Do you ever feel overwhelmed? I guess that could be a rhetorical question. Of course, we have all felt overwhelmed! One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Nahum 1:7. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;And he knoweth them that trust in him.“
Here are three truths about our LORD that we can remember when we are feeling it.
Our LORD is endlessly good. There is never a time when He will stop being good. Even the troubles and trials that we face, He is actively working together for good. Can you say out loud, “My God is good to me.”
Our LORD is the most dependable shelter for me. Maybe you have seen the “safe place” signs on a store, police department or firehouse. The sign indicates a place of shelter to those in trouble. Our LORD is our shelter in every trial, storm and season of overwhelm.
Our LORD knows those who are depending on Him. The LORD is personally aware of those that are trusting Him to show up in their situations. When we are facing life’s worst and we turn to God in prayer, our LORD knows that. When we remain faithful in the midst of opposition, our LORD knows that. We can praise Him for being so aware!
May the LORD strengthen you as you consider these simple, powerful truths.
Are there many ways to God or just one way? Does one go to heaven after death because they were religious, sincere and a pretty good person? The death of Pope Francis has seized the attention of the world and brings these timeless questions to the forefront once again.
“Religions are seen as paths trying to reach God. I will use an analogy: They are like different languages that express the divine, but God is for everyone, and therefore, we are all God’s children. There is only one God, and religions are like languages that try to express ways to approach God. Some Sikh, some Muslim, some Hindu, some Christian.” 1
While what Pope Francis said to the gathering of youth is popular and politically correct, it is contrary to the Word of God and heretical.
Separated by Sin
God’s Word teaches us plainly that all men and women are sinners and separated from God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) Sin is anything we do that violates the commandments of God (1 John 3:4). In fact, we are born sinners and therefore we sin (Romans 5:12).
Our sin deserves the penalty of hell according to Revelation 21:8. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Reconciled through Christ
Thankfully, the Bible also teaches that there is one way to be reconciled to God. That way is not through a church, religious traditions, a man or doing good things, but through Jesus Christ.
Jesus declared in John 14:6 “...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Amazingly, God wants all mankind to be reconciled to Himself and that is way He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to us.
John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Jesus died in our place for our sin and rose again three days later proving His power over sin, death and hell. He offers salvation full and free to all who will believe on Him (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
One Way
Jesus is the only way to be completely forgiven of all our sin and have eternal life with God in heaven. Pope Francis’ statement well represents a popular opinion around the world today. However, according to Scripture, it will only lead to destruction.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:13–15)
Conclusion
It is wise to heed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, who conquered death, in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.“
Have you believed on Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of all of your sin and eternal life? If not, why not today?
When it comes to grief, sometimes it is impossible to sympathize with a person because you have not experienced the same level of grief. We can and should be empathetic and weep with those that weep. While we may be limited in our ability to comfort, our Savior is not. Scripture tells us that Jesus is acquainted with all our griefs and that He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is the God of all comfort and gave us His Holy Spirit Who is our constant companion and He is called the Comforter. When we go through trials, suffering and pain, He is there to reassure and renew us.
God promises in Romans 8:28 that He is working all things together for good to the that love Him. Through difficult times, God is developing us and our relationship with Him. He is developing endurance, experience and confident expectation in His ability and goodness. (Romans 5:1-5)
I have faced some difficult times and hurt both in life and pastoral ministry that made me wonder how I could go on and if I would ever feel normal again. I have experienced numbness and even depression.
After a particularly difficult season of ministry, I noted a hollowness had developed in my soul stemming from all the hurt. I was not sure which direction the next hurt would be hurled. Sometimes I felt like I was shellshocked though I have never experienced the trauma of war.
As I sought my Heavenly for grace to help in time of need, He sent Robert to pray with me on the lawn of the Ohio State House while I was attending an event just a couple weeks before my family and I were to take our family vacation. During our brief conversation, Robert must have noted the burden of heart I was carrying and he prayed that God would lead me into shady green pastures and restore my soul. His prayer was overwhelmingly meaningful to me seeing that we could be staying at a cabin in the grounds of Shady Green Pastures Bible Camp during our family vacation.
Little did I know all the comfort the Lord had in store for me. While traveling, we stopped in at an unassuming used book store. The front of the store was filled with books that were of no interest to me, but I continued to meander through till I found the religious sectioned. Nestled between the free used Bibles and a comedy of Christianized self-help books, a little book with light brown and pink cover caught my eye—The Sweet Side of Suffering. Honestly, the title caused a brief reaction in my heart. Is there actually a sweet side of suffering? How could the hurt and heavy heart that I was carrying have a sweet side? I started to put the book back, but could not. It had intrigued and once I read the introduction, the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart that this book was something my Heavenly Father had for me during our vacation.
