Where is God when life is hard? Does He allow tests and trials in our lives because He is angry? Do they mean He doesn’t love us? And if our trials are the result of God’s discipline, how should we respond?
Also, what is the one character quality that will enable us to be all Christ wants us to be, the one without which we cannot come to God or love Him the way we should? It’s the same quality required to love and serve others, lead in a godly way, communicate biblically, resolve conflict, deal with the sins of others, and resist sin ourselves. So, what is it?
Today’s Readings:
Ezekiel 27 & 28
Psalm 129.1-4
Proverbs 28.26
Hebrews 12.1-29
Where is God When Life is Hard?
Hebrews 12.1-29:
God Our Perfect Father
This chapter talks about the discipline or chastening of the Lord. The Greek word means tutorage, education, and training, as well as, correction.
When life is hard, the devil tempts us to believe that it’s because God doesn’t love us or that we must have done something so horrible that He will no longer help us.
But in reality, the opposite is true. This chapter clearly tells us that those the Lord loves He disciplines (vv. 5-7). If we are His children, like a good Father He will discipline or train us. Sometimes it’s because we have refused to repent of sin but sometimes He is simply pruning us so we can bear more fruit (Jn. 15). Either way, it’s proof that He loves us. In fact, verse 8 says if we never receive his training or discipline we are illegitimate and not true sons and daughters.
Verses 9-10 remind us that we respect human fathers who discipline us even though they can never do it perfectly. How much more should we submit to and respect God’s discipline in our lives since He is the only Perfect Father and because He disciplines us so “we may be partakers of His holiness.”
Psalm 119.71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” and verse 75 adds, “in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”
But if we reject His discipline, we can become discouraged (vv. 12-13) and then bitter (vv. 14-15). If you have ever known a bitter person, you know bitterness can defile everything and everyone around it. And, if not repented of, bitterness can lead to profane living and, finally, rejection (vv. 16-17).
When We Submit to His Discipline
But when we submit to His discipline, learn and grow from it, the result is this:
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (v. 11).
We will experience the peace and joy that comes from knowing we are right with and trusting in Him.
Today’s Other Readings:
Ezekiel 27 & 28:
Pride & Humility
God continues to speak through the prophet, this time to Tyre, a coastal city in modern Lebanon famous for its trade and goods. In Ezekiel 28.11-17, he speaks to the King of Tyre. This passage and others in the Bible, especially in the prophetic books and the Psalms, have dual meanings. While it is addressed to the historical king and city, it also speaks of Satan who was the power behind the King of Tyre.
In both cases, God addressed their pride and arrogance. It was pride that caused Satan to exalt himself above God and cost him his place in the heavenly kingdom in the first place and it’s still one of the things he lures men and women into today.
Stuart Scott in his little book From Pride to Humility, says, “Pride is the epidemic vice. It is everywhere and manifests itself in many ways. As much as we may hate to admit it, we all have pride, each and every one of us. The question is not, ‘Do I have it?’ but, ‘Where is it?’ and ‘How much of it do I have?'”
The Enemy of Humility
Pride is the enemy of humility.
Scott says,
… humility is the one character quality that will enable us to be all Christ wants us to be. We cannot come to God without it. We cannot love God supremely without it. We cannot be an effective witness for Christ without it. We cannot love and serve others without it. We cannot lead in a godly way without it. We cannot communicate properly without it. We cannot resolve conflict without it. We cannot deal with the sin of others rightly without it. We especially cannot resist sin without it.
He goes on to list 30 manifestations of pride (what he calls, “just a sample list”).
Let’s pray that we allow God to root out pride in our lives and help us to grow in humility.
Psalm 129.1-4:
The Cords of the Wicked
Like the Nation of Israel, the people of God will often be persecuted, but we need to remind ourselves as the ancient Israelites did, that our God is sovereignly in control and will ultimately “cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.”
Proverbs 28.26:
Foolish Pride
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
Jeremiah 17.9 says the heart “is deceitful above all else.” When we put our confidence in our own plans, ideas and wisdom, the essence of pride, we will get into all kinds of foolishness and destruction.
But when we choose to trust and obey God (often in spite of our feelings and even when it doesn’t make sense to us), we are entrusting ourselves to God’s sovereign care.
Your Thoughts:
How has God spoken to you today? Perhaps you saw a passage in a new light or an area where you need to grow and change. Did you find a truth to remember? I’d love to hear your thoughts. In fact, I consider each comment a gift. You have no idea how encouraging they are to me.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll discuss these questions, “Should we submit to church authority?” “Is believing ‘in’ God enough?” and “Are your words blessing or cursing?”
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our new sister site Joyful Marriage Ministries. While you’re there, click the “events” tab for information on our upcoming events and ministries, like our Marriage ICU© for couples who are experiencing problems that require one-on-one help.
If this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback. The paperback book has 31 days of blank journaling pages and prompts to help you get started.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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