Archive for Trials

How to Survive the Wilderness

March 4, 2013 Sarah Beals 3 comments

Today is one of those days where I woke up feeling fully blessed. We had a wonderful weekend full of blessing and answered prayer, and received good news from our daughter in college about some upcoming opportunities the Lord has given her.

But I don’t always wake up this way. Somedays, I wake up feeling lousy. Somedays, I wake up with an unresolved conflict hanging over my head. Sometimes circumstances are 100% out of my control. Those are the “Wilderness Days.” The days when you don’t think you can stand one more trial or irritation.

David, in Psalm 63, gives us wise counsel about how to survive in a wilderness and it’s instructive to note some of the qualities of this this God- loving, yet imperfect man, so that we can prepare ourselves for our wilderness days.

To survive in a wilderness takes forethought and planning. You don’t enter a trial and try to muster up spiritual strength on the spot. Inner spiritual strength comes from building up reserves before your trial hits you square in the face.

To survive in a wilderness:

1. You desire God alone. You seek Him. Your circumstances may be dry and horrible, but your soul is thirsty for God.

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (63:1)

2. You prefer God’s presence more than anything or anyone.

Our daily worship prepares us to meet the trials of life, not just our Sunday worship. What goes on in your heart all week defines you more than going to church on Sunday.

“I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.” (63:2)

3. You choose to praise God. 

When we go through trials, many times our lips betray our hearts by exposing our wrong thoughts. What’s going on inside of our mind eventually comes gushing out of our mouths! What are you known for? A life of praise? Or a life of cutting comments and complaints galore? Instead of complaining or protesting what God is allowing, remember all that He has done in the past and all that He will do in the future. Choose praise. Pray for lips that praise. If you can’t praise God, keep your mouth closed. Don’t infect your kids or neighbors with negative comments that make them question God’s goodness.

A thankful heart is at peace, because it’s content, not wanting more or less than what God’s provided.

A contentious, fretful, discontent heart always wishes, dreams and longs for different circumstances.

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” (63:3)

4. Find your satisfaction in God alone.

We can thrive in a wilderness because we’ll always have God. Might I suggest that if you aren’t fulfilled in God, you read Ephesians and note all of the riches we have in Christ?

And if that still isn’t enough, maybe you are clinging to lesser things for your happiness? Those, “if only’s” can quickly become idols.

You know the thought process:

“If only”…

I had more money, more time, more children, less children, better behaved children, a more assertive husband, a less authoritative husband, more money, a bigger house, more respect, more love, more understanding, more opportunities, more health….

The list is only as long as our imagination.

The better way: “Be content in whatever state you are in.” That’s it. The big secret. Be content. Don’t wish for more. Be satisfied with what God has given. God. God. He is the giver. Let that sink in. When we rise up in complaint, it is to Him and his provision and providence.

“My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” (63:5,6)

5. Cling to Christ.

I don’t know what to say about this, except that when we are allured and enamored by lesser things, we’ll never be satisfied with Christ. We forget what we have. We chase wood, hay and stubble. No woman likes a man with “wandering eyes.” They just kinda creep you out, don’t they? Well, that’s what we are like when we are constantly on the lookout for something better. We have wandering eyes, and it “ain’t attractive” to a woman who professes godliness.

Clinging to Christ sounds desperate, but honestly, clinging to Christ for dear life is what is necessary. “My soul cleaves after you” is the literal translation! It includes submissive faith in God’s plan and an active pursuit of God. If you aren’t clinging to Christ, you are clinging to the wrong things.

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” vs. 8

I love how Elizabeth George uses the metaphor of a tree’s roots to describe the strength and support that our private time in scripture reading and prayer provides:

“Just like a plant with its roots hidden underground, you and I –out of public view and alone with God–are to draw from Him all that we need to live the abundant life He has promised His children (John 10:10) We must seek to live our lives near to God–indeed, hidden in Him!” A Woman After God’s Own Heart, pg 30

What we do today determines how we weather our wilderness! What steps can you take today to realign your heart to Christ? What lesser things need to go to make room for the most important relationship in your life? Whatever it takes, do it! :)

Christian Parenting, Trials, Uncategorized , , ,

Why Comparison Steals Your Joy {and how to get it back}

June 27, 2012 Sarah Beals One comment

Have you ever had the feeling that life is not fulfilling?

