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
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)
He raised me out of my dark hole. The Lord is my shepherd. He guides my path. I may fear what can happen to me. I fear as my body may give way, but God is able. He has not given me over to mindless existence. He did not leave me to struggle in my black corner. My delight is with him. My joy is in singing my praise to him. He is the captain of my salvation, my soul, yes, my whole being. He makes a path for me to walk and light to plant my steps. I call upon him from the depth of my soul, and he hears my cry. He promised and would not disappoint.
“He brought me also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalm 40:2
He works behind the scenes doing the impossible to make things possible for you.
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The bank is calling in your loan; you cannot meet the payments. The doctor gave you bad news. A loved one died; how can you possibly go on with your life. You feel depressed, alone, and confused. Whatever the problem, your life is spiraling out of control. Don’t worry; lift up your voice and call on the Lord. He will answer and go before you and make a way where there is no way. He will carve out that perfect path. A different way that you cannot see or imagine exists. Fear not; he works behind the scenes doing the impossible to make things possible for you. His ways are perfect. His ways are secret. His ways are past finding out.
“I will go before you, and make crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron; and I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I am God.” Isaiah 45:2, 3.
heartache and loss can cut deep past the skin to the bone.
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The pains of heartache and loss can cut deep past the skin to the bone. We have no barriers to keep the anguish of living at bay. We are mere mortals cloaked in vanity and pride acting on a stage called, life; a plain where twisted fantasies entertain the psyche for a season. But when the fullness of that time comes and day turns into the endless night we cry aloud, O, soul be not cast down, look up and remember; he heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Yellow peony ( Egypt, Mexico and Ethiopia attribute yellow as a color of mourning)
There is a time and a season for everything. There is a time to rejoice, and a time to cry. We who lost loved ones and are in mourning, these are four powerful verses from the Lord.
Jesus comforts us – Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. (1)
He promises us – And you now, therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.(2)
He says we are not forgotten – Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. (3)
Now, our hearts not only cry for sorrow but also for knowing his words are true, and his promises are yes and amen. Jesus is God, and God is not a man that he can lie. What he says he will do, and no man can take that away.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever. (4)
(Reference verses: Ecclesiastes 3, Numbers 23:19, john 14:1, John 16:22, Matthew 5:4 and Psalm 73:26)
There is no escaping the bitterness that follows any act of betrayal.
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It is hard to forgive when the feeling of betrayal is buried deep within the heart.
There is no escaping the bitterness that follows any act of betrayal.
It empties the heart of comfort and light while stealing the soul of any love and joy. Dark seeds take root and bloom; then quickly multiply as anger, hate, and revenge. Soon, they spread far and fester like a disease without a cure.
7 Simple Steps to Help When Forgiving Others:
Don’t give in. “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing but, the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Look to the Lord for strength. “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence comes my strength, my strength comes from the Lord.” Psalm 121: 1 and 2
Look to the Lord for help. “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
Do not take matters into your own hands. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it
is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19 and “Devise not evil against your neighbor.” Proverbs 3:29
Ask the Lord for guidance. “In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:6
Leave all the pain and anger at the throne of grace. If you forgive others our heavenly Father will also forgive us and His peace that surpasses all understanding will garrison our hearts and minds. Matthew 6:14 and 15, Mark 11:25.
Sometimes it is easier said than it is to do. We need to take one day at a time. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” Matthew 6:34.
our faith is wrung tight and stretched in all directions until it is so thin, we worry about its efficacy.
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Anxiety creates stress which can be destructive to the body. High blood pressure, weakened immune system, mental health concerns as well as heart problems can develop. The prayer warrior is subjected to the emotional and physical shifts of anxiety. In fact, like any follower of Jesus Christ living in this present evil world, we face one challenge after another, while trying to be obedient to God. We are tested every day. Our faith is wrung tight and stretched in all directions until it is so thin, we worry about its efficacy. But if we keep our eyes on the Lord and lean not onto our understanding, then we will come out on the other side of the trials, situations, or doubts, as fine, pure gold.
Casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8
My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me
Prayer Warrior Hears His Voice
Amidst all the noise and clattering of words, there are many voices to be heard. The good voice that gives advice and comfort in a time of need. The kind voice that claims all is well. The angry voice that disputes a wrong. Then, the vengeful voice that demands dark justice. Strange voices are heard far too often, and yet above their deafening cacophony, His voice rings strong and sure in the ears of His children. Those who are not His, have no ears to hear, no hands to lift in praise and no heart to understand the whispering surety of his words. Words that call out to us in the day, in the night, so many times loud and clear, enough to drown the noise into silence. And we know his voice when we listen for its tonality, its texture, and its vernacular, a dialect belonging solely to him. A gentle sound saying, “You, child of mine, come, and let us two go forward.”
And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, this is the way, walk you in it when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
In a world burning with triviality and desires for instant gratification, cultivating patience is an impossible feat. This virtue requires discipline, self-restraint, and grace which comes from God. Some may advise praying for patience. If there is weakness, impressionability, floundering in the wake of tribulation or anxiety within the mind, asking for patience adds frustration and compounds the feelings of impatience. However, asking for strength to endure the waiting gives us strength. Strength, when there is no accommodation, stripped of every goal, weary of treading multiple avenues without accomplishment, leads to a dependence on Him which is priceless. He is the only one who can dispense strength freely. He is our strength and with him comes the great escape. Best to ask for strength to endure. Understanding to see what he has for each of us. Hearing to listen to his voice as he gives instructions. He speaks today loud and clear just like in times of old. He isn’t a joker doling riddles that need to be solved before a prize can be won. There isn’t a code to be broken, no game to complete. The Lord has already paid the price for everything. And everything he has is ours to enjoy abundantly. (The cattle on a thousand hills are his. Psalm 50:10) Things work out differently than expected, nevertheless, with the Lord on our side things work out beyond what we think or imagine, and we can be satisfied. His strength helps the waiting period fly by.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1: 3 and 4
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Romans 12:12
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Proverbs 7:8
But will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
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