Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Suffering and Trials


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Tests

Scripture for Today:  James 1:2-3  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

I know I am in good company when complaining about airport mishaps.  Whether it is a cancelled flight, a humiliating security story, or delay after delay, there is ample occasion to practice our verse for today!

No one likes to wait or have plans completely destroyed.  No one appreciates short tempers or rude passengers.  On my latest flight (which I am still living as I write this in an airport) I really feel like I was being tested.  I ask the Lord to smooth the way.  I ask for the least amount of hassle.  I approach that agent with prayers in my heart that all will go my way.  The Lord answers with a “no.”  I am to live through long annoying frustrations.  And I am to do it with an attitude that will not dishonor Christ.  My Lord wants me to smile, be pleasant and not wish horrible catastrophe on airport employees!

Some of my problem comes from a sense of entitlement.  I figure that as a follower of Christ I should somehow get special treatment or consideration!  But the fact is, He is arranging things for my good!  The testing of my faith IS that good.  He is developing in me patience and endurance.  He is slowly molding me into the beautiful image of His Son.  It is a slow and sometimes painful process.  I wish patience could be developed some other way!

I am not jumping for joy at these travel nightmares.  But I do have confidence that God is in charge and He knows what He is about.  I can experience quiet unruffled calm.  Thank you, Lord, for the smile as I write!


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Fire!

Scripture for Today:  Malachi 3:2b-3  “For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.  He will sit as a smelter and purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”

The recent fires in California have been devastating!  When hearing the survivors’ testimony one often hears tearful gratitude for their safety.  Things can be replaced, after all.  Human lives are so much more valuable.

Going through a fire will often change one’s priorities.  It could even change one’s direction in life.  For many, the experience causes one to re-evaluate what is really important in life.  Distractions are removed and new goals are put in place.

Our verse for today pictures God as a refiner working with gold and silver.  This process uses the intense heat of the furnace fire to subtract all the imperfections and impurities.  The metals must return to liquid form for this to happen.  All the dross is then separated out and discarded for the metal to become pure.

God did this for the priestly tribe of Levi in Israel.  They were presenting offerings to the Lord but not in righteousness.  Perhaps they were following all the rules, but their hearts were not right.  There is something that God desires more than sacrifice; to do righteousness and justice (Prov.21:3).  David tells us in Psalm 51:17 that the sacrifice God is interested in is a broken and contrite heart.

I am no different than those Levis.  I have been a believer a long time and can go through the motions of worship without my heart being involved or while harboring all kinds of secret sin.  No one wants to go through fiery trials.  Lord, keep me from needing the discipline of Your refining fire!


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Laughter

IMG_20121025_135857Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 17:22  “A joyful heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

I remember the old TV commercial with the phrase, “I wanna be like Mike.”  Well, I wanna be like these two ladies.  They are pushing ninety and can still be silly and fun!  Oh, they have their problems, many of which are physical.  But they have kept their sense of humor intact.  They have both walked with the Lord for a long time.  Because of years of Bible study with them I have had a front row seat to their faith.  They are a joy to be around because they do not complain.  Instead they choose the medicine of a joyful heart.

The phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” has been around a long time.  Research has shown there are many health benefits to laughter, including increased blood flow, better immune response, lowered blood sugar, and relaxation.   Isn’t it nice to see science catch up with Scripture written centuries ago!

For a believer, joy is the natural result of a close relationship with the Lord.  Psalm 16:11 tells us that in His presence is fullness of joy!  Being in His presence is a choice.  That means joy is a choice too.

Habakkuk understood that joy is a choice.  When everything was going wrong with crops and livestock, he said in 3:18 “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

When everything is going wrong with my circumstances I can still find joy when I choose His presence.  There is joy in the realization of His love.  There is joy in the thought of His salvation and the future that awaits!

No broken spirit or dry bones for me!  I choose joy!


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New Growth

IMG_20130220_161841Scripture for Today:  John 15:2  “Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away: and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.”

Our hydrangea flower bush is beautiful in the spring.  The flowers are big and full; some pink some blue on the same bush.  Of course, in this winter season it looks all brown and dead.  But in fact, it is just dormant and it will come back as it does every spring.

These flowers will grow back much better if I get out there and prune away the dead growth.  The fall was too busy and now the temperatures are too freezing to work outside.  But soon, if I want good growth, I need to get out the pruning shears and cut it back before spring arrives.

Our verse today refers to the pruning of vines to produce more and better grapes.  But the idea is the same; that old growth needs to be removed before new growth can happen.  The one who does the pruning in my life is the Lord.  He does not want me to be content with the fruit He has already produced.  He wants me to cooperate with His pruning shears in order to produce more fruit that is richer and more excellent.

Pruning does not feel so good.  It is a painful process.  Just after pruning the plant does not look so good either.  When the Lord allows the hard times to come, He has in mind to produce new growth in me.  He has the end result in view, a beautiful and fruitful life.

Help me, Lord, not to question your pruning shears.  Help me to trust what You are doing in my life.


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Good Weight!

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 4:17  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

There is good weight and bad weight.  The weight gain of every newborn is carefully monitored and desired for good health.  Weight gain following a serious illness is cause for rejoicing!  Every horse jockey is daily concerned with his weight gain or weight loss.

I have in mind what a good weight is for myself.  I do not often see that number on the scale!  I do have the choice of weighing in on the other scale in our house, the metric one.  That one at least will give me a smaller number as it is in kilos!  In any case, weight gain is normally something one tries to avoid.  It seems to be harder and harder with age to keep those numbers from climbing!

Our verse today mentions another kind of weight and it is all good; the weight of glory!  This is a weight one would like to see increase.  But the weight of glory in Heaven grows in direct relation to our afflictions here on earth.  The hard times are working for us.  Life’s sorrows are achieving that weight of glory!

All the trials and difficult times one experiences are but for a moment  They are a temporary condition.  And as hard as they feel, they are considered  “light” in comparison to the eternal glory that awaits.  Our pain is never wasted.  Our sorrow is not for nothing.  One day everything will be glorious.  One day there will be only recompense and joy.

As the old hymn says, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.  Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Him.”