Are you ever unsatisfied with life as you know it?

 

My little girl encountered this on a very small-scale one day when I went announced that we were going to the Dairy Queen. I only had $10 on me, but it was hot, so I told the kids we could drive thru and order cones.

These cones were bought by grandma. Can you tell? :)

All the kids happily placed their order, except one. She pouted, because she wanted a Blizzard. But, I couldn’t afford it, I explained. She continued to pout and slouch. So I quietly ordered 4 cones instead of the 5 I had planned. She was a little shocked. I told her that I knew the cone would not make her happy, so I didn’t get her one. She had set her sights on something that she couldn’t have, which we have all done. (not to mention we have a no whining policy in our home.)

She had a lesson to learn:

Comparison kills contentment and leads to covetousness. (Tweet this)

Do you find yourself wanting more? Can you easily fill in this blank?

“If only ___________were different about my life, I would be happier.”

I am sure our answers all differ, but I can imagine that some of your blanks would say: past, finances, education, marriage, children, school, stage, health, relationships.

We all have things that we wish we could change. But if these things affect our outlook and mood and consume our thoughts, do you realize that you are caught in the trap of covetousness?

Covetousness is that green-eyed monster that wants something more for itself than what God has given.

And Jesus tells us not to covet or want anything belongs to our neighbor. He tells us to beware of covetousness and to be content with all we have, in whatever state we are in.

Have you found yourself in a hard place today? Some serious trouble?

 

You know what I mean by “serious”…things you might be powerless to change: Health problems, way ward children, financial crisis or marriage crisis. Paul was there, too with his “thorn in the flesh.” In fact, he prayed three times for God to remove it.

But God’s answer was this: My GRACE is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in your weakness.

Not only did Paul embrace his limitation, he also gloried in it. He esteemed it the same way that God did, as a good thing for Paul.

So right now, drop your covetousness. Repent of it. It is a big deal, even in small amounts.

In serious trials, instead of adopting a grin and bear it outlook, adopt a ”My grace is sufficient for you” mindset.   Tweet This.

A Wise Woman, Christian Parenting, Trials

Loving the Unlovely and Other Hard Commands

September 7, 2011 Sarah 4 comments

The Bible is full of “One Another” commands. Commands. Not suggestions. And the way we keep them shows what is going on inside.

It is easy to love those who love us, who are kind and gracious, sweet and pleasant. But it is much harder to love those who are offensive, brash, judgmental and critical, immature, or just plain wicked. But we are called to love, not because the person is worthy of our love. We are called to love because God loves the unjust and does good to the wicked and evil person.

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

When we love God wholeheartedly, the “one another” commands flow naturally out of a spirit led, Christ like life. (Some may come easier to us than others to us, but as women who want to obey God’s words, we will fight against our flesh and live the way Christ lived.) When we are not living out the “one another ” commands, we are exposing ourselves as distant from God. And it is amazing how quickly we can waver in our thinking, isn’t it?  One minute, we have great intentions, the next minute we are struggling. The hymn I Need Thee Every Hour comes to mind. :) And sometimes Moment by Moment.

The Peace Offering by Grant Wood

How have you done this week obeying these One Anothers? 

