Words of Comfort (Psalm 23:4)

I've been writing this devotional since 2006 and regularly each weekday since 2010. I'm blessed with a small, but faithful group of readers, and I pray each of you has been blessed. I've said before (and I'll say it again!) that I would continue to write even if no one read. Taking time to really dig in and meditate on God's word has helped to strengthen my own faith.

Every once in a while, though, I wake up, and my mind is mush (this happens far more frequently than I'd like!). Usually, if I pray and really focus, the Holy Spirit gives me the words. Today, however, I just can't seem to find those words about the verses I was to write about.

So, as I sit here, I realize that what I need to hear are words of comfort, words that remind me that my Lord and Savior is right by my side. You see, I haven't been feeling well lately. Most of you know that I deal with several health issues. The last few weeks have been rough. God, in His grace, has sustained me, and yet there are days when it's harder than usual. This is one of those days.

I spent some time this morning whining (transparent, aren't I?!), and then just laying everything at my Lord's feet, knowing He'll carry me through. Then I prayed. Just prayed, and the Lord reminded me of a promise spoken through the words of David. I learned them this way as a child:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4, KJV).

I love these words. Love them. It may sound melodramatic, but sometimes I do feel I'm walking through a shadowed valley. I can't see before me; the pathway is so dark. Then I remember: I'm not alone. My Lord is with me.

I like the New Living Translation of this verse, and it is these words that I'm meditating on this morning:

Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

I read these words, and I see a few things.

First, I will walk through dark valleys. The words "even when" are indicative of something likely to occur. It doesn't say if I do; it says even when I will do. Hard times are guaranteed.

The second point, however, reminds me that I needn't be afraid because my Lord is close beside me. I am never, ever alone. Never. I often say that not only is Jesus always by my side, there are days when He carries me, just as a shepherd carries an injured lamb.

The third point is that Jesus protects me. He protects me from the whispers of the enemy who would love to pull me away from the Lord. If you deal with chronic pain, you may have heard the enemy whisper things like: You know, if Jesus really loved you, He wouldn't let you feel such pain. I'm protected against these whispers because I know I will experience trials. This fallen, sinful world is full of pain and suffering, and I'm currently in this world. So, Jesus protects me from those lies by reminding my what the word of God says (verses such as James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7) about the purpose of trials.

The final point, and the one I cling to today, is that Jesus comforts me. I went through a Bible study about becoming more intimate with God with my small group earlier this year. I'd already had a visual about climbing onto my Abba's lap and sharing my heart with Him. The Lord gave me a new visual during this study. Just as John leaned against Jesus' breast at the Last Supper, I can lean against His breast and feel His heart beat with love for me. I am so comforted when I remember how very much He loves me.

I don't know where you are today. Maybe your mind is mush, and you just can't seem to find the words. Maybe you're walking that very dark path, and you feel alone. Maybe you're in pain, and you need comfort. Remember your loving Savior is with you. He will always be with you (Hebrews 13:5). He loves you more that you can imagine (Jeremiah 31:3).

Just lift your hand and say, "Lord Jesus, please hold my hand more tightly today."

And He will.

Rejoice in Suffering (Colossians 1:24)

Today's scripture: Colossians 1:24

Rejoicing in suffering goes against society norms. How one could find anything good in pain and affliction is a complete contradiction to nonbelievers.

Yet throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament, followers of Christ are told to expect suffering. And, yes, even rejoice in it. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote that we are to "consider it all joy" when we face trials or difficult times (James 1:2). Why? Because God will use our suffering for His glory.

And again, our non-believing friends don't get it. They say, "Why would a loving God allow His children to suffer?"

The Bible says a lot about this very thing. If we continue to read the passage from James, we learn that going through trials will one day make us "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (v. 4).

In another letter, Paul wrote that his suffering helped him to realize from where his strength really came: God Himself. He discovered that it was only in his weakness that he came to rely solely on God, and therefore, he could say with conviction, "... when I am weak, then I am strong" (2Corinthians 12:10).

I know this is true. When I lived under my own "strength," I often failed. Yet, because of chronic health issues that keep me relatively weak, I find strength in Jesus. He's with me, walking alongside me ... often carrying me.

And so I can rejoice in my suffering because it draws me closer to my Lord God. Even more, my suffering makes me long for eternity, for the day when I can stand whole and strong before my God.

Beyond Understanding ... (1 John 5:16-18)

Today's scripture: 1 John 5:16-18

Prayer is a privilege. The very idea of being able to talk with our Creator, to commune with Him, to request of Him … it’s an amazing thought.

We can praise Him, thank Him, intercede for others, ask for needs to be met … and He listens to us.

Another aspect of prayer is praying for our brothers and sisters who are caught in the trap of sin. It’s not our responsibility to save them, but we can pray for them. We can pray that their hearts will be convicted and that they’ll repent of their sin.

Now I want to address verse 18. This seems to contradict many other words of scripture. Paul wrote many times of fighting sin. And yet, John wrote that “no one who is born of God sins.” He went on to say that “the evil one does not touch him.”

