Trials Archives - Tabetha’s Devotions

July 30, 2019July 30, 2019

For Today, You Can Choose To Not Be OK

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

Word Study

Good – G19 ἀγαθός agathos, good; good as a positive quality (vs. bad), good as a moral quality (vs. evil):– good, clear, right, better, favor, fully, generous, grain, helpful, kind, pleasant, surplus, useful

Thoughts…

It cannot be that He ‘of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things,’ should suffer that purpose to be thwarted by anything really adverse to us, or that He should not make all things, dark as well as light, crooked as well as straight, to co-operate to the furtherance and final completion of His high design (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).

This verse is the most well-meant verse Christians use when someone is in trouble. However, in the midst of the pain, it doesn’t help. I want you to know today it is OK to not be OK. It is OK to need to curl up and just take a moment to cry, be angry, confused, afraid and hurt. Let God hold you. Tomorrow will come and when it does we will face this together and know God has our backs. But today take your moment and I will sit here with you quietly praying that when you’re ready we can face that purpose together.

God has a purpose for everything but we don’t have to face that purpose today. Today we can choose to just not be OK.

July 22, 2019July 22, 2019

There is an End to this Chapter

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV)

Word Study

Temporary – G4672 πρόσκαιρος proskairos, lasting only for a short time, temporary

Thoughts…

18. look not at–as our aim. things … seen–“earthly things” (Php 3:19). We mind not the things seen, whether affliction or refreshment come, so as to be seduced by the latter, or deterred by the former [CHRYSOSTOM]. things … not seen–not “the invisible things” of Ro 1:20, but the things which, though not seen now, shall be so hereafter.

temporal–rather, “for a time”; in contrast to eternal. English Version uses “temporal” for temporary. The Greek is rightly translated in the similar passage, “the pleasures of sin for a season” (Jameson, Fausett, and Brown Commentary).

Whatever life throws at me it will not last forever. It doesn’t say it will not be hard, it will not hurt, there will not be damage or scars. No, it says it will end.

Do not keep your eyes on the storm. Keep your eyes on the one who controls it and will bring it to an end!

June 29, 2018

She is Not Broken Anymore

I know I would normally blog about some experience I am going through and then tie it all nice and neat up with a bow to a bible verse. However, tonight is going to be a little different. A bible study of verses in I Peter, in the Message version of the bible, spoke to me. I really think they speak for themselves and need no wrapping paper or bows.

Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.

1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-13 & 19 The Message

June 27, 2018

Thank You for Traveling that Road

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

No one’s life is all rainbows and unicorns. We all face painful moments that rock out entire world in a matter of seconds.

These moments will change you forever. So let them change you for the good. Let them make you smarter, stronger, and grace filled.

Through these times of trials and tribulations you just might be molding into the person God is preparing as the answer to someone’s prayer. Someone is going to need your wisdom, knowledge and most important empathy when they travel the road behind you.

Right now you may not see the end of the tunnel, but I know the LORD can. He is right next to you every step breathing life into your present and future. He is shining HIS light in the darkest places. Hold on tight.

He is NOT going to leave you or forsake you. His grip is very tight and He will not drop you. No uncertainty, no broken dreams, and NO FEAR can keep you from Him.

Kick, scream, cry, throw a tantrum if you must. But then straighten your crown, remind Satan just who you are and keep moving.

April 18, 2018

The LORD’s Great Love

Leviticus 3:22-23
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and months into years. Some seasons we go through are down right tough. But we must always rememer that the LORD’s great love for us is what sees us through any stormy sea.

Tonight I would like to just pray for you just as Paul did over the Ephisians.

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephisians 3:14-21).

February 19, 2018

Sit Back and Watch

Philippians 4:6-7
⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In one of my devotions this morning, I was reading about not worrying and learning to trust God with all your problems. I loved it when the author said to tell him your problem with trusting and thanksgiving, then watch him supply your need.

Then watch him supply your need…

I pondered these words for a few minutes and two things came to mind right away.

First, just like Elsa, we need to Let it Go! I am not saying stop praying, but stop worrying. You have turned it over to the only one that has total control over the situation. Let him do his thing. Often when something is eating at me, I have to turn to verse seven. I lay claim to that peace which transcends all understanding. I have to tell Satan (and myself) I have already prayed about this and it is out of my hands and now I am going to rely on God’s peace!

Second, (I chuckle at this one because it sounds so like me) when we make our problems known to God it doesn’t say, give him your suggestions for solutions. It says to make your requests known.

Maybe that is why he tags on verse seven, hoping if we relax in his peace we will Let it Go and Let God.

God never promised us life without problems. He promised to walk through life with all of its problems right beside us. Troubles will come our way. Anxieties and worries will strain our very last bit of hope and faith. However, we can take all of our problems to God and be assured he will send you peace while you sit back and wait for him to supply your need in his own way and his own time.

January 17, 2018

Joy in Pain

James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

Anyone else ever wanted to use a black highlighter over the above verse?

I mean, the word trials is synonymous with pain. As a matter of fact, Webster defines it like this:

a person, thing, or situation that tests a person’s endurance or forbearance.

synonyms:

nuisance, pest, irritant, problem, ordeal, inconvenience, plague, thorn in one’s side, one’s cross to bear;bore; informal pain, pain in the neck, pain in the butt, headache, drag, bother, nightmare, albatross; nudnik, burr under someone’s saddle, trouble, anxiety, worry, burden, affliction, ordeal, tribulation, adversity, hardship, trying time, tragedy, trauma, setback, difficulty, problem, misfortune, bad luck, mishap, misadventure

Well, that just sounds something worth being joyful over now, doesn’t it! Surely, God didn’t really mean we should be joyful when we are in pain. Or did He?

Let’s look at this another way. As a matter of fact, let’s take a look at the next couple of verses.

James 1:3-4

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature.

Have you ever worked really hard on something? Maybe it was a craft like a painting, wrote a song, a book, crocheted a blanket. Or maybe you have done something athletic like made it on a team, lost weight, ran a marathon, triathalon or biked a century. Or how about saved up for something like a down payment on a house, a new car, cellphone or other big ticket item. Whatever it was you had to sacrifice. You sacriced time, money and yes, sometimes a little pain.

As a matter of fact it just might have been a nuisance, pest, irritant, problem, ordeal, or inconvenience.

The point is, when it was over you made it! You finished! You persevered! You probably learned a little something along the way. If nothing else, you learned you can do it! How sweet was that reward!

There are a lot of trials on Earth you would much rather avoid like, the death of loved one or an illness. However, even these have nuggest of joy. You grow stronger as you persevere through the trial. Maybe you find a friend to travel with you. Or perhaps you grow closer to God as he travels with you.

God never promised us he would get us our of trials, but he has promised he will go through them with us.

That is joy!

Tag: Trials

For Today, You Can Choose To Not Be OK

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There is an End to this Chapter

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She is Not Broken Anymore

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Thank You for Traveling that Road

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Sit Back and Watch

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Joy in Pain

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