  • Love one another, as I have loved you. (Now there is something to meditate on! How exactly did Christ love me? How far should my love for another go? {sigh…I have some work to do!})
  • Be devoted one to another
  • Serve one another
  • Outdo one another in showing honor
  • Bear with one another
  • Teaching one another
  • Admonish one another
  • Encourage one another
  • Be kind one to another
  • Forgive one another
  • Stop passing judgement on one another
  • live in peace with each other
Remember, this list is not a list of suggestions. It is not just the way we are supposed to treat our friends.
God will give you and me the grace to do His will and to love even the unlovely, unkind, unworthy and unappreciative people in our lives. (God put them in our paths for a reason! )I have learned that those who are abrasive, offensive, bitter and angry are the ones who especially need to see the love of Christ lived out, and given love in return for their hurtful behavior. (old adage: Hurt people hurt others.) Healthy Christians should help bring healing to these hurting people.
Would Christ be pleased with the way you love, prefer, receive, admonish, serve, forbear, forgive, comfort, and edify both your agreeing and disagreeing brothers in Christ? …
How do you treat those in your family? Do you pity instead of attack, delight in rather than cut down; cherish rather than ignore; comfort rather than irritate, love rather than dislike? God assumes that we should love…Do you? If you have not [loved the way you should], whose forgiveness do you need to seek and what needs to change right away?
-Rand Hummel, There4
For a list of 59 “One Anothers” see here.
Linked to Courtney
Christian living, Trials ,

When Rain Falls

July 17, 2011 Sarah One comment

Read your Bible as if your life depends upon it.

It does.

photo credit

The rain will fall. Storms will blow. Floods will rise. Trials are inevitable.

How you fare depends on how you listened.

Matthew 7:

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be liken to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Christian living, Trials

Unexpected? Yes. Unplanned? No.

June 21, 2011 Sarah Beals 6 comments

Do you believe that everything happens for a purpose? Good or bad?

Do you believe that you can accomplish God’s will for your life, even from your sick bed?

Be encouraged, friend! Even when unexpected things happen, God always has a reason and a purpose for you. It didn’t just happen and it didn’t take God by surprise! It is part of His plan, and  His reasons are exactly what is right and good for you at that time! Your job, of course,is always the same:  to trust Him and obey His word!

He has a plan and he is working it out.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10

It has been comforting to know that even in weakness, God has a plan for me. An ordained plan. And as you and I see life through the lens that God is in control and is working out all things for our good, we will rest in whatever comes our way.

Let me share how I see God working this week through my Mono.

  • In my weakness, and in God’s plan, I have had more time to study and read His word, and to prepare for upcoming ministry opportunities this fall.
  • In my weakness, and in God’s plan, I have had more time to visit physically with  women and have had times of mutual encouragement in Christ.
  • In my weakness, and in God’s plan, I have had the chance to encourage some discouraged women who called for some direction and for prayer.
  • In my weakness, and in God’s plan, I have had lots of time to sit and read with my youngest girl and to watch movies with my older girls.

God is always working.

What has God brought into your path today?

You are on a mission to live out God’s love and grace to others right where you are! 

So where are you today?

Are you called to serve someone who is unlovable?

Whether it is a sick child, a cranky toddler or that “prickly someone”,  God has called you to “good works” and to extend His love and grace whether you feel like it or not and whether they deserve it or not.

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt. 5:44,45

Why does God make the sun rise on the deserving and the undeserving? The just and the unjust? Not because of their goodness or their lack of goodness, but because HIS nature is good and that is just the way He is.  And if  he calls us to love even our enemies and those who would purposely do us hard, I’m pretty sure that includes everyone in between as well. And if we are not willing to love the unlovable, we cannot be like our Father in Heaven and we are no better than the “unsaved” who only love the people who love them back.

Are you in a season of sickness, rest or waiting?

Instead of fretting or fussing, and worrying about not “getting it all done”, simply trust. Peace will not come until we express trust: trust in God’s goodness, His plans for our lives and His sovereignty in all things.

Psalm 23:2 tells us that He makes me lie down in green pastures. The picture is of resting/renewal in a cool, grassy place. Resting teaches us to trust God in new ways. It gives us opportunities for extended times of fellowship with Him! It energizes us for what lies ahead. So welcome seasons of waiting and leave your problems with God. John 15:5 says that without him, you can do nothing…including resting well.

Happy resting, or serving, or whatever you find yourself doing today. Do it all to make God smile and for His good name.

