I don't like any of those things. Smooth sailing, that's what I want! Why does life have to throw curve balls and play dirty?!?! And why does it sometimes seem to not let up? Mom delved into the topic of trials in her journal and delivers some Biblical insight that can help us stand fast during the seasons of tribulation. Life will never be problem free. That's a fact. Even Jesus told us in John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” There is a lot of Scripture in this entry (which is where we need to be when the waves of trouble are crashing over us), so I will do this entry in two parts. Let's see where the Bible led Mom in this entry.
Sometimes God brings us to our knees in order to bring us to the realization we need to exchange something earthly for something heavenly. God is not up yonder. God is personally involved, in on, up to, down in our personal circumstances, involving Himself in the difficulties and strenuous pressures, tensions, doubts, fears, frustrations, temptations, the hopelessness and the helplessness. He is in everything that is "roughing us up."
When a troublesome situation faces us, pray (talk to) the Lord about it, seek Him. Setting our heart on the Lord strengthens our faith. Tell Him you trust Him and have complete confidence in Him. Ask Him to guide you, lead you and protect you. Seek God and ask for His help.
Psalm 55:2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
Psalm 13:3-6 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall. But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Isaiah 12:2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”
Appeal to God. Trust God. Praise God.
Psalm 18:1-6 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
When the ground shakes under us, when we are overwhelmed with life's traumas that come upon us, call on the Lord, praise Him, trust Him and know He will and does answer. God promises a safe landing but not necessarily a calm passage.
From me.
Life will never be problem free. That is a given. We live in a fallen world with fallen beings (ourselves included). We live in a battle zone with a target on our backs because we've chosen to align ourselves with the one true God. Our struggles may originate from different sources, but it's the same loving Father who rescues us from them all....the key is to cooperate with Him while we are in the fiery furnace and trust that His answers and solutions are better than anything we can devise ourselves. That is the way to peace in the hard times. And that is the way to mature in our faith. Some days I get so frustrated because I keep expecting life to be easy. Why I expect that to be true, I have no idea! LOL.
I think this section in Mom's journal is so Scripture heavy because that is the only place where we will find the strength and comfort we need to get through the dark days. It's where we meet our Father's love.
Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for trials that bring us to You, help us to grow and remind us of our need. Lord, let them not make us bitter, but let them lead us higher with You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Whatever you are facing, it is better with Jesus. Simple fact.
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