June 04th, 2020

“Trust…In God!”
 
 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.   1 Peter 4:12
 
     Why God?  Why is this happening to me, to my family?  What have I done? Where did I go wrong?   Please God, please help me!
 
     Most, if not all, have went through times such as this…anguish, questioning, searching, pleading.  These are not happy times, however in the life of a Christian they can be fruitful. Times of growth, closeness to God, trust, and believe It or not, times of extreme joy.
 
     Please understand. God could have kept Daniel out of the lions' den…he could have kept Paul and Silas out of jail…he could have kept Paul from stoning…but God has never promised to keep us out of hard places…what he has promised is to go with us through every hard place, and to bring us through victoriously.
 
     The issue is not how great the trouble is. What really matters is where the trouble lies-whether it comes between you and God or whether it presses you nearer his heart.
 
     Oswald chambers said it best, “A saint's life is in the hands of God as a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see; he stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says, "I cannot stand any more." But God does not heed; he goes on stretching until his purpose is in sight, then he lets fly. We are here for God's designs, not for our own.”
 
     Trouble and adversity are like the rains of Spring…You can look through the window and dwell on the present clouds and darkness or you can look toward the blessings of life that it brings. You can stubbornly look at what the normal phases of life have taken away, or thru eyes of trust; look at the wonderful blessings that still remain.
 
     It’s wonderful to know that the Child of God, in every situation, has the awesome responsibility and the blessed privilege of trusting in their almighty, loving, God.   There is always exceeding joy as we walk together with our Lord.
 
                                             What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Savior liveth;
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth;
No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to Him I’m clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing? -R. Lowry
 
 
                                         Remember the teakettle: when it's up to its neck in hot water; it sings.
 
 
Pastor Rudy