pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: trial


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Truths and Promises

Readings: Psalms 57-59

‭Psalm 58:11 – “Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! Yes, there is a God who judges people on the earth.”

Photo credit: Tyler Milligan

Psalms 57-59 are attributed to David, continuing the run that began with Psalm 51. All three of today’s Psalms contain the phrase “Do not destroy.” in the superscript. Psalms 57 and 59 identify Saul as the cause of the oppression and threats that David faced in these Psalms. In all three Psalms we find a confidence in God and in God’s sense of justice and righteousness. In the end, David trusts these will prevail.

The setting for Psalm 57 is when David fled from Saul, hiding out in the caves in the wilderness. David first seeks mercy and refuge “until destruction passes by.” His desire is to safely ride out this present trial. He is in “the middle of a pack of lions” – a great visual for being surrounded by Saul and his army. Verse 6 perhaps refers to when David cut off the corner of Saul’s robe, sparing his life (1st Samuel 24.) The Psalm closes with an “unwavering heart” that gives God thanks for God’s faithful love that saw David through this trial.

We return to the David-Saul conflict in Psalm 59. David cries out for deliverance from “enemies… evildoers… the bloodthirsty.” They lie in ambush outside of David’s house, waiting to attack. David’s response: “Get up when I cry out to you!” Come and act, God! But David does not wish for their deaths. He wants God to deal with them but also to leave them alive so that they can serve as examples for other traitors. The Psalm closes with singing and shouts of praise to God his shelter and stronghold when David was distraught. This God is our God too. So may we too stand on these truths and promises in our times of trial.

Prayer: Lord God, your faithful love always surrounds us. In the midst of the trial we can forget that you are all around us. Help us to remember that you hedge us in and form a wall of protection around us. Be our strength and stronghold. Be our refuge and fortress. From there, guide us to proclaim your faithful love to all. Amen.


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Cycle 1

Readings: Job 6, – Job 14

Job 11:7 – “Can you find the secret of God or find the extent of the Almighty?”

Today’s readings complete the first cycle of Job’s conversations (arguments?) with his three “friends.” This pattern occurs two more times. In chapters 6-7 Job speaks. He longs for his suffering to end. He again reasserts his innocence. Job accuses his friends of disloyalty and then he asks them to help him understand his situation. And then he asks to be left alone. These are thoughts and feelings that we’ve all had in times of suffering.

Bildad responds by inviting Job to look to the past. There Job will see a God of justice and faithfulness. He advises Job to turn to God, to confess and repent, and then God will “fill your mouth with joy.” Job counters by asking if anyone can truly be innocent before God. Even though no one can contend with God’s power, Job still wants a contest (or trial) with the God who “destroys the blameless and the sinners.” Quite an accusation! But in a moment of realization, Job speaks of a mediator – one who could stand impartially between God and Job. Then Job’s case could be heard. As chapter 10 closes, a darkness descends. Job longs for death, even wishes he wasn’t even born.

Zophar responds, reminding Job of God’s wisdom that is far beyond Job’s understanding – but within Zophar’s! Oh that Job would just confess and repent. Then Job could “lift up your face without blemish.” Job responds by acknowledging God’s superiority but quickly reminds Zophar that he is not superior to Job. He again claims his innocence and longs to just speak with God. His life is now nothing. What does he have to lose?

In chapter 14 Job bookends a hopeful thought with the realities of life. We bloom and then whither like a flower. Life is too short. In verse 13 Job speaks a hopeful but impossible thought: if God would just place him in Sheol until God’s anger passed. Then God could restore Job. Cycle two begins tomorrow!

Prayer: Lord God, what swings of emotion and thought. What ups and downs as Job and his friends try and make sense of all this suffering. We too wrestle with these things. We too get caught up in our struggles and trials. When we do, Lord, pull us back to the reality of your sure and steadfast love. Amen.


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This Same God

Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6

Verse 6: “My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.”

Isaiah 51 reminds reminds me of the “then and now” of our faith. Written to those “who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord,” it calls them and us to remember the long arc of the relationship between God and God’s people. Looking into today and beyond into eternity, we are also reminded of God’s standing promise: “My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.”

