7     Places to Find Joy in a Season of Grief

• Aretha Grant


• I am well acquainted with grief. By the time I was eighteen years old, I’d lost two of the closest people to me within six months. I lost my 22-month-old son in September 1988. Six months later, my mother passed away. I was divorced in 1996. And in 2013, my oldest brother and I were diagnosed with cancer. My brother eventually succumbed to cancer New Year’s Eve, 2014.
  Grief can come from any number of sources: the loss of a child, a parent, or other relatives, divorce, job loss, financial hardship, rejection, abandonment. The overwhelming feelings associated with loss are real, regardless of the source of that grief.
  I wasn’t yet a Christian when my son and mother passed away, or when I went through my divorce. I dealt with those losses and their grief the best way I could. As I reflect on those times, I now see the Lord was with me, but I didn’t know it. When my brother and I were diagnosed with cancer, and when my brother subsequently died, I was a Christian, and not only did I know the Lord was with me, I felt His presence, comfort, hope, and peace.
  You can find joy in a season of grief. You can laugh, even while you’re crying. You can smile when your world is crumbling around you. How you may ask?
  “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.” (Psalm 126:5)

• 1. In Relationship with Christ

  Being a Christian doesn’t shield us from grief, nor does being a Christian prevent us from feeling the unbearable heartache and pain that come from grief. Christians cry, get depressed, and hurt just like everyone else. However, we have a hope that others don’t have. That hope comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ. In seasons of grief, Christians can find joy in Jesus Christ. He is the lifter of our heads. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. He gives us unspeakable joy. He will never leave us nor forsake us, so we can rest in His arms. We can bask in and find joy in His love for us.
  
  

  2. In The Local Church

  I like being alone when I’m going through seasons of testing. I don’t want to be around people because I don’t like others seeing how badly I’m hurting. I don’t want people to see me crying and in pain. Quite frankly, I pride myself on being a strong woman. If you’re anything like me, you may shy away from the local church when you’re going through tests and trials. But believers in the local church, who genuinely love you, can be your biggest source of joy. Don’t stop going to church. Go to church, and let the love of God’s people surround you and help you heal.
  “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.” (Acts 2:28)

• 3. Through Scripture

  My father bought my first grown-up Bible in December, 1989. From the moment I opened its pages, I loved what I read, although I didn’t understand it all. Over the past 30 years, I’ve sought the scriptures many times when I experienced grief. Psalm 23
  is an excellent source of comfort, as well as Romans 8:28, John 14:16, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, and Isaiah 40:31.
  “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.” (Proverbs 15:13)
  
  

  4. Spending Time with Loved Ones

  As I mentioned earlier, I like being alone when I’m going through hard times. However, being alone can be one of the worst things for us when we’re hurting. Sometimes, we need to seek out loved ones, family, and friends who can make us laugh and remind us of God’s comfort and delivering power. We needn’t shut ourselves off from family and friends. Those who love us genuinely want to see us restored and made whole. Don’t shut them out.
  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer and thought I was dying (don’t laugh, I made the mistake of Googling my type of breast cancer and saw some scary stuff), I enjoyed looking at pictures of my new granddaughter and playing with the babies who attended my church. Interacting with those babies gave me hope and put a smile on my face. Even now, almost six years later, I thank God for all those babies because they helped me fight cancer. However, I wouldn’t have experienced their laughter, innocence, and purity if I’d stopped going to church.
  
  

  5. Getting Out of the House

  Grief is hard. I don’t want to downplay the pain you may be experiencing. I know you’ve cried so much, you wonder when you’re going to run out of tears. I know you don’t want to be bothered, don’t want to be around crowds, and probably want to stay in the comfort of your house. But you have to get out. Like I mentioned before, go to church. And not only that, go to dinner with a friend. Go to the movies to see a comedy. Go to a concert. Go to a free museum. If one of your friends has a party, go! See a play. Go to the fair or a carnival.
  If you can afford it, visit your favorite vacation spot. A vacation always makes me feel better. Take in the sights, go on a tour. My family and I had a vacation planned when I was diagnosed. My doctor told me not to cancel it, to go and enjoy myself.
  Furthermore, when I got a two-week break between chemotherapy treatments, my husband booked a hotel in Baltimore where we hung out. He also took me to a resort on the Maryland Eastern Shore for a quick weekend getaway. And a year after my diagnosis, when all my treatments had ended, and I’d been declared cancer-free, hubby and I took the kids on another cruise, what we named my “Victory Cruise.” So, get out of the house and live. Joy abounds, it’s all around us, we just have to embrace it.
  “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

