragedy that happens in our life. All this means is God is more powerful than it. His thoughts, ways and plan can make good out of it when we turn to him. Him creating good in our lives is not saying he approved of the sin, but it is his grace overcoming our sin and others that are affecting us every time. “The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purpose of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.” -Jeremiah 23:20 and Jeremiah 30:24
Death. It is hard to wrap our minds around and for many is even scary to think about.
“For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified so that the body rules by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him.” -Romans 6:5-9.
There you have it. We who has died with Christ, have overcome death. Defeated it.
The only way we can see the true power of Christ in full circle. Even though we will die on this earth, it will end up being our biggest blessing. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.” -2 Corinthians 5:1-2
“ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” -2 Corinthians 5:5-10
When you die and are before God, it will not matter what your friend, family member, patients or neighbors think of you. The truth of your thoughts, deeds and actions will be fully exposed in truth in front of God. What will we do when the “curtain” is pulled away and this world that we think is all there is, is gone? What will you say when you are in the presence of complete power and holiness? Death is scary to think about, but it no longer has the power to physically destroy us. “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall live and whosoever lives and believe in me shall never die.” – John 11:25-26 The pain when you lose someone you love is more than we can handle on our own. I know. This is not to tell you the pain is not real. This is to give you hope through the pain through my love for you. I am telling you this because I need it too. We all do. I think what makes death so hard for us to cope with is it seems permanent because this world is all we know. Once we remember this world is only temporary, it helps us cope a little bit more. Heaven will be the most perfect place, beyond anything we can long for. “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” -Psalm 84:10.
At a funeral, a common question for both the giving and receiving end is “What should I say?” We have all been in these situations. You are hurting for the individual and cannot find the words you think will bring comfort. Advice is not all we need in dark times. When I have a loved one going through a dark time, sometimes the best thing you can do is just be there for them, even if you do not know what to say. Sit with them, hug them and cry with them. We do not know what to say because we were never made for death until sin entered the world. Death is where humanity is confronted with God because it is out of our control, and we know it cannot be the end. I believe the same goes for miscarriages. When people are asked after a funeral what they remember, many times they honestly do not remember words, but who was there. When my Grandpa passed away, my Grandma asked “Why would God take my Dad and now my husband?” Do you think this is a moment when God wants us to say this is his plan? People need your presence more your advice, so do not be anxious or worry about what to say. God is bigger than your words and bigger than the worst trauma. Keep their hope alive, even if they do not believe there is hope, you can believe it for them. Do not force anyone to feel anything they cannot when they are struggling. Just be there for them, through every stage and phase. Just continue to be the quiet whisper letting them know there is hope. Also, remembering anniversaries of the dates people have lost their loved ones, which can even include miscarriages, and sending them texts, cards, or reminders that you are thinking of them can make all the difference.
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring them with Jesus those who have fallen asleep with him.” -1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 and Isaiah 26:19
Funerals are a gift from God telling us there is more than this. If you do not have Jesus, you have no hope of resurrected life, but the great news is you can come to Him today and have hope, even through death.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed if the one who takes refuge in him.” -Psalm 34:8 Here comes the famous question. “If God is good, why do bad things happen?” “’This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” -John 3:19 Free will. We have the choice every day to choose God or our own way. As people, all of us, every single one of us want our own way. When we chose anything apart from God, this is what is known as sin. Psychologists say there is something wrong with people, we call it sin. It has affected every part of us to our minds. “I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” -Psalm 16:2 You may be thinking, “Why can’t God just get rid of all of the evil?” Then He would have to get rid of us. He created us knowing he would have to sacrifice His son for us. It tells us we have more purpose, even through the pain and suffering, than we can imagine.
Sin has consequences. The Bible makes that quite clear. Therefore, God gives us instruction in the Bible. Not to restrain us but quite the opposite. To free us from sin and its chains because he loves us. “…to say to the captives, “Come out,” and to those in darkness, “Be free!” Isaiah 49:9, Psalm 107:14-15, Psalm 107:21 and Psalm 107:31.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” – Isaiah 42:1-7
It is not freedom to make choices that will lead to death or destroying our lives. Therefore, the mentality we are free to sin, since Christ has set us free, is all wrong. Sinning is not freedom, it is destruction.
Alright, next question you are wondering. “Why the heck would God give us free will when he knew how broken this world would become!?” The word is love. What? Yes, love. Even though we can choose our own way, He also knows we can choose him. God doesn’t want some robotic people he forces to love him and same with the angels. He is not an evil dictator. God does not need us. He decided to create you because when he pictured his family, he saw you in it. When you love someone, no matter how hard it is, you do not force them to love you back. You know this would not be genuine love. To answer the ultimate question of “Why is there so much bad if God is good?” Free will.