Trials

When Father’s Day is Not A Happy Day

June 19, 2011 Sarah Beals 2 comments

For me, Father’s day is a wonderful day to celebrate the men in my life. A wonderful husband, father and father in law all in one family are three gifts that seems so rare in today’s world.

But, what do you do when the  holidays, like Father’s Day, are a day of dread for you?  Maybe you didn’t  have the caring husband, father or mother that others celebrate. Perhaps you were deeply hurt by your family situation. Maybe  you  were abandoned, abused, neglected or just plain mistreated. And maybe you are still carrying those wounds with you into your adult life.

Where is the hope of the gospel in situations like these? Or in any sin-ridden relationship gone sour? How can you live a life of peace and joy when the wounds are re-opened year after year? When you feel as though the flood of emotion wells up within you at the very mention of the name of that “somebody” or “something” that happened? What do  you do when bitterness has become your norm?When, like the Hatfields and McCoys, your life has become defined by your feud and  has been fueled by your hatred.

The answer is found in forgiveness.

Everyone in life gets hurt. We are sinful people. We hurt others and have been hurt by others. We truly have been affected by the sin of others. But the truth is that the greater harm comes in harboring bitterness and resentment towards the wrongdoer.  When we are wronged we have a choice.

1. We can become debt collectors.

This is what it  looks like:

The natural response is to set out to make the offender pay for what he has done. We may be overt or subtle, but until we get a satisfactory apology, until we determine that an adequate penalty has been paid, we intend on keeping the wrongdoer in debtor’s prison: we reserve the right to punish them for their transgressions. This is the pathway of retaliation and resentment- getting even, exacting payment for what they did…But the problem is that being a “debt collector” does more that  keep our offender in debtors’ prison: it puts us in prison.”*

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping someone else will die.

2. Or we can choose to release them:

When we as God’s children realize that His grace is sufficient for every situation, that by he power of His indwelling Spirit we have the ability to respond with grace and forgiveness to those who have sinned against us- at that point, we are no longer victims. We are free to rise above whatever may have been done to us, to grow through it, and to become instruments of grace, reconciliation and redemption in the lives of other hurting people and even in the lives of our offenders. Yes, we can be free- if we choose to be.*

In our day, we are coddled into thinking that it is normal to be a victim. That by replaying the wrongs done against us, we will someday find healing. Words like “hurt”, “wounded”, “victim” are all a mindset that will leave you replaying the incidents over and over in your mind, feeling angry, vengeful and ultimately your life revolves around the “wrong.”

It is a lot harder to admit that we’ve let that hurt escalate (or descend, to use a better word) into unforgiveness or bitterness- which puts responsibility on our shoulders. And our unforgiveness is a sin, just as the original offense was. No worse a sin, but certainly no less of one.*

Forgiveness is the only way to live freely. All other options land you in a prison of your own making.

Read the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matt. 18 and note the conclusion in vs.35:

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you , if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

Matt. 6: 14,15- If you forgive others their tresspasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive  others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

What if God only forgave me to the extent that I’ve been willing to forgive those who’ve sinned against me? *

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matt. 5:7

*Quotes by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

** I know I will get emails if I do not write this clarification. I am not saying that if your abuse was criminal that you should not seek the full extent of the law. Forgiveness does not mean that people do not pay the consequences for their actions, in fact, quite the contrary. Scripture teaches that the law is there to protect us and to meet out judgement for wrong doers. I am saying that as horrible as abuse could be, the longer lasting and more devastating damage is done within our own mind. You  DO have power over how you respond to life’s cruelties. And forgiveness does not always mean that restoration with a toxic person is possible.

Trials

When You Don’t Know What To Do

June 18, 2011 Sarah Beals 9 comments

Sometimes knowing the right thing to do is hard. Especially when you’re in a circumstance that you didn’t choose or  seems out of your control. Health problems, financial strain, conflict with others, “the terrible twos”, rebellious teens, or emotional turmoil can all cause us to second guess our sanity and can leave us feeling like we don’t know which end is up. We may grapple with thoughts like “How do I deal with this?” or “What do I do now?”

