Psalm 107 Trouble as a Good Thing?

Psalm 107: 6, 13, 19,28

Then they cried to the LORD

In their trouble

And

He delivered them….

I have heard it said,

“People don’t change until it becomes

Too painful to remain the same.”

Pain can be a powerful motivator towards……

Humility.

They cried out in their trouble……

Are you in “trouble” today……..

Suffering……. in need, in pain?

Cry out to the LORD and see…......

See His………..

His Goodness-

His Love-

Maybe even His Power.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the LORD

And He will lift you up.

Oh, by the way……

I don’t believe we have to suffer to change.

There is another way………

A better way.

Ah…… but maybe that’s for another day!

Father

Lead me out into the Life You have for me today.

Thank You for all You will do in me and through me.

Amen

It's Not Always Easy

Psalm 43 excerpts

 You are God my stronghold.
   Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning…………..
  

 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.

The Psalmist felt rejected by God-

He felt forsaken-

Yet he fights on-

To take hold of Hope-

Hope that is based in Truth!

Feelings…………

I have been there.

But can I tell you all here and now friends-

Truth trumps feelings.

Truth

Father will never leave us- Deut. 31:8

Jesus has overcome the world- John 16:33

I can do all things through Christ- Phil. 4;13

Father has given us a Spirit of Power- 2 Timothy 1:7

I love that the Psalmist spirit speaks truth to his soul.

Let the Spirit of God speak Truth to your spirit-

Let your own spirit speak Truth to your soul.

It’s not always easy 

Father

Saturate us with the Truth-

The Truth of Your Great Love for us-

Even Today.

Amen 

Is God Really Good?

Have you ever been praying for someone- Maybe a friend- Maybe a family member- Someone who is sick- Maybe even in severe suffering- A good Christian person- Someone who clearly loves Jesus- Someone whose life exemplifies the Love of Christ- And yet God doesn't heal them. The pain and suffering continue. You know God could heal them- He could take away their pain with a word- Or even just a thought- And yet He doesn't. Is this God really good? Does He really Love us? Is He paying attention? Is He really able to do what we ask?

I am here to say Yes, Yes and Yes Again.

God is Good!

God does Love us!

God has not forgotten us!

God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine!

Now that last phrase from Ephesians 3:20-21 might be the key to the whole thing.

Could it be that even in the suffering of the one we Love-

Somehow God is doing more than we can ask or imagine-

Something that will bring this one or even many more...........

To Life

Could it be that even suffering is accomplishing Love and Life in that person and the people around them in ways that are not otherwise possible.

Remember when Jesus told his disciples about how He would suffer and die-

Peter's response was, "Lord this can not be".

Remember how Jesus rebuked Peter-

"Get thee behind me Satan-

For you have in mind the things of this world-

Not the things of God".

Please don't misunderstand-

I do not believe God is the Author of our pain-

I do believe it is good and right to pray for our loved one's healing and comfort-

But in all this we must always remember-

No.........More than remember-

We must get a firm grip on the reality

that God Loves People infinitely more than we can imagine.

Can we fall so in Love with Jesus

That we come to trust Him not only with our own lives-

But also with the lives of those we Love?

Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit-

Triune God

I know many who suffer just now- Some Greatly.

I pray that You would have mercy on each one and the people who Love them.

I pray that You would bring comfort in their affliction.

I pray for physical healing where it will lead to a deeper trust in You.

Father in those places where I see no healing coming,

I pray that You redeem every ounce of pain experienced-

To the end of bringing Life.

I thank You for Your Love for each of these who are hurting-

I choose to trust You with their Lives.

Move in me and others close to those who suffer to become

Vehicles of Your Grace, Love and Mercy so that they might feel

Your Love

Through us.

Amen