December 17
Nahum 1:1-3:19 | PS 136:1-26 | Prov 30:7-9 | Rev 8:1-13
Where were you God: when my loved one died, when my business went under, when my child went in the wrong direction, when my marriage failed? These are just a few of the list of statements stated to justify one not placing their faith in God. But God never promised a life void of difficulties, sadness, or trials. He simply promised to go through them with us. We read in Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Notice the word is "when", not "if". We read in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Again, notice the word is "will", not "might". So, why do we sit in disbelief when calamity comes our way? We have been warned.
We read in Nahum 1:7, "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him." God is our solution, not our enemy when calamity strikes. Too many turn to blog sites, self-help books, worldly "experts", etc. to get them through life's difficulties. These are not strongholds. These are simply places of opinions, and many of these opinions will lead you in the wrong direction and often in a worse place than where you started. God will never leave us nor forsake us. Nothing can ever separate from Jesus. The problem is that when trouble strikes, and it will, we tend to forget this, and rely on that which is less, then somehow blame God for not seeing us through.
We read in Psalm 136:26, "Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever." As many state, "God is good", "All the time". We would do well to remember this. He is our stronghold. He is ever present. He does listen to our prayers. He is the God of both the big and the little things. Trust Him. Turn to Him. Open up the pages of His Word, the Bible, and get to know Him. Turn to Him in prayer and worship. Through our trials we can learn to trust Him and deepen our love for Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: