Sharing Saturdays: Devotions for strength in suffering

Today I want to share one of my favorite devotionals with you. It's the classic, Streams in the Desert, by L.B. Cowman.

I bought this devotional years ago for a friend, who (after not reading it) promptly returned it to me. Hurt, I put it on a bookshelf and left it there for a year or so. Then, one day it occurred to me that maybe I should read it myself.

                                                           What a gift!

God knew I would need the words and encouragement in my own struggles and suffering.

I hope it ministers to you in the same way it does for me.

                                                                                         He is faithful and wonderful!

Sunday Psalms & Stories - Joy and Jesus Christ

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2:10

I remember the year I bought this Christmas ornament with just three little letters on it. I remember it so vividly, because joy was absent and I was desperate. Each year when Christmas is over, I wrap it in tissue paper to protect and preserve it's pillowy promise. But never has this ornament had as much meaning to me as it does now. I was filled with happiness when I unwrapped it last week, because now I know joy isn't conditional or dependent upon me or my circumstances.

Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

This year, amid all the pain, suffering and emotional turmoil, I also understand, through God's grace, that we can have joy in hardship. We're not alone. Many of God's people entered difficult circumstances with fear, confusion and uncertainty. Take a look:

Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, "The LORD did not appear to you?" Exodus 4:1

"Pardon me my lord, "Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manassah, and I am the least in my family." Judges 6:15

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. Luke 1:12

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  Luke 1:29

In these examples, God's servants were confronted with life changing opportunities and difficult tasks. They grappled with fear, wonder and uncertainty about the future. They also experienced his joy. Their stories have lasted through the generations and are reminders of God's timeless presence and promise of eternal life to us, his children. We have this promise through Jesus Christ.

We get to celebrate his birth and honor him with the same sense of wonder the shepherds had when God's heavenly host appeared in the desert sky 2,000 years ago. I pray you too will be filled with wonder and joy as you celebrate with your family. Merry Christmas!

                                                                          He is faithful and wonderful!

A Long Road

"Then they asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32

Before we have a story that's worth telling, we sometimes have to walk a long, hard road. 

I love the story in Luke 24 about Jesus appearing to two downcast believers who were walking to Emmaus. They were filled with grief over his death and were talking when he came up beside them. They didn't realize who it was, and he joined them in their walk and explained what the Scriptures said about him.

My family and I have been walking a long hard road. For the last two months we've grieved, worried, prayed and praised God for all we've learned and experienced, and I've hardly been able to write.

I didn't know how to talk about it here, or if it was something I should share while we're still in the thick of it. But our stories shape and change us, and I've changed as a result. If I can't write about it, I might as well stop writing at all, and that's not going to happen.

One of my children has been suffering with depression and anxiety that's so severe, medical intervention was necessary. It's been extremely difficult, and I'm still praying about what to tell. I trust that since Jesus has been walking along the road with us, He'll guide me and help shape my stories. Because I want to honor my child, I won't share any personal details unless I get permission.  The stories I tell will be my own, and from the perspective of a parent.

Here is what I want you to know right now, especially for anyone who has loved ones struggling with depression or anxiety or if you are suffering yourself:

 Christ is with you.

He sees your downcast spirit and will never leave your side. You may not be able to see him right now through the difficulty and darkness, but make no mistake, He is there!

          Shout for joy, O heavens;

               rejoice, O earth;

               burst into song, O mountains!

           For the Lord comforts his people

               and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

                                        Isaiah 49:13

Don't Quit

Some days I just want to quit.

Quit trying so hard.
Quit trying to eat the right things.
Quit trying to help my husband - with anything.
Quit trying to tell people about Jesus.
Quit trying to get my kids to listen....go ahead son, jump off the dock during a storm.

But I don't because I can't. I mean, I could...but I can't.

The Christian life is one of constant struggle. It's about struggling every day because we're in a war and I fight on the side of good.

The Christian will struggle to overcome - whatever, all the days of her life.

                It's why we're called overcomers.

Struggling for a long time is called perseverance, and we're called to persevere in our faith until the end. That means until we die or Jesus comes back, whichever comes first.

When I feel most like giving up, my Heavenly Father always stands me up. Often, His encouragement comes in the form of a story of someone else who persevered.

This happened to me recently when my son and I were doing homework. We were reading a biography on Thomas Edison to learn about electricity. I was astounded to learn that Al, as he was called, was a cocky guy. He bragged about creating the light of the future and lighting up an entire section of New York City.

The problem, was that he had no idea how he would do it. He even got money from wealthy investors before he went to work. Everything was on track until it came time to find the correct material for the filament. The filament is the conducting wire in the center of the bulb.

Everything he tried burned out too quickly. He tried fishing line, bamboo, spiderwebs, tissue paper, coconut fiber and even human hair!

Guess how long it took? A year and a half later and with over 3,000 experimental materials, he finally found success.

 When I read that I thought, Seriously, he kept trying to find it for over a year and a half? I would have given up after I'd tried 300 materials.

THAT is perseverance! Thomas Edison refused to give up on his vision and purpose, and we all benefit.

Did you know that he was also hard of hearing, and quit school at the age of 12?

    What seems too difficult for you today? What do you need to persevere in?

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36