01 The bumps are what we climb on
Encouragement for difficult days:
THE BUMBPS ARE WHAT YOU CLIMB ON
Thanks to Rev Eugene Worley for this book! It’s priceless! Warren W. Wiersbe passes on hope and comfort for times when we are faced with depression, frustration, disappointment or loneliness.
Is it just me, or has anybody else gotten upset when things go wrong, and someone tells us with a smile on their face that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28). For a long time, I’ve had problems seeing the comfort in this verse.
It is, however, true that our problems and challenges in life help us to develop a stronger character, and also increases our experience in solving problems. Also, by experiencing difficulties, we can more easily sympathize with people who suffer hardships.
It is the bumps that we climb on. If our road is straight and problem-free, we ought maybe to check if we’re going the right direction. When we walk the way God wants us to walk, there will be opposition from the enemy. If we remember the people of the Bible, many of them faced great hardships; Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul etc.
Charlie Brown in Peanuts are told by Lucy “Remember, Charlie Brown, you learn more from your defeats than you do from your victories.” And Charlie Brown replies, “That should make me the smartest man in the world!”
Sometimes, we feel like Charlie Brown. We go from defeat to defeat! But that is mostly our focus that does that. We all have both victories and defeats in life. there needs to be a balance!
Let’s use those boulders we encounter in life for climbing higher on our walk for God, and not merely see them as hindrances! All things does work together for good! God will protect us like He said in Psalms 91 and many other places!
We need to try and see that our glass is half full, not half empty…
–
02 God is on the throne
Encouragement for difficult days (2):
GOD IS ON THE THRONE
I just couldn’t help myself. the material in Warren W. Wiersbie’s book, “The Bumps Are What You Climb On”, is so good, that I will keep on sharing things from it for those that have not read it. We all need encouragement from time to time, and I for one have found many good thoughts and pointers in this book.
Remember what John wrote in Rev. 19:6 – “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
God reigns! He is on the throne! This was written by John from his exile on the isle of Patmos. He didn’t write “Woe is me” although he had many reasons to do so. No, he exalted the Lord and praised Him in spite of his own difficult situation.
Isaiah the prophet also found strength in God when his world fell apart. When the godly king Uzziah died, Isaiah thought everything was going to end. But then, in Isaiah 6:1 we read ” In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” What a sight it must have been (read the following verses as well).
The apostle Paul had a similar experience. When facing the tough job of preaching and establishing a church in the sinful city of Corinth, he may have felt like quitting. Then, in Acts 18:9-10, we read “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” This gave encouragement to Paul, and he kept working there for a year and a half before moving on.
There are no doubt many difficulties and hardships in this world, but we need to look at God and see Him on the throne. He is in control, and He will give us the strength that we require! We need to trust in Him and lean on Him! he is the one that can empower us! remember Phil. 4:13:
”I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
03 The three looks
Encouragement for difficiult days (3)
THE THREE LOOKS
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
2 Tim. 4:6-8 (KJV)
Remember the last words of some well known people through history:
Napoleon: “France – Army-head of army!”
John Wilkes Booth (who shot president Lincoln): “Useless – useless.”
Lord Nelson: “Than God, I have done my duty.”
The final words of people are normally very important. Jesus gave us the great commission right before going back to heaven. The apostle Paul wrote to his very dear friend and spiritual son, Timothy, just before he was about to get executed, and the words are found in 1 Tim. 4:6-8. Here we find an example that is good to follow in times of trouble.
First, Paul LOOKS AROUND and bears witness that he’s ready. He does not say that his life is taken from him, but that he’s giving his life as a sacrifice to the Lord. Jesus gave His life for him at the cross, now Paul is laying down his life as a gift of love to his Master. Most things can be seen as positive or negative. It’s the old “Is your cup half empty or half full?” all over again. Also note that Paul avoids the word “death” which is, for many, a negative word. He is merely “departing” this world and entering heaven, a much better place to be.
Secondly, Paul LOOKS BACK, summing up his life as he has “fought a good fight, finished my course, kept the faith.” It’s hard for many to look back upon past sins, mistakes and defeats, but most Christians can see a red thread in their lives when looking back upon it. Even if the sins are many, it’s good to know that it’s all covered by the blood of Jesus. We all have a course to finish, although our courses are all different from each other. Truly blessed are those who can say with Paul I have fought a good fight. I am a victor in Christ, not a victim.
Thirdly, Paul LOOKS AHEAD towards that “crown of righteousness” that’s waiting for him. Some people are afraid to look forward when their lives are about to come to a close. Paul did not fear his future, nor should we who believe and trust in Christ. Hebrews 9:27 says “ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” It is true that there is a judgment for all, but believers will be judged at the judgmentseat of Christ to get their rewards, not at the great white throne judgment. As Christians we can look forward to spending eternity with Jesus. What could possibly be greater
Let us now remember to do like Paul did, look around us and see God there, look back on what He’s done, and look ahead to what He has in store for us. There should be many reasons to feel good when we concentrate on God and his providing for us.
–
04 Never forsaken
Encouragement for difficult days:
NEVER FORSAKEN
Psalm 37:25
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
David wrote these words out of his own experience with life. When he became old, he looked back and discovered how faithfully God had cared for him. In the NT we remember Jesus’ words in Matt. 28:20b:
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
As we review the life of David, we realize that he was not always walking in the will of God. There were days when he was discouraged and wanted to quit. Read the Psalms and you will discover that often David was defeated and living under the dark cloud of doubt, but God was still with him. When David was in the caves, hiding from King Saul, God was with him. Even when David doubted that God could help him, God was still there. God did not forsake David in those hours of defeat and discouragement.
David’s salvation depended on the grace of God, not his own good works, and God was faithful to keep his promise. God is with us, and not against us. He lovingly warns us, convicts us, rebukes us, and, if necessary, chastens us; and all of this is proof that He has not forsaken us.
Also, God will provide our needs (not wants)! We will not have to beg for bread.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Put Jesus first in your life. Then we can truly be content with what we have, and our focus on life will be much better and healthier.
–
05 Constant care
Encouragement for difficult days (5):
CONSTANT CARE
Yesterday God helped me,
Today He’ll do the same.
How long will this continue?
Forever – praise His name!
Psalm 54:4
“Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.”
Too often we remember what we’re supposed to forget, and we forget what we are supposed to remember.
God says “Your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more.”
A famous philosopher once said “Those who do not know the past are condemned to repeat it!”
We should remember what God has done for us in the past, and how He has helped us to overcome obstacles in our way, forgiving us for all the bad things we have eve done.
God’s care, love and support is constant. He is the one who says “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee!”
His promise is secure, constant and eternal.
The Bible makes it clear that God cares for His own. God doesn’t promise us an easy path, or a life without sorrow or hurt, but He has promised us that at all times He will be right there with us through the suffering and hardships.
Maybe we should commit to memory this simple but ever true verse;
Yesterday God helped me,
Today He’ll do the same.
How long will this continue?
Forever – praise His name!
–
06 In everything give thanks
Encouragement for difficult days (6):
IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Some say that we should only give thanks in everything, not for everything. This is not what the Bible teaches. In Ephesians 5:20 it says “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”, so that excuse can not be used.
God never commands what He cannot enable us to fulfill, otherwise He would be mocking us and weakening His own word. When Jesus was here on earth, He commanded people to do impossible things; i.e. commanding a man with a crippled hand to stretch it out, and a paralytic to get up and walk.
God’s commandments are God’s enablements. So when God commands us to be thankful in all things and for all things, then He will enable us to do just that.
God permitted Job to go through all kinds of trials, yet in the end, the trials were for Job’s good and God’s glory. His suffering and tears were turned to glory and joy.
When problems in life hit us, we first say “Why did this happen?” Then we say “Why did this happen to me?” The accuser would say “If God loves you so much, why did this happen? I thought God promised to care for His children. He certainly isn’t caring for you!”
Always remember that God loves you just as much now as He did when He died on the cross, it’s just our circumstances that has changed. We need to trust Him just like a little child will trust his parents before going into surgery at a hospital. Yes, it might be frightening at first, but after the surgery, there will be more fun that can be enjoyed more with better health.
Because we love Him and He loves us, we trust Him, and our hope grows stronger, we are able to praise the Lord and give thanks – in everything and for everything.
–
07 Defeating depression
Encouragement for difficult days (7):
DEFEATING DEPRESSION
Psalm 42:11a and 43:5a
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”
Reading in Psalms 42 and 43 we find that the authors world is falling apart, and he is asking himself where God was. He is wondering if he’ll ever get out of the dark pit of depression.