• 6. Indulging in Your Favorite Hobby

  My favorite hobbies include writing, singing, and reading. I find joy in writing both nonfiction and fiction. It’s easy for me to lose myself when I’m writing. I can zone out and become one with my characters. Singing Christian music brings joy to my heart and soul. And there’s nothing like a good book, especially if the book has clean humor. Don’t neglect your hobbies. Whatever it is that brings you joy, do it. Writers can write through their grief. Singers can sing through their grief. Painters and other artists can create throughout their grief. If you enjoy landscaping, do it through your grief. No matter your hobby, keep doing it. Don’t stop. Your hobby could be what God uses to help you during your season of grief.
  
  

  7. From a Therapist or Counselor

  Sometimes, grief is so overwhelming that one must seek the assistance of a therapist or counselor. If this is the case for you, I recommend a licensed, Christian therapist who can help you cope with your grief. A trained grief counselor is equipped to help you process your grief. Don’t be ashamed of needing to seek out a therapist. Speaking with someone who’s able to help you deal with your grief could be a source of unexpected joy in your season of grief. They can help you heal. Don’t forsake counseling or therapy if you need it. Your joy is at stake.
  Grief and its associating emotions are real, and all of us will experience them at one point or another. However, because we are Christians, we can still find joy. The Father doesn’t want us miserable. He wants us to have joy to the full, even in times of grief. Press into the Father. Let Him love you through the pain.
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10 Questions Jesus Asked (and Why They Matter Today)

• Cindi McMenamin

1. Who do you say I am?

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Many people were confused about Jesus’ identity. Some people were saying He was Elijah. Others said He was Jeremiah or a prophet. Some believed He was a good teacher or a great magician. Jesus asked this question of His followers in Matthew 16:15, not for His own affirmation, but because who they believed He was would make all the difference in their lives. He wanted them to be able to answer the question accurately.

Who do you say that Jesus is? A good man? A great teacher? One of many ways to heaven? Or do you say He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), as Jesus described Himself? I want my answer to be like Peter’s as recorded in Matthew 16:16: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Or, may it be more personal, like Thomas’ declaration in John 20:28 (but without having to “feel” Jesus to know He is real): “My Lord and My God!”

2. Do you believe?

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Many people came to Jesus asking for something: a miracle, a healing, a free lunch. Jesus challenged them with this question to expose their motives. Did they want a hand-out or did they truly believe Who He was and what He could do?

When we come to God with our shopping lists, the question that remains on Jesus’ heart is “Do you believe?” Jesus said in Matthew 21:22: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  Let’s not be like the double-minded one in James 1:6-8 who doubts and is “like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind.” May our response to Him be like that of the demon-possessed boy’s father who replied honestly in Mark 9:24: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

3. Do you want to get well?

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This seemed like an odd question for Jesus to ask a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. The man had been lying by the pool of Bethesda waiting to be cured by a Spirit that would occasionally stir up the waters. Jesus wanted to know if the man knew what he wanted.

That man might have been so wrapped up in his unfortunate situation that he identified himself as “the one who has been here the longest” or “the one who was the worst off.” (John 5:1-15) If Jesus cured him, who would he be?

When we complain to God about our circumstances or give Him excuses as to why we are still in the same place, spiritually or emotionally, year after year, perhaps the question He still aims at our hearts is Do you want to get well? Do you want to move forward, spiritually? Do you want to make progress emotionally? Do you want to go to a new place where God can be your all-in-all, not the situation that you have let define you?

May our response to His question be: Lord Jesus, I want You. Open my eyes to see You for Who You are. Open my ears to hear Your voice. Heal my legs so I can follow You. Heal my heart so I can love You more.

