trust in the Lord – Be Still…

Psalm 34 – Why Fear the LORD?

What a great testimony! This psalm is ascribed to David following a time he pretended to be insane while hiding from an angry King Saul in enemy lands. You have to be pretty desperate to attempt something like that to be safe. You can read more about David’s story in 1 Samuel 21. David memorializes his trust in the LORD during this frightening time in this beautiful psalm.

David says he will “praise the LORD at all times.” Do you have trouble singing praise to God when you are going through a rough patch in life, or do you draw in closer still? Some might say, “it depends.” David invites us all to “Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.” It’s hard to get lost in our despair when we are speaking of the great things God has done. If we have a hard time seeing the blessings in our own lives because of our circumstance, we can always look to how God moved among his people in Bible times. Continue reading “Psalm 34 – Why Fear the LORD?”

Job 16:1-22 – Encouraging Words

Read Job 16:1-22

In case you’re counting, this is Job’s fifth speech. Job is hurting, and he finally tells his friends their words aren’t helping. Job even tells them what it would look like if the tables were turned and they were the ones suffering. Job would be an encourager.

Those are good words for us to hear as caregivers in our day. We may rush to a loved one’s side offering all sorts of “help.” Sometimes, we’re in “fix” mode and words of wisdom come spewing from our mouths, just like Job’s friends did. The problem is “our” perspective isn’t always helpful. What will help most to alleviate the pain is encouragement. Continue reading “Job 16:1-22 – Encouraging Words”

Job 6:1-7:5 – Job Lashes Back

Read Job 6:1-7:5

Job’s response to Eliphaz didn’t surprise me, did it you? He felt totally exposed and blamed by Eliphaz. Job was suffering greatly, and it did not help him at all to feel like he was being reprimanded by his friend. After all that Job had endured, he felt like he had a “right to complain.” I agree with Job on that.

People complain all the time about one thing or another. Like the weather for instance. Either it’s too hot, too cold, too humid, too rainy, too sunny, you get the idea. People are never content. But Job’s contentedness, or lack thereof, had nothing to do with something so trivial as the weather. Yet people get away with complaining all the time, why couldn’t Eliphaz let Job vent a little bit? Continue reading “Job 6:1-7:5 – Job Lashes Back”

2 Chronicles 20:1-37 – God’s Victory

Read 1 Chronicles 20:1-37

How can you read a passage like this and not be changed? What I mean by that is how life-changing it is to see God at work. Reading accounts of God’s mighty intervention in the lives of his people is both encouraging and uplifting.

It’s easy for us to get caught up in our routines and start taking our blessings for granted. At some point, we are likely to hit a wall or be tempted or be ridiculed for our faithful living. How quickly our perfect existence can be marred by the unexpected attack.

James 4:13-16 – Self Confidence

Read James 4:13-16

I’m a planner. I admit I can even obsess over it. I always want everything to be “just right.” These verses really gave me something to think about. When does planning become boastful? I suppose the answer to that is when you don’t invite God into the planning process.

James would suggest even our semantics matter. “What you ought to say is, ‘If the LORD wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’” How do we know what the LORD wants us to do? That’s the rub! I have been known to say, “God willing, we will do this or do that.” I like the confident peace I get from knowing my plans have been submitted to God requesting his guidance and blessing.