Brokenness Comes

Lately, many of our friends have received devasting health prognosis. One man learned that he has MLS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and he is fading fast. While he has been surprising upbeat, his wife is suffering. Another male friend recently found out that he has prostrate cancer. This sad news comes after losing a daughter to a devasting disease. Other friends are battling chronic disease while also losing employment. What can I say to these friends? I don’t know, because I have not suffered like they are. But I choose to listen and be there for them.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God knows the hurts that we suffer and He feels those hurts also. But we can trust Him to comfort us and walk us through the hurt to healing. Then we can share the comfort that we experienced with others who need comfort.

Nature Teaches

I spend a lot of time hiking nature trails. I enjoy the beauty and wonders of nature. I see God’s hand in His creation. Powerful waterfalls remind me of His might. Beautiful sunrises tell me of His majesty. Rivers speak of His steadfast love. The mountains declare His sovereignty over all things.

Romans 1:20-21 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” It is not enough to know about God. We must give Him thanks for all He has done, and we must honor Him in what we do. If we worship the creation instead of the creator, we give ourselves over to darkened hearts and foolishness.

Rivers of Blessings

If you have seen and read my posts, you will know that I enjoy daily hikes in nature and find myself walking next to rivers quite often. Rivers not only create beautiful scenery but also serve many benefits. They provide water to irrigate the crops that we need to feed us. They are an important source of transportation of goods. Their waters often provide power through hydroelectric plants. But rivers are dependent on the sources of water that make them such a powerful benefit to us.

In John 7:38, Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will become a source of continuous blessings to themselves and for others, like a river of living water. He is the source of these blessings, as He works through and in us. We must depend upon Him in order to receive and give the blessings that He wants to give.

Unequalled Jury

If you have spent time in a courtroom as a juror, plaintiff, defense, lawyer or observer, you know that the courtroom is designer to discover the truth. Witnesses state their knowledge, evidence is presented, and lawyers advocate their cases. Unfortunately, sometimes tricks and showmanship overwhelm the evidence in the eyes of the ones who judge.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word reveals the truth about us. We may try to cover our weaknesses, but God’s Word reveals whether even our thoughts and intentions are righteous or evil. Our tricks to cover our true intentions and hearts of unbelief do not offset what the truth of God’s Word exhibits about our true nature. The unbeliever, hypocrit, and true disciple are all revealed in the light of the truth of the Word of God. Nothing is hidden from God and He makes the ultimate judgment, so it is best to believe in Him and align ourselves with His Word.

Firm Foundation

On hiking trails, rocks come in many shapes and sizes. On the trail, rocks make for uneven surfaces and sometimes obstacles. However, huge rocks, like those that form the mountains in Yosemite National Park, highlight the beauty and majesty of nature. In the Bible, God is often referred to as our Rock. That is because, like the mountains of Yosemite, He is unchangeable, immovable, and precious in His majesty and salvation.

II Samuel 2:47 says, “The Lord lives, blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.” A rock is something we can count on to never change and can become a firm foundation. Many rocks are precious like gems. Our God is unchangeable and is a firm foundation for our faith and life. As such, He means more to us than precious jewels.