4. Why are you so afraid?

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In Matthew 8:26, Jesus asked His followers why they were so afraid their boat would overturn on account of some wind and waves, especially since He was right there in the boat with them. Certainly, if the Son of God was in their midst, they would safely get to the other side of the lake.

You and I have Jesus with us in every circumstance we encounter. Furthermore, He has promised to never leave us or desert us. (Hebrews 13:5) So, what are we so afraid of? I want my answer to be Forgive me, Lord, for fearing that anything is stronger than You or outside of Your control.

5. Why did you doubt?

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It’s easy to believe in God when we’re asking for our daily bread and for God to bless our jobs and keep our families safe, but what about when God asks you to do the impossible?  

When Jesus’ disciples saw Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm, they were terrified and thought he was a ghost. Then, Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you tell me to come to you on the water.”  (Matthew 14:26)

Jesus told him to “Come.” Scripture tells us “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  (Matthew 14:29-31)

Are you still doubting Jesus after what You’ve seen Him accomplish in the Scriptures and in your life? If Jesus can walk on the water, turn water into wine, and give you living water, surely He can keep you from the waters that threaten to rock your boat.

6. Do you still not see or understand?

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Jesus likely asked this question in Mark 8:17 out of frustration. No matter what they saw Him do, His disciples still didn’t get it. Jesus had just fed four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish.

Prior to that, he had fed another 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish, healed a deaf and mute man, cast a demon out of a young girl just by saying the words, and walked on water in front of them while they watched from a storm-tossed boat! What more did they need to see to understand that He was the Son of God?

What have you seen Jesus do? How many coincidences do you have to experience to know His hand is working in your life and circumstances? How many times does He have to come through for you financially to make you trust His provision?

May our answer to His question be: Open my eyes to see You for who You really are and to never again doubt Your presence, Your power, or Your provision.

7. Are you also going to leave?

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Jesus said some things that were pretty hard for people of His day to swallow. He said things like “anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. (John 6:54, NLT) Scripture tells us, “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” (John 6:66-67)

 Jesus’ words – and much of the New Testament letters – are especially difficult for people today. His words seemed intolerant, his ideas radical, His statements, at times, seemed judgmental. Wouldn’t you rather have a God you can conform to your own image, one who goes along with everything you believe is right today? Are you also going to leave? May our response be as pure and undefiled as Simon Peter’s in verse 68: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”

8. What does Scripture say?

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Scripture tells us in Luke 10:23-28 that an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus answered the question by asking the religious leader a question, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  When the man quoted the Greatest Commandment, Jesus replied, “Do this and you will live.”

Scripture is our sole authority today. It is referred to as the living Word of God and Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

When you’re in a predicament, when you have to choose between offending someone else or offending God, when you have to draw a line in the sand, instead of asking, “What would Jesus do?” and taking your best guess, ask instead, “What do the Scriptures say?” After all, that is what Jesus would say if you asked Him what He would do.

9. Who touched me? a crowded place, where people were brushing up on all sides of Him, Jesus asked this question, not because He didn’t know who touched him, but because He wanted everyone else to know. Jesus was well aware of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 long years and had spent every last cent she owned trying to get well, but only got worse.

He knew she was desperate to be healed. He knew what she risked by going out in public and touching a Rabbi, which would, under Jewish law, make Him ceremoniously unclean. Jesus asked the question because He wanted her to speak up. He wanted her story to be told. 

In Mark 5:33, we read, “then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.” She told her story—publicly. Everyone there suddenly knew who she was, what her condition had been, and how she had been healed by simply touching Jesus’ garment.

Have you experienced Jesus’ healing touch? Has He forgiven you and given you a new lease on life? Then tell your story so God will be glorified.

10. Do you love me?

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Jesus asked this of Peter, not once, but three times, after his disciple–who claimed to be the most loyal of the bunch–had three times publicly denied knowing Jesus on the night of his arrest and crucifixion. Jesus asked this question three times as a gift to Peter. He giving him the chance to three times reaffirm his love for his Lord, after having blown it a few days earlier. (John 21:15-17)

Have you blown it with Christ, too? It’s never too late to reaffirm your love for Him. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” His question to Peter penetrates our hearts daily as we are faced with a choice: Will we follow Him or the world? Him or our money? Him or another love? Do you love Me? How I long for my answer to be: Yes, Lord, more than anything. “Whom have I in heaven but You and earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25)

6 Ways the Holy Spirit Prays for You

• Sarah Frazer

The third person of the Trinity can be the forgotten God. We often miss His work by simply forgetting Who He is and what He is doing in our lives. God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And all the divine attributes of God and Jesus are also in the Holy Spirit. When you believe and receive Jesus, God moves into you in the person of the Holy Spirit, guiding your mind, heart, and will.  