So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do?

1. Pray for wisdom.

Is your first recourse to pray about it? If God can be trusted to care for your very soul, then He is also trustworthy in ” smaller matters.” Before you go to the phone, go to the throne.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5.

2. Search the Scriptures.

Spend time reading about the life of Christ in the gospels. You’ll learn how He thought and what He expects of those who follow Him. You’ll see His heart for others, his servant’s heart, his willingness to yield to the will of Another, His reactions, His priorities, how He handled crisis.

 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Ps. 16:11

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Ps. 119:105

3. Seek Wise Counsel.

Ask an older woman who is wise and discreet. Someone who has a reputation of self control with their tongue and emotions. Someone who knows and applies the scripture to their lives (knowledge means little if it does not change the life.)

Elizabeth George describes a wise woman this way:

“The woman who is wise is a woman who is sober-minded, well-minded, sound-minded. Passions and thoughts are under control, therefore she is self controlled and of sound mind, acting with wisdom.”

Some opposites of wisdom are : foolishness, rashness, overly enthusiastic (acting without thinking of the consequences), overly talkative, quick to share her opinion when not asked, offensive, impulsive, angry, moody/emotional, harshness of speech, judgmental/critical of others.

4. Just do the next “right thing.”

Don’t stop working and withdraw yourself from people when things get tough.  And don’t worry about the fact that you don’t know how this trial will play out in the end. Just do what is in front of you. Is there a house to be cleaned? A child to be loved? A meal to be made? A kind word to be spoken? Love those who come into your path today. Do the right thing one thing at a time.

Trials, Wise Women In Ministry

Trials Come In Many Flavors – Pt. 2.

May 26, 2011 Sarah Beals 4 comments

My last post was about a variety of trials and how we deal with them. here

From your feedback and email we all seem to agree that trials caused by the neglect or mistreatment of others, or health problems  seem to cause us the most unrest and fear.  I see it that way, too.

But, take heart!  Trials cannot ruin you. 

The decisions of others cannot harm you . Oh, they may hurt, but they are not in control of the outcome of your life. Remember? It’s not them, it’s HIM!

A husband who is unsensitive or divorces you cannot destroy you. Being held back or overlooked for a job promotion or fired, cannot destroy you. An “enemy” aka mother in law or family member who is out to destroy you cannot do it.

You can only be ruined by your own responses. From inside.(that heart thing again. :) )

God is always there, and He is all hope. The gospel is our hope. The gospel changes us and restores us from the wreckage of sin and despair and remakes us into the image of Jesus Christ.

You are destroyed when you leave this all loving Savior out of your heart and mind during your problems.

They can make life hard, but they can’t destroy you.

If we choose self promotion, self reliance,  bitterness, anger, retaliation, worry, depression… that is what destroys us. It will destroy your peace, your life and your relationships.

We are destroyed by the sin in our own hearts.

God is always there. He’ll never leave or forsake you. When you are worried, unstable, overcomed by grief , remember that God’s grace will keep you from daily spiritual defeat.

That is why Paul, in chains and imprisioned, could write :

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and  the God of peace will be with you.

Life can be hard, no doubt about it. But we are called to die to self and live to Christ.

We can respond to trial several ways.

  • We can fight or flight.(take control, manipulate  vs. conflict avoidance and not dealing)
  • We can explode or emote (angry outbursts vs. self pity.)
  • Or we can submit to the hand of God and see him in it.

**(note: when I say submit, it  does not mean to take physicial abuse or just stand by and be abused!  Just makin’ sure you know that I am not talking about that. That would  be “flight” or not dealing with a problem. Take all measures to protect yourself from physical abuse, including using the protection of the law. )

God is in control. God is always working things out for our good . Our job is to respond to His plan in a godly manner.  Respond with hope in his promises. Our spiritual health depends on it, and we are teaching our children and others by our responses.

