In Cape May, New Jersey, a commander of a ship was aboard with his men. They were getting ready to head out onto the open waters. A massive storm was brewing. One of the young men shouted, “But, Captain! If we go out there, we may never come back.” The captain answered, “Son, you don’t … Continue reading You have to go out!
hardship
A shared sorrow and a shared solution
There are times when you go through something challenging. You’re downcast. People can tell. They ask you if you want to talk about it. “Oh no,” you respond, “you’d never understand.” They say: “Try me.” So you share something about your struggle—just a little, not a lot. But it’s just enough for that other person … Continue reading A shared sorrow and a shared solution
Courage for the battle
Imagine three scenarios. In the first, there you stand with your fellow troops about to head into a life-or-death battle. But you don’t know who your leader is going to be. Out he comes from the tent behind you. None of you has any idea who he is. That certainly doesn’t give you much confidence … Continue reading Courage for the battle
Sorrow to sweetness
Hardship isn’t the end of the story, nor is it the end of your story. This is easy to agree with when you’re experiencing smooth sailing. It’s harder to do so when times are tough. William Gurnall has some helpful, scriptural perspective: “Scripture gives three illustrations of great joy: the joy of a new mother, … Continue reading Sorrow to sweetness
Able to withstand anything
You’re able to withstand anything if you’re standing for the right things. Consider Paul. He persevered even though he had been put in prison, flogged, exposed to death, beaten with rods, pelted with stones, and shipwrecked three times. (See 2 Corinthians 11:23-28) But it wasn’t for nothing. It was so that GOD could continue his … Continue reading Able to withstand anything
A tipping point called joy
There’s a lifetime of ponderance in Acts 5:41: “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” They had been put in jail, sprung by a messenger of God, taken before the influential and powerful Sanhedrin, told to not speak in Jesus’ name, and whipped. They … Continue reading A tipping point called joy
Regardless of our circumstances
What if some of our prayers were somehow misdirected? What if, instead of seeking God’s will within us, our prayers were always focused on lesser things? After facing dangerous opposition, what did the disciples pray for in Acts 4:23-31? Did they pray for a day at the spa, or for their persecutors to take a … Continue reading Regardless of our circumstances
The needs he has already addressed
Martin Rinkart was a German who lived through the Thirty Years’ War. Plus, the plague struck in 1637. More than 8000 people died in his town. He was a pastor and buried 4000 of those people, sometimes in mass funerals for 50 people at once. This man, with these experiences, wrote that great hymn of … Continue reading The needs he has already addressed
What do you want me to do for you?
In Luke 18 a blind beggar cries out to Jesus for mercy. “When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (verses 40-41) In response, the man asks for his sight—and gets it! He believed in who Jesus was, and trusted in his power to do something big. … Continue reading What do you want me to do for you?
Some are okay; many are not
Everyone isn’t in the same “place” as you are. That statement is true physically, but also mentally. We are scattered all over the geographical map. But we are also experiencing different stresses, strains and emotions right now. I think that’s just good to remember. Why? Because it changes our behaviour toward others. At the start … Continue reading Some are okay; many are not
