The Overwhelming Floods Of Trial

 

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) 

In my home area up in Wisconsin, there have been severe storms, that have produced a lot of wind and rain. There was a lot of damage to buildings, and a lot of flooding that is going on as I write this post-article. 

 It reminds us, that in life, we can feel the the severe stress and anxiety that the bad storms of life can bring. Like the apostle Paul, we can feel very overwhelmed, when the storms of life hit us so hard. 

The first line of the hymn: "It Is Well With My Soul" goes like this: "When peace like a river, attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul!." In the midst of the flooding waters of trial, how can we say"It Is Well With My Soul?" 

In v.14, you will see Paul's answer to this question. "...knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus Christ will also raise us up with Jesus, and present us with you." Where is our hope, in our extreme time of trial? 

It is in our almighty God, who through His Son Jesus, will take care of us in the severity of this life, and raise us up to victory in the next. 

Abiding in the Lord's care, we can live above the flooding waters of stress and worry. 

This it what we can hang on to when the flooding waters of trial try to overtake us. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) 

In the midst of the storms of life, if Jesus is in our boat, we don't have to worry, but place ourselves completely in His loving care. GP 

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Lord, Help Me Today!

"For You have been a shelter for me, And a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever, I will trust in the shelter of Your wings." (Psalm 61:3-4) 

As Christians, we are so thankful for the salvation we have from our sins, through Jesus Christ. But what about our salvation from the trials, and challenges of today? Can we find deliverance from our problems today?

David writes in our text, that God has been "a shelter for him, a strong tower from his enemy." Can we receive that protection from the Lord? Can we feel that security that David felt? I believe we can. That is not to say, that we won't experience the pain, and the sorrow, of our trials. But even in the midst of those painful experiences, God will help us to endure, and to make it through the storms in our lives.

The wisdom that God gives us, and the strength that He gives us, acts as a shelter, and a feeling that we are under His wings. Yes, suffering is apart of this life. God never said in His Word, that we wouldn't suffer. But His Word does tell us, that "He is our keeper (Psalm 121)" 

Today, and everyday, He keeps us in His care. There are trials that are necessary for our spiritual development. But God is with us, in those trials as well. So our prayer can be, and should always be. "Lord not just in the future, but help me, Today! GP

 Photo by George Stojkovic. Published on 25 June 2009 Stock photo - Image ID: 1007068 freedigitalphotos.net

The Yo-Yo Of Life

"I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.." (Philippians 4:12) 

I remember as a young boy, playing with a yo-yo. It was fun to see if you could keep it in motion, going up and down, on that thin white string. Now as an adult, I never thought that my life would be like a yo-yo, experiencing the ups and downs of life.

In 2008, when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, that was a down time for me. But thanks be to the Lord, He got me through that difficult time, and brought me up to a time of victory and joy.

How did the Apostle Paul know how to be abased, and how to abound? How did he know how to stay in the balance, between the ups and downs of life? His answer is found in the next very familiar verse: 
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (v.13) 

It is the power to endure the down times. The strength to look at the mountain of trials, and say. "You will not overwhelm me, you will not destroy me, because with the Lord Jesus Christ. I am more than a conqueror. In the Lord's strength I will conquer you."

Then the question comes: How can we acquire this power to endure? The key is submission. We are to submit ourselves to the Lord, in all things. During times of trial, we are to give everything over to Him.
And believe me, that is hard to do. But once we do, we find more strength, than we ever thought possible.

Today, as I write this, I am working on placing my whole life in the Lord's hands. Where He leads, I will follow. If we believe that God is faithful, than we must be faithful to follow wherever He leads. GP

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Never Give Up

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 31:24)

 Last night I watched as my team the Green Bay Packers, in the last seconds of the game, win against the Detroit lions. A long pass into the end-zone, and one of the Packer players caught the ball. They struggled all through the game, but they didn't give up.

That is a shout out to us as Christians, that in every trial, in every crisis, we should never give up, but give the Lord our battle, and let Him, see us through.

There are three things that David tells us in this verse that we can apply to our lives, when we go through challenging times.
 1. Be strong. We must stand steadfast on the principles and promises of God. "All things will work together for good, because we love God, and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) 
2. Take courage. No Christian should ever run away from a trial, or the battle against evil, and all that the devil tries to send our way.
(1 Peter 5:8-9)
3. Wait for the Lord. Some translations say "Hope in the Lord" 
In God's time, and in His way, He will bring us through the storm.
In times of difficulty, let's never put our heads in the sand, but let's put our hearts in the Lord's hands, and trust Him in all things! GP

Photo by vectorolie. Published on 06 March 2015 Stock photo - Image ID: 100313621
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Overcoming The Overwhelming

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)

Can life become overwhelming? Indeed it can. You look around, and there is so much correction that needs to be done in your life.

There are people and circumstances that are turning your life into a train wreck. How can we deal with life, when it is so overwhelming, and discouraging?

The Apostle Paul gives us some very good advice in our text. To begin with, don't enter a panic mode; "Be anxious for nothing", and why? because, your life is in the Lord's hands. So let Him have you. Let Him have your problems, and your despair.

We are to pray, and bring our requests to God. We are to let Him know what we are dealing with. Even though He already knows, it is good for us to ask for help, and to express our trust, that God will help us through this difficult time.

And in our prayers, we are to be thankful. Whatever God has placed in our lives, He has placed it there, to help us be a better person in His sight. We do want to be stronger, and that is what God wants too.
We need to be thankful for His workings in our lives, and His providence to bring us to where He wants us to be.

Even though life can be overwhelming, with God's help, we can overcome. GP

Photo by Stuart Miles. Published on 12 March 2014
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