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a gift given to live inside those who believe in Jesus. It works to produce God's character in the life of a believer in a way that we can’t do on our own.

We can discover the Holy Spirit's work during our sweet times of prayer.The Father and Jesus Christ the Son of God both also definitely meet us when we close our eyes and whisper our hearts to heaven. Although, Jesus our High Priest is the reason we can come to God's throne and God the Father welcomes us in...did you know the Holy Spirit is actually the most vital part of prayer?

What does the Holy Spirit do?

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

Not only does the Spirit allow us access to God through faith; He is praying for you!

When I first read Romans 8:26, I was consumed with gratitude. Can you imagine the gift, honor, and grace involved in the Spirit’s intercession for us? Intercession means to “act on the behalf of someone else.” The Spirit does this for us every single time we pray. What comfort we can gain from this amazing knowledge.

Paul spoke about the Holy Spirit’s work in Romans 8. In this chapter we find six ways the Holy Spirit prays for us:

1. The Holy Spirit prays for us in a power we don't own.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” (Romans 8:26)

Our weakness will run out, but the Holy Spirit will keep going. When you fall asleep, are too weak, or just emotionally exhausted, the Spirit of God steps in and gives you the strength you need to continuein prayer.

2. The Holy Spirit prays for us with wisdom we lack.

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26)

Do you ever feel like you have no idea what you are doing? When I was first handed my child I thought, “I hope they know I have no clue what to do!” Sometimes our lives seem completely chaotic and we don’t even know what to pray.

The Spirit walks beside us and whispers the wisdom we need.

3. The Holy Spirit prays for us in mercy we could never fathom.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are inChrist Jesus,” (Romans 8:1)

Although Satan would like to feed us lies like “You don’t belong here...God doesn’t love you...and you are unworthy…” The Spirit stands in the gap and says mercy and grace live here.

He is the one who shouts there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ!

4. The Holy Spirit prays for us with a connection we don't possess.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35)

Who better to bring our requests to the Father than the Spirit? Being a part of the Trinity they possess a connection beyond what we can imagine. Nothing can separate us from the Father because the Spirit is that bond.

5. The Holy Spirit prays for us with God’s will in mind.

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:27)

Sometimes I am so tired and I can’t pray. It’s in these times that I need to lean on the Holy Spirit. We might notknow what to say, but the Spirit knows.

Who better to know what God’s will is for our lives than the third Person of the Trinity?

6. The Holy Spirit prays for us with love we can’t contain.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nordemons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Finally, you cannot escape the last part of these verses. The Spirit will always love us and nothing can separate us from His love. It is with this love the Spirit speaks to the Father on our behalf.

When our hearts our dry, empty, and we cannot know what to say or how to pray, the Spirit steps up. Part of His ministry to us is to pray for us. Although we can rely on the Spirit to speak the words we cannot, there are a few practical steps you can take if you are struggling with what to say.

Here are some steps for when you struggle with what to say in prayer:

1. Change your approach.
The first step might be to change how you pray. It doesn’t have to stay the same your entire life. Try a method that stretches or wakens something new in you. For example, if you normally pray aloud, try praying in silence. If you normally pray in words, try putting it to song. If you normally speak your prayers, try journaling them. If you pray by yourself, try group prayer.

2. Spend some real time in prayer.
Don’t set a timer at first. Prayer isn’t something to rush. I’m learning (the hard way) that prayer is a discipline.  Think of it as training, not checking it off your list. You can use this free prayer journal to get started.  

3. Listen to some good sermons.
My husband has introduced me to listening to sermons online. Just do a topic search on sites such as SermonAudio.com or Christianity.com’s YouTube channel and listen. Podcasts are great for this, too. It has given me a good perspective hearing others teach God’s Word.