However, good happens because of grace. God does not create bad or pain but uses our suffering for a greater purpose. God knew we would all fail. Therefore, since the beginning of time He has had the salvation plan already made. This plan is Jesus and His death on the cross for you and for me. “11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” -2 Timothy 2:11-13 “What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” -Romans 3:3-4 “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful…” -Psalm 25:10. “…nor will he see the good things I will do for my people.” -Jeremiah 29:32
“And if not, He is still good.” -Daniel 3:18 God loves you, do you know that? We live in a broken world where it seems like the pain will never end. To be honest, it will never end while we are. “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” -1 John 5:4-5 It is clear we will have trouble and should not be surprised by it. However, it is also clear we are to take heart. “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” -Psalm 34:19, 2 Samuel 4:9, Psalm 32:7
Life is short. Ask someone in their old age. Many will say it seems like everything happened in the blink of an eye. Thinking of this perspective does not make it any easier to face our pain, however it gives us hope the suffering will end. In the end, Jesus wins. In the end it will all be alright. Until then, we are to take heart while we are here in the world to help us sleep a little better at night knowing God has everything under control even when we do not. We will never be able to understand our pain because our minds are so finite here on earth. We need to put our trust in our God who is infinite. God is the one who gave us a mind to be able to comprehend pain and situations in our lives in the first place.
Who better to trust with it? God will do more than you can imagine even when his answer is no. A no from God means he has something better in mind. Trust Him. His plan is better than ours. Every. Time. Whenever I question God why I was made, why I have the body I do, why create us knowing the pain that would happen due to us choosing sin, I realize who I am to question. “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” -Psalm 62:8 David is telling us to pour out our hearts. If we do not pour out our hearts to God, we will pour them out in ways that will hurt us whether in anger, rage or depression. “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” -Jeremiah 32:17
You may be suffering worse than you can handle on your own but take hope nothing is too hard for God. Pray. Do not give up. Trust not in your situations, but God’s character. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” -Isaiah 64:4
“For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.” -Isaiah 64:3-5
That glorious day when we see Jesus, it will all make sense. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Revelation 21:4
We need to be excited; Jesus is coming back! God will make everything right. For now, even though it seems impossible, know we can have a peace from God that will not make sense to the world. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:7 “All this comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, and whose wisdom is magnificent.” -Isaiah 28:29 The only thing that keeps me going when my world is falling apart is starting back form genesis to the end of the Bible. God’s purpose is unstoppable if you read from beginning to end, even through the horrible brokenness. You see us, people, messing up our lives or others, and God making it for good. I think of Joseph the son of Jacob and Rachel “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” -Genesis 50:20 Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers out of envy, accused of adultery when he was clean, forgotten in prison when he helped someone else escape but God ultimately lead him to rule with Pharaoh during the famine through his interpretation of dreams. At the end, he tests his brothers’ character by placing silver on the table, accusing the brother Benjamin of taking it, but then his brother Judah offers to take his brothers place when he says he must stay. He knows God used this situation for good. Then, Jacob and Joseph are reunited. In the end, we will see how he used our fall of humanity for his divine plan. He will use the wrong that happens to us and the mistakes we make for good. It will all make sense once we are in heaven.
Have you ever heard the phrase time heals all wounds? I have never bought it. You never stop missing someone once they die, you just train your mind to focus on eternity. I think if you talk to people who have lost their parents, a child, a spouse, has gone through rape, an affair, abuse, a broken heart or whatever you are facing today, they will tell you the same thing. The only one who heals wounds is God. Only God has the power. Even if time temporarily cover up a wound, it cannot heal something so deep. God knows the pain of losing a child, only he can understand. “Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass…” -2 Kings 20:22 This is the very essence of the Bible. It is one big redemptive plan from the beginning of Abraham, all the way to his descendant Jesus, our Savior. “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars-if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” -Genesis 15:4-5 Seems simple enough, but Abraham and Sarah became inpatient in God’s perfect timing. “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar, so she said to Abram,” The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So, after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.” -Genesis 16:1-4 This was Ishmael. “…and Abram (that is, Abraham).
“The sons of Abraham: Isaac an Ishmael.” -1 Chronicles 1:27-28 “Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.” -1 Chronicles 1:34
“I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself,” Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” -Genesis 17:16-17
Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” -Genesis 17:19 and Leviticus 26:9 “But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.” -2 Kings 13:23, Leviticus 26:42 and Leviticus 26:45
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis 18:13-14 “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.” -Genesis 21:1-3 Then, after finally having his son, God tested Abraham’s faith asking him to sacrifice Isaac. God did not do this to tempt Abraham, God is not interested in child sacrifice and was not sinning, however we are all to put God even before our own family, and this was also a look into the future of how God would have to sacrifice Jesus for our sins. “Then God said, ‘Take your son, you only son, whom you love-Isaac-and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on the mountain I will show you.’” -Genesis 22:2
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said, “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” Genesis 22:12. “The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” Genesis 22:15-18.
