Wednesday, March 5, 2014

No Matter Where the Road Leads, God is Always With Us (3.5.14)

When bad things happen we may never understand why. 

GOD tells us, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts - Isaiah 55:8-9

Trying to analyze GOD's omnipotence is simply not possible. But there is one thing we can be sure of, All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful - Psalm 25:10,  whether we understand them or not.

When we encounter difficulties, it is easy to jump to conclusions. 
We sometimes think GOD is mad at us or He is punishing us. 
We wonder if GOD is not blessing us 
because we've disappointed Him in some way. 
But all through the Bible we see that some of GOD's closest believers
experienced the darkest nights.

Joseph suffered. David suffered. The disciples suffered. 
Elizabeth suffered. Mary Magdalene suffered. Martha suffered. 
Mary (Jesus' mother) suffered. Paul suffered. Jesus suffered. 

And each one of these men and women 
followed GOD's will for their life. 

Looking at the scripture, you will see that some of the most Godly men and women suffered. The abundant life that Jesus came to give does not come without struggle, any more than a butterfly can soar without a struggle from its cocoon. We could never open a cocoon and expect to find a butterfly ready to fly. Without the cocoon (struggle), the butterfly would not be strong enough to fly.

Jesus warned us that we would have struggles in this life, and yet for some reason struggles always seem to catch us by surprise. Consider it all joy, James said, when you encounter various trials…-  James 1:2 (NASB). Notice James said when and not if.

Jesus prayed the following prayer, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will, - Matthew 26:39. There was no other way. GOD's will would have to be done for Jesus and so it is for us as well.

Take a look at the names given to the Holy Spirit: Intercessor, Helper, Counselor, and Comforter. The very nature of those names lets us know that we are going to go through difficulties, but thankfully GOD did not leave us to struggle alone. 

Jesus wept. The Holy Spirit groans. And GOD's heart aches. 

In one beautiful sentence, we catch a glimpse into the heart of GOD as we go through tough times, In all their distress he too was distressed, - Isaiah 63:9. We may not see GOD's face during the difficult days of pain, but you can be sure He is there, and many times His face is streaked with tears also.

As we practice Acts 17:28 - In Him we live and move and have our being, it does not mean that we will walk down a path void of treacherous twists and turns. 

It does mean that no matter where the road may lead, 
we are not alone.

Because GOD is with us.



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