What if prayer doesn’t “feel” right?

It’s true: prayer will not always ”feel good.” When I wake up in the morning and my kids are already awake, I might not feel like praying. As I rush through my day it feels a little unconfident to stop and pray. The beautiful thing about prayer is we don’t do it alone.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

The reason Romans 8 is in the Bible is because we need to be reminded we do not pray alone. God the Holy Spirit stands beside us as we whether the throne of grace. God will not condemn because of the work of Jesus Christ and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit. If you’d like a place to start, you may find this prayer journal helpful.

5 Ways Hannah Encourages Us to Hope in God's Love

• Mandy Smith

Hannah is a great example in the Bible of a woman that felt inadequate due to a condition she had no control over. The Lord had closed her womb, and though she was fully loved by her husband Ephraim, she felt a void in not being able to conceive for him. It didn’t help that Peninnah, her husband’s second wife, was able to bear him many sons and daughters and would provoke Hannah until she would weep and not want to eat.

Throughout Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel, we see how she clung to hope. She didn’t wane in her devotion to God and she kept praying for the answer she so longed for. One fateful day, she prayed so fervently in her heart in the house of the Lord that the priest, Eli, thought the silent movement of her lips meant she was drunk.

After explaining to him her deep pain and hope, he prayed a blessing over her. Finally, we see how the Lord remembered Hannah and answered the prayer she so longed for: “So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him’” (1 Samuel 1:20).

Is there something you have been hoping for? Does it seem like everyone else gets their prayers answered or that those that have what you desire don’t seem to appreciate it? Hope can be a mysterious thing. Let’s look at five lessons we can learn about hope from Hannah’s example.

1. Hope Never Gives Up

For Hannah, being barren was hurting her emotionally. Hannah was essentially being bullied by Peninnah for not being able to fulfill what she so longed for. Hannah did not give up hope in her distress, however. She would go to the house of the Lord continually, even as she was provoked by Peninnah, and pray.

Hannah kept her faith, and with her strong faith in God, she brought to Him her heart’s desire. We are reminded in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” She knew her God was powerful, and she wasn’t giving up. If God would grant her a child, she would devote that child fully back to Him. Her perseverance and faith were help in getting her prayer answered in God’s timing.

For you, are you feeling worn down, comparing yourself to others, scrutinized for not being at a point in life that you thought you’d be at by now? You’re not alone. Let Hannah be a good reminder that we can never give up hope.

 It’s the fuel that can move us along one day at a time. Also, make sure that what you desire is not an idol in your mind and heart. Like Hannah, you may find the moment you give your desire to the Lord, your hope will be made new.

2. Hope Doesn’t Always Make Sense

When the stakes are against you, when you can’t see a glimmer of what you’ve been praying for day and night, hope can seem like a silly idea. Maybe you’ve been tempted to think you need to be realistic, go for the next best thing, or settle. Let this be a sign to you that even when the odds are against you, God can do what seems impossible.

Still, it can be exhausting and feel futile to pray for something when you don’t see any signs of it on the horizon. I am reminded of Hannah’s deep prayer to the Lord and how she looked on the outside as one that would be drunk. Her priest, Eli, thought she was. But once finding out her deep desire and hope in the Lord, he was able to see how serious she was.

Sometimes our dedication to our calling won’t make sense to others. They may think we look crazy to keep following after God when we are seemingly being unanswered. I pray that you will keep up the good fight, keep waiting for God’s best, and like Hannah, cry out to the only one that can send you your answered prayer at the perfect time. You never know who is watching you as you pray.

3. Hope Can Give Us a Platform

You know how you can make a friend faster than the speed of lightning? Have something in common with them that you have both have prayed fervently for. There is a saying that “misery loves company” but I would like to change that saying to “hope loves company.”

When you are around people that can encourage you and pray with you on what you desire, that is the best company you could ever have. Hannah had her husband’s support and unwavering love. Even Eli understood and prayed blessing over her. Hannah not only ended up having one child, but six children later on! What a platform of God’s faithfulness that was!

