I would like to ask all of us just how much trauma we are going through this holiday season? Not with gifts and such, but with lost jobs, marital and family problems, illness and the like. There can be so many things going on that we actually forget to celebrate the joy and comfort of what we celebrate at this time of the year. Many of us celebrate the birth of our Savior and still others of us celebrate the new life that a new year can bring. But what of the darkness that haunts many of us knowing that even after the holidays, the darkness still remains?
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk in through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:1-4 NIV.
As we face our trials and struggles, many of us will be faced with the same old "I am praying for you" that somehow we always seem to hear from those around us. But, do they really and do we really get comfort from those words? Another question to ask is: Are we really faced with trials and struggles? Some of us would say yes, I am sick or this person in my life died, or I have no money, etc. Friends, are these really struggles or are they illusions meant to blind us to the power of our Lord?
As we look at our passage, it tells us that the Lord is with us. It tells us that He is going to take care of us, that He is going to provide for us. How many of us really believe the promises contained in these words? Scripture tells us that we do not war against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities that we cannot see in high places. Scripture also tells us that God works all things for good to those who love Him. So which is true and why does He allow it? The answer is both are true and He allows it so that we will be dependant on Him and trust and believe in His word.
Here is a finality: We are all going to die one day! Knowing this then, what is our true trial and struggle? Is it lost jobs, illness, marital problems, or is it learning to love and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus? I believe that the second is true. Our passage tells us that death is a shadow. There is nothing to fear because when we leave this life, we enter the next. It also tells us that Jesus is our Shepherd. That means that He should be leading us and guiding us and taking care of all our needs. But, are we letting Him, or are we getting so caught up with what we think is important that we are missing Him. So, is there really any darkness that we are in, or are we creating the darkness by allowing our circumstances to guide us?
Friends, I do not know what many of you might be going through or facing, but I do know that Jesus knows and is trying to reach many of you, including myself. I know that we get so wrapped up in what we think is real that we forget about what is truly real. Jesus is reality!! He loves us so much that He gave us His promises in written form so that at anytime we would be reminded of His love and care for us. He will take care of us, meet our needs, take the hurt away, give us joy----if we would only let Him! So many of us think that we know Jesus because we study Him so much---but do we really know Him? Are you finding yourself in a dark place today? Turn to Jesus and trust in the promises He has given to us---He wants us to lie down in green pastures--totally cared for by Him!
May God Richly Bless You Today!! H Trent!
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk in through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:1-4 NIV.
As we face our trials and struggles, many of us will be faced with the same old "I am praying for you" that somehow we always seem to hear from those around us. But, do they really and do we really get comfort from those words? Another question to ask is: Are we really faced with trials and struggles? Some of us would say yes, I am sick or this person in my life died, or I have no money, etc. Friends, are these really struggles or are they illusions meant to blind us to the power of our Lord?
As we look at our passage, it tells us that the Lord is with us. It tells us that He is going to take care of us, that He is going to provide for us. How many of us really believe the promises contained in these words? Scripture tells us that we do not war against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities that we cannot see in high places. Scripture also tells us that God works all things for good to those who love Him. So which is true and why does He allow it? The answer is both are true and He allows it so that we will be dependant on Him and trust and believe in His word.
Here is a finality: We are all going to die one day! Knowing this then, what is our true trial and struggle? Is it lost jobs, illness, marital problems, or is it learning to love and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus? I believe that the second is true. Our passage tells us that death is a shadow. There is nothing to fear because when we leave this life, we enter the next. It also tells us that Jesus is our Shepherd. That means that He should be leading us and guiding us and taking care of all our needs. But, are we letting Him, or are we getting so caught up with what we think is important that we are missing Him. So, is there really any darkness that we are in, or are we creating the darkness by allowing our circumstances to guide us?
Friends, I do not know what many of you might be going through or facing, but I do know that Jesus knows and is trying to reach many of you, including myself. I know that we get so wrapped up in what we think is real that we forget about what is truly real. Jesus is reality!! He loves us so much that He gave us His promises in written form so that at anytime we would be reminded of His love and care for us. He will take care of us, meet our needs, take the hurt away, give us joy----if we would only let Him! So many of us think that we know Jesus because we study Him so much---but do we really know Him? Are you finding yourself in a dark place today? Turn to Jesus and trust in the promises He has given to us---He wants us to lie down in green pastures--totally cared for by Him!
May God Richly Bless You Today!! H Trent!
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