Pray for someone else. Take your eyes from your pain. Listen and wait for their breakthrough. Like a parent requesting for their child; Like a friend lending a strong shoulder; Like a companion giving a hand; Innocence is not ignored, God listens to your prayers and hears their cries.
What ails thee Hagar? ( A Mother cries for her child, concerned he will die.) Fear not; for God heard the voice of the lad. ( The angel of God came to the Mother and told her God heard the voice of her child. Of course God also heard her cries and regardless of the circumstances or her being at fault, it is the plight of the innocent child that could not be ignored.) Genesis 21 verse 17
Shadows of the past become concrete reflections of today’s reality.
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The Bible is a collection of books authored by many and inspired by God. God is behind every word, idea, and theme of this marvelous book. Although it charts the story of man, God is the center and heart of the passages written therein. The stories within the Bible are historical and full of years yet are relatable for the present times. Shadows of the past become concrete reflections of today’s reality. The people of the Old Testament and New Testament foreshadow the actions of us today who are under grace and are no longer identified by earthly origin but now are called children of God. Stories of faith, endurance, encouragement, social and economic depression, health and sickness, death, and dying are all present in this book.
There is no concern left unturned.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine (beliefs and teachings), for reproof (rebuke, reprimand, and criticism), correction (changing to make right), for instruction in righteousness (teaching to live right). 2 Timothy 3 verse 16.
Life is a journey of learning and the Bible is an excellent guidebook.
When God takes control, there is nothing we lack. There is freedom. There is joy. He comforts us and protects us. When He stretches out His hand, who can turn it back? He is perfect in knowledge and infinite in understanding. Surely, He is God and Father.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Psalm 138: 7
The old year exits while a new one enters. The future holds promise, disappointment, sorrow, or joy. Uncertainty looms large. We bow blinded by the experiences of the past. Toil to seek the best possible outcome as we stumble aimlessly in the dark. Yet, there is hope. Hope which rises, not compressed, not stamped out. It stands eternal in our hearts. Anticipation brightens the eyes and lightens the path. When there is hope, there is life. When there is life, there is God, the Master, the Creator, our heavenly Father.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV) or to give you a future and a hope. (ESV) Jeremiah 29:11
He invites you to call out to Him in the day of trouble.
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Oh, why do you fear? Why is your heart so cast down? Did He not say ask anything? He invites you to call out to Him in the day of trouble. He wants you to turn to Him with all your heart and humble yourself, so shall you find rest in the time of need. God said it. We ought to believe it and take Him at His word. He hears all your prayers and answers them all on time. Ask and see if He will not open the heavens and pour out a blessing just for you.
As night gives way to the dawn, so too our God turns sorrow into joy, ashes into beauty. He will never leave us to suffer in pain to suffer alone. He will not forsake us but will remain constant through tribulations. Ours is not a God made with hands or designed by human imagination. He is real. He is the true and living God who sits sovereign on his throne. Nothing escapes him. His children are not lost. He comforts us all and loves us equally. Great is his love and his faithfulness.
And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and satisfy your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11
the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3
There is hope amid hopelessness. There is light when it is dark, with his promises to hold. He will never forsake you. He will never leave you to stumble in the dark. He has a purpose and a plan for every one of his children. Wait in stillness and confidence, knowing that God will never fail for when God calls it, it will be complete.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29: 11 ESV
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
David was a humble shepherd boy who became a mighty man of valor. In David are the promises given to Abraham from Jehovah, and Christ comes from this earthly, Davidic lineage. “His kingdom is forever, and there is no end.” (Isaiah 9 and Luke 1:33) He was the first to reign in Jerusalem as God’s anointed in the stead of the people’s choice of Saul. David was the second ancient king of Israel and made many enemies even before he took the throne. His father-in-law, King Saul, hated David’s well-deserved accolades and even sought to end his life. David was not perfect, but he put Jehovah first in all that he did. He put all his trust, hope, and delight in his God and never once doubted Jehovah’s word. Even when he was old and well stricken in age, King David could say, “as the Lord lives who has redeemed my soul out of all distress.” (1 Kings1:29)
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27
Throughout the Psalms, we see the pouring out of David’s heart. He exposes the innermost feelings of fears, doubts, depression, frustrations, and anxieties. Promised the kingdom after his anointing, he lived like a vagabond, a fugitive, yet despite all of this, he gave praise and thanks to Jehovah, saying, “God set my feet upon a rock and established my goings.” (Psalm 40:2) Then when it was his time, God fulfilled his promise and raised David as the greatest earthly king. He was a great fighter, a poet, a musician, the fourth son of Jesse, and a man after God’s own heart. (1Samuel 13:14)
Then around 970 BCE, full of days, David went to sleep with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. (Historic name given to the location of Jerusalem’s earliest settlement, believed to have been situated on the Southeast hill of contemporary Jerusalem – Wikipedia 2021)
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