Yet Jesus Himself told Peter that Satan had made a request to “sift him like wheat” (Luke 22:31). And of course, God allowed Satan to more than touch Job. So who’s right? Do children of God sin or not? Well, yes. Since we all sin, are we not children of God?

As I’ve said before, I’m no theologian. I’m just someone who loves God and loves His word. I pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate God’s word and reveal truth to me. I sometimes “get it,” and other times, I’m still perplexed at the mystery.

However, this is what I believe. I believe that we can accept the gift of salvation, and when we do, we are cleansed of our sin and we look forward to eternity with God—Father, Son, and Spirit. But while we’re on earth, we still battle our flesh. There are times the flesh—however briefly—wins. But as we grow in faith, as our relationship with God becomes stronger and more intimate, we recognize our sin more quickly and immediately confess it.

And pain and suffering? Crises and tragedies? Are they from God or from the enemy? I’m not sure. But this I know. God knows everything. He sees things we don’t. He knows what we need in order to be stronger in faith. And if He sometimes allows the enemy to touch us, it’s because He knows it will eventually turn out for our good (Romans 8:28).

No, I don’t know all the answers, and honestly? I pray I never do this side of heaven. But I trust God. I know what He’s done—and continues to do—in my life. So even when I don’t quite understand, I’ll believe Him. Because He’s God, and I’m not.

The Fiery Ordeal (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
(1 Peter 4:12-13, NASB)

I’ve written about this before, and I’m sure I’ll write about it again. We should expect trials. We should expect suffering. Christ Himself told us we’d suffer as He suffered. We’d be persecuted as He was persecuted.

Why is it then so many of us complain or whine when we face adversity? I’m not saying we can’t cry out to God in our suffering. The psalmists certainly did. I’m not saying we can’t ask “why?” Job certainly did.

We don’t have to understand. We don’t even have to like it. But we shouldn’t be surprised.

However, we should rejoice. I know it’s an oxymoron: joyful suffering. But in Christ, we can rejoice even through trials and tribulations. We can know, with certainty, God will use every situation—good and bad—for His ultimate good. And we can give glory to God … at all times and in all ways.

Suffering in the Flesh (1 Peter 4:1-6)

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
(1 Peter 4:1-6, NASB)

A couple of days ago, I wrote that we should expect persecution because of our faith. Today’s verses return to that thought. If we are “armed” with the purpose of sharing the truth of the gospel, we’ll be in God’s will.

These verses also give us an assurance that those who persecute us on earth will face judgment. God is well aware of what we face, what we endure as His children. And I believe His heart breaks as He sees our pain and suffering, whatever the cause.

Now, I do want to caution us all: We shouldn’t hope for that judgment. What I mean is, we should continually pray for our “enemies,” for those who hurt us. We should pray they’ll find salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for all—even for those who hurt us.

Our hope should be that everyone comes to know Jesus. We can, however, be confident that God is in loving control. He will judge or reward according to the choices we make.

And really, when it comes down to it, our focus should always be on what we’re doing for God’s Kingdom—not on what others may be doing to us.

More Precious Than Gold (1 Peter 1:6-9)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:6-9, NASB)

I find it very interesting that some followers of Christ are surprised when trials come. Somehow they think that becoming a Christian means rainbows, cotton candy, and puppy dogs.

Apparently, they haven’t read their Bible.

I’ve written before about being refined as gold, and I love today’s scripture. Not the being “distressed by various trials” part. Frankly, I’d rather avoid trials. Suffering isn’t on my top ten favorite things to do. If God chose to grow me and mature my faith in any other way, I’d say, “Bring it on.”

But that’s not how God works. He knows we’re fickle and frail and fleshly. He knows we (or maybe it’s just me?) tend to be self-sufficient when the skies are clear and the waves calm. It’s when the storms hit—when we face the fiery furnace—that we reach our hands up and plead for His presence.

So no, I’d rather not have the trials, but since I know I’m who I am today because of the difficult times and how they’ve shaped me, I can rejoice as Peter exhorted.

I can praise and glorify and honor my Lord. I can love Him through the trials. I can find hope, knowing that my trials are for “a little while.” And I can be confident God will use those trials to make me precious like gold.

Facing Tribulation (1 Thess. 2:1-2)

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
(1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, NASB)

Some people seem to think that once you become a Christian, your life becomes calm, peaceful, and stress-free. Clearly, those people haven’t really studied the Bible. Troubles are pretty much promised.

James made it crystal clear when he wrote, “Consider it all joy … when you fall into various trials …” Not if you fall, but when you fall. And Jesus Himself promised difficult times when He said, “In the world you will have tribulation …” (John 16:33). Again, it isn’t a maybe; it’s a will.

Paul knew more than most what it meant to suffer for the name of Christ. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, he described trials and tribulations beyond comprehension. He was beaten, stoned, robbed, imprisoned, and shipwrecked. He experienced weariness, hunger, and thirst. (See 2 Cor. 11:22-27.)

