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Current mood:  peaceful Category: Life
by Gwen Smith
TODAY'S TRUTH
"Are
you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with
me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced
rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
(Matthew 11:28-29, MSG)
FRIEND TO FRIEND
C.H. Spurgeon wrote,
"God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that
we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely
discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God
often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us
better Christians. He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and
luxury, but by turning them out them to forced marches and hard
service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers,
and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of
sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the
troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out
your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is
contending with you?"
Like C. H. Spurgeon, the Bible tells us
hard truths. It doesn't paint a rosy picture. It actually paints a
thorny picture. It promises hardship. It assures us that in this life
there will be troubles…times when we find ourselves caught between
faith and a hard place.
Christianity is no free lunch. Faith in
Christ doesn't shield us from troubles but it does help us through
them. There are natural tensions here. Questions that beg to be asked:
Is God really all loving? Yes.
Is God always good? Yes.
Will we each find ourselves caught between faith and hard places? Yes.
Many
people, churches and groups will tell you differently, but the truth
remains: faith is an anchor of hope for the believer. Jesus spoke of
the hard times we would face. "I have told you these things, so that in
me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NIV, emphasis mine).
I
don't have all the answers to life's hard questions, and I don't know
why His hand brings healing to some and not to others, but I do know
that when we take our burdens to Jesus, we can experience peace in each
hard place. God is always faithful, whether we are delivered from our
hard places or through them.
As Christians, we have faith in a
person, God. Faith in and of itself is meaningless, but faith in an
all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, loving heavenly Father means
everything…beca..use - though our problems come and go - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
I'm
not sure what hard places you face today, but God knows exactly where
you are and what you're facing. When you find yourself between faith
and a hard place, even in the times when you don't know what to pray,
turn to the Lord. God hears every cry and loves you deeply. He's placed
two Scriptures on my heart to share with you:
"Trust in the LORD
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your
ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs
3:5-6
"But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you,
O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed
you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through
the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will
not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD,
your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3a
LET'S PRAY
Dear Lord, Thanks for the reminder that I never have to walk through a trial without You. Help me to trust You in everything.....even
when I don't understand. Today, I bring _____________ to You and ask
that You would move powerfully in and through this burden of my heart.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN
Read Psalm 34.
What verses spoke to your heart? Write them down, speak them out loud, commit them to memory and journal if you like to journal.
MORE FROM GWEN
Are
you hurting? You aren't alone. Let's pray for one another today. If you
want to be encouraged and interact with other Christian believers -
visit my Facebook page at: http:../../..www...Facebook...com/..GwenSmithMusic.
Today will be set aside to intentionally bless one another through
sharing Scripture and praying for one another. See you there.
God delights to transform lives…including..
your own. In her book, Broken Into Beautiful, Gwen Smith invites you to
experience how the unconditional love of Jesus can change your life and
then stand back and watch the wonder of grace at work. He is willing to
eternally forgive and forget and to transform your life into something
beautiful.
Like saving money? Check out the SPECIALS on Gwen's website! When you order more than one CD, you save!! (www...GwenSmith...net/..Specials.htm)
Download
Gwen's live worship CD, Unsearchable, from iTunes, or order the CD from
the store on her website. If you don't have the resources to invest in
your worship library right now, listen to Gwen's music FREE on her
MUSIC FACEBOOK PAGE: http:../../..www...facebook...com/..GwenSmithMusic.
1:24 PM
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