James 1:12-15
God will bless you, if you don’t
give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a
glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Don’t
blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he
doesn’t use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that
drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is
finished with us, it leaves us dead.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Friends
of ours welcomed a new grand-daughter into the world yesterday. This
baby arrived early in the morning and was almost immediately whisked off
to nearby Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she will undergo heart
surgery within the next two days. Her parents have been aware for
several months that this would happen. Still, this baby’s grandmother
said that letting them take her away in an ambulance yesterday and was
one of the hardest things she has ever witnessed.
I cannot
explain in medical terms what is wrong with this baby’s heart. But I
know that there is a hole…and some of the parts of the heart are not
connected correctly. The medical team believes that all of this can be
reversed in one surgery. This is probably a fairly routine procedure
for them…but for us “regular folks,” it all sounds pretty daunting.
Additionally,
this baby’s grandmother is just a few months out from a
more-than-year-long battle with colon cancer. All indications are that
she is cancer free, but what a journey she endured…surgeries, weekly
chemo treatments, infections, and more! She is a walking miracle…and a
testament to amazing faith in God – because hers never seemed to waver.
When
troubles come in groups like this, we often tend to feel like we can’t
catch a break. Sometimes, we wonder if God is punishing us. Many are
tempted to walk away and say, “If God allows these things to happen to
such faithful people, I don’t want any part of Him.” But oh, what a
mistake this would be!
My family has experienced its own period
of “faith testing” in recent months…and maybe yours has, also. I won’t
even begin to diminish the pain and heartache that can come…the nagging
frustrations and confusion that are possible. Sometimes there is that
momentary thought…”Why bother to take care of myself…exercise and eat
right…if I’m just going to have an accident or get cancer and die
anyway?” We are tempted to curl up in a ball and let the world pass us
by…or drown our sorrows in something – even if it’s ice cream!
But
this would speak volumes about our Christian faith…or lack of it. We
will all be faced with challenges…heartaches…devastating events that
knock us to our knees. And God will be right there with us, whether we
recognize Him or not. How well we lean into God and allow Him to
shoulder the burdens will tell the tale of our faith.
When we
pick ourselves up and keep going even on the days we don’t think we can –
or we don’t feel up to it – God carries us. And I assure you, He
blesses us in the process. It may be days/weeks/years later, but we
will look back and see how He gave us everything we needed to get
through this. God has done this for me and my family…and I know that He
is doing this for the family of this newborn baby girl.
For a
myriad of reasons, many people are blaming God for their
troubles…wondering why they even try to serve and be faithful to Someone
who allows these “tests” - and Satan’s temptations. And I would say to
them – and to you – we cannot see how we are growing in strength and
wisdom, courage and hope. We cannot fully comprehend how God is
blessing us as we lean on Him and forge ahead. But we will someday…and
it will all have been worth the effort. I believe this with all my
heart…what about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label when faith is tested. Show all posts
Showing posts with label when faith is tested. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2016
Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, three-year-old Nathan came to me and said, “I’m thirsty.” “I’ll get you something in a minute,” I told him. “But I’m THIRSTY!” he wailed. He gave me his most pitiful pouting lip, big crocodile tears, and the repetitive “fit” of a toddler as he pled his case. Patience is not the strong suit of three-year-olds! The other day as I told Nathan “no” about something, he muttered, “You don’t like me…you don’t love me anymore.” Oh, the pity parties children can throw!
My passage from Jesus Calling* this morning was about self-pity. It said in part, “When you are weary or unwell, this demonic trap is the greatest danger you face.” WOW! This echoed in my head as I read the words of Jesus…”Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me…” In recent months, I feel like Satan has tried very hard to separate Greg and me from Jesus. He has pretty well “thrown the book at us” with the sudden deaths of Greg’s brother and my mother…an upper respiratory virus that sapped our health and strength for a few weeks during all of this turmoil…the general stresses and energy drains of the holidays…and more. It would be so easy to stay in bed, pull the covers over our heads, and let the world pass us by as we feel so very sorry for ourselves and all that has befallen us. But then the devil would win…and we simply cannot have that!
