Comfort in Sorrow 3

John 14:1-3

I remember going to visit some friends of our family in Cleveland when I was fairly young. They were all prepared for our visit. I remember being given a tour of their house – we had never been there before – as we arrived. We could tell that they had cleaned their house from top to bottom. The place was spotless.

Besides making their house clean and tidy the two sons had given up their bedrooms so that our family could stay. My parents would be sleeping in one bedroom and my sister would stay in another. My brother and I got to share the family room with the two brothers.

It was a wonderful thing to be welcomed into that house. Our parents had known each other years ago, but my brother, sister and I barely knew the two boys from the other family. But we had a great visit. It was so nice that they worked so hard to make us feel welcome.

As Jesus is preparing his disciples for the inevitability of his crucifixion he reminds them of what he is doing for them. What comfort does he offer? What does he say about his Father’s house (heaven)? What will Jesus do?

We can find comfort in the words of Christ. He tells the disciples and he tells us not to be troubled. We simply need to trust in God and in Jesus. We need to trust that there is a great deal of room for everyone in the house of God. Heaven has room enough for all.

But we must also see that there is more than just comfort in knowing that there is a place for us. We need to see that Christ has prepared a place for us. We are anticipated. Our presence is desired and sought after.

And more than that. If Christ has prepared a pace the n he will be returning to get us. Jesus will come to gather us up in his arms and welcome us in this place he has readied for us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can remind you of what Jesus has done for you?

Comfort in Sorrow 2

Isaiah 61:1-3

It is part of the job as a pastor to be available in times of grief and loss. As the pastor I make myself available to those who are facing end of life decisions, and I pray that God might work through me to give comfort and assurance. But there are times when I encounter those individuals with enough faith and confidence in the Lord that they actually minister more to me than I to them.

There have been times when I have been with church members who were so strong in their faith that they faced their own death with great calm and confidence. In those times I was witness to what true faith and belief is all about, and I was taught how I should act when my time comes.

Just as Jesus used the words from Psalm 22 at his crucifixion, Jesus read this passage from Isaiah when he began his ministry in Galilee (see Luke 4:16-21). What is said about the brokenhearted in verse 1? What will God do with those who mourn according to verse 2? What changes will come about to those who grieve according to verse 3?

Nowhere in these words from the prophet is it said that our lives will be free of sadness. In fact, although this passage is an expression of hope and optimism, there are many problems that are mentioned. Isaiah speaks of the poor, the brokenhearted, prisoners, mourners and those who grieve.

The hope comes in knowing that in spite of all these afflictions God is present. The Lord will be there for every person who weeps and suffers. Jesus will be with all those who grieve and mourn.

The Lord has promised to make changes for us. We will go from those who suffer and cry to those who celebrate and have joy. Our ashes of suffering will be replaced by crowns of victory. Our mourning will be replaced by gladness.

As we face the possible losses in life we must go forward in confidence knowing that our Savior is with us in all things. We must go through life with the confidence of knowing God is with us to take away our sadness and replace it with joy.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How do you know God is with you?

Comfort in Sorrow 1

Psalm 22:24

Life isn’t always pleasant for us. There will be times when we are confronted with sorrows; sometimes profound sorrows. There will be times when our faith in God is challenged because of the suffering and pain we are experiencing.

There are many people who lose a loved one to death who become very angry with God. Questions arise – why did this have to happen? Does God really love me? Many people become angry with God and yet are afraid that they should not be angry with God. I believe that God is big enough and caring enough to accept our anger and still love us.

Psalm 22, credited to King David, begins with some familiar words. The first verse of Psalm 22 is “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These are the words that Jesus cried out while he was on the cross.

In that moment of torment and grief, that time of pain and sorrow, Jesus spoke the words of lament found in these ancient words. Clearly, when David wrote the words and when Jesus spoke them, these were moments of extreme anguish. We all may identify with these words when we are faced with the troubles of life and especially when we lose a loved one.

But the psalm does not remain in this attitude of sorrow. David moves beyond his words of suffering and comes to a realization of God’s mercy. According to verse 24, what is God’s attitude toward those who suffer? What has God NOT done? What has God done?

There is a time of affliction for every one of us. We will all experience loss and pain at some time or another. We will all feel sadness, sometimes so much that we will cry out that God has forgotten us.

But we need to remember in our grief that we are not forgotten after all. God does not turn away from our suffering and our sorrows. He does listen to our calls for help and He gives us comfort.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can remind you that God still loves you?

By Many or By Few 5

Psalm 35:1-3 and 22-23

This movie has become one of my absolute holiday favorites.  Watch this clip:

Wouldn't it be great to have someone on your side like Buddy the Elf?  Someone who loved you, even though you barely knew them?  Someone who leapt to your defense, even when you rejected them?  Someone who others might find a little strange?  Someone who was exceptionally good at making snowballs and defending you?

Well, don't we already have that?

In today's scripture reading, the Psalmist is asking for God to come and defeat his enemies.  I know there have been times I've felt like that.  Later in the chapter, he pleads with God and basically says "How can you let this go on?" and "Don't you know what they are going to do to me?"  His enemies are the people who gossip and spread lies.  They are the folks who he has helped, but instead of returning the gesture, mock and harass him when he is down.

It's important that we learn, like yesterday's reading, that we can't do this on our own.  We must let God handle those who attack us.  Put Him in front and just be like the kid in this video clip who watches Buddy's amazing display. 

Writer Erwin McManus has a quote that applies so well to this idea that he calls "The Jonathon Factor" and it is expressed "when we have absolute confidence in God in the midst of uncertainty and are willing to move with god even without a guarantee of personal success."

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What battle are you trying to fight alone that you need God to just take over and win for you?   Before Sunday, read 1 Samuel 14:1-14.

By Many or By Few 4

Joshua 23:9-11



Not much to go into battle with, is it?

 In today's passage, it's Joshua's final words to the people of Israel.  But they definitely still pack a punch today.  And it triggers several questions for me:

1. Why, oh why, do we have such short memories?  Joshua has to remind the people that they've defeated a bunch of powerful armies!  You would think that they might just remember that, wouldn't you?  And we're no better.  How many times has God won the battle for us over something we were struggling with (when we let Him - see my next point) and we turn right around and forget.  It's always been that way (see the 10 Lepers!).  But what if we were to live our life not based on fear of the next thing, but rejoicing over the last thing.   And carrying that knowledge with you everywhere you went?
2. Why don't we trust God?  When He proves himself time and time again, you'd think we'd start to learn and trust?  But we don't.  It seems like every situation that arises, every attack and every disappointment becomes a chance for another selfish little pity party and not a chance to let God triumph.  He has promised over and over again that he will take care of our enemies, yet we don't seem to really believe it.  Even after he's done it over and over, we still don't really believe it.  We need to begin to give the battles in our life to God and step back and let him work miracles!
3. What does it mean to love the Lord?  Our understanding of love is so limited.  But the word used here is 'ahab and it's used throughout the Bible as the kind of love between parents and children or husband and wife.  We're supposed to love God in the way we love someone romantically -- be excited to spend time with them, want to know all about them, want to share everything about yourself with them.  That's how we are to love God. 

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What battle has God won for you?  Have you ever stepped aside enough to let Him?