Depression is a serious problem in today’s world, costing employers and taxpayers loads and loads of money all the time. It is a serious thing, and we need to know show to handle it.
1. Depression often has a physical cause.
Remember how discouraged the prophet Elijah was after his battle on Mount Carmel.
What he needed was some sleep, some good food, and a new vision of the greatness of God.
Some times we need get sorted for physical illness brought on because of physical problems like injuries and chemical imbalance in the body.
2. Sometimes depression is a result of the attack of Satan.
He is the accuser and destroyer.
He knows when to attack us and what weapons to use.
He tries to get us to look at ourselves so much we forget to look at Christ.
This is the spiritual reason for depression.
3. Some depression has a psychological cause.
It could be grief after the loss of loved one, emotional problems or crisis in life.
Some times we are in need of medication and professional help, especially if the cause is physical, but here we will deal with the spiritual aspect of depression.
Depression normally follows a definite pattern.
Stage 1 is self-protection.
Stage 2 is self-pity
Stage 3 is self-punishment
Stage 4 is self-destruction
When you realize that you are attacked by depression, what do you do?
1. Surrender yourself to Jesus Christ and tell Him all about the hurt down inside.
2. Get your eyes on the Lord and off yourself.
3. Remember that Jesus Christ died for all your sins and failures, and you need not punish yourself.
Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Hebrews 8:12
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
–
08 Escape or fulfillment
Encouragement for difficult days (8):
ESCAPE OR FULFILLMENT
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter tried to defend Him with a sword. Jesus rebuked Jesus and said “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53)
In this statement, Jesus is telling us that there are two ways to face the crises of life – escape or fulfillment.
Which of these approaches do we follow?
Peter tried to escape, reaching for his sword to try to defend Jesus. Jesus, on the other hand, did not plan to escape. He had come to die on the cross to fulfill the Scriptures. Now, every life has it’s Gethsemane experiences. There are those hours when the forces of evil seem to swoop down upon us and capture us. All our plans fall apart. In those crisis hours of life just keep in mind what Jesus did – He surrendered and permitted His Father to work out His plan.
God has a definite plan for our lives. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. “ If you are yielded to Christ, your life is not a series of accidents, it is a series of appointments.
That God has a plan for you is vitally important. If God doesn’t have a plan, then life has no meaning, suffering is vain, and sacrifice is meaningless. But there is a divine plan. Again, Paul says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God always has a purpose.
Escape might seem the easy way out sometimes, but ultimately it becomes the hard way. We become like the person who didn’t want to go to the doctor because he was afraid he might need an operation, and when he finally came to the hospital, it was too late, and his life could not be saved. The crisis experience of life are sometimes like surgery – they hurt us, but they don’t harm us. The process might be painful, but the result is joyful. Remember that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
–
09 Living through disappointment
Encouragement for difficult days (9):
LIVING THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS
Each of us must learn how to handle the disappointments in life. All of us know what it means to have our dreams shattered and our plans changed. If ever a man experienced disappointments and personal tragedy, it was Jeremiah. He was called to serve God at a difficult time in history., and he was given a difficult message to proclaim. Still, he served the Lord faithfully for over 40 years.
If ever a man had a broken heart, it was Jeremiah. His book of prophecies bears witness to his burden, and the book of Lamentations, which he also wrote, has tear stains on almost every page. Jeremiah could have died a bitter and broken man, but he did not. In the strength of the Lord he was able to face his disappointments and accept them.
“Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.”
(Jeremiah 10:19)
This statement is one of the greatest declarations of faith and truthfulness in the Bible.
So what does the prophet Jeremiah teach us about how to face and conquer the disappointments of life?
1. Jeremiah teaches us to expect disappointments
There will not always be sunshine in our lives. Some days will be stormy and dark.
Think of all the people of the Bible who suffered.
2. Jeremiah teaches us that our disappointments are in the hands of God.
God will not give us a task that He won’t equip us for. God is in control.
Some times, God is the only one who can do something about the problem anyway.
3. Jeremiah teaches us that to yield to God’s will and let Him heal your broken heart and fulfill
His desires.
Jeremiah did not fight God, but yielded to the will of God and let Him work out His perfect plan.
As a result, the nation was taken captive and carried to Babylon. Jeremiah was kidnapped and taken to’
Egypt by some fanatics, and there he was stoned to death. Not what we call a happy ending,
Still, because of this, the prophet Jeremiah was later compared to the Lord Jesus.
Many of the greatest men of the Bible were men who are known for their suffering. Joseph, Moses, David, Jeremiah and Paul all suffered greatly, and the Lord used them greatly. Suffering is hard, but builds character and strengthen us for other challenges ahead.
–
10 Under His wings
Encouragement for difficult days (10):
UNDER HIS WINGS
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. “
Psalm 91:1
In 1892 D.L. Moody sailed home from England to the States with his family after a year of intensive work. Three das after leaving Southampton, the ship halted with a broken shaft, starting to take in water. Everybody was worried for two whole days when Moody asked to hold a meeting on the ship. Nearly everybody attended. He opened his Bible and read from Psalm 91. God answered Moody’s prayer and sent a tow vessel to get them to port. They had indeed been put “under His wings” (Psalm 91:4).
Being under Gods wings doesn’t mean that God has the appearance of a physical bird with wings, but he cares for us and protects us by raining an invisible wall around us. Just like a hen will protect her chickens by placing her wings over them, the good Lord puts His everlasting arms around us who trust in Him.
The Old Testament Jews talked of another type of wings. Where was the secret place of the Most High? In the tabernacle, the holiest of holies was the most secret place. In the tabernacle, there was an outer court where sacrifices were made, then there was a holy place where the priests burned their incense, and there was the holiest of holies where the ark of the covenant was kept. Over the ark was a mercy seat where two cherubims and their wings overshadowed the ark.
In the Old Testament days, only the high priest was allowed to enter the holiest of holies, and that only once a year. Today, after Jesus’ death at Calvary, any Christian can come in close communion with the Father and enter into the holiest of holies after Jesus has pulled down the walls between men and God. Today, both you and me are invited by God to come to him in the secret place and enjoy the intimacy with our Savior under His protecting wings.
Then, of course, there are the famous words of the devil when he tried to tempt our Lord in the desert are also found in this psalm.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
(Psalm 91:11-12)
These are wonderful promises to the believer, but is not to be misused. We are not in position to demand anything of the Lord, but in his loving kindness, He does offer us protections through life’s storms and billows. As we surrender completely to Him, He will not let us down. God gives us more than we can ever give back to Him.
–
11 Honey out of the rock
Encouragement for difficult days (11):
HONEY OUT OF THE ROCK
“He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.“
Psalm 81:16
Honey is perhaps the sweetest thing that nature can produce, and a rock is one of the hardest things in nature. So, here we have sweetness coming out of hardness – “honey out of the rock”.
This is one of God’s promises, and you should claim it for yourself.
God is not speaking in literal terms in Psalms 81:16. You and I get honey from the honeycomb or from a jar. The Lord is saying something much deeper:
“You are going to have hard places in life; you are going to run up against the rocks. But don’t be discouraged : I am going to give you honey out of the rck. You are going to experience sweetness out of the hard experiences of life.”
We don’e enjoy going through hardships and problems. Some times we wish God would remove all the stones on the road ahead, but that’s not always God’s will. Some of the sweetest experiences in life comes from going through the rough patches.
Remember Joseph, how many years he suffered before the Lord’s will with his life was revealed. Remember David when he ran from king Saul. Yet, he didn’t give up! He kept trusting in God!
The Psalms seem to have 3 divisions called the 3 t’s; tears, trust and triumph. This is also what James tried to teach us in James 1:2-3:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
Trials re not working against us, they are working for us.
Have you ever considered all the rocks that Jesus had to face when He was here on earth?
Right now, you might be going through a hard place. You’ve been faithfully doing your job, yet you are right up against the rock, and the rock won’t move. Ask God to give you the honey out of the rock. There is always sweetness out of hardness when you let the Lord have His way…
–
12 How to keep going
Encouragement for difficult days (12):
HOW TO KEEP GOING
Paul knew wherever he went, there would be trouble, pain and persecution. His friends warned him to protect himself and run away, but Paul was not one to run from his difficulties. That’s why he said…
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.“
Acts 20:24
Let’s look at the tree phrases that stand out in this testimony:
My life
Paul said “neither count I my life dear unto myself…”
He learned this truth from none other than Jesus Himself as He told his disciples “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:39). He also said “ If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Your life is a gift from God. Even before we were born, God had a plan and a purpose for our lives.
