Life is full of trouble and sorrow, fears and doubts, rejection and traumatic wounds to our body and soul – our thoughts, emotions and choices. Yet, God reminds us that He never, ever leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). He exhorts us not to fear, because He is always with us and in us.
God does not want us to be laden with disappointment and depression, because He is our God and He delights in helping us. In fact, He actually cradles us in His hand (Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 32:39). Our Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to take our pain and bear our suffering and sorrow for us.
The Romans pierced Him for our transgressions, He was crucified for our iniquities, and He took the punishment of our sins and gave us His peace instead. He also heals us by His own wounds (Isaiah 53:4-5; Jeremiah 30:17). It was for our benefit that He suffered so much anguish in His life (Isaiah 38:16-17).
Jesus’ suffering throughout His life should humble us to our knees, encourage us to pray without ceasing, and cause us to seek His face as we turn from our sinful ways. Then, He hears, forgives, and heals us (2 Chronicles 7:14-15; Isaiah 57:18-19). He keeps us from the pit of destruction, and He hides our sins and casts them as far away as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
He also gives us peace and security to enjoy (Jeremiah 33:6). God meets all of our needs according to the glorious riches of Christ in us (Philippians 4:19). He inspired the Apostle John to encourage us to enjoy good health; and for us to prosper, even as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2).
This means that our mental and emotional capacity and well-being influence our physical health. Mental and emotional pain hurt as much, if not more than physical pain. Our Great Physician is very skilled at healing all of these maladies.
He makes us whole and complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). His Words are life when we read and listen to them, so we hide them in our heart (Proverbs 4:20-22). Consulting the Lord as we traverse the duties of our day, makes our burdens lighter, and our success more guaranteed.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for creating us with strong emotions like cheerfulness, that are very effective medicine when life’s traumas attempt to overpower us (Proverbs 17:22). You teach us that there is a perfect time for every activity (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). It is beneficial for us to seek Your will for our life each moment of our day (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). You are always gracious to us, and we love You, and long for You.
Our intimacy with You in our spirit and soul are the foundation of our joy and peace. You give us Your strength with each new morning, and You save us in our times of distress (Isaiah 33:2). If we confess our sins to each other, and pray together, the righteous prayers of a faithful person are powerful and effective (James 5:6). Thank You that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we could die to the power of sin and live for Your righteousness instead (1 Peter 2:24).
Thought for the Day:
God calls the weary and burdened to come to Him for His rest, and He offers us the opportunity to take up His yoke, so that it will be easy and light; when we yoke up with Him, His peace floods our soul, and our troubled hearts and burdened bodies heal from the inside out.
- Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:27