Yet he was able to rejoice in the chains that imprisoned him. He was able to withstand pain and suffering. Why? Because he knew he was following the will of his God and that any suffering he experienced on earth meant nothing in the light of eternity: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

More importantly, he was confident that nothing would ever separate him from the love of his Father:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35-39, NKJV)

Yes, we will have trials and tribulations, but we can be confident of one thing. Our Lord and Savior will be victorious. Or as Jesus said at the end of John 16:33, “... be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Suffering For His Sake (Phil. 1:29-30)

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
(Philippians 1:29-30, NKJV)

Okay. Today’s verses aren’t the most uplifting we’ve read lately. While we are thrilled we’ve been granted the right to believe in Christ, we still would prefer not to have to suffer. However, as I’ve written many times, suffering, trials, and tribulations will come. Not only do we live in a fallen world that’s becoming more and more corrupt each day it seems, but we also are smack-dab in the middle of a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:12).

I think the key here is “for His sake.” When we suffer for Christ, for our faith, and we are able to respond with joy, God is glorified. When we can use our suffering to encourage and comfort others, they may see Christ in us (2 Cor. 1:3-7). And God often uses our suffering to draw us closer to Him as we realize our own weakness (2 Cor. 7-10).

The world uses suffering as a case against a loving God, but we who know Him understand that He loves us through suffering. He guides us through the trials. He carries us through the tribulations. And He holds us tightly through the pain.

As much as I’d love to be free from my daily pain, I quite honestly wouldn’t trade the lessons I’ve learned, the encouragement I’ve been blessed to offer, and the intimacy I have with my Lord for anything. Even a healthy strong body.

What trial are you facing today? What pain are you experiencing? Draw close to your Abba Father, and crawl into His lap. Let Him help you through the suffering, even if He chooses not to remove it.

Prepare for the Battle (2 Tim. 2:3-4)

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
(2 Timothy 2:3-4, NASB)

We are in a battle, folks. Ephesians 6:12 says it well:

We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world (CEV).

Every day we need to put on the full armor of God as Paul described in verses 10-17 of that same chapter.

Then in today’s verses, Paul reminded Timothy of two things a soldier—someone in battle—must be aware of: He suffers, and his focus must be on the battle.

We’re God’s soldiers, and we too must be aware of the same things.

We will suffer. We are not promised smooth and easy lives. Not at all. Think of a soldier in combat. You may not be in the military, nor may you personally know someone who is, but you’ve seen footage of men and women on the frontlines. Their daily lives can be difficult. Tough environments. The constant threat of attack. Being away from loved ones. Even watching fellow soldiers wounded—or die.

So how do those in active combat survive their hardships? They remain “untangled” of the “affairs of everyday life.” They recognize their commitment to their superiors and to the reason for the battle. They put aside other concerns and remain focused on the battle itself.

As we face our own battles, we must also focus on combating the enemy. We can’t let the daily concerns of life steal our focus from gearing up for battle, which we do by spending time in God’s word and in quiet communion with our “superior officer.”

Today—and every day—you’re heading out into battle. Are you prepared? Are you ready for suffering? And are you focused on winning the battle alongside your Sovereign God?

Turning Away vs. Supporting (2 Tim. 1:15-18)

You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
(2 Timothy 1:15-18, NASB)

These verses contain a contrast that I believe still exists today. In verse 15, Paul wrote of those who “turned away from” him. Then verses 16-18 commend someone who stood beside him.

I know of people in ministry who experience the same. On one hand, they’re surrounded by brothers and sisters who pray for them and sometimes even support them financially. Then on the other hand, naysayers and even antagonists belittle or malign them. Even worse, some who supported them in the past “turn away from” them.

Even Jesus had His supporters and those who walked away. During His ministry, some who initially followed Him didn’t stay. And when He was arrested, all of His inner circle—His disciples—ran away (Matt. 26:56; Mark 15:50). Yet it seems that at least two of His disciples did at least attempt to be near Him (John 18:25), and some of the women who had followed Jesus remained as close to His side as possible as He walked His final steps and then hung on the cross (Matt. 27:55-56).

So why should we be surprised when people turn from us? It’ll happen. The best thing to do is focus on those who remain. Be grateful for those who minister with us and support us. And make certain we support others in return.

My More-Than-Able God (2 Tim. 1:12-14)

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.
(2 Timothy 1:12-14, NASB)

Growing up in a Baptist church, I sang a lot of old hymns. And I remember the words of one of my favorites. As I sang this song as a child, I had no idea the words came from 2 Timothy:

I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him until that day.
(Whittle, McGranahan, 1883)

I love the words of that old Scripture-inspired hymn because it reminds me that the God I’ve put my trust in is able. Able to keep me strong. Able to provide. Able to give comfort. Able to shower with peace. Able to help me overcome any situation.

He is greater than anything or anyone. And until the day I leave this earth, either through death or at Christ’s return, He will faithfully hold me safely and securely in His more-than-able right hand (Isaiah 41:10).