Paul didn’t keep all his talents and abilities for himself, but he gave all of himself back to God.
Selfish people are unhappy people. When you give your life to God, He showers you with the very best blessings available.
My course
Paul said “neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy…”
The word course suggests a race with Paul as one of the runners. Paul often used athletic illustrations in his letters, and this is one of them. No one can run in the Christian race unless he is a child of God. When God puts you on the narrow road that leads to heaven, and He assigns a track for you on that course, it is important that we obey the rules, stay in the correct lane, and keep running for the prize. If we do, God will reward us at the end of the course. If we fail to run as we should, we will lose our reward.
We must be careful we do not get out of training. Just like an athlete must stay in training, so must we.
We need proper diet, fresh air, and proper rest. We need to feed on the Word of God, breathe the purebair of heaven as we pray, and rest in the Lord and trust Him for the strength we need. We shold forget those things that are behind us, and keep our eyes on the goal. Look up 2 Timohy 4:7.
My ministry
Paul said “neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus…”
His life was a gift from God. While he was running his course assigned by God, he wanted more than anything to fulfill the ministry the Lord had given to him.
Each of us has a ministry to fulfill. Each one of us has a special ministry from the Lord that no one can do for us. It is our ministry, assigned to us by the Lord, and we are responsible to finish it for His glory.
Whatever ministry God has called you to fulfill, be sure to magnify the grace of God. Most of the people in the world think they can earn their way into heaven, or please God by good works and religious activities. It is our privilege and responsibility to tell them the gospel – the good news – that God will give them salvation if they will only receive Christ and trust Him.
Let us focus on this thought; what is my life (have I given it to Christ?), my course (am I running it?) and my ministry (am I following God’s plan for me?) Let us lift our eyes up to the prize set before us, not look back on the mistakes we did yesterday…
–
13 Through the furnace of pain
Encouragement for difficult days (13):
THROUGH THE FURNACE OF PAIN
“The art of life is the avoiding of pain.”
Thomas Jefferson
At a quick glance, it looks like a wise saying, but I disagree.
None of s likes pain, and we all try our best to avoid it if we can.
It like going to the dentist. We don’t like to go, but if we don’t, chances are that we will come to regret it.
Why did Thomas Jefferson make this statement? Did he avoid pain in his life?
Thomas Jefferson actually paid a great price for America independence.
Our liberty today, no matter which country we live in, has been accomplished by men who were willing to suffer for a just cause.
History itself shows us that human progress can only be made when somebody suffers for that which is true and right.
The deepest pains are not physical, but emotional and spiritual.
“A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.”
John 16:21
Jesus used this illustration to explain about His own suffering on this planet.
To bring it down to our level, let me put it like this:
If everybody really lived to avoid pain, nobody would get married and raise a family; yet people do it all the time.
Some times we are willing to suffer (i.e. work) to accomplish something good (a reward). We do it all the time. It is also true that some pain is vitally important to us.
If you and I never felt any pain when something was wrong with our bodies, we would die of neglect.
But for the Christian, pain has much higher ministries.
1. Pain can have a purifying power
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;”
1 Peter 4:1
Being dead to sin inevitably means pain. It is not easy, and sometimes painful to give up the old man for the new. And sometimes, physical pain makes us do different priorities in our lives. And God is always with us through our suffering.
2. Pain can be that of fellowship with Christ
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
Philippians 3:10
Some people turn away from God when they go through suffering, but it need not be so.
You and I can be drawn closer to God when we are going though the furnace of pain. None of us has experienced all that Jesus experienced on the cross. The unsaved person has no idea of the wonderful joy and peace the believer can experience in his heart even in the midst of constant pain.
3. Pain can bring glory to God
Now, this doesn’t mean that God deliberately makes us suffer just so He can receive glory.
But it does mean that God can use our sufferings to glorify His name.
God was glorified in Jesus’ death and suffering on the cross, and God honored Christ and raised Him from the dead in great glory.
Finally, remember what Paul said in Romans 8:18:
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
At the end, it will be worth it all!
Jim Elliot, one of the martyred missionaries of Ecuador, put it like this:
“He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he can never lose.”
If we suffer with Christ today, it only means glory with Christ tomorrow.
For the Christian, the best is yet to come!
–
14 After the victory
Encouragement for difficult days (14):
AFTER THE VICTORY
“Let us be as watchful after the victory as before the battle!”
Andrew Bonar
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
We Christians face battles every day. We fight Satan, this world system that has turned away from Gd, and we battle with the flesh, our old sinful nature. In this life we should always be on our guard.
Peter puts it like this:
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (2 Peter 5:8).
Only problem is, though, that some times Satan doesn’t come as a roaring lion, but as a deceiving serpent, and we must be able to detect his traps and avoid them. This includes also being vigilant after a battle has been fought.
Remember what happened to Elijah after the great victory on Mount Carmel. The fire came down from heaven and devoured Elijah’s sacrifice, proving to all that Elijah’s God was the true God of Israel. Then Elijah destroyed the false prophets and priests and waited for the nation to return and repent. But the nation didn’t repent; they went on just the way they had before the great contest on the mountain. Discouraged and defeated, Elijah fled for his life and went into the desert to pout; he even asked God to take his life! Yes, Elijah won the battle, but lost the victory!
When Joshua and the armies of Israel were conquering the Promised Land, they captured the walled city of Jericho without difficulty; but the little city of Ai turned out to be a disastrous defeat. Why? Because they were overconfident!
Moses and Israel crossed the Red Sea in a great victory and watched the armies of Egypt sink in the waters; but three days later the people were thirsting for water, and the water they found was bitter. Instead of trusting God who had redeemed them, the people began to complain. Yes, they had won the battle, but lost the victory!
After Jesus was baptized and God spoke from heaven and the Holy Spirit came down like a dove, then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the lonely wilderness to be tempted by the devil. It is one thing to trust God when you see the Spirit like a dove, but it is quite something else to trust God when you are hungry and alone and being assailed by temptation. Yet Jesus did not lose the victory; He defeated Satan once and for all. One of our Lord’s most difficult times came immediately after an experience of joy and victory and blessing.
For some reason, God allows us to get tested immediately after a victory. Why is that? Maybe because our lives need balance. Also, battles help us discover how much we really learned from the blessings.
The battle shows us what God can do; but the keeping of the victory shows what you and I are really made of.
Never doubt during the victory what God has taught you during the battle. Beware of overconfindence. This is why Jesus said “watch and pray”. Keep your eyes open! Put no confidence in the flesh, no matter how good you feel. Most of our losses don’t take place during the battle; they take place after the victory.
–
15 Blueprint for guidance
Encouragement for difficult days (15):
BLUEPRINT FOR GUIDANCE
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Reading in the Bible, we see how God was guiding people like Moses and Abraham in the Old Testament days. The question for today is: Does He guide His people today as well? Does he guide … us?
Can we come to the Lord and ask Him to give us the direction we need in the decisions of life?
The Scriptures say we can. We are to trust in the Lord, and He will direct us in our lives.
The longer we live, the more we realize our need for God’s help in our lives. The prophet Jeremiaah put it like this: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
Left to ourselves, we make mistakes and get lost, but when the Lord is leading us, our path opens up to us. God can not lead us before we admit that we need His guidance. If we feel self-sufficient, then God is not able to help us. We need to realize that we need His help.
When we get lost in life, we are happy to ask any stranger we meet for direction, and we trust just anybody to get us where we need to go. We go to the doctor, our lawyer or our banker for specific advice in our lives, but we are often reluctant to ask the Lord for guidance. This is why Proverbs 3:5-6 starts with faith. “TRUST IN THE LORD with all thine heart…”. God wants us to trust Him with our lives, and He promises that He will never lead us astray. In Psalm 23, David says “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”. We need to make the Lord Jesus our Shepherd and the Holy Spirit our Teacher, and together they will direct us in the will of God so that we don’t walk in the darkness, but in God’s light. Proverbs 4:18 puts it like this: “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
Another part of Proverbs 3:5-6 is the whole-heartedness. “Trust in the Lord WITH ALL THINE HEART…” James reminds us that “a double minded heart is unstable in all his ways”. We need to trust fully in the Lord, giving Him our whole heart, not trusting ourselves or others for that matter, but wholly trust in God. We should not trust our own natural reasoning, but trust in the Creator God who knows everything.
