God’s promise for Week 5:
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)
For those who want further Scripture reading each day here are a couple of suggestions:
-Read one Psalm a day and meditate on it.
-Read the book of Acts and focus on the idea of faith.
-Read one Psalm a day and meditate on it.
-Read the book of Acts and focus on the idea of faith.
Day 33
He helps us persevere
"Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. "(Isa 50:10)
Life is hard. As I listened on Sunday to Sue share from her painful journey, I looked around the church and wondered how many others had suffered as she had. I wondered how many were sitting there in their chairs suffering even at that very moment. Many people in our own congregation have watched their children or other loved ones suffer and in some cases have lost them to death or see them today lost to the world. Others have attempted marriage and have failed, while some live every day in a marriage that is dead even though they are sitting there side by side. And then there are those whose lives are filled with pain and sickness that just won’t go away. I have to admit that I don’t really know what to do with this. Don’t we tend to avoid suffering people because we just don’t have anything to offer that will make it any better? Perhaps, during these 40 Days, we can offer to those who are suffering, God’s words that bring life and healing and hope to their brokenness: Though your body is weak and your heart is broken, your spirit can find peace and freedom in God’s promises. Perhaps, though life is long and hard, the assurance of eternity can make it endurable. Perhaps knowing that Jesus suffered too can help you get through the day. Perhaps you can find joy in knowing that though death may have robbed you, Jesus has defeated death. Perhaps, when the world is dark, you can find comfort in knowing that He has “overcome the world" (John 16:33). Some of you had ‘hopeless cases’ that were so far beyond hope that it was too painful to even write them on your list. God sees your pain and he wants to bring you hope. “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God" (Isa 50:10). “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." As I was writing this, a picture came to my mind of a woman standing in the midst of a violent storm. It is dark and cold and windy and she is soaked to the bone. But she is not doubled over to avoid the wind and the rain as it bites and lashes her. Instead, her arms are outstretched and her face is lifted up and it is a face filled with peace. She is standing. Perhaps for some of you, that is enough proof of God’s faithfulness. When your knees are weak and your arms are feeble (Hebrews 12:12), believe that God will help you “stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Eph 6:14).
Life is hard. As I listened on Sunday to Sue share from her painful journey, I looked around the church and wondered how many others had suffered as she had. I wondered how many were sitting there in their chairs suffering even at that very moment. Many people in our own congregation have watched their children or other loved ones suffer and in some cases have lost them to death or see them today lost to the world. Others have attempted marriage and have failed, while some live every day in a marriage that is dead even though they are sitting there side by side. And then there are those whose lives are filled with pain and sickness that just won’t go away. I have to admit that I don’t really know what to do with this. Don’t we tend to avoid suffering people because we just don’t have anything to offer that will make it any better? Perhaps, during these 40 Days, we can offer to those who are suffering, God’s words that bring life and healing and hope to their brokenness: Though your body is weak and your heart is broken, your spirit can find peace and freedom in God’s promises. Perhaps, though life is long and hard, the assurance of eternity can make it endurable. Perhaps knowing that Jesus suffered too can help you get through the day. Perhaps you can find joy in knowing that though death may have robbed you, Jesus has defeated death. Perhaps, when the world is dark, you can find comfort in knowing that He has “overcome the world" (John 16:33). Some of you had ‘hopeless cases’ that were so far beyond hope that it was too painful to even write them on your list. God sees your pain and he wants to bring you hope. “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God" (Isa 50:10). “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." As I was writing this, a picture came to my mind of a woman standing in the midst of a violent storm. It is dark and cold and windy and she is soaked to the bone. But she is not doubled over to avoid the wind and the rain as it bites and lashes her. Instead, her arms are outstretched and her face is lifted up and it is a face filled with peace. She is standing. Perhaps for some of you, that is enough proof of God’s faithfulness. When your knees are weak and your arms are feeble (Hebrews 12:12), believe that God will help you “stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Eph 6:14).
Prayer:
Lord, help me to believe that, even in the midst of my pain, your promises are forever and they are for me.
In Faith:
Pray for the unspoken “hopeless cases" in your life. If you don’t have any, pray for the people in your life who you know are really hurting. Perhaps you could even send a note of encouragement to someone God brings to your mind.