Isaiah writes these words to the Israelites living with him in exile. Their time in exile has grown long. They are living as strangers in a place far away from all they’ve ever known. It has been a wearying and difficult stay. So Isaiah calls them to remember where they came from and whose they are. He calls them to remember Abraham and Sarah, the ones who received the covenant and who were blessed as God fulfilled the promise. When we find ourselves in a trial or in a season of suffering, it is good to remember the great stories of faith and to be reminded of “the rock” that we too stand upon.

The prophet also speaks of hope and restoration. Isaiah tells the exiles that God looks “with compassion on all her ruins” – both those back home and those that are their lives now. He prophesies that God will transform these dry and barren places and lives into a garden paradise, into a place where there will be “thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” Isaiah tells them that justice and salvation are on the way! This was all probably hard to hear in the darkness and despair of exile. But, wait. Remember, God took one and “blessed him and made him many.” This same God promises to restore Israel. This same God can and will bring us through our trials and sufferings. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord, it is good to remember and to know once again that your promises of salvation and compassion are for all people who call on you and who seek your righteousness. The promises are for us. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


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Steps and the Promise

Readings: 1st Peter 4:12-14 and 5:6-11

Verse 7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Photo credit: Uta Scholl

As we come to the close to our time in 1st Peter, the common themes continue: “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering” and “you are blessed for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Yes, you/we will suffer for our faith. Have hope! Glory awaits one day and God is with you/us each day in the trials.

Turning to chapter 5 we find some practical steps to walk faithfully through our suffering as well as a promise that gives us this living hope that we have in Jesus Christ. First, Peter calls for humility. Only from this place do we acknowledge our own weaknesses and fragility. Only then do we believe that we truly need God’s power and strength in the trials. Next Peter writes, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” He is NOT saying God will take away all the trials and suffering. He IS saying that if we trust God to lead and guide and to be with us as we walk through the trials and suffering, then we can turn over our anxieties, fears, doubts, worries… to God. This is a big step.

Third, Peter tells us to be “self-controlled and alert.” This advice is given because Satan is always on the prowl, always looking for ways to drag us into sin and away from God. By being disciplined in our faith practices we are arming ourselves with power against these attacks. By being alert we are aware of our own areas of weakness and of those people and/or places that hold negative sway over us. This leads us to the 4th step: “Resist him.” Luke trials and suffering, temptation will come. Satan will attack. To this too we could say, “Do not be surprised…” Peter calls them/us to resist, to stand firm on our rock.

And the promise: “And the God of all grace… will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” We do not walk alone. God in Spirit is with us always. In and through the trials and the suffering, God builds our faith. God sees us through and brings us out better able and more equipped for the next round. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, we close this walk through 1st Peter with such hope! In this life we will suffer, we will have trials, we will face temptations. Yet you are there with us, giving and being all that we need to walk faithfully through each one, emerging more faithful, more trusting, more assured of the living hope we have in you. Thank you for your great love and care for each of us. Amen.


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Surrender, Trust, Belief

Reading: Psalm 31:1-5 and 15-16

Verse 5: “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

In Psalm 31 David turns to God in the midst of a trial. He begins by reminding God that he has taken refuge in God before. Maybe he’s reminding himself too. Then David turns to the Lord for help, leaning into his current trial. Seeking protection and deliverance and rescue, David asks God to “be my rock of refuge, my strong fortress.” When we too are in a time of trial we pray such prayers. It is natural to turn to the one who has been there before, trusting them to be there once again.

There’s a slight shift in verse 3. It is subtle but here David begins to include God in the prayer. Because God is David’s rock and refuge, “for the sake of your name,” David prays, “lead and guide me. Free me… for you are my refuge.” Others are watching God. Others know that David turns to God and relies on God. David is saying, in essence, ‘God, you gotta come through.’ At times I’ve prayed along these lines. In desperation I’ve tried playing this card. Yet, doing so, it is also a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Verses 5, 15, and 16 carry a different tone. These are words of surrender and trust. “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” Jesus prayed these words on the cross. Stephen echoed them as he was being stoned. There is a calm in these words, a belief that God has it, that God is in control. As we bring our needs, our trials, our confessions, our concerns to the Lord, may we do so with the same surrender, trust, and belief.

