Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Suffering and Trials


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Kintsugi

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 119:49-50 “Remember Your word to Your servant, for You have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

This bowl went from broken to beautiful!  The art of golden joinery is the definition of the Japanese word, “kintsugi.”  Fragmented and broken pottery or ceramics are repaired in this process by filling the holes and cracks with a resin mixed with gold, silver or platinum.  What used to be broken pieces thought to be worthless become a thing of beauty!  The very brokenness makes the item become more precious and valuable!

Today’s verse is a comfort and reassurance when going through suffering.  There is hope.  The author of this psalm was experiencing ridicule (vs. 51).  There was intense pressure from the wicked and perhaps he felt himself cracking from it. He vows to stay faithful to the Lord through it all.  In the night he reminds himself of who God is (vs. 55) and he resolves to stay the course.  Through all the pain he remains hopeful because of God’s promises.

It is hope that brings me through the darkest times of my life.  I can feel forgotten, rotten and dead inside just like David did when he described himself as “broken pottery” (Ps. 31:12).  But then, there are the promises of God.  Whatever feels broken He can repair.  More than that, He transforms our very brokenness into something useful and a thing of beauty.  Nothing is too hard for Him or beyond the skill of His capable hands.  He works in the good where everything went bad.  That stupid decision, that utter failure or that shame at letting Him down is all part of a pattern that He redeems and makes beautiful.  This is my hope.

Thank you Lord, that Your promises give me hope.

 

 


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Closet Fail!

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

This happened!  My husband came into the kitchen with the strangest crestfallen look on his face to break the news.  The closet rods had given up after valiantly trying to support too much weight.  Not only had everything fallen but the closet doors would not open being blocked from the carnage inside!  We had already reinforced the closet rod, but it could not bear the weight of all my good deals!  With the new closet system in place, I vowed to myself to be more reasonable about the amount of clothes I could wear in a lifetime!

Today’s verse talks about two more items of clothing that every closet, no matter how overcrowded, should include: strength and dignity.  This verse is part of the well-known passage describing a wife of “noble character.”  She herself is clothed in fine linen and purple (vs.  22) but she knows that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting (vs. 30).  However, being clothed with strength and dignity is something that will allow her to laugh at the days to come and have confidence in facing her future.

No piece of clothing, regardless of brand or cost, will ever give me strength and dignity.  The Lord is my strength and it is through Him that I can do all things (Phil. 4:13).  He gives me the power I need to endure and the strength of resolve to persevere in the hard times.  I am so thankful that His strength and power even show themselves through my weakness (II Cor. 12:9).  And dignity?  That also comes from Him and being His child.  He has crowned me with glory and honor (Heb. 2:7).

Lord, I need Your strength and dignity today!

 


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Hospital Gown

Scripture for Today: Psalm 38:9 “All my longings lie open before You, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from You.”

Is there anything more humiliating than wearing that infamous hospital gown?  I feel for this little pooch looking so forlorn.  Modesty goes out the window in a doctor’s examining room.  But at least there is a hospital gown.  Often in French doctors’ examining rooms nothing is offered to cover up!  One feels so open and exposed, and the indignity one feels is intensified when not feeling well.

Today’s verse tells us that nothing is hidden from the Lord.  David understands that there is not a longing or heart-felt sigh that is hidden from Him.  He sees our innermost being, knowing even our words before we speak them (Psalm 139:4).  He has searched us and known us even from the time we were in our mother’s womb.  Even at that early stage, our frame was not hidden from Him (Psalm 139:15).

Does His knowledge of me frighten me or make me uncomfortable?  To have every motive of my heart open to the Lord can be a disturbing thought.  There is no hiding behind lofty prayers or religious traditions.  He knows exactly what I am thinking and feeling.  But as His child, this intimate knowledge is a real comfort.  He understands the fumbling prayer that finds no words.  He hears the anguished cry of my heart for lost family and friends.  He knows the sadness I feel with that deep sigh.  And every unfulfilled longing that hides out in a corner of my heart is open to Him.  Oh yes.  He is my comfort because He knows and understands.

Thank you Lord, that You know me like no other and love me anyway!


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Pizza Box

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I loved this story on the news the other day of a man in New York who was the recipient of an anonymously donated pizza.  Inside the cover were written the words, “Stay strong,” the very words his wife daily said to him while dying of cancer.  He told the pizzeria manager that this simple message “turned his life around” and pulled him out of a deep depression.

Today’s verse is an encouragement from the Lord to Joshua that inspired him be strong.  Joshua had just taken over the enormous task of leading the Israelites after the death of Moses.  Joshua needed this assurance that the Lord’s presence would give him strength and courage.  There is a subtle difference between the words,”stay strong ” and “be strong.”  The first implies that strength is already there in some measure and should continue.  For Joshua at the death of his friend and leader, he had no strength or courage.  Not only was the charge overwhelming, but he must have felt alone and sad with Moses gone.

I absolutely have no strength without the Lord.  Whatever strength I have comes from Him.  Paul recognized this when he said to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Eph. 6:10).  I need His strength especially when losing a family member or friend.  I need this same reassurance that He will be with me and give me all the courage and strength to face the future.  Of course there is sadness, but I do not need to feel discouraged.  He is there and will get me through.

Thank you Lord, for the strength You give.


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Snow Covered Palms

Scripture for Today: Psalms 92:12  “The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree.  He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

This is not normally how I think of a palm tree!  Palm trees are usually associated with warm balmy climates.  Seeing a palm tree often brings to mind vacation spots where life is relaxed.  These palm trees in Saudi Arabia were likely surprised to find themselves covered in snow!  But they weathered the cold wet stuff with no problem.

Today’s verse describes the righteous as flourishing like a palm tree.  And flourish is a great description of what these stately trees do as some species grow to 60 meters high.!  Their leaves are said to be the largest of any plant at 25 meters long and 3 meters wide.  And some of their species have the largest seeds of any plant weighing 15-30 kilos each.

The righteous one when planted in the house of the Lord, can expect this kind of growth, flourishing in the courts of our God (verse 13).  But we do not grow like the palm tree when we are planted in the world.  The soil there is toxic.  We need to be rooted and grounded in His love and grace because we are not righteous on our own.  Our righteousness comes from faith in Christ.

That crisis in my life can feel just like a cold shock.  My body stiffens and my eyes grow wide with it.  But even when that unexpected cold front dumps snow on me I can still flourish because of Him.  He keeps me strong and rooted.  I am in His courts and there is no better place to be!  Better is one day there than a thousand elsewhere! (Psalm 84:10)

Keep me flourishing, Lord.  Keep me near You.