People are watching. What you do with your weakness, or unfulfilled request, can do more for bringing others to the Lord than those that may get the same blessing without a wait. When we choose to openly praise our Lord in the midst of uncertainty, we will truly be lights on a hill. When we are brave to share the ups and downs in the waiting, our pain can become our platform.

4. Hope Opens Your Heart

I’m sure you’ve met people that are deeply bitter. Call them realists, or narcissists, or just plain tired. One thing is for sure, they are not pleasant to be around. When we take our eyes off ourselves for a minute we can look around and see others in similar or worse situations that we are. In doing so, we have a heart that stays sensitive and open to His leading and ultimate will.

Hannah knew her need for a child was deep, but she also knew that God’s kingdom would prosper if she was able to receive her request. The greater good was not for Hannah to keep Samuel with her for the rest of her life to show him off, or to dote over him, but it was for him to be a man of God and serve with integrity. We see that God answered Hannah’s prayer and then some with more children than she even imagined.

In 1 Samuel 1:26-28 we see that Hannah was good on her promise and after weening Samuel she went to the house of the Lord and to Eli said, “’Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.  I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.’ And he worshiped the Lord there.”

When we really receive what we’ve longed for, can we receive it with open hands and hearts to how God will want to use that blessing? This will make sure that our dreams and longings are not idols in our hearts. Maybe it’s marriage, a child, or a new job. They can all be used for His glory so set your mind on what God could do through you and your answered prayers and wait to see how He wants to surprise you.

5. Hope Takes Us to Eternity

As much as I’d like to tell you that everything we hope for will come to pass, this is not true. There will be hopes and requests that we will not see fruition of on this side of Heaven. Having faith that God is leading us along His best path can instill peace in our souls to accept what He wants to give us. If our hearts are centered on Him, the desires of our heart will be what He desires for us and not just our dream wish list.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  we are encouraged to keep our hope day in and day out, “Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I can think of no better way to live than rejoicing in our God’s promises for us, our hope of eternity in Heaven, and knowing that He wants to hear from us. Being grateful of our lives, even in the midst of hardship, can help keep our hears softened to hearing from Him.

I pray that you have been encouraged to keep hope alive in your heart while here on Earth. All of the pains, the waiting, and unanswered prayers are not in vain. I pray that they will all make sense when we are finally made new and back at home with our Lord.

Video-Growing to Look Like Jesus

1/2 Hour of God's Power with Scott Ralls - 9/05/19

Growing to Look Like Jesus

By

Kathy Howard

Let’s Ask Who? Rather Than What?

Let’s Ask Who? Rather Than What?
LAURA WIFLER

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18 (ESV)

What would you do? For my sisters-in-law and me, this is a question you’ll frequently hear us ask one another. Sometimes it’s shouted over the laughter and squeals of our children while we sit in lawn chairs in the backyard. Sometimes it's muffled as one of us is buckling a 5-point harness in the minivan. Sometimes it’s whispered between tears in a living room on a dark, cold winter’s day.

What would you do? Which school would you send them to? Which bottle would you use? What would you say to your husband? Which doctor would you see? What would you do?

If we’re honest with ourselves, we’re all looking for help. But the good news is, God has not left us alone with our questions. Big or small, God invites us to call on Him with a sincere heart and ask Him our questions.

Our key verse says, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). Over and over in Scripture, God allows His people to ask questions.

But He didn’t always answer in the way they wanted.

Many of our questions in this life will go unanswered in the way we want. That’s because God is concerned most with our hearts in the asking. He will always do what brings us the most long-term good, even if that means changing us through hard things.

Just as He did when the Israelites begged in the Old Testament: “What will we drink? What place will we live? What army will fight for us?” God invites us to first remember who He is, what He’s done in the past, and what He promises to do in the future. While He does care about our physical needs and actions, His goal is to move our hearts to be more like His. So He draws near, and as a wise mentor shared with us, He wants us to turn our questions from “What?” … into “Who?”

Who is the one who saves me? Who is the one who loves me? Who is the one who cares for my every need? Who will protect me?

