There are times when I'm reading the Psalms, and I wonder why protection seems to be promised and happen for them....and then it doesn't seem to happen that way for many Christians.
Yes, sometimes I have negative thoughts, even though I don't want to be that way.
Christians do suffer and die at the hands of evil people.
Today though, I once again reminded myself, that this life isn't all there is.
Yes, Christians have suffered, do suffer, and they will continue to suffer....
but that suffering is limited to this life only.
It won't happen in Heaven. We will be safe there.
Christians aren't immune to the effects of sin, but God has a set time and date for us.
We won't die a moment sooner than is in His plan.
Nobody can do anything to us outside of His will for us, and He will help us through when He does call us to suffer.
We see people being murdered in the U.S. and around the world.
Some of the people are Christians, and some of them are not.
Evil seems to be winning. The culture even of America is in chaos, and it may seem like the evil will triumph.
Yet, we know their time is limited, and their day is coming.
For the LORD loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalm 37:28 NASB
There is a forever for those who trust in the Lord.
I may feel miserable and like I'm falling apart and a mess, but while I hope that things will turn around - I know God is my only hope.
Sometimes God's will is for things to turn around on earth.
Often when people repent, God has turned things around.
Sometimes He seems to calm things down enough to give a time of refreshment in the midst of storms.
God has done a lot of things for His people on earth, and obedience to Him generally has a positive effect for our lives (though sometimes it may bring suffering at the hands of those who don't obey Him).
Today I was reading in a book about J.C. Ryle, and it was talking about prayer, and it reminded me to pray ....and I especially thought to pray for others.
A flicker of hope and encouragement flamed up inside of me.
I'm not saying that everything turned rosy for me, but it gave some renewed purpose and direction in that moment.
It isn't as if I haven't prayed before, but it made me think about how God used people who did pray more.
So, while looking at the seeming chaos around us, I want to encourage people to pray to God Who is still working and will not let us go even in the midst of trials.
Prayer can accomplish much, because God works through prayer.
Prayer for Christians bringing the truth to the lost, prayer for those who will repent and trust Christ, prayer for pastors to live and preach faithfully (Scripturally), for the suffering, for spiritual growth of Christians, for hope, for perseverance, for joy, for our love and trust to mature, for a better understanding of Scripture, for the imprisoned believers (or salvation for those who aren't believers), for discernment, unity of true believers, strong Biblical conviction in the church, and for peaceful hearts, etc.
If this life was all there was, then we would have reason to despair.
Yet we can feel despair at times as humans, and so we must remind ourselves to hope in God.
Even death is not the end. Believers have an everlasting inheritance....forever...and in a place where we will literally be put out of our misery...yet not in death...but in LIFE!
Yes, sometimes I have negative thoughts, even though I don't want to be that way.
Christians do suffer and die at the hands of evil people.
Today though, I once again reminded myself, that this life isn't all there is.
Yes, Christians have suffered, do suffer, and they will continue to suffer....
but that suffering is limited to this life only.
It won't happen in Heaven. We will be safe there.
Christians aren't immune to the effects of sin, but God has a set time and date for us.
We won't die a moment sooner than is in His plan.
Nobody can do anything to us outside of His will for us, and He will help us through when He does call us to suffer.
We see people being murdered in the U.S. and around the world.
Some of the people are Christians, and some of them are not.
Evil seems to be winning. The culture even of America is in chaos, and it may seem like the evil will triumph.
Yet, we know their time is limited, and their day is coming.
For the LORD loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalm 37:28 NASB
There is a forever for those who trust in the Lord.
I may feel miserable and like I'm falling apart and a mess, but while I hope that things will turn around - I know God is my only hope.
Sometimes God's will is for things to turn around on earth.
Often when people repent, God has turned things around.
Sometimes He seems to calm things down enough to give a time of refreshment in the midst of storms.
God has done a lot of things for His people on earth, and obedience to Him generally has a positive effect for our lives (though sometimes it may bring suffering at the hands of those who don't obey Him).
Today I was reading in a book about J.C. Ryle, and it was talking about prayer, and it reminded me to pray ....and I especially thought to pray for others.
A flicker of hope and encouragement flamed up inside of me.
I'm not saying that everything turned rosy for me, but it gave some renewed purpose and direction in that moment.
It isn't as if I haven't prayed before, but it made me think about how God used people who did pray more.
So, while looking at the seeming chaos around us, I want to encourage people to pray to God Who is still working and will not let us go even in the midst of trials.
Prayer can accomplish much, because God works through prayer.
Prayer for Christians bringing the truth to the lost, prayer for those who will repent and trust Christ, prayer for pastors to live and preach faithfully (Scripturally), for the suffering, for spiritual growth of Christians, for hope, for perseverance, for joy, for our love and trust to mature, for a better understanding of Scripture, for the imprisoned believers (or salvation for those who aren't believers), for discernment, unity of true believers, strong Biblical conviction in the church, and for peaceful hearts, etc.
If this life was all there was, then we would have reason to despair.
Yet we can feel despair at times as humans, and so we must remind ourselves to hope in God.
Even death is not the end. Believers have an everlasting inheritance....forever...and in a place where we will literally be put out of our misery...yet not in death...but in LIFE!
This post, and the one about Dallas, was very well said. You have a good way with words. May God bless you.
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