For the next week and a half, my God used that book and the testimony of Esther Lovejoy to minister comfort to my heart. Each chapter detailed in a devotional way the sweetness of God that can be seen and experienced in our suffering. As I read and meditated on the Scriptures given, the illustrations and the testimony of God’s unfailing love through the valley of the shadow of death God restored my soul in shady green pastures.
Recently, I preached a message at Grace Baptist Church entitled Hope for the Hurting where I shared this story as part of the message.
In retrospect, I have learned that in my times of deepest hurt, hollowness and even depression, my Lord is right beside me working to develop in me endurance, experience and confident expectation in Him. He is ministering comfort to my soul so that He can use me to minister comfort to other hurting souls.
If this post finds you hurting and depressed, may I encourage you to pause and realize that your Heavenly Father has not abandoned you. Jesus is acquainted with your grief. The Holy Spirit is working to bring comfort to your soul. Be careful not to make life-changing decisions, but wait on the Lord to bring comfort right were you are. Hurt in our hearts will remain in our heart as a heavy burden no matter where we go until we find comfort in the God of all comfort. Often is these times Satan endeavors to keep us focused on removing the hurt we feel rather than running to our Helper. True help and healing only comes from God.
Psalm 43:5 says, ”Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: For I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.“
My prayer is that God will lead you into shady green pastures and restore your soul.
What happens in your heart when you hear of being persecuted for following Christ? Fear? Avoidance? Resolve? As Americans, we have not been accustom to facing persecution for believing in Jesus Christ, worshiping Him in our assemblies or sharing Christ in our communities. However, just because we do not have as much experience with it, does not mean that the persecution of believers is not happening around the world and even within our own country. Jesus finished the beatitudes by helping his followers understand how to handle persecution. If believers live according to the truths Jesus preached in the sermon on the mount, persecution in some form must be expected.
Recently, research conducted by Family Research Council (FRC) indicates that criminal acts against churches have been steadily on the rise for the past several years, and the first quarter of 2023 has continued the upward trend. The first three months of 2023 saw approximately three times the number of acts of hostility perpetrated against churches in the same timeframe last year. The fourth quarter of 2022 saw an additional 54 incidents, for a total of 191 in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, 69 incidents have already occurred.
Jesus promises a blessing for the persecuted. He gives divine grace and internal peace to endure through persecution. Jesus reassured His disciples before He went to the cross in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We should remember that all the grace that we need to stand for Jesus will be ours in the moment. The greatest blessing we could receive is hearing “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord.“
Those that give their lives for Jesus Christ will receive the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 tells us, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.“
Believers are commanded to pray for those in bonds for their faith. If we are to pray for them, we must know about them. There are many organizations that exist to raise awareness of Christian persecution around the world. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.“
I have read many books detailing the brave faith of Christians for Jesus Christ. There are two that I would recommend for your consideration. Forward in the Face of Fear by Edgar Feghaly will challenge your heart about the power of God and the Gospel in difficult, hostile regions. The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripkins will open your eyes to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world.
I pray that our Savior will strengthen you to stand for His sake wherever you are and whatever you may face.
“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16)
We should be aware that satan has fiery darts with your name on them each day. However, God has given you a piece of armor to stop EVERY ONE of them, the shield of faith. Faith is total trust and dependence upon God. It is taking God at His Word. In this case, it is in full faith using the very truth of God’s Word as a shield from the darts that satan will throw at you. The words “above all” indicates to us that the shield of faith is a high-priority piece of armor.
Let’s think about how this would look in our daily lives. As you get in the car to leave for work, satan throws a dart of worthlessness at you. He tells you that you are of no value to God. Do you believe it? Does he get to write your reality? He should not! Instead of meditating on that dart satan has thrown, go to the Bible and see what God says about you. God says that those who are in Christ are indwelt by the Spirit of God and ARE the children of God. He says that His children are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. God views you as valuable! By faith hold God’s truth up as a shield against that dart of worthlessness.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Every person is intrinsically valuable to God because He created them. Even though man sinned against Him and is separated from Him, God valued a relationship with mankind so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in place of man. Jesus did not just die but rose again. He offers all who will believe on His name the total forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God thinks you are valuable!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
Now it is time to take the shield of faith up in your hands!
Josiah Kagin 