Isaac married Rebekah and had twins, Jacob and Esau. “When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he answered. Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. Now then, get your equipment-your quiver and bow- and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.” -Genesis 27:1-4 Genesis 27:6-14 says Rebekah told Jacob to steal the blessing and to pretend he is his brother. Even through adultery, lying, not trusting God and more sin, God still chose to work through and ultimately Jesus came from Abraham’s line just as he will work through each of us. God chose to bless Jacob even when he sinned against him, because of Jacob’s heart desiring God. God does not depend on our sins and our free will and will use you even if you have deceived or sinned in other ways like Jacob.
When I die, I want my loved ones to rejoice knowing God’s timing is perfect, even when it does not make sense on our timing. He is the best friend, Savior and Father could ever hope for. I hope He changes your heart the same way he has changed mine. You want proof God exists? You want proof Jesus died and rose again? Look at my heart. He has changed it. Our hearts and our lives will never have full and complete satisfaction until we are in heaven, our true home. Think of who you love more than anyone. If I asked you if they were real, you would say of course! I feel the same about God, of course he is real because I love him, have a relationship with him and he has changed my life. I can’t just tell you the person you love doesn’t exist because you love them. I would be crazy if I claimed that, wouldn’t I? I once had to break up with an individual because they did not have faith. Their response was, “This is stupid, you are breaking up with me over someone/something you can’t see or know exists.” They couldn’t see the love that was more real to me than anything in my life, and you may not realize it but in your life too. “I love you Lord, my strength.” -Psalm 18:1
“David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior-from violent people you save me. “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” -2 Samuel 22:1-7 and Psalm 18:2-6
I think most would argue the worst experience we can have in this life is death. Even if it coils around you, or those you love, God hears you and is right there to sustain you as your rock, refuge and shield, your Savior through the worst of this life.
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.” – 2 Samuel 22:17-37 and Psalm 18:16-36
God rescues those who confide in Him. How do you confide in Him? Getting in his word, which is flawless. It will be your shield. I am so completely disappointed in myself to tell you I have been so upset at God to the point, at my lowest, I have thrown my Bible against the wall. The thing was, after I did it, I eventually picked it up and continued to pursue Him at my weakest, when I felt hopeless at my lowest and I can attest His word will be your shield when you cannot be lower, at your lowest. As I was faithless, He remained faithful when I picked it back up, He picked me up, heart, soul and physically as I wept.
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” -Deuteronomy 33:12 “I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me.” -Hosea 7:15 “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?” People will answer, “Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them- that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.” -1 Kings 9:8- 9, 2 Chronicles 7:22 and Jeremiah 22:8-9 “Though his disease severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors.” -2 Chronicles 16:12-13 I work for upper extremity surgeons and with upper extremity therapists and let me tell you, they are phenomenal. I have learned so much working for and with them, however I understand God has given them the ability to heal and has rewarded all their incredibly hard work through our practice. Without His healing power over His people we treat, I know it would not be possible to have the success we do, considering the reason we even take our next breath is because of Him. When we are struggling with trauma or coping, this is humbling and relieving to remember too.
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. “You have blessed the work of his hands.” -Job 1:8-10 and Job 1:1 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” -Job 1:12 Now, Job 1:14 says his animals were taken. Job 1:19 says his sons and daughters were taken when a wind struck the house. Satan argued Job worshiped and served God because He blessed Him for his life. God knew Job’s heart. He did not serve God because of the blessings, He served God because He loves Him.
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” -Job 1:20-22
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” -Job 2:3. Job still mourned. Job was not told to be happy when his life fell apart, simply trust God that He would make it right. Job realized we do not deserve anything. We came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing.
“…strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.” -Job 2:5-7. “His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” -Job 2:9-10 Even though Satan had free reign, God was still in control as he had to spare his life. When Job’s wife told Job to curse God for what He was going through, it proved Job’s heart was not to gain from God. He served God because He has a genuine relationship with Him and loves Him.
In Job 2:11 Job’s friends heard his trouble and went to sympathize and comfort him. Job 2:13 says his friends sat with him for 7 days and nights and didn’t say a word because they saw how much he was suffering. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.” -Job 5:9-11 I love how Job’s friends comfort him. They sat with him, stayed with him and knew no words could heal the pain he was going through; however he needed their presence. I believe God designed something powerful in our presence that words cannot do justice when we are suffering at our worst. Let this give you peace when you want to comfort others and do not know what to say. Those who mourn will be lifted to safety through the God whose miracles cannot be counter, the ultimate provider of all things.
“…but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” Proverbs 1:33. “Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance.” -Job 13:16 “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my eyes- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” – Job 19:25-27 I think everyone wants to live at ease, and God offers just that. We will always be yearning to see Jesus face to face our entire lives, and we can always live with hope no matter what we go through knowing when we have a personal relationship with Him now, that will be our future.