David was one young man who did not trust his own reasoning when he faced Goliath. Everybody else laughed at him, because their natural reasoning told them that the giant would surely squash little David. But David knew what God could do. He put all his trust in God, and God helped him conquer the giant.
When Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane, the reasonable thing for Peter to do, was to take his sword and defend Jesus. However, this was not in accordance to Gods plan, and Jesus rebuked Peter and healed the damage that Peter had done. There are times when the reasonable thing to do is not the right thing to do. It seemed unreasonable for Noah to build a huge boat on dry land, and it seemed unreasonable to Joshua to walk around the walls of Jericho for a whole week.
Today, God communicates with us through His Word. We should lean on His divine revelation, not on our natural intelligence. Obedience to the Word of God is as important today as it was in the biblical times. Abraham belived in God and trusted in Him, and he obeyed when God directed him to the promised land. Noah believed in God and obeyed in building the ark. Abraham believed in God and obeyed when he went out on his journey not knowing where he was going. That’s called blind faith!
God doesn’t reveal His will all at once, He reveals it one step at a time, one day at a time. We do not first understand God’s will, and then decide to follow it, we first follow it and then later we understand it when God gives us the understanding. What turns off God’s leading in our lives is sin.
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalms 66:18)
Trust in the Lord, read His Word, pray to Him, then follow wherever He leads. He surely has a blueprint for our lives. His plan for us is that we follow Him.
–
16 Essentials of prayer
Encouragement for difficult days (16):
ESSENTIALS OF PRAYER
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”
John 15:7
One of the greatest privileges we have is prayer. When the disciples saw Jesus pray, they said to him “Lord, teach us how to pray!” Maybe you were taught to pray when you wwere little. Now, we need to be tought how to pray. Prayer is more than just words from the lips, it is the expression of the desires of the heart.
John Bunyan put it like this:
“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.”
The Bible contains many promises. Today, we’ll look at John 15:7 (listed above).
The disciples had just been in the upper room. Jesus, who had been with them for 3 years and taught them faithfully, had just told them that He would soon leave them. But Jesus said that He would care for them from heaven, and He promised that He would answer their prayers.
1. The vine and the branches
At least a dozen times in John 15, John uses the word “abide”. His illustration is that of the vine and the braches. The branches are united to the vine and draw up its life and strength. All the branch has to do, is to abide, stay in contact with the vine, and bear fruit. Just in the same way, a Christian is unified with Christ. We commune with Him, and He gives us strength. We commune with Him through prayer, reading His Word, and fellowshipping with other Christians. We also need to obey God, or our fellowship with Him is broken, and our prayers are just empty words. However, if we obey God and keep in a close relationship to Him, then we will pray to Him from the bottom of our heart, and God will answer us.
2. We abide in Christ, and He abides in us
The abiding has two sides to it: we abide in Christ, and His Word abides in us. If we spend time every day in God’s Word, then we can talk to God about our needs and ask for His help. When I open my Bible, God talks to me. When I pray, God talks to me. It’s far more important that I listen to God than that He listens to me! One of the secrets to getting our prayers answered, is abiding in the Word, and let the Word abide in you.
It’s tragic to see how many Christians neglect fellowship with the Lord. They rush into each new day without taking time to read the Bible or talk to God. Then they wonder why problems develop and why God doesn’t answer their prayers.
3. The asking
Another factor involved in prayer is “asking”. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” Prayer is much more than asking; it also involves praising God, giving thanks, worshiping Him, and surrendering to Him. But asking is important too. Jesus said “Ask, and it shall be given unto you.” And James wrote: “Ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). Also remember what Jesus said in Luke 11:13; “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” God wants to give us good things that are good for us, and He listens when we pray. David wrote: “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). God listens for your voice like your mother would listen out for your voice when you were outside playing, and if you got hurt and started crying, your mum would have jumped up and said “That’s my baby crying!”
God has not simply invited us to pray, He has commanded us to pray.
Spend time talking to God, and in so doing, don’t forget to praise, worship and thank God.
4. The answering
God enjoys answering prayer, just like we parents enjoy meeting the needs of our children when they ask us. John Newton wrote this in one of his hymns:
Thou art coming to a king,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much.
Maybe you can imagine those discouraged disciples in the upper room. Jesus had always been with them and they had had no reason to fast or pray. Now, He is about to leave them, and He promises to take care of needs if they will only abide and pray.
The Bible is our spiritual bankbook, and our prayers are the checks we write, drawing upon God’s infinite resources.
Maybe the most difficult problem in praying is the problem of delay. We tell God our needs, we trust Him to work, and yet nothing seems to happen. God knows how and when to answer prayer. God’s delays are not denials. God’s timing is perfect, ours is not. We just need to trust Him, abide in Him. He knows our needs far better than we do….
–
17 Strength to keep going
Encouragement for difficult days (17):
STRENGTH TO KEEP GOING
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
One of the greatest men of the Bible is the prophet Isaiah. He ministered to his people when Israel was suffering with decay from the inside and invasion from the outside. In these times of troulble, the Lord sent His Word as seen above. It was a message of encouragement to His people, a special message for those who are ready to quit. When we feel that things are especially difficult, and we’re ready to give up, we should take this passage and read it thoroughly.
1. God promises to help us fly
There are times in our lives when the only solution is to fly – to rise above the problems of life and soar over them. God wants to make eagles out of us, but sometimes we prefer to crawl like ants. What a tragedy! God is able to lift us above our troubles that have entrapped us. This doesn’t mean that ignore them or forget them, but you lift yourself up and get a heavenly perspective on it. This does not apply to the lost, of course, but if you have been born again, you can pray that the Lord will make you fly and see things from His perspective. Sometimes we are too close to the problem to get a proper perspective.
2. God promises to help us run
All of us know what it is to be weary. There are times when we just have to keep running, times when we simply cannot quit. Perhaps you have been at work all day, then you have to go to the hospital or someone’s house and visit for hours. This is one of those times when the Lord has promised us that He will help us run and not be weary. Sometimes we just have to claim those promises He has made. Doctors tell us that in emergency hours, glands produce extra strength to help us survive. This is not just true physically, but also spiritually. Call on the Lord, and He will strengthen you.
3. God promises to help us walk
Sometimes it is more difficult to walk than to fly. Sometimes in crises we will turn to the Lord, and He will help us soar above the problems. There is a special excitement and challenge about the emergencies of life, but what about the full daily routine of life? It is one thing to mount up with the wings of eagles, or try to rul and not be weary – but what about walking ,walking, walking, day after day? God does promise us here to give us daily strength so we can walk and not faint. There may not be anything romantic about your daily routine, but it is important to you, to God, and to others around you who depend on you. God can help you with all this.
4. God expects us to wait for Him
The secret of it all is to wait on the Lord. What does it all mean?
Firt\st of all we must spend time in His presence in worship and prayer.
You and I are prone to be impulsive and rush ahead of God.. If we only could wait on the Lord and remain in His presence, we could get the wisdom and strength we need to keep going day by day.
“Wait on the Lord,” says the psalmist. “Be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). What a difference it makes when we quiet our hearts before God, read His Word, talk to Him in prayer, and wait patiently for His strength.
5. Renewing the strength
“Renew” actually means to “exchange”. “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…” We exchange our strength for His strength. We hand in out little pocket batteries and plug into His dynamo! He has all the strength we need to keep going, and there is no reason toquit!
If you ever get to that place that you’re feeling tired and want to quit, take some time to contemplate Isaiah 40:31.Exchange you weakness for His strength, and He will make you fly, run and walk with His power.
–
18 Victory over fear
Encouragement for difficult days (18):
VICTORY OVER FEAR
A lady once approached D .L .Moody and told him she had found a wonderful promise in the Bible that helped her overcome fear. The verse was Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee”.
Mr. Moody replied “Why I have a better promise than that!” And he quoted Isaiah 12:2a “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid”.
These words from Isaiah 12:2 are worth knowing in these days when it’s so easy to get frightened. Jesus told us that in the end times men’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things about to happen, and it sure looks like we are seeing some of this take place today. Psychologists are now writing books and magazine articles about how to overcome fear.
Not all fear is bad, but some is good for us. We warn our children not to go near the busy streets, and we put within them a healthy fear of being struck by a car. Eventually that infantile fear will be replaced by mature common sense; but until that happens, we dare not take any chances. Also, the fear of punishment is one basis for discipline. It may not be the highest motive for doing good, but at least it helps us to get started.
