There is not a human being on this planet that does not experience negative issues from time to time. Even the richest, or the most positive, or the noblest person is imposed on by life at one point or another. Most of us are either in a trial, coming out of a trial, or about to enter a trial… that’s life.
Jesus actually promised us that we would experience tribulation (John 16:33). Yet, He also taught us that His love is our source of peace and joy in the midst of them. He abides within us, and He experiences everything that we do right along with us.
Jesus established us in His faith, encourages us to walk in His ways and timing, to send our roots deeper into the soil of His love, and to allow Him to strengthen and build us up as we abound in our gratitude toward Him (Colossians 2:6-7).
At times we bring trials upon our self through our selfishness, pride, poor choices, humanism, rebellion to His Spirit’s direction, etc. However, as we walk by faith in Him, our roots deepen in the soil of His presence within us (John 15:1-17).
We hide under the shadow of the Almighty, and even the fiercest storms cannot harm us (Psalm 91). He preserves us to live another day, He protects us from our enemies, He saves us from every day of trouble (Psalm 138:7), and He teaches us to dance in the rain.
We are not citizens of this earth, but of heaven. We may live here in the flesh, but it is not we, but Christ who lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20). We cling to the Vine, and we stay attached to the life-giving flow of His Spirit within us, making the most of each day of our life for His glory.
Prayer:
Father God, teach us not to discard our confidence in You, because You richly reward Your Saints. As we stand firm in Your will for us, we receive Your promises (Hebrews 10:35-36). Teach us to depend on Your grace that is sufficient to see us through every trial (2 Cor 12:8-10). When life turns from bad to worse all around us, remind us that You are still in control.
We can trust You for every need that we ever experience. We completely abandon our self in our faith in Your faithfulness, and we trust in Your timing and ways to work out all things for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Help us to calm and quiet our soul when we are troubled, and to trust in You alone (Psalm 131:1-2).
Thought for the Day:
When we read about Jesus putting clay in the eyes of the blind to heal them, and about God advising Israel to march around Jericho until He was ready to cause the vibrations of their continual plodding to weaken the joints and foundation of the walls, we marvel at the mercy that God has for us all, even in the smallest need or the mightiest of events.