I was reminded in Jesus Calling that “…the closer you live to Me, the more distance there is between you and the pit.” In this passage from Luke, we hear Jesus tell Simon that HE has prayed for him. Can you imagine it…Jesus praying for us?! That took my breath! With this in mind, how could we possibly cave in and succumb to the devil’s insistence that all is lost? Do you see how important it is that we turn to Jesus and focus on Him rather than on our situation? If He is praying for us, how on earth can we possibly continue to wallow in self-pity?
There is an old song called “Pick Yourself Up**” – written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields 1936 for the movie “Swing Time.” One phrase says:
“Nothing's impossible, I have found
For when my chin is on the ground.
I pick myself up, dust myself off
And start all over again.”
This is exactly what Jesus is commanding us to do. We are not to give the devil any satisfaction. We are to recognize that Jesus is fighting for us…petitioning God on our behalf…guiding and caring for us through His Holy Spirit. We are to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, start over…and help others do the same.
We are not self-absorbed three-year-olds…and we should not act like them. Regardless of how badly we want to stomp our feet, stick out our lower lip and throw a fit…this is not what those who trust in Jesus do when the chips are down! The choice is ours completely…but to choose to spend even a little while in self-pity doesn’t seem like a viable option to me. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.jesuscalling.com
**©Copyright 1936 T.B. Harms & Company Incorporated
“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, three-year-old Nathan came to me and said, “I’m thirsty.” “I’ll get you something in a minute,” I told him. “But I’m THIRSTY!” he wailed. He gave me his most pitiful pouting lip, big crocodile tears, and the repetitive “fit” of a toddler as he pled his case. Patience is not the strong suit of three-year-olds! The other day as I told Nathan “no” about something, he muttered, “You don’t like me…you don’t love me anymore.” Oh, the pity parties children can throw!
My passage from Jesus Calling* this morning was about self-pity. It said in part, “When you are weary or unwell, this demonic trap is the greatest danger you face.” WOW! This echoed in my head as I read the words of Jesus…”Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me…” In recent months, I feel like Satan has tried very hard to separate Greg and me from Jesus. He has pretty well “thrown the book at us” with the sudden deaths of Greg’s brother and my mother…an upper respiratory virus that sapped our health and strength for a few weeks during all of this turmoil…the general stresses and energy drains of the holidays…and more. It would be so easy to stay in bed, pull the covers over our heads, and let the world pass us by as we feel so very sorry for ourselves and all that has befallen us. But then the devil would win…and we simply cannot have that!
I was reminded in Jesus Calling that “…the closer you live to Me, the more distance there is between you and the pit.” In this passage from Luke, we hear Jesus tell Simon that HE has prayed for him. Can you imagine it…Jesus praying for us?! That took my breath! With this in mind, how could we possibly cave in and succumb to the devil’s insistence that all is lost? Do you see how important it is that we turn to Jesus and focus on Him rather than on our situation? If He is praying for us, how on earth can we possibly continue to wallow in self-pity?
There is an old song called “Pick Yourself Up**” – written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields 1936 for the movie “Swing Time.” One phrase says:
“Nothing's impossible, I have found
For when my chin is on the ground.
I pick myself up, dust myself off
And start all over again.”
This is exactly what Jesus is commanding us to do. We are not to give the devil any satisfaction. We are to recognize that Jesus is fighting for us…petitioning God on our behalf…guiding and caring for us through His Holy Spirit. We are to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, start over…and help others do the same.
We are not self-absorbed three-year-olds…and we should not act like them. Regardless of how badly we want to stomp our feet, stick out our lower lip and throw a fit…this is not what those who trust in Jesus do when the chips are down! The choice is ours completely…but to choose to spend even a little while in self-pity doesn’t seem like a viable option to me. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*www.jesuscalling.com
**©Copyright 1936 T.B. Harms & Company Incorporated
Daily Devotional for January 7, 2016
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today a social worker from Hospice visited with us. She was here to get acquainted with us and basically to make sure that we were all okay as a family. She asked my mother how she was doing, and Mother assured her that she was trusting God. She said, “I know that God is taking care of this."