In the Bible, we are told to fear God (i.e. Proverbs 1:7 where it states: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”) This fear, of course, is a proper respect and reverence for God. It is not the cringing fear of a slave before a brutal master, but the proper respect of a son before a loving Father. It is the kind of fear that opens the way to abundant life in Christ.
The pear mentioned in Isaiah 12:2 is the fear that paralyzes people – the fear that gets into the heart and mind and creates tension and worry, and keeps a person from enjoying life and doing his best. The world is full of people who are afraid of life, afraid of death, afraid of the past, afraid of the future – in fact, people who are being enslaved by fear.
Jesus Christ never meant for us to be the slaves of fear. It is exciting to read the Bible and discover how many times God says “Fear not!” to His people. In the Christmas story, the angels who appeared unto the shepherds said “Fear not!” When Peter fell at Jesus’ feet and asked Jesus to depart from him because he felt he was such a great sinner, Jesus said “Fear not!” to him. When Jairus had received the bad news that his daughter had died, Jesus told him “Fear not, only believe….” Jesus wants us to conquer fear, and He is able to help us win the battle.
1. Sometimes fear is caused by a guilty conscience
Eks. When Adam and Eve sinned.
When this is the problem, the solution is to ask forgiveness for what we have done.
2. Sometimes fear is caused by ignorance
Children are afraid in the night because the shadows look like giants, bears or ghosts.
In this situation the light of truth can scare away the frightening darkness.
3. Sometimes fear is caused by our own feeling of weakness
We are so accustomed to managing things ourselves that when an unmanageable crisis comes along, we feel helpless and afraid. However, there’s strength in the Lord.
4. Sometimes fear is caused by emotional letdown
Sometimes fear comes, not before the battle or even in the midst of the battle, but after we have won the victory. Here it’s important to stay focused on God in prayer and studying of the Word.
5. Sometimes fear is caused by unbelief
This is often the true cause of fear. Did the disciples know that Jesus could still the storm, or did they simply not believe it? Jeus words were “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
6. The solution
The secret of victory over fear is faith in God. There is no problem too great for God to solve, no burden too heavy for God to carry, no battle too overwhelming for God to fight and win.
Our verse says “I will TRUST, and not be afraid!”
Here are three steps in how to gain victory over fear:
a. Step 1
Get your eyes off yourself and your feelings, and off the problems hat have upset you, and get your eyes on God.
b. Step 2
Lay hold of God’s Word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
When you read your Bible, you find that your faith is growing.
c. Step 3
Pray and surrender to the Holy Spirit.
Tell God about your fears – tell Him that fear is really evidences of unbelief – and ask God to help your unbelief (just like in the sinner and the publican).
1 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Walk in power and love….
–
19 The weaver’s shuttle
Encouragement for difficult days (19):
THE WEAVER’S SHUTTLE
“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.”
Job 7:6
Centuries ago, a Roman poet penned the phrase “time flies”. However, a person doesn’t have to be a poet to know that time is always passing. Another poet has said “Time goes, you say? Oh no, time stays – we go!”
The older we get, the faster time seems to move. As soon as Christmas is over, it seems that summer is here. Then, before we know it, it’s time for buying Christmas presents again. In our day, time seems to go even faster than in the old days. I wonder what Job would have said if he had witnessed our modern world. He said time moved as quickly as a weaver’s shuttle zooming through the webbing and coming back again so quickly that you can hardly see it. Surely, this picture of a life quickly passing is even better today.
God is not affected by time and change like we are. He is the great “I am”. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and fir ever. God’s Word is forever settled in heaven. Heaven and earth may pass away, but His Word will never pass away. So if life is moving too fast for you, don’t fight it and don’t give in to it. Instead, surrender to Christ and let time work for you and not against you.
Some times, time seems to move quite slowly. If we are sick and find ourselves in hospital, it seems like time is moving like a slow creeping turtle. Alos if we’re waiting for something good (like a child waiting for Christmas), it almost seems like time is standing still. Job was in great suffering, but he still felt that time was moving too quickly. Maybe Job saw some goodness In the swiftness of life.
First, since life was moving rapidly, our circumstances will change. We don’t know how many days are involved in the story of Job, but we do know thar one day God appeared on the scene, and Job ended up in better condition than when he started.
Second, since our lives are like a weaver’s shuttle, there is a pattern and a purpose involved. God controls the shuttle and God has a pattern for our lives. This ought to encourage us no matter how difficult the days may be. As long as God is on the throne, there is hope.
Did you ever look on the wrong side of the loom? There is really nothing beautiful about it. After the work is completed, the weaver takes the work off the loom and cuts off the extra threads and puts the finishing touches on the blanket or the sweater or whatever he’s making. You and I are still on the loom. God is still working on us! God is the weaver. Never judge the weaver by an unfinished product. The weaver knows best. Don’t try to change the colour or the pattern.
–
20 Help, hope and happiness
Encouragement for difficult days (20):
HELP, HOPE AND HAPPINESS
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”
Psalm 146:5
This verse is like those charts on the back of cereal boxes that lists the minimum daily requirements for health. Here we have the minimum daily requirements for spiritual health – help, hope, and happiness..
1. Help
No matter how capable and efficient you and I may be, there comes times when we need help. I am not mechanically clever, so I depend on help when something is wrong with my car. Although I work in a hospital, there are still times when I have to go to the doctor or even the hospital. You and I depend on the help of others all day long – the people who manage the telephone circuits, the workers who keep the busses and trains operating, the people who prints the newspapers.
But there in One who’s help is far above all, and that One is the God of Jacob. God can do for us what nobody else can do. Psalm 46:1 tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The psalmist said, “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).
You and I trust people, yet people fail us; and we sometimes fail others. But when we put our trust in the Lord, He gives the kind of help that never fails. Here is a Word of encouragement to us today: “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6). Cast your burden on the Lord, and by faith receive the help He alone can give.
2. Hope
Sad to say, there are multitudes of people who have no hope. They have nothing to live for, nothing to look forward to. Lots of people want to end it all. I meet many of them at the psychiatric hospital where I work. Life has become unbearable to them, and they would rather die than live.
When you know Jesus Christ, you always have hope! To the Christian, hope is not a mirage or a blind optimism. Our hope in Christ is a certainty. In Hebrews 6:19 we read “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” It is our hope in Christ that is the anchor, and this anchor will never slip nor fail. The Christian “rejoices in hope” because he knows the future is secure in Christ.
Our hope in Christ is based on the Word of God, the Bible. Because we trust His promises, we experience His hope. No matter how dark the day may become, we still have the light of His Word to encourage us. A ship without a compass is lost, so is a life without hope too. The Word of God is the light that encourages us and the compass that guides us.
3. Happiness
What is happiness? We have many clever and shallow definitions of happiness these days. But to the mature person, happiness is much deeper than what these juvenile definitions describe. Happiness is that wonderful feeling of well-being that comes when we are depending on God’s help and living in God’s will. If we are depending on our own help, ultimately we fail; and if we are living for our own will, we can never really be happy.
Happiness is a by.product. If you look for happiness, you will never find it; but if you determine to trust Christ and obey Him, then happiness will come your way! You can’t purchase happiness or store it away. As a matter of fact, some of the most miserable people I know are depending on their accumulated wealth. Happiness is never found in things. Nor is it found in thrills, because thrills don’t last.
Do you know Christ? Read that top verse again. Do you need help? Do you need hope? Do you want to experience happiness? God has given us all of the above. Trust in Him! Go to Him! If you put your trust in Him, you will experience happiness ass a by-product of that trust…
–
21 The eternal Encourager
Encouragement for difficult days (21):
THE ETERNAL ENCOURAGER
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
John 14:16
If anyone felt like their world was collapsing, it was Jesus’ disciples when Jesus left them to go back to heaven. In the upper room, Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him, and Peter would deny Him. Then He told them that He would be going back to the Father in heaven. Was there any encouragement or hope for these beaten men? Yes, there was! Jesus went on to say those well known words in the scripture verse above, promising that the Holy Spirit would come, the Spirit who lives inside the heart of every believer.
We use the word “comforter” to mean “someone who sympathizes, someone who feels hurt with us”. But the word has a much deeper meaning that that. I could sympathize with you, and perhaps never really help you. The word translated “comforter” in out New Testament, actually means “to call to one’s side”. Perhaps the best translation would be “the encourager”. The Holy Spirit is our encourager , and He is always with us to help us live for Christ.
