Tag: sadness