When my mother was first diagnosed with cancer in September, she e-mailed me and said, “I have a serious problem, Debbie. The tests show cancer markers. This is going to be OK—no matter what. Just going to be a battle ahead.” The battle has come…and my mother is smack in the middle of it!
The GOOD NEWS is that cancer is not winning. From the very first diagnosis, my mother has said, “Either way, this will all be okay.” And she is right. Because my mother’s refuge does not lie in successful chemotherapy treatments or some miracle cure at a reputable facility. Her “tested help” does not have “M.D.” after his/her name.
My mother is relying on Almighty God to work things out according to His will…on HIS timetable. And it doesn’t look like He intends for her to hang out with us much longer. This morning, a dear friend texted my mother a message. Another woman she knows is also battling ovarian cancer. She wrote of this friend and my mother…”Your mom and my dear special friend have packed her [Mom’s] RV for a new journey. She doesn’t need a map or a GPS thing. The road has been ready for her trip for a long time. What gives me comfort and peace is GOD is in the driver’s seat! Instead of a seat belt, she has on her angel’s wings. The highway is paved in gold, and Heaven is singing, “Coming Home!”
If that doesn’t describe a “beautiful refuge” and “tested help in times of trouble,” I’m not sure what would. My prayer for you today is that YOU know this Refuge…that YOU trust Him to be your “tested help in times of trouble.” I pray that nothing is too big for God to solve for you…that you know that all will be okay, no matter what happens.
It’s a beautiful thing to go headlong into battle knowing that God is leading the way. Are you secure in that faith today? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today a social worker from Hospice visited with us. She was here to get acquainted with us and basically to make sure that we were all okay as a family. She asked my mother how she was doing, and Mother assured her that she was trusting God. She said, “I know that God is taking care of this."
When my mother was first diagnosed with cancer in September, she e-mailed me and said, “I have a serious problem, Debbie. The tests show cancer markers. This is going to be OK—no matter what. Just going to be a battle ahead.” The battle has come…and my mother is smack in the middle of it!
The GOOD NEWS is that cancer is not winning. From the very first diagnosis, my mother has said, “Either way, this will all be okay.” And she is right. Because my mother’s refuge does not lie in successful chemotherapy treatments or some miracle cure at a reputable facility. Her “tested help” does not have “M.D.” after his/her name.
My mother is relying on Almighty God to work things out according to His will…on HIS timetable. And it doesn’t look like He intends for her to hang out with us much longer. This morning, a dear friend texted my mother a message. Another woman she knows is also battling ovarian cancer. She wrote of this friend and my mother…”Your mom and my dear special friend have packed her [Mom’s] RV for a new journey. She doesn’t need a map or a GPS thing. The road has been ready for her trip for a long time. What gives me comfort and peace is GOD is in the driver’s seat! Instead of a seat belt, she has on her angel’s wings. The highway is paved in gold, and Heaven is singing, “Coming Home!”
If that doesn’t describe a “beautiful refuge” and “tested help in times of trouble,” I’m not sure what would. My prayer for you today is that YOU know this Refuge…that YOU trust Him to be your “tested help in times of trouble.” I pray that nothing is too big for God to solve for you…that you know that all will be okay, no matter what happens.
It’s a beautiful thing to go headlong into battle knowing that God is leading the way. Are you secure in that faith today? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 22, 2015
James 1:12
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I took the children to swim at our community’s Aquatic Center. The local swim team was practicing in the lanes adjacent to the open pool area where we were swimming. The children were so impressed. They knew some of the team members from church, and I encouraged them to “race” in our section of the pool “like the swim team.” Timothy eagerly said, “Okay, okay…and you be our coach!”