The English word comfort comes from two Latin words; com means “with”, and “fort” means “strength”. So a comforter is not one who sits on the shoulder saying “Keep your chin up!” but someone who helps to give us the strength we need to keep on going.
Jesus told His disciples that He would send them “another Comforter”, and the word another means “another of the same kind”. The Spirit of God takes the place of the Son of God. He is equal to the Son, and able to encourage us just the way that Jesus encouraged His disciples.
What did Jesus do for His disciples? He taught them His Word, gave them directions concerning the will of God, convicted them of their sins, and gave them the power they needed for service. This is what the Spirit does for us today as well. It is impossible to live a joyful, successful Christian life without the Holy Spirit of God.
In my life, I have met many Christians who are discouraged. People have let them down, circumstances are full of problems and hardships, and they feel like they are a failure before God. Some live with much pain or hard handicaps, or maybe both. They feel they accomplish little for God and get very discouraged.
But the Holy Spirit is our encourager! If we are discouraged, it might be that we are not depending on the Holy Spirit of God. How, then, does the Holy Spirit encourage us?
1. He teaches us the truths of the Bible
Whenever you are getting tired and discouraged, ask the Spirit to enlighten you, and He will reaveal God to you. He will teach us and encourage us.
2. He prays for us and helps us to pray in God’s will
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;” Romans 8:263.
3. He gives us the power we need to live the Christian life
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13
Whatever we need, the Spirit is there to grant it. Patience? Courage? He will do it!
4. He takes away fear
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
The principal reason why the Hly Spirit is in the world today is to glorify the Son of God (John 16:14). If you and I are living for the glory of God, then the Spirit of God will encourage us and enable us to serve Christ. But if we’re looking for the glory, then we will grieve the Holy Spirit.
If you find yourself discouraged and ready to quit, take time to examine your relationship to the Holy Spirit.
Are you fully yielded to Him?
Are you grieving Him by unconfessed sin?
Are you quenching Him bywillful disobedience?
Have you been neglecting yourBible and prayer?
These are the usual causes of spiritual defeat and discouragement, and we need to make things right when we discover they are wrong.
Yield to the Spirit and trust Him to work matters out in His good time! Feed on the Word of God! Do not permit yourself to give in to your feelings or to judge God’s promises by the difficult circumstances around you! Trust Him! Wait for His help! Know that He will never fail you! In due time, the Comforter will minister to your needs and encourage your heart….
–
22 Big lessons from little things
Encouragement for difficult days (22):
BIG LESSONS FROM LITTLE THINGS
“For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”
Zechariah 4:10
We are often too impressed with size. We often assume that something small and quiet is unimportant, whilst something big and noisy must be important. God doesn’t measure life the way we do. The big things don’t always impress Him. In fact, some of the little things in the Bible teach big lessons.
Zechariah was trying to encourage the nation as they were rebuilding the temple and having a difficult time. The budget was low, the morale even lower, and it looked like the job would never be finished. The people were discouraged because the whole project seemed so small – it just wasn’t the temple it used to be.
When God wanted to deliver His people from Egypt, He didn’t send an army – He sent a baby to a Jewish family, and years later, Moses led his people out of bondage. When the nation had sunk into spiritual and political defeat, God sent a boy named Samuel who one day led his nation back into greatness. And when God wanted to deliver mankind from sin, He sent another baby – Jesus!
God uses small things to achieve great things. Remember Moses’ rod, David’s sling, Gideon’s 300 soldiers, Rahab’s piece of red rope, not to mention five loaves and two fishes. We might think we’re insignificant in the great plan of God, but we are not. We are so important to God that Jesus died for each one of us, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
Shortly before Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus and His disciples were having supper at the home of Simon the leper, Mary of Bethany came into the room with a jar of expensive ointment, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet as an act of worship. Some criticized her for it, but Jesus defended her. He said: “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mark 14:9) This one act of worship had world wide effects!
The Christian who can’t be trusted with the small things, can never be trusted with the big things!
When God asks “Who hath despised the day of small things?” He is not suggesting that things stay small. Churches grow, and Christians grow. Jesus wants us to bear much fruit for God (John 15:8). Faithfulness in the small things will lead to blessings in the big things.
No work is small if it is God’s work. No gift is small if it is given in faith and love. No act of service is small if it is done to the glory of Christ. Don’t go around comparing yourself with others. Let God do the measuring and the weighing. He measures for eternity – and that is what really counts…..
–
23 Try forgiveness
Encouragement for difficult days (23):
TRY FORGIVENESS
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32
Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it
(Mark Twain)
Forgiveness is not easy, but it’s necessary. An unforgiving spirit doesn’t hurt the other person; it hurts us. To harbor grudges, to cultivate malice toward another person, to refuse to forgive – all of these poison the inner man and produce spiritual and emotional sickness that no man-made medicines can cure.
When we have an unforgiving spirit, we think we are better than other people, we are supertensitive and take everything personally, we become suspicious of everybody’s motives and it causes us to withdraw into ourselves. Unforgiving people are usually lonely, critical and nervous people.
One of the saddest results of an unforgiving spirit, is the buildup of aggression on the inside. Many people who carry grudges and harbor malice are filled with hostility. If someone pushes past them on the bus, they take it personally and declare war.
In order to forgive, we have to be forgiven. When you experience the forgiveness of God in your own heart and realize what God has done for you, then you can begin to forgive others and rid your system of the poison of malice. But you can’t be forgiven until you admit you need forgiveness. This is probably the greatest problem with forgiveness.
Paul said: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” On the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Because of His shed blood, we can experience God’s gracious forgiveness. There is no way we can earn His forgiveness; it is a gift. If God will give this to us when we ask for it, why should we not be able to forgive others?
Here are 4 suggestions for cultivating a forgiving spirit in our lives:
1. Spend time daily with the Lord in His Word and in prayer.
Get to know God better. Ad you do, you will realize what sin really is, and you will discover that there are where we still need help.
2. Observe the Lord’s supper
If you come to the Lord’s table with a humble heart and leave your sin and troubles at Jesus’ feet, it is impossible to go away from the Lord’s supper with an unforgiving spirit.
3. Let the Holy Spirit within you generate the kind of love that it takes to forgive others
The fruit of the Spirit is love. You and I cannot manufacture forgiveness; it is something God does within us as we yield to Him. Confess your unforgiving spirit to God; ask Him to forgive you and fill your heart with His love.
4. Realize how costly it is to have an unforgiving heart
Hannah More wrote: “A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”
Start today to cultivate a spirit of forgiveness. Let God cleanse your heart and fill it with His love. The next time somebody offends you or hurts you, immediately forgive him from him from your heart. Ask God to give you a gracious attitude, and treat that person with love.
–
24 Look at the possibilities
Encouragement for difficult days (24):
LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITIES
“And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.”
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
“The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”
John 5:5-7
One of the stories I remember vest from my childhood, is the story of Jesus coming to the pool of Bethesda. Bethesda means “house of grace”, and at a certain season, an angel would stir the water, and whoever got into the water first would get healed. When Jesus came to this man who had been sick for 38 years, He asked him “Do you what to be healed?” What a question! He has been waiting to be healed for over 30 years! However, the man does not reply “Yes, please!” or “I do!” He basically says “I can’t!” He sees the hindrances around him and explains to Jesus why he cannot get healed. Before we jump the gun and criticize this man, let me ask you: would we not have done the same?
When Jesus came to Bethesda, He came as the Son of God. He was a healer. Anyone who believed on Him could have been healed instantly. Yet, this man who had been an invalid for 38 years, he had seen many get healed and had waited patiently for his turn. However, he did something wrong.
1. He judged the present by the past
Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things! God can forgive sin and put new power into lives that seem to be utter failures. God can send revival to a church that everyone thinks is dead. God can move a difficult situation and turn seeming failure into victory. God makes the difference! And for us to judge the present by the past is to limit God.
2. He was seeing the problems and not the possibilities
This is what separates the optimist from the pessimist. The optimist sees the possibilities in the problems, and the pessimist sees the problems in the possibilities. One sees the opportunities, and the other sees the obstacles. The real basis for optimism is faith. When you bring God into the picture, even the greatest problem can become a great potential for blessing. If we only see the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.
3. He was seeing what he didn’t have rather than what he did have
God always starts with what we have before He gives us what we need. What do you possess of abilities and talents? At least, you have faith. What did Moses have? His rod! And God did great things with that rod. Do we have talents or resources? It can all be used for the Lord, and then He’ll give us even more. The only thing God requires to work miracles in our lives, is faith. Remember Jesus’ words to a blind man; “According to your faith be it unto you!” He says the same to you and me.