Prayer: Lord God, I praise you for your steadfast love and for your faithfulness. Time and time again you’ve been there for me. Continue to walk with me, to guide me, to lead me. Be the Lord of my life. I surrender to you. Amen.


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A New Birth

Reading: 1st Peter 1:3-9

Verses 3-4: “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”

Peter writes to “God’s elect” who are spread throughout the known world. These scattered Christians are experiencing an uptick in persecution under Emperor Nero. They are afraid and they are questioning the living of their faith in the public arena. Their suffering is driving these thoughts.

Today’s 7 verses pack a powerful punch. Peter begins his encouragement with these words: “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” Through their faith in Jesus Christ these exiles have received the promise of salvation and with it the gift of eternal life. They have been born anew, now living with hope as brothers and sisters of Christ. This new relationship and connection with Jesus brings with it an inheritance. Peter reminds them that this inheritance will “never perish, spoil, or fade.” It is eternal. It is “shielded by God’s power.” There is nothing more powerful. Living as elect exiles , as Christians in a pagan world, this reminder of Christ’s living presence and of God’s power over them would have been great encouragement to these believers.

In verse 6 Peter touches on another part of their inheritance. Here he writes, “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” While this may make some consider going underground with their faith, Peter is being honest. Trials will come. Testing is assured. Living as hope and light in the world will draw fire. But, take heart, Peter says this will refine our faith so that it “may be proved genuine.” This too is a new birth. Although uncomfortable and often painful, this refining yields a stronger faith now and one day will result in “praise, glory, and honor” when we come face to face with Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, what a great reminder of the power and presence that you offer to us in this life. Though the trials come, we are always under your shield. Though the suffering may be painful and hard, it works for our good now and for glory to come. You are the God of all time, of all places, and of all situations. Praise be to you, O Lord! Amen.


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Unfailing Love

Reading: Psalm 31:9-16

Verse 9: “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress.”

Today’s reading comes from the middle of Psalm 31. David cries out to God: “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress.” He is in a time of hardship and trial. The Psalm opens and closes with praise and adoration. Our verses today are about a time that wasn’t good: “I have become like broken pottery.” That’s pretty low. Yet we all have these days or seasons sprinkled throughout our lives too. We have times when “our strength fails,” when we are “weak with sorrow,” when we feel “terror on every side.” In these times we too cry out, “Be merciful…”

David shifts gears in verse 14, where he writes, “But I trust in you, O Lord.” Yes, it is bad. Yet David chooses trust. Trusting that his days are “in your hands,” David asks God for deliverance. He wants God to rescue him, to restore him. We can all relate to this desire. In our valley and on our dark days/seasons, we long for God to deliver us from the trial. David’s trust is what leads him to believe that God will come through. This trust is built. It is built on David’s past experiences with God. David has learned that the trial doesn’t last forever – joy comes with the morning. He has learned that God is always right there with him – the rod and the staff, they comfort and guide. As we learn into God again and again, our trust will be built. Doing so we too will come to know and trust into God’s faithful and steadfast love.

As we invest in our relationship with God and as God invests in our life, we too will come to say with confidence and assurance: “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.”

Prayer: Lord God, the trials and the hard days are never welcomed. They are never easy. It’s when Satan whispers loudest. Yet these times refine us, they shape us. In these difficult experiences we learn to cling to you even more. Today, Lord, I thank you for even the hard and painful days. Amen.


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Growing Deeper

Reading: Psalm 119:1-8

Verse 7: “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.”

As we return to Psalm 119 today, we focus in on the joy of living into the will and way of God. The psalmist recognizes the blessing of walking in the way of the Lord. Now this is not a material blessing, but a spiritual blessing. This is not an absence of trial or pain blessing, but the blessing of God’s presence in and through all that life throws at us. The blessing comes in the intimate relationship that we can have with God.

