Pause
Recently, I heard a very sobering message on trusting God through the trials and this one thing stuck with me: if we are focused on things in life that drag us down and that bring sorrow and pain, we miss out on the goodness of God and really we are saying we do not trust that God knows what is good for us. Instead, we are to be focused on the things of God, the gifts that He has bestowed upon us and on how we can glorify God during our present circumstances.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God has a purpose for creation and He will certainly accomplish it for our good and for His glory. As believers, we should delight in living out God’s will, because He has set the law within our hearts (Psalm 40:8) but also because the Spirit is leading us and we continue to learn what the will of God is for our lives when we spend time with Him intentionally (Psalm 143:10).
For we know, we KNOW that ALL things work together for good (Romans 8:28). Times and seasons are set by God because He uses them to refine us (Zechariah 13:9). For every thing, there is a season, a time for every purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We know that our times are in HIS hands (Psalm 31:15).
God gives us hope in present circumstances because it was through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, that gave us our ultimate hope of an eternity in glory. The Lord will be our everlasting Light and our days of sorrow will end (Isaiah 60:20). The Bible says that "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is" (Jeremiah 17:7). Blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in and relies on the Lord. For those who put their hope AND confidence in Him.
May we have a renewed visit of God and be centred upon Him, “whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3). May we place our hope and trust in God and praise Him in all circumstances, even though it may be difficult, but knowing when we are weak in my own human strength, then I am strong, only because I am drawing from God’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Praise
1
God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.
Chorus:
O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end
Of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.
2
I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.
Chorus:
O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end
Of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.
3
Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.
Chorus:
O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end
Of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.
Prayer
Dear Lord and Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending your Son, not just to give us hope in life now but for our life in Heaven to come. Thank you for saving my soul, because without You, I do not know how I would have made it this far. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. Strengthen me for when trials come in the future and continue to refine me. Take anything out of my life that may hinder my walk with you - you know that scares me but I know your ways are better than my ways. Thank you for taking care of me.
In your precious name, Amen
You can listen to this short devotional here.