Faith is the ultimate answer. With God, nothing is impossible!
–
25 Three treasures
Encouragement for difficult days (25):
THREE TREASURES
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:13
This was Paul’s prayer for his friends in Rome. Three words stand out in this passage of Scripture;
hope, joy and peace.
1. Hope
Paul tells us that our God is the God of hope. God wants us to look ahead with hope and not with despair. Whenever the Old Testament prophets thundered out their predictions of judgment, they always wove into the dark cloud of judgment the silver lining of hope. In fact, some of the greatest promises of hope in the Bible are found in the midst of dark messages of judgment.
We do not need to fear the future. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. No matter how dark or confusing things are here on earth, God still reigns in heaven, sitting on His throne, calmly guiling the affairs of history.
To abound in hope means much more than believing in the promises of God; it means being motivated by these promises. It means living today in the light of eternity with our lives controlled by the future, not by the past.
2. Joy
God also gives joy. Christian joy is not the same as happiness, although it can include happiness. Happiness so often depends on happenings. If things are going right with us, we’re happy; if the situation changes, we become unhappy. Joy is much deeper than that .It is inward confidence and well-being that only the Holy Spirit can give. Joy is not created by circumstances on the outside, it is the result of conditions on the inside.
The joyful Christian faces life without fear or complaint. Joy is really a by-product of a life of service to God and others. If you start searching for joy, you’ll never find it. But if you surrender to God and do His will, joy will come to your heart.
Billy Sunday used to say: “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.”
3. Peace
Along with joy is the gift of peace. This is the peace that Jesus meant when He said to His followers, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you….Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” ( John14:27). Here was Jesus facing the terror of the cross, yet He was giving peace to His followers.
The future is always bright because God has the future in His hands. For the Christian, the best is yet to come. Christ always saves the best wine for the last. The unsaved man has his heaven now, because death is coming, and after that the judgment. But the Christian never has to fear the future; his heart is filled with the hope from the God of love.
And the Christian never has to fret about the present, because his heart is filled with joy. No matter how difficult or uncomfortable the present circumstances might be, there is joy in our hearts from Jesus Christ.
And we never have to worry about the past because we have His peace. This is the “peace that passes all understanding…” With God’s peace filling our hearts, we are no longer haunted by past failures, mistakes, injuries, or even past sins. With Christ as our Saviour, the past is gone; God remembers it no more and holds it against us no more.
These are the three wonderful gifts we find in Romans 15:13. Whether we look back, look around, or look ahead, we need never be afraid. The key word to all this is believing. When we believe, God fills us with His Spirit.
–
26 Put joy into your life
Encouragement for difficult days (26):
PUT JOY INTO YOUR LIFE
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
John 15:11
Evangelist D.L. Moody encouraged Christian joy. Once, in a meeting, he said “There are too many religious meetings which are sadder than a funeral. They are a hindrance to the cause. They breed people with face bearing an expression as chilling as an east wind from off the lake.”
Anyone who knows Chicago, where D.L. Moody was from, knows about that chilly eastern wind. And what Moody said is true – the greatest obstacle to sinners coming to Christ is the joyless attitude of many professed Christians.
There is a difference between being serious and being solemn. God wants us to be serious, but I don’t know of any place in the Bible where He commands us to solemn, to have a long face and miserable look that means death to all who are happy and joyful around us. A missionary executive once said that he would not never send a missionary to the field if the man or woman didn’t have a sense of humor. To be able to laugh at yourself and the world around you, to be able to laugh with others, is a mark of maturity.
People who don’t laugh are usually bitter and critical and hard to live with. The man that can’t laugh at his own mistakes has a hard time forgiving the mistakes of others. He harbors them down inside and they fester like an open sore. Nothing clears the air in a home or a church meeting like a good healthy laugh. I’m not talking about silly comedy, but a good healthy holy humor.
Jesus wants us to have joy. He had joy. See the scripture verse above. If the disciples had never seen Jesus smile or laugh, they would have wondered what kind of joy He was talking about. Yes, He was a man of sorrows, but He was also a man of joy. And the only way to have true joy is to get it from Jesus Christ. You can go to the shop and purchase fun, but you can’t purchase joy. Jesus purchased it for you when He died for you on the cross.
Perhaps the greatest joy chapter in the Bible is Luke 15. There a woman finds her lost coin and rejoices, a shepherd finds his lost sheep and rejoices, a father welcomes his lost son and rejoices. All of them invite their friends and neighbours to rejoice with them. Jesus says that even the angels rejoice when a sinner comes home aand is forgiven. The first step toward joy is to receive Christ as your Saviour., When you do this, the Spirit of God moves into your life and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….” (Galatians 5:22).
The Christian has good reason to be joyful. We have been forgiven all our sins. Yet, some times we find that Christians have lost their joy. What can cause this? When you know what the cause is, you can know how to fix it….
1. Sin and disobedience to God
When David confessed his sins to God, he said “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation” (Psalms 51:12). David lost his joy, and for a year or more he lived under a dark cloud of despair and gloom. He became like an old, sick man because his conscience was smiting him. When we come back to God, He can restore us and give our joy back.
2. Neglecting the Word of God
The prophet Jeremiah found joy in the Word of God. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16). It is good to read the Bible every day. If you ask God to speak to you, He will do so through His holy Word. Reading the Bible can increase your joy. Neglect it, and your joy will diminish.
3. Forgetting to pray
Jesus said “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24.) If you and I depend on our own resources, we will be miserable, because our own resources are weak and limited. Prayers open the treasury of God. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7), and “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not“ (James 4:2). Let us not God wants to bestow upon us, including joy.
Finally, let us follow God’s Word when Paul says “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Beware of the wicked one trying to lure us away from God, and let us watch our attitude, especially towards God. A life of walking close to God is a life filled of joy…
–
27 Divine resources for life’s difficulties
Encouragement for difficult days (27):
DIVINE RESOURCES FOR LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”
Psalms 46:1-2
Dr. Martin Luther was remembered in history for nailing his ninety-five thesis on the door of the church at Wittenberg in Germany. He was also an accomplished musician, and we especially remember him for the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. Luther’s song is based upon Psalm 46, and that song has moved people for centuries to trust God no matter the circumstances.
In Psalm 46, we find three divine resources to sustain us in the difficulties of life. First of all, we need not fear because we have refuge. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear….” No matter what may happen to us, we can find refuge in the Lord. He is the rock that cannot be moved. When you and I run to Him for refuge, He is there to protect us. Note that God is our refuge and our strength. We don’t run to the Lord to hide, but we run to Him for help. He hides us so that He might help us, then He thrusts us back into the battle that we might accomplish His will in the world.
Secondly, in Psalm 46, we find that we need not faint because we have a river. “There is a river, the streams where of shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early” (v. 4-5)
Jerusalem is one great city that has been built on a river. The great Egyptian cities were built on the Nile, Babylon was built on the Euphrates, and Rome was built on the Tiber. But Jerusalem had no river running through it for a water supply. Godly king Hezekiah built a marvelous water system for the city, bringing water through the rock into Jerusalem. Archeologists have discovered this system and you may walk in it in Jerusalem today. Psalm 46 is not talking about a literal river, rather about the supply of spiritual power available from the Lord for His people. In the Bible, water for drinking is a picture of the Holy Spirit. Remember John 7:37-39: “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” We will receive power as we are filled by the Holy Spirit.
Lastly, Psalm 46 says that we should not fret, because we have a revelation. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (v. 10-11) Be still, and know what? “That I am God.” I AM is one of the greatest names of God. When Moses told God that it was impossible for him to obey and lead Israel out of Egypt, God said to Moses: “Remember my name – I AM.” Not “I would like to be” or “I hope to be,” but I am! I am God! And Moses went out in the power of God’s name and defeated the enemy and set his people free. Jesus picked up that same divine name when He was here on earth; “I am the bread of life…. I am the good shepherd… I am the light of the world!” Whatever you need, says Jesus, I am. “Be still” may be translated as “Take your hands off!” In other words, we are to relax and know that He is God. Get your hands off the situation – stop playing God – and permit Him to take over.
Here, then, are three wonderful divine resources for you to draw upon in the difficult times of life. We need not fear, we have a refuge. We need not faint, we have a river. We need not fret, we have a revelation: “Be still, and know that I am God!” A mighty fortress is our God – a bulwark never failing!
–
28 Wealth that really counts
Encouragement for difficult days (28):
WEALTH THAT REALLY COUNTS
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
Ephesians 1:3
The late J. Paul Getty was reputed to be the richest man in the world. He once complained to a newspare reporter that inflation was hurting him, and that one million dollars was not what it used to be! Most of us will never own a million dollars, but we are still rich. When we have Jesus Christ living in our hearts, we are the richest people on earth. Today’s scripture verse says that we Christians have been “blessed….with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he was addressing people who knew something about wealth. Ephesus was a wealthy city. It possessed one of the seven wonders of the world, the great temple of Diana; and the temple itself was a bank where citizens deposited their valuables. Thousands of tourist came to Ephesus each year to see the temple of Diana, and of course, there was a brisk trade selling souvenirs.
However, there were some people in Ephesus that was wealthy beyond measure. They did not have gold and silver hidden away in secret places, but they had a wealth beyond measure that could never be taken away from them. They had not earned it or deserved it. They were given it because God gave His only Son to die on a cross for you and me.
Paul puts it another way in his second letter to the Corinthian church: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9) What kind of wealth is this? Unless we can answer this question, our wealth can do us no good! One way of understanding this is to contrast it with the kind of wealth God gave Israel when they entered the promised land.
First of all, Israel’s wealth was material, ours is spiritual. God promised them a land flowing with milk and honey. Nowhere in the New Testament has God promised to make the Christian wealthy and comfortable in this world. Jesus Himself was poor, and so were His disciples. Paul wrote “Silver and gold have I none” (Acts 3:6).Our wealth is spiritual, not merely material. He has, though, promised to supply our needs.
Secondly, Israel’s blessings were earthly, while ours are heavenly. God promises to bless their crops, their flocks, their herds, their families, their armies, even their rainfall. He promised them “days of heaven on earth” and freedom from famine, sickness, and trouble. All these blessings are attached to this world and material things. The blessings we Christians have in Christ are “in heavenly places.” We rae spisitually seated with Christ in heaven. It simply means that our life on earth should be controlled by heaven. Paul says: ! If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2.)
The final contrast s that Israel’s blessing only lasted as long as they obeyed God. Our blessing is permanent and free. As soon as Israel turned away from God, the rain stopped, the rivers dried, the crops failed, and the land suffered from physical and economical disaster. Our blessings in Christ, however, are permanent and free. There are no strings attached! Our blessing rea based on grace, not law. When you were saved, God blessed you with all the blessings of the Spirit you will ever need to live a full life and glorify His name.
The enjoyment of these blessings are conditional: we must yield to the Lord, trust Him, and by faith draw upon this vast spiritual wealth. A disobedient Christian is like the prodigal son: he has plenty of wealth and satisfaction with his father back home, but we by our disbelief or disobedience can rob ourselves of the enjoyment of these blessings.
There is no need to live like a pauper when you can live like a king!
–
29 Give me this mountain
Encouragement for difficult days (29):
GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN
“Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.”
Joshua 14:12
Amongst all the heroes of the Bible that we read about, we seldom think of Caleb. Yet it was him that said to God “Give me this mountain!” Caleb is a great example for us today!
When the nation of Israel neared the promised land, Moses sent twelve men into the land to spy it out. The men came back with a glowing report of the riches in the land and even brought back samples of the fruit. They had clusters of grape so large it took two men to carry them. But, sad to say, ten of the twelve men had absolutely no faith that God could give them the land. They only saw the walled cities and the giants who lived in them.
However, two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, tried to convince the people that God was able to give them the victory, but alas, the majority ruled, and Israel went back into the wilderness. There they wandered round for 40 years till all the unbelieving Jews were dead, apart from Moses, Joshua and Caleb.
Eventually, God did lead His people in to the promised land. Joshua led them over the Jordan river and into the land where they won victory after victory.
When the inheritance were being claimed, Caleb said “Give me this mountain!” Caleb didn’t ask for an easy place, he asked for a difficult place. The Bible tells us that this mountain was iihabited by a race of giants in walled cities, but these obstacles didn’t stop Caleb. He asked for the mountain, and by faith in God, he claimed that mountain and gave it to his family for generations to come.
What are the lessons we can learn from this forgotten hero, Caleb?
Firstly, we learn that the defeats of others need not make us losers as well. Because of the unbelief of the ten spies and the rest of Israel, Caleb had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, when he could have been enjoying his inheritance. Perhaps you are suffering because of another’s mistakes or sins. Look at Caleb and learn the importance of trusting God in spite of what others do.
Secondly, age is no barrier to making conquests for the Lord. Caleb was an 85 year old man, and he was asking for a mountain! Not just any mountain, but a mountain controlled by a tribe of great and mighty warriors. 85 is good age to settle down in some comfortable valley, but Caleb asked for a mountain. If the years are adding up and you think your work is done, dismiss that idea from your mind! Granted, Caleb was still in good health, and that means a lot. But Caleb’s power came from his faith in God. He knew that God was able to overcome the enemy and give him his inheritance.
Lastly, Caleb teaches us to look ahead and not back. When the nation of Israel finally did enter the promised land, Caleb could have sat down and pouted. He could have reminded the rulers that hhe had been in the minority – he had voted to enter the lland – and had ben right. He could have reviewed those 40 years of wated wandering and complained about them. But he didn’t! Instead of looking back, Caleb looked ahead and claimed this mountain. Caleb’s motto was “The best is yet to come!” And isn’t that the motto of every true Christian? There are always new blessings to receive, new lessons to learn, new victories to win. Life would be terribly boring if God didn’t bring new challenges to our lives from time to time.
If you want to claim your mountain, begin by surrendering to Christ. He alone can give you the faith and courage to face life and conquer the enemy.
–
30 Contentment – where?
Encouragement for difficult days (30):
CONTENTMENT – WHERE?
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Philippians 4:11
Do your circumstances bother you? Are you at that place in life where you wish nothing would change, and yet everything is changing? Are you having to adjust to new surroundings or new people? Then Paul has a good word for you: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
It is a great mistake to build your happiness on circumstances or things, because circumstances change and things have a way of wearing out or losing their value. True internal peace cannot be based on changing external things. We need something deeper and more satisfying..
Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change or control the world within us. It has often been said that what life does to us depends on what life finds in us. This explains Paul’s great testimony in today’s text.
The word content does not mean “complacent”. Paul was anything but complacent! He felt the burden of lost souls and carried the gospel to city after city regardless of peril or persecution. Nor is contentment a dreamy attitude or vague feelings that lift you out of the world and make you immune to trouble or trial. No, what Paul is actually saying is more like: “I don’t depend on things on the outside, because I carry my own sufficiency on the inside.” This inner sufficiency, of course, is the power of Jesus Christ in Paul’s life, for he goes on to say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13)
Contentment , then, is actually containment – having the spiritual resources within to face life courageously and handle it successfully. Contentment is divine adequacy. Contentment is having that spiritual artesian well within so that you don’t have to run to the broken cisterns of the world to get what you need. The power of Crist in the inner man is all we need for the demands of life. Resources on the outside, such as friends and councelors and encouragements, are only helpful as they strengthen our resources on the inside.
If you had all the props and crutches taken away from your life, would you be able to stand? Do you have that divine sufficiency and adequacy within? You can have it if you’re willing to let God have His way. Paul needed to learn this. It doesn’t come automatically with your salvation. The word “learn” means to learn by experience. This is where we normally fall down. We refuse to change into what God wants us to be, and we lose out on the contentment in our lives. We need to go through troubles and trials, difficulties and sacrifices, and we must face changes in our lives.
There is no growth without challenge, and thee is no challenge without change. If our lives are going to be isolated and insulated, we will never face any challenges, but this means we will never have the opportunities to mature. For mature people, life is a battleground, but they are willing to face the battles and, by faith, win the victories. For immature people, life is a playground; and they avoid battles, but this means they never have the joy of winning victories and growing in the Lord.
Read 2 Corinthians 11 and 12 plus Acts 27. Paul suffered much in his service for the Lord. After all this suffering, Paul prayed to the Lord about an affliction that was causing him great trouble. The Lord’s answer was simply “My grace is sufficient for thee!” Paul was still content and counted it all joy when he was suffering for Christ. At the end of the day, we need to lift our eyes to the reward in heaven like Paul did. God will supply our needs like He has promised. We will have all that we need. The problem is that we always want more. Only when we are content can we truly be happy in our lives here on this planet.
–
THE END
Rev. Lars Haukeland - studies 