It is here that our theology is being exposed. (read that post here) Our actions show what we really believe. We are either trusting Christ or handling  life ourself.

One trust, rests, waits, submits and has a peaceful heart.

The other fights, defends, reacts, controls and is full of  turmoil and  chaos in their souls.

“He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God’s hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself.” – Spurgeon

Some questions to ask yourself today:

Is God in control today?

Does He know about this trial?

Am I problem centered today, or God centered in my thinking?

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee.” – Ps. 55:22

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Christian living, Trials

Trials Come In Many Flavors

May 25, 2011 Sarah Beals 6 comments


Trouble comes to all of us. And just like ice cream, it comes in many different flavors.

  • Sickness or death of a loved one.
  • Worries about child raising.
  • Financial hardship.
  • Loosing a job.
  • An unfaithful spouse.
  • Broken relationships.
  • Problems due to the selfishness of others.
  • Emotional Instability.

We can’t control our trouble, but we can control how we respond to the trouble.

We sometimes cannot control our circumstances, but we can control how we react.

We focus on the problem or the one who has harmed us. But it’s not them, or it, or anyone else.

It’s Him.

He is allowing it. He is testing your faith. Do you trust Him to do what is best for you? He is too good to not do what is best for you.

James 1: 2,3  Calls your trial a trial of your faith.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Some thoughts about this verse.

We see our trials as anything but joy. But we should count them as joy, because God is using them to perfect us. To make our responses more Christ- like.

We love to blame others for our problems.We even blame God or satan. Anyone but ourselves. When Eve sinned, she blamed the devil and Adam. When Adam sinned, he blamed his wife.

But James 1 tells us that the temptation comes from within. From our own cravings. We sin and go to war with others because of our wrong desires.

  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

These verses tell us that:

  • God is too Holy to be tempted with evil.
  • God is too good to tempt anyone else with evil.
  • That we are tempted with evil by our own desires.

The progression goes like this:

Desires/Cravings—-sin—-death.

Next time you are in the middle of a trial, look for what God is doing. As tempting as it might be, do not pollute the problem by a sinful response. Submit yourself to God’s plan and allow God to increase your faith. He will give grace to the humble. Then He will give you His joy as you trust and obey.

In trials, your inner peace is dependent on your submissiveness to the will of God. Realize it is Him, not them. Then humble yourself. Trust Him. He it too good to do you evil and is working this horrible, terrible trial all out for your  good.

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**If you enjoy this blog, would you pop over here and vote for my blog on The Top 25 Blogs of Faith. You can vote once a day through June 8th! Thx! Vote here.  


Trials

Big Enough To Help You

May 24, 2011 Sarah Beals 2 comments

New England has many beautiful beaches and lighthouses, so today we packed up our kids and headed over to Scituate Lighthouse for a few hours.

Peter and the kids walked on the rocks and enjoyed being sprayed with freezing cold water as I watched with disbelief, shaking my head and clucking my tongue, sure that they were all going to be swept away by some huge wave or catch their death of cold from all of that cold water.  :)

Whenever I watch the waves beating on the rocks, my thoughts turn to the immensity of the ocean and the power of the water. And then my thoughts turn to the God who made the ocean. I can hardly move my  kid’s plastic kiddy pool full of water but the Bible says that:

God has measured the waters of the earth in the hollow of His hand.

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? ” Isaiah 40:12

He tells the sea how far it can go at the shore.

“He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command” Prov. 8:29

And when Jesus stopped a storm with the words “Peace, be still!” his disciples were amazed and asked

 ”What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matt. 8:27

The same God who is big enough to control the ocean is able to  help  you in times of trouble. We all have problems of one kind or another, either physical, emotional, relational,or  material. Where do you turn when you face these problems? The next time you see the ocean, think about the God who is so big that he holds this world in his hands. The God who spoke this world into being. Don’t you think He can help you?

Some great resources for times of trouble:


  • When Trouble Comes by Jim Berg- read excerpt here
  • Listen to the When Trouble Comes seminar here

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Christian living, Trials