“After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” -Job 42:7 “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.” -Job 42:10-12 Two of Job’s friends told Job the reason He had all these terrible events was due to something he had done wrong, which angered God since this was not true. What I love is Job’s response. He was accused of wronging God, which was not true, however he prays God does not punish his friends. When we have such a confident relationship with God and truly see how much we also have done wrong to God, it helps soften our hearts to others even when they hurt us so deeply. God ends up restoring Job’s fortunes, twice as much. God is just. He will make a purpose when He sees none.
“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” -James 5:10-11
In this world we will have suffering, but when we persevere God sees, knows, cares and will bless you from his compassion and mercy. I know what it feels to suffer, and it is a pain beyond comprehension or being able to explain, but so is His peace when we realize He is in ultimate control, the pain will not last forever as this life will not last forever, and He knows what He is doing. “Who can say to him, “What are you doing?” -Job 9:12.
“…His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right, and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” -Daniel 4:34-37 and Psalm 135:6-7
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” -Psalm 42:5, 11, 43:5 “Our God comes and will not be silent.” -Psalm 50:3 God is active in your life right now, regardless of how you are feeling. He is never silent. When our soul is at its lowest, we can still praise Him. Why? Not that the pain is not more than you can bear, but because God is more than this life or anything you can face in it. “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.” -Psalm 52:8-9
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” -Psalm 9:9-10 Continue to seek His face. When I am at my lowest and suffering, I tend to isolate and turn away from God and others. Seek Him, He is right there.
“As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle raged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change.” -Psalm 55:16-19 and Psalm 50:15.
God hears you, and He has not changed since the beginning of time. The one who knew exactly when to make you, every wrong turn you would face, every challenge you would encounter, hears you and loves you. We are all looking for someone to be there for us with consistency, who is not going to change like we do and those around us. God will not change, and knows exactly how to love you, what you need and when you need it the most.
“I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.” -Psalm 61:2-5
As we face suffering, our hearts grow faint. We were not meant to endure suffering, it entered as soon as sin infected the world. We must be led to a source higher than us, Jesus. We will always long for heaven, for eternal peace and freedom from the suffering.
“Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long.” -Psalm 71:19-24
God will restore your life again, on this earth and ultimately in the end in heaven. He alone brings comfort. I always search for comfort in all of those around me, which God does provide friends, family, your spouse, things, experiences and even yourself for this reason, however ultimately for healing it must come from Him. Only the love of God can praise come from someone in their worst pain.
“Record my misery; list your tears on your scroll- are they not in your record?” -Psalm 56:8 and Psalm 31:7 God knows every tear you have cried, your entire life. Even the ones you do not want to talk about to others. He knows. “And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” -Psalm 73:26 As we hang onto this world and our physical being, scared of death, we must face that fact that our flesh and heart will someday fail. We are not guaranteed today, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. If you focus keeping from dying, you will only become anxious and lose your peace as you try to keep the inevitable from happening. The only way to fully have peace, it for God to be our portion and strength.
“All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” -Psalm 6:6-9 We have all had these nights, more than we admit. “For his anger lasts a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning.” -Psalm 30:5 I have thought many times God is testing me, He wants to see my faith in this heart shattering circumstance, in my suffering. His favor outweighs his anger.
“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.” -Psalm 77:1-15, Psalm 143:4-6, Psalm 119:27, Deuteronomy 7:18 and Psalm 107:43
We have all had nights of tears, where our spirit feels faint, where we cannot find the words. What is the cure when the pain is too real? To focus on the former days. Do not dwell on your past, dwell on His past. His faithfulness since the beginning of time. The fulfillment of every promise. Remember His deeds and miracles. Meditate on his holy ways since Jacob and Joseph.
Today, I am in the worst suffering I can’t put one step in front of the other, but I will choose to remember what you have done and who you are. This was what Kathy Burros chose to do when she lost her daughter. I can’t think of a worse pain, the pain of losing a child.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” -Psalm 84:1-5 and Psalm 146:5.
“I am a stranger on earth.” -Psalm 119:19. “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” -Hebrews 11:15-16 This is not our home. Until we’re in Heaven, we are always going to be searching for more fulfillment. Keep your mind and heart set on where it is, and He will give you peace and the strength to endure the here and now making the most of the incredible blessings in friends, family, your spouse, talents, experiences, work and physical blessings He has provided for today.
“The Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” -Psalm 84:11-12 Who is blameless? Are we? Only when we have Christ does God consider us blameless. Job was considered blameless before Christ came physically on the earth, but his faith in God made him blameless. He will bestow his favor and honor, wanting good things for His children when we trust in Him.
“…and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” -Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Ecclesiastes 3:20 God created the very Spirit inside of you. When we die, even though our physical bodies remain our spirit returns to God, since you belong to Him in the first place.
“They eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.” -Psalm 78:34-39.
God takes care of what He creates. Even when we are not loyal, he remains merciful and faithful. He sees us how we really are. Humbly, we are flesh and a breeze that does not return. Even though our souls will last forever, our time here is quick and fleeting. If you remember this, it changes how you live your life, and changes how you view God our Father.