The psalmist has learned that intimacy must be built, grown, developed. Accordingly the author strives to “seek God with all their heart.” It is a total commitment. It is not a “what have you done lately” attitude, nor is it an “I’ll see you the next time I need something” attitude. It is an “I’ll seek God with all of my heart” in the highs, in the lows, and in all in between attitude. It is awakening with an “I love you,” going to bed with an “I love you,” and it is saying “I love you God” with each thought, word, and action throughout our day.

The blessing and the presence of God leads to the joy and thanksgiving expressed in our Psalm. In verse 7 we read, “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” The psalmist seeks to live righteously and according to the will and way of God. Yet there is also a realization that he or she is a work in progress – “as I learn.” There is humility and honesty here. What a refreshing reminder! As fellow works in progress may we too seek God with all of our heart, trusting in God to be faithful and true as we learn to grow deeper in love with the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, there is such joy and peace in your presence. There is security and contentment. There is hope and there is love. There is calm in the storm and elation on the mountain top. Day by day keep my feet on the faithful path. Moment by moment deepen my love for you. Amen.


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What Is Right and True

Reading: Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Verse 1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?”

Photo credit: Darold Pinnock

This week’s Psalm begins with words of faith and trust in God. As you read these words, David’s faith oozes out, his trust shouts aloud. Moving into verse 4 we see the source of his faith and trust. Here David asks just one thing – to dwell in God’s presence all of his days. Even though an enemy may attack, even though an army may besiege him, David trusts that God will keep him safe and that God will “set me high upon a rock.”

In this life we will face enemies and attacks. Last night at youth group we talked about doing the right thing. It is a moment when we sometimes falter, fearing what may happen to us, worrying about what others may say or think about us. Fear of the potential trial or of the cost of doing what we know is right and just can paralyze us. In David’s words we are reminded today that God is with us and that God has been and always will be both our helper and our defender.

Today we remember and celebrate one who lived these words and truths out. Today we remember and celebrate a pastor who chose to stand for justice and equality. Fear could have easily won the day many times. The threats and violence would’ve silenced many people’s voices. Day by day, Martin Luther King, Jr., clung to his light and salvation, to his stronghold, to the one rock upon which he stood. As his fellow saints who walk the same path of faith, may we too choose love instead of hate, trust instead of fear, and hope instead of defeat. God is still at work for the good in all things. In faith and trust may we stand for what is right and just.

Prayer: Lord God, what examples of faith. From the one who sought you with all of his heart to the one who trusted you with his very life, may we be encouraged and inspired. As we seek to trust in you, O God, and as we strive to be love to and for all people, deepen our faith in you, our rock and our light. Amen.


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Our Rock, Our Redeemer

Reading: Psalm 40:1-5

Verse 4: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

In today’s 5 verses from Psalm 40 David encapsulates much of our faith. He begins with a reality: “I waited patiently for the Lord.” Seeking God, lifting prayers – these are not a guarantee of an immediate response from God. Patience is often required. As was David’s experience, so too will God turn to us. God will hear our cry. I love the imagery that David uses to describe this in verses 2. God lifted him out of the “slimy pit” and “out of mire and mud.” What great descriptors of the valleys and times of suffering that we all must endure in this life. But better yet is God’s response. God placed David’s feet “on a rock,” on a “firm place to stand.” What joy and relief we find when God does this for us. To feel like we’re standing on solid ground instead of slippery or shifting ground, this too puts a “new song” in our mouths as we praise the Lord for our rescue or redemption or restoration…

The second stanza begins with these words: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” That does not mean that we won’t face trial and suffering. Again, these are part of life. When we trust in God we do not turn aside to “false gods.” We do not allow our own pride or the “wisdom” of others tell us we’re ok on our own. We trust into what God has done and into what God has planned for us. We recall the many ways – “too many to declare” – that God has lifted us up and set our feet upon the rock that we call Jesus Christ. As we do, may we sing out our praises for the Lord our God, our rock and redeemer.

Prayer: Lord God, your constant presence leads and guides, it rescues and redeems. I thank you for lifting me, guarding me, shielding me, rescuing me, redeeming me, restoring me… Your love surrounds me and knows no end. I rejoice in you, my Lord and my Savior! Amen.