God Speaks I Listen

Psalms 91:1-2 ,5,14 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” …  5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. NIV

Psalms 23:4 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. KJV

“To be brought to a place where God is our only real hope is a merciful experience.” Jon Bloom co-founder of Desiring God.

I believe Mr. Bloom is saying that when we are allowed to experience very difficult trials that are so trying, that only God can help us get through them, this humbling of our spirit man will allow us to see God’s compassion and mercy towards us.  I should be so honored to be allowed to see God’s Enduring love and care towards me.  If I didn’t go through any trials, I could never be a witness to God’s mercifulness.  I would have nothing to testify about God’s goodness that could help someone else going through suffering also.

When I read this quote from Mr. Bloom, it really puts trials into perspective for me. Being in a very vulnerable physical or emotional state will surely teach us to put our hope and trust in our Abba Father.

I am truly so very grateful for all the trials in my life.  I’ve had trials that doctors, lawyers, mother, Father, sister, brother, friend or family member could not fix for me.  My trials had no solution that any human being could help me with.  Only God could solve my problems!  Looking back, the Lord has ALWAYS seen me through!!!

To have such difficult circumstances in my life, is a very humbling experience.  It makes a person one hundred percent dependent on God Father for help. As long as the heavy trials keep coming, I will be in a constant place of seeking God.  I cannot possible think that I am all that and a bag of chips!!!   My dependence on God teaches me that.  Trials make you know your place in God’s kingdom.  I need God, period!  Everything about my life depends on Father God.  My hope is in Him alone!

It’s so easy to think more highly of yourself when you are in ministry and people say that they are so blessed by what you do and what you say.  The glory belongs to God and suffering has a way of keeping it that way in your heart and mind.

Trials enables us to experience the highest level of God’s grace and mercy!  You may not see it as much during the trial as when you look back over your life and see just how God can to your rescue.  You will get a clear picture of how God hovered over you, hung around you and pulled you right through your trial to safety. This realization brings tears to my eyes every time I reflect on God’s mercy on my behalf as I reflect on my past difficult circumstances.

I must be honest here; I really don’t like hard trials at all! But God’s word tells me that I shouldn’t be shaken by sudden trials and to count it all joy when they do occur in my life.  In fact, God clearly explains their purpose which is for my perfection.  It’s really alright not to like and understand our hard trials. But hopeful I will come to terms with the fact that they will bring me to a new level in my walk with the Lord.  This will help me to trust God through other test, trials and suffering that I will experience in the future.  I will be able to experience God’s power and ability to bring me through my trying situations.  I will have miracles and blessing to look back on that will give me strength going forward in my life.  It will also be a testimony to others who hear about the goodness of God and His mercies in my life.

God has given me everything I need to make it through my hard trials.  It’s an honor to be trusted with this sacred time in my life where God is so close to my sometimes-broken hearted heart.  God is my knight in shining armor and my hope when I’m facing difficultly.  Knowledge of His word is the highest level of my daily strength.

Some think God wouldn’t allow great suffering to come to His children. There are many examples in the bible of great people who suffered tremendously.  I look at Jesus and also John the Baptist, who other than Jesus was the greatest man who ever lived and went through extreme sacrifices and suffering for the kingdom of God. So did the 12 disciples, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Job.  These men put all their hope and trust in God.  I know that right now they are enjoying all the treasures they had built up in heaven.  They were perfected by what they experienced on earth so that their rewards in heaven would be tremendous. 

This is God’s world and God’s way!!!  If the Lord has a purpose for our suffering in which He said He will reward us for enduring it, then it would benefit us to put all our hope, trust and faith in Him.  Also, one day we’ll be able to see clearly what these trials were for and what they accomplished in our lives.  Trials benefits us in this life and in our heavenly life!  We surely need to have the right perspective on suffering.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  Psalms 62:5-7

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.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 17:7-8  “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”