“…the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.” -Psalm 39:5 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” -2 Peter 3:8 and Psalm 90:3-4 Jesus has seen your life from the second you were born, until the day you die before it happened and as it is happening now. A thousand years is like a day to our God.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” -Psalm 91:1-16 and Zechariah 13:9.
When we love God, He says he will protect us. When we acknowledge his name, he says he will rescue. He says He will answer us in times of trouble, deliver us and honor us. God desires to save and satisfy us, however in His love He never wants to force it. He wants us to desire and come to Him.
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” -Psalm 107:19-20, Psalm 107:6-7, 107:13 “For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” -Psalm 116:8-9 and Psalm 86:13 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, Lord.” -Psalm 116:15-16. “…for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” -Psalm 119:49-50 God has overcome death. The worst loss we can experience in this life, something we cannot process or wrap our mind around, was trampled at the cross where Jesus died in our place. My comfort in my suffering is that the promises of our Savior who died in our place, preserves our short lives here on earth in order to be a co-heir with Him for eternity. Our help comes from Him who created the earth and our lives in the first place. “I lift my eyes to the mountain- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber.” -Psalm 121:1-3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Extol the LORD, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles.” -Psalm 147:3-17.
If I were to tell you He feels broken heart and binds up their wounds, you may ask how? He determines the stars in the sky and knows them by name. That is how. His understanding has no limit. He sustains the humble. I cannot explain to you exactly how, but I can confidently tell you He does in a way even though I cannot explain, you can experience when you bring Him your broken heart and praise Him. He will delight in you if you fear Him and put your hope in His unfailing love. His word runs swiftly, and He is not slow in keeping His promises as some understand slowness.
“…but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.” -Proverbs 14:32 “in their misery they will earnestly seek me” Hosea 6:15. God is our refuge at the worst of times. “” In the same way I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord. “If I cause you the pain, I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God.” -Isaiah 66:9 God will use your pain for something greater than you can imagine, but only He can do it because pain is not a “good” thing. I truly believe He has designed life in such a way that because He knew we would fail; His power is more than enough to create our exact purpose I a way we cannot mess up when we surrender to Him. Sin created the pain, but God’s power is shown by how he takes the disaster we create as people and turns it into something beautiful. “The human spirit can endure in sickness but a crushed spirit who can bear?” -Proverbs 18:14 I have many times said I would rather deal with physical ailments than a crushed spirit. Nothing brings us down more than when our heart is shattered. “…the day of death better than the day of birth.” -Ecclesiastes 7:1 When our heart is crushed, we long for death and to be freed from this life. “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other”. -Ecclesiastes 7:13 However, we find hope in the here and now, knowing God can fix the suffering sin and Satan have created, affecting us and our daily lives. We can have peace knowing even though God does not purposely inflict pain on us, sometimes the bad times are needed for reasons we cannot explain, however we trust knowing this. He loves you, wants what is best for you and those around you that may be affected in the same suffering you are, and this pain will not last forever. He would not allow the bad times to happen unless there is an eternal purpose behind it.
“For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery. Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? As no one has the power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death.” -Ecclesiastes 8:6-8
Knowing God has already determined your death date can either bring you peace or anxiety. The answer lies in your relationship with Him. If you understand He created you and has set out an exact purpose for your life, and you understand there is so much more to this life after, you will have peace.
“So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there. The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.” -Mark 14:13-16
Jesus told the disciples exactly what would happen, and the same is true for us.
He leads us gently in the direction to go, keeping us close to his arms and heart.
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct
the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?” -Isaiah 40:11-14 and Ezekiel 34:2-10
There are many times I am ashamed to tell you when I have suffered, I have talked back to God. I am so grateful He is so loving, patient and merciful with me, as I am yelling at the very one who wants to help me that I constantly push away. The one who is the reason I can even type the next word right now. The one who is the reason we take our next breath. He knows all and is all.
“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.” -Isaiah 43:1-4 and 2 Kings 14:27.
“The God of Israel, who summons you by name.” -Isaiah 45:3 God says when we pass through the waters and fire, He will be with us. It does not say “if.” There is another in the fire with us. We are precious and honored in his sight, He loves us! He summons you by your name, with such a personal love!
“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” -Isaiah 49:13- 16
“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” -Isaiah 66:13 God will comfort you with his compassion, and we are to show this same compassion for others. God uses the example of a mother, and how could she forget the baby she bore. Unfortunately, being in a broken world, we know sometimes parents do not stay in the picture as God designed. However, God is saying He will not leave you as some parents do. He will be a Father to us better than even the best earthly Dad.
“Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert.” -Isaiah 50:2. God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament love to answer with a question. By a mere rebuke, God can change your circumstance. I can see where this very statement can either cause you peace, or complete anger. I have been angered thinking God is witnessing me experiencing something He can change. This is where the love and trust come back into play. “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” -Isaiah 57:2 When my Great Grandpa Joe found out he was dying of cancer, I was distraught and asked him how he was feeling. His response? “Isn’t it a joy?” I had to take a minute to process what he said as I was heartbroken. I am not for a split second saying to “rejoice” when we face the worst because of the worst that is happening to us, but the joy comes from keeping our eyes fixated on the Cross no matter what news we face in this life. “…the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” -Isaiah 60:20 and Revelation 22:3-5 Your days of sorrow will have an end if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Therefore and how we can have joy today, not because of the sorrow, but in the midst of it! “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” -Isaiah 63:1
What will the end look like for those who are in Christ?
“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child.” -Isaiah 65:17-20
No more weeping, only rejoicing! A new heaven and a new earth. “I will
turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” -Jeremiah 31:13.
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” -Lamentations 3:25 “But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.” -Daniel 5:23 Why would we not honor God who holds our very life in His hands? “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” -Nahum 1:7 and Psalm 37:18. Mark 6:18, Mark 6:27, Matthew 14:10, Luke 3:19-20 I know some may argue what his refuge looks like and his care when those who love Him very much have been martyred. An example people have brought up to me is John the Baptist, being beheaded in prison strictly for telling Herod it is wrong for him to have his brother’s wife and doing what was right. He was a true servant of God, a cousin of Jesus who prepared the way for Him as was prophesied, beheaded. My word of hope in this, is God is bigger than what we can see and comprehend. It is hard for me to stomach the thought of how this happened, and the injustice of it. However, God’s word stands true, and God promises to take care of those He loves. In the end, it must be worth it even if circumstances such as this come in our lives.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—“ -Matthew 24:9-15 and Matthew 24:3.
We are not to be surprised by the fiery trials of this world or the persecution we will face s believers. Many will turn from faith and hate one another. Many leaders will lead people astray, telling them information and laws that are not in the word of God. Love will grow cold, but we must stand firm, loving each other and proclaiming the gospel. Then the end will come as prophesied in Daniel, however the Bible is clear we will not know exactly when the end will be.
“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” -John 6:5-6 Jesus and God love to ask questions in order to provide an answer that they already know, but for us.
“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’ His disciples answered, ‘Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?’ ‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘Seven,’ they replied, “and a few small fish.” He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.” -Matthew 15:32-38, Mark 8:1-9, Mark 6:37-38, Mark 6:41-44, Matthew 14:15-21, Luke 9:13-17, John 6:11-13 and Acts 27:35-36
The miracle of Jesus’s provision for the many should bring you confidence He will provide for you from what seems like a little in our life. You may be thinking “What can he do with the small amount of education I have? The small town I am from? The few people I have in my life? The little bit of money and possessions I own? The little bit of talent I have?” He can multiply it beyond what you can comprehend when you answer His question in your own life of “Who shall I use to feed my people?” It would be physically feeding, spiritually feeding, socially feeding or emotionally feeding others through His Holy Spirit living inside of you. It is amazing what God can do and use. You may even think you are running out of time depending on your age, but God saved the entire world in one day. “…says the Lord Almighty, “and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,” declares the Lord Almighty.” -Zechariah 3:9-10
“For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” -Matthew 24:21, Mark 13:19, 2 Timothy 3:1-6 Matthew 24:26-27 says as obvious as we see lightning, we will know when he returns. Until then, the word says no one knows the time Jesus will return. All we know if the world will continue to get worse as people get further away from Jesus, God and His teaching in the scripture.
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” -Revelation 1:3. You will be happier if you read the Bible. Matthew 24:36-50, Matthew 24:51, Mark 13:32-33, Mark 13:36-37, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, Revelation 3:3, Luke 12:41-48, Luke 12:36-40, 2 Peter 3:10 says how no one knows the day or hour, not the angels or even Jesus. Only God. It will be like the flood with Noah, when no one believed it was coming as in people where just living their life like normal, eating, drinking, marrying. Two will be working, and one of each taken. We must be ready as a faithful servant who has been put in charge of his people, his possessions and his work when he comes back. If we can be trusted with this, he will put us in charge of it all. But if you take advantage and do what you want as a wicked servant thinking either he won’t come back or it will be a long time until he does and I can do what I want hurting others and getting drunk, the master will come when he does not expect. “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” -1 Thessalonians 5:4, Revelation 16:15 and Acts 1:6-11
We do not know the exact date, so what now? What about today?
“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” -2 Peter 3:11-18, Isaiah 51:6 and 2 Peter 3:10
Do not be swayed by opinions, stay firm in the truth of His word. We will never be blameless in ourselves but lead into Jesus desiring to be like Him who is blameless while resting in his grace when we constantly fall. He sees your heart. Continue to look forward to the hope of the new heaven and the new earth, realizing Jesus has not returned yet because God is patient, wanting more to come to salvation and a relationship with Him. Be on guard.