I lined the three children up along one wall of the pool and then backed away some 15 feet into the deeper water. I would say, “Ready, set, GO!” and have them swim to me. All three children would start out working hard, but about three or four feet into the swim, Zola would stop dead in her tracks and start to try to cry! “I can’t go!” she would say. “You’re not trying,” I would tell her. “Kick your legs and pull with your arms and hands.” “But I can’t!” she would wail.
Meanwhile, Timothy and Nathan would have happily reached me, both excitedly squealing that “I won! I won!” They did not give up. Even when a sibling moved into their path and blocked them temporarily…they skirted around and kept swimming.
This is what we are being told to do in James 1:12…keep swimming. Don’t give up when things get tough. When you get stuck “dead in the water” for a brief moment, don’t just throw up your hands and try to squeeze out a few tears of defeat. Keep swimming! Keep trying, and stay faithful. I held out my hands and encouraged Zola to “Come on! Keep coming to me. I’m right here.” And you know what? That is exactly what God is saying. “Come on…hang on just a little longer…I am right here with you.”
This verse says that those who remain faithful and do not quit will be rewarded with “a glorious life.” And I will agree with you that there are days and circumstances in this earthly life that seem anything but glorious. Some are downright hard and unpleasant – and we want to run screaming into the night and say, “ENOUGH! I am DONE!” But here’s the thing…God understands this…and He’s not going anywhere. He can make even the lousiest day or circumstances bearable…He will ultimately deliver us and give us joy and peace again. And when we learn to remain faithful and trust God even in the worst times, we discover that the rewards increase exponentially - in ways we never ever dreamed.
So keep swimming. Stay focused on God and trust His promises. Propel yourself forward toward His outstretched hands. You can’t begin to imagine how He will bless you…but He surely will. And in the end, you will also shout, “I won! I won!” Today is the day…Ready…Set…GO!
©2015 Debbie Robus
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I took the children to swim at our community’s Aquatic Center. The local swim team was practicing in the lanes adjacent to the open pool area where we were swimming. The children were so impressed. They knew some of the team members from church, and I encouraged them to “race” in our section of the pool “like the swim team.” Timothy eagerly said, “Okay, okay…and you be our coach!”
I lined the three children up along one wall of the pool and then backed away some 15 feet into the deeper water. I would say, “Ready, set, GO!” and have them swim to me. All three children would start out working hard, but about three or four feet into the swim, Zola would stop dead in her tracks and start to try to cry! “I can’t go!” she would say. “You’re not trying,” I would tell her. “Kick your legs and pull with your arms and hands.” “But I can’t!” she would wail.
Meanwhile, Timothy and Nathan would have happily reached me, both excitedly squealing that “I won! I won!” They did not give up. Even when a sibling moved into their path and blocked them temporarily…they skirted around and kept swimming.
This is what we are being told to do in James 1:12…keep swimming. Don’t give up when things get tough. When you get stuck “dead in the water” for a brief moment, don’t just throw up your hands and try to squeeze out a few tears of defeat. Keep swimming! Keep trying, and stay faithful. I held out my hands and encouraged Zola to “Come on! Keep coming to me. I’m right here.” And you know what? That is exactly what God is saying. “Come on…hang on just a little longer…I am right here with you.”
This verse says that those who remain faithful and do not quit will be rewarded with “a glorious life.” And I will agree with you that there are days and circumstances in this earthly life that seem anything but glorious. Some are downright hard and unpleasant – and we want to run screaming into the night and say, “ENOUGH! I am DONE!” But here’s the thing…God understands this…and He’s not going anywhere. He can make even the lousiest day or circumstances bearable…He will ultimately deliver us and give us joy and peace again. And when we learn to remain faithful and trust God even in the worst times, we discover that the rewards increase exponentially - in ways we never ever dreamed.
So keep swimming. Stay focused on God and trust His promises. Propel yourself forward toward His outstretched hands. You can’t begin to imagine how He will bless you…but He surely will. And in the end, you will also shout, “I won! I won!” Today is the day…Ready…Set…GO!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)