It’s here in the tension between the questions we ask and the answers we desire that we find the best answer of all: Jesus Christ. He is …

• Our helper (Psalm 54:4).
• Our refuge and strength (Psalms 46:1).
• Our comfort in all affliction (2 Corinthians 1:4).
• Our soul’s true rest (Matthew 11:29).
• The one who loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

Asking, What do I do? is still a good and valid question, but let’s also ask the better question: Who? God promises that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3a, ESV) and that we can trust Him to provide all we need for life through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Whatever question you’re asking today, don’t be afraid to bring it to the foot of the cross. Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what to do in every situation, but it does tell us who God is, what His plan is, what His character looks like, and how He works and wills to His glory. Those are the things that help us live a faithful life.

We might not always understand God and His ways, but what a gift that He draws near in the asking, inviting our questions and answering with what we need most of all: God Himself.

Father, I have a lot of questions, and I don’t know exactly what to do next in every situation, but I thank You for always being with me and drawing near in my questions. Help me remember You are always faithful and good. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 73:28, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (NIV)

5 Truths to Know about Psalm 119

5 Truths to Know about Psalm 119
By Debbie McDaniel

All too often, maybe simply because of its length, we read through Psalm 119 too quickly. Or we skip forward to something else, or just read a verse here or there, but possibly never look at the entire chapter as a whole, or think about who wrote it, and what the real point of it even is. In looking deeper, we can discover so much wisdom, hidden gems that reveal the richness of our God coming to life through its words.

5 Truths to Know About Psalm 119: 

1. Psalm 119 is actually written as an acrostic poem. 

The verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of each of the Hebrew alphabet, such as “Aleph,” “Beth,” “Gimel,” and so on. This is only noticeable in looking back at the original text. There are 22 stanzas or sections, equal to 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with 8 verses each, and a total of 176 verses. 

2. The author of Psalm 119 is unknown but some have suggested it may have been Ezra the priest, written at the time that the temple had been rebuilt. 

Though the life of Ezra may not be the most well known in the Bible, he was extremely important and greatly used by God at a time in history when the Israelites desperately needed a faithful, strong leader. Ezra lived his days out of a deep, personal commitment to God, not simply seeking his own personal gain. He was given much responsibility to lead, sent by the King Artaxerxes, to set up a program of religious education for the people. His life proved faithful to study, follow, and teach God’s Word, and his godly example is still very relevant for our lives today. Others have suggested that Psa. 119 may have been written by David, or possibly Daniel. The author is certainly one who experienced great affliction in life, since persecution of those who hold fast to the Word of God is a theme carried throughout.

3. Almost every verse of Psalm 119 mentions God’s Word in some way.

 it may be written as His “word,” “ways,” “statutes,” “decrees,” “law,” “precepts,” “commands,” or “promise” – but it’s in some way mentioned through most all of the verses. 

4. Just as Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible, two Psalms just before, Psalm 117, is the shortest chapter of all. 

There has been much discussion through history of whether Psalm 117 or 118 is the center chapter of the entire Bible. Some have said it’s divided as such: 594 chapters up to Psalm 117 and 594 chapters from Psalm 119 on, with chapter 118 being the center, and a total of 1189 chapters in the entire Bible. Those that hold to this also believe that Psa. 118:8 is the center verse of the Bible, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Others have said that Psalm 117 seems to be the center point, with these 2 verses, “Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His loving kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!”  Either way, it’s interesting to note that, depending on translation, 594 + 594 = 1188. It all points to the truth that God is a God of order and precision. This entire section of God’s Word is Sovereignly placed at a significant and pivotal point in the Bible and we would be wise to study it carefully.

5. The overall message of Psalm 119 focuses on the truth of God’s Word. 

It encourages us through every generation to stay close and focused on His Word no matter what swirls around us in this world. Living in the freedom and knowledge of God’s ways, obeying His law above all else, and keeping in step with His commandments is the only way to truly live wise, strong lives.

God’s Word is powerful, living, and active. It never changes, because He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His words are breathed straight from His heart to us, a love letter for life, not simply an old-fashioned, outdated book with no relevance for today. His Word is sharper than any two-edged sword.

Psalms 119 reminds us that God's very character is reflected through His Word, He is Righteous, He is Faithful, He is Unchanging, He is True. The opening 2 verses remind us, that we are "blessed" as we walk in His Truth, and seek him with our whole heart.