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” -Mark 14:34-36, Matthew 26:36-39, Matthew 26:42. My soul has been overwhelmed to the point I felt it would be better to die than bear the pain. I have cried out with all I have that God take the cup of pain from me in order to fulfill His will. “My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” -John 12:26-27 and John 12:23-24
Even though there have been times I did not understand why my soul had to go through the immense pain, we see how Jesus endured the cross knowing this was the Father’s will.
“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” -John 9:1-3 and John 9:4-7 Sometimes we go through the pain and worst of times not because we are being punished, but for God’s glory to be on display. “So, the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” – John 11:3-4 We live in a broken world, and I know we all have stories where the sickness we have experience with others did result in death, however the miracle and hope can come that even though our loved ones die, when they are in Christ they live in heaven where God is glorified! “So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” -John 11:14-15
“ Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:21-26
Martha and Mary were hurt Jesus was not there sooner. They felt if He was, this would have kept Lazarus from dying. He said it was for their sake He was not there, so that they may believe. If you believe in Christ, you never truly die.
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” – John 32-36
When we are in pain, we tend to run from God, thinking he is causing the pain. Jesus is so sad with you in your hurt and your pain. He wept.
“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out.” -John 11:40-44
Luke 8:50-55, Mark 5:23-30, Mark 5:34-36, Mark 5:41-43, Mark 5:39, Matthew 9:18-29, Mark 10:50-52 and Luke 18:35-43 give another example of Jesus saying if we are not afraid and just believe the child will be healed. He was laughed at, but when he told the child to get up, she did. Jesus is never in a rush, have you noticed? Yet he always acts. He even told Mary, his mother when she informed him there was no wine that his hour had not yet come. In our lives he always acts as well, but on his time which if you noticed is always perfect. Why would God be rushed? When indeed life and the world in and of itself is his story, he has the pen, would it make sense that he would ever be in a rush?
“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” -John 13:7
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” -John 14:1-4
“But I, by your great love, can come into your house.” -Psalm 5:7. There is an eternal plan for your life now that we cannot see.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:35-39
No matter how hard life gets, the mistakes we make, the suffering we go through, the death we face, nothing, absolutely nothing, will separate us from Christ’s love and pursuit after our heart.
I think we think if we have all the answers and explanations throughout our life from God, we will then be happy. Not true look at the Israelites or others throughout the Bible when he would tell them what was going to happen like the promised land, still complained. Just need to rest in him and trust him.
“ For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” -1 Corinthians 13:12 It is by faith that we walk, even when we cannot see. We cannot fully see as sin has made the way foggy, but through the fog there is still a clear light, Jesus, and even though we cannot directly see His face we know His light is home, and we eagerly, confidently and continually follow the light until our race is over when He will be reveled and then fully known.
“ I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained?” -1 Corinthians 15:31-32 Paul feels it was worth it to face death for the sake of Christ, comparing to if he only had merely human hopes, what would he gain?
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” -1 Peter 1:23-25, Isaiah 40:8 and Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, 1 Corinthians 15:53-54.
The only things that will last for eternity is the word of God, Jesus himself, celestial beings and our souls.
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” -Hosea 13:14 “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Corinthians 15:54-57, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, 1 Corinthians 15:42-45, Proverbs 12:28 Death no longer has its sting! The pain remains, but the Jesus has overcome.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” -2 Corinthians 1:3-11 and Romans 15:13
I am so grateful our Father is a God of comfort and compassion for us, His children and creation. The saying God does not give you more than you can handle is not true. Life is way more to bear! Ask anyone if they are truthful about the pain they have felt. The truth is there is nothing in this life that is more than God can handle, and that He will help you through. Paul said they faced death to the point they despaired life itself, but this happened so that they would not rely on themselves but on our God who raises the dead. He is our hope.
In 2 Corinthians 7:5-6, God comforts the downcast by the coming of Titus showing God can comfort through those he has put in your life.
“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live
on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” -2 Corinthians 6:4-10
“I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. “ And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” -Acts 20:19-24
Paul was not saying his life is worthless but saying any gain he could achieve in this world is nothing now that He has found his purpose in Christ. With a true athlete mentality, he saw the end goal, the finish line and was determined to complete the race set before Him at any cost. Just like a dedicated athlete during a basketball game, it does not matter how many times I have been fouled, how many charges I have taken, how many times I have had the wind knocked out of me being elbowed in the side, hand checked, bleeding or tired from the game. Any competitive athlete knows you will keep your eyes focused on that basket until you win, and when your adrenaline is going and you are down, you do not feel the pain when your eyes are fixed on the basket. There is something powerful about what happens to our soul depending what the brain is fixated on. How much more confident and determined will we be if we fix our eyes on Jesus? He tells us he is full content, realizing His purposes is to have a relationship with Jesus and to help others find it. “When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” -Acts 21:12-13
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” -Philippians 1:20-21 If someone were to threaten your life today, if you are a believer in Christ, you can be confident that to die is to gain. We are to love life! It is a beautiful gift from God, but we hang onto the unwavering hope that one day when this life is over, we will receive Christ’s reward and the perfection our hearts so badly long for. When you have Christ, you love this life knowing God has created you for a purpose, but you are only able to do that because you are not afraid to die, knowing it will ultimately be your gain. “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” -Philippians 1:23-24 Paul is torn, telling us that we have a purpose in our life today, and by all means need to do all we can to live a healthy life to stay alive, but ultimately trusting and realizing our bodies will eventually fail, we all have a death date, but we do not need to be anxious for it and can actually be excited knowing the best thing in the world is going to be being ultimately with the one who loves us more than anyone.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:7-14
When you know Christ, you realize He is all you need. As an athlete, we continue to press on to train toward our goal in knowing Him. It takes practice, time, energy and work like any sport or relationship. Getting the word, talking to Him regularly and obeying are how you practice and develop this relationship.
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” -Philippians 3:17-21
Jesus is our model and where we are to fix our lives on how to live. Keep your mind away from earthly desires or pleasures that can never satisfy. Our citizenship is in heaven where we will have a new glorious body.
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,I charge you14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” -1 Timothy 6:12-16
Life is going to be a constant fight, but our fight is with joy and faith, keeping our eyes fixed on eternity the source of our hope from a God who literally had created life itself, giving you the ability to read the next word on this page. We cannot see God right now and our hearts long to, but we can still lean into our personal relationship with Him today. When we love one another, He is seen through us since He himself is love.
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” -Hebrews 6:13-20.
Even when my life is in shambles and I cannot make sense of the pain and tragedies, the anchor for my soul is that since God’s promise to Abraham, since the beginning, God has been Sovereign in His design and plan, orchestrating everything in order to fulfill his purposes and his goodness. The promise of our Savior who has come, Jesus, has become our high priest to justify for us before the Father.
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” -1 Peter 1:17 We are foreigners in this world, it is not our home. “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” -Revelation 1:17-18 Since we know this is not our home and we have an eternal home in heaven, it helps ease fears! Jesus, God, is the first and last who holds the keys of death and Hades, and our very lives and He loves you. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” -Revelation 2:7 When we have Christ, we are crowned victorious and will get to eat from the tree of life, the one we were supposed to eat from in the beginning before we chose sin.
“Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” -Revelation 5:5 Even though we will mourn here, we do not need to stay weeping as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, Jesus, has triumphed and we are already victorious! The worst pain you can feel will pass away some day. I am here as a friend to you to say, I understand this does not bring comfort in this moment as the pain is too real, but what I do hope it brings you as it brings me is hope. Hope this pain will end, even though my feelings do not align, the truth is I know one day all will be made new, right and there will be no more tears or heart ache. Jesus, the worthy lamb of God who was slain in our place, has confirmed this through his Word, forever and ever!
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” -Revelation 5:12-13
‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” -Revelation 7:16-17 The tragedies of this life, people going hungry, natural disasters, death and broken relationships. All gone. No more tears.
“…he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say: “Surely this is our God; we trust in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” -Isaiah 25:8-9
We can rejoice and be glad today knowing the evil will end, good will prevail and how relieving to know we know the end of the story!
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” -Revelation 21:1-7, Revelation 34:4 and Jeremiah 33:6-9
The old order will pass away. The days and nights I have questioned God why I am alive, why do I need to experience the pain that this life brings that is all too real will make sense when there is a new heaven and a new earth. It will all be done. The ultimate wedding ceremony is us, God’s church to himself. We are His children, and will live on a new earth and heaven, with no more sin. We will be dancing on streets of gold! “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.” -Revelation 21:21
“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” -Revelation 22:7 and Revelation 22:10 We do not know when Jesus is returning, but we know it is soon!
“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” -Romans 13:11-14.
The enemy wants us to live “nonchalantly” thinking we have all this time, when we do not! Even if Jesus does not come back in your lifetime, your life will fly by. Has it not already? Salvation is nearer than when you first believed. Put on the armor of light today. This requires we put off the ways of the world, and focus on what Jesus would have us do, to bring true fulfillment, productivity and joy producing fun!
The pain and heart ache you are experiencing leaves you with two options. You can curse God or give up fighting him. The only thing is He always wins. I have wrongly chucked my Bible against the wall, I have screamed and cried to take away the pain, I have blamed others, I have done everything I should not, but please understand He will still have His will, and regardless of the pain I promise His will is good. The other thing is, He is on your side. Even when I do not understand why bad things happen, I trust God is good. I don’t have a secret deal with God that if I serve Him, I am going to receive the best in life or all these blessings. I serve God because I am in love with him, regardless of the circumstances. However, the good news is when we have this relationship, God uses every situation for our good.
