It is twelve degrees outside and the heater goes out. Panic! The pickup gets stuck in three feet of mud! Distress! Word comes that a dear loved one has taken ill! Fear! Your beloved is on another continent, the washing machine goes out or the car breaks down. Upset! Money is not available for the bills that need paid! Stress!
None of us are free of day-to-day issues that bring panic, distress, fear and upset. We know that things are gonna happen. God does not keep His children in the dark about such things. His scriptures make us aware that being His children does not give us a pass from difficulties. Being a believer in His Son, Jesus, assures us of life eternal. But on this earth we are going to experience many trials and tribulations. Desert experiences. Jesus had a major desert experience confronted by satan himself. God desires that we approach our desert trials as Jesus did, speaking God’s word and His promises to us.
Believers in Christ have a place to go with our concerns. We have a place to lay our head for comfort. We have someone who will wipe the tears from our face. We have One who is available at 2:00 A.M. when that call comes. We have One who sends angels to sit in the emergency rooms and hospitals, unseen, delivering comfort unawares. We have One who sends angels to repair and aid us with the daily things that impede progress and a sense of well-being. We have prayer warriors that rise like eagles when the call comes for prayer.
Thought For Today:
Our reaction to problems is what we learn to control in Jesus. When the money is not there, the sale doesn’t go through, the job is lost, the car breaks down, the child has trouble in school, the loved one passes from us, is when we grab hold of the promise. He knows. He knows every detail about our situation. He will give us the words to say, the courage, the ability to overcome. Our trials and testing are teaching moments. We can say with our mouth that we believe but God wants to hear from our heart and see our response to trials. He wants obedience to His word. He wants our trust that He will provide. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Follow Him through the temporary excursions into the wilderness. My experience is that they are temporary. We may stay there longer than we would prefer, but our faith will bring an end. In a short while we will review our crisis and see that all came out okay. God’s will prevailed. We are victorious in Christ. The One who has overcome the world certainly can take care of our problems. He desires that we be at peace as we walk together through the desert. Oh, victory in Jesus, our Savior forever. We may have daily skirmishes but He has made a way for us to win the war.
Scripture For Today:
John 16:33
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.” (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! Somedays the darts come so fast that it seems impossible we can overcome. When panic, fear, stress and sorrow come, we pray that we remember our beloved Jesus suffered through trials. He experienced walking in the desert of testing. He knows what a heart feels when pressed from all sides. Give us peace and wisdom to respond in Your will. Please forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I needed this reminder, Kathy! tt’s much easier to go through these episodes myself than to watch my children experience them, but what a joy when they handle them with grace and faith!