"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Isaiah 53:3
Isaiah 53:3
Knowing sorrow and being acquainted with grief are something we can all expect in life - even Jesus was! The Word says we WILL have trials, but He forewarns us (generally and sometimes specifically - prepares us by letting know they are coming). Why? Because He does not wish for us to be in turmoil or despair! John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
God offers us peace and hope, confidence and sustaining power through all kinds of trials and tribulations. He also has a plan and purpose to what He does or allows in our lives. Remember what the enemy intended to harm you, God is going to work for your good! Luke 10:19 declares that He gave us, "authority to overcome all the power of the enemy!"
1 Peter 1:6 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Yes, through trials, your faith will increase and the result will be praise and Glory to Jesus!
And finally, you will grow, grow, grow! Trust Him in those times that He is going to bring you into a closer relationship with Him! James 1:2-4 tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
I found this poem yesterday. My son had it in school just days after my mom passed away. It really said a lot, so I will end with this today:
God offers us peace and hope, confidence and sustaining power through all kinds of trials and tribulations. He also has a plan and purpose to what He does or allows in our lives. Remember what the enemy intended to harm you, God is going to work for your good! Luke 10:19 declares that He gave us, "authority to overcome all the power of the enemy!"
1 Peter 1:6 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Yes, through trials, your faith will increase and the result will be praise and Glory to Jesus!
And finally, you will grow, grow, grow! Trust Him in those times that He is going to bring you into a closer relationship with Him! James 1:2-4 tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
I found this poem yesterday. My son had it in school just days after my mom passed away. It really said a lot, so I will end with this today:
Along the Road
I walked a mile with Pleasure.
She chattered all the way,
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she,
But, oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me.
-Robert Browning Hamilton
I walked a mile with Pleasure.
She chattered all the way,
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she,
But, oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me.
-Robert Browning Hamilton
