Trying Times

Trying Times

by

Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (5/29/2013)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded (James 4:8, King James Version (KJV), [Patience in afflictions])”.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me (John 14:1, KJV [Christ promiseth the Holy Ghost])”. In times like these, it is not God, who fails to deliver on demand yet it is God, who man fails. More importantly, when we find ourselves in the midst of the storm with no where to go and all the doors that we thought we might enter surely doomed to destruction, it is our test of faith to know God loves us and HE will always walk with us and stay with us while we are in the storm. Who was the fourth man in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? (Daniel 3:21, 25-30, KJV [Nebuchadnezzar's decree]) (Jehovah-Shalom: The LORD is my peace. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3, KJV [Exhortation to confidence in God]).

Further to times of distress, when we find our hearts broken, again, when we thought surely this time around all is well and our hopes are splattered in our faces with disappointment (in a love affair, a mere tryst with no hope of becoming a wife as initially planned or in a contest, possibly a sure win but those thought less appealing to the crowds turned out to be real crowd pleasers and took the win away) and failure looms in the midst, loudly echoing to our hearts, “Not this time!”, it is the time to know God loves us and the failure we live through today is the anchored platform for our success tomorrow; we are on solid ground in God's love and refuge. (Jehovah-Shammah: The LORD is present and ready to save. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18, KJV [Privileges of the righteous] and also, Jehovah-Machsi: The LORD is my refuge. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1, KJV [The church's confidence in God]). According to the gospel of John, a strong witness for our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus, he encouraged, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you (St. John 15:15, KJV, [Christ comforteth his disciples], Jehovah-Sabaoth: The LORD is my strength. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7, KJV [Timothy exhorted to constancy]).

God is present (Jehovah-Shammah). He is with us. His spirit is with us. God spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16-18; 3:9, 13, 16-17, KJV). The LORD appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day (Genesis 18:1, KJV). God spoke to Jacob between Beersheba and Haran when he lighted upon a certain place to rest for the night (Genesis 28:10-11, KJV [Vision of Jacob's ladder]), God appeared on Mount Sinai and spoke to Moses (Exodus 18:18, KJV).

In reflection, the salvation history of woman reminds us, Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:13, KJV), Sarah laughed at God (Genesis 18: 12-13, 15, KJV), Rebecca switched Jacob for Esau to take Esau's blessing (Genesis 27:15-23, KJV), Rachel took her father's idol god when she left with Jacob (Genesis 31:30, 32, 34, KJV, [Laban pursueth Jacob]). In trying times, like these, we find an even stronger need to draw nigh to God, so he will draw nigh to us...than ever before, forgetting the past...as we press toward the mark for the prize... and run our course to the finish (James 4:8, KJV; Philippians 3:13-14, KJV; II Timothy 4:7, KJV).