With all that we have faced so far together, I wanted to make sure all my Brothers and Sisters remember one thing… do not lose hope!
We have been riddled with sickness, disease, death and despair within this past year. Much sadness has been felt by all and many tears have been shed.
As Christians, children of the Most-High God and Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is most important to us that we never let the ways of this world interfere with our faith and trust in God.
We’ve spoken about this before but today I feel it is, once again, time to remind you.
Where Do We Turn
Where should we turn when we feel hope is lost? Who should we talk to about our pain and sorrow? Who would possibly understand how we are feeling and what our hearts are going through?
Remember this, from Psalm…
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he
rescues those who are crushed in spirit.”
There is never a time in your life where God will abandon
you. But what about our times of anguish? Rest assured, God is closer to in
these times, than at any other.
How do we know or how will we recognize God’s intervention
in our times of sorrow?
The kindness of others.
An expected word of comfort.
A moment of laughter that takes you by surprise.
The grace that is given you to make it through the day.
An overwhelming peace at your worst time.
As bad as it may seem, God is right there… by your side and Christ
is holding you and wiping the tears from your eyes.
It Doesn’t Last
We also need to remember, the pain doesn’t last forever…
1 Peter 5:10 – “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Let’s call suffering a season. Often a long, difficult season, but it is only a season… one with a beginning and an end. And God promises it will one day be over, one day, when He has put you back together and placed your feet on solid ground for good.
Joshua 3:5 – “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’”
Have you considered this simple fact: God often does His
greatest work in the midst of our most painful days?
Joseph was in prison as God prepared him to rule the land.
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness while God carefully provided for their every need.
David learned to fight when he was tending sheep.
Maybe your pain is a way of consecrating you, of molding you into His image so you can witness the wonders He has planned for you.
Romans 8:28 – “And we all know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
We must have a firm grasp on the characteristics of God. He is good. He wants good for us. Even when bad things happen, we can trust that in His authority, in His infinite wisdom and power, He can—and will—bring good out of every tragedy.
When you feel weak, know that, and understand, the power of our God is with you. As Paul wrote in his epistle to the church of God in Corinth…
2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
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In Conclusion
When we are weak, our God is strong. When we are at our lowest point, He is ready to show up and show off. As we look back at the period of suffering, we will see how His grace sustained us, how His power was perfected through us. It may take a while, but one day we will look back with a new perspective—God’s perspective—and see just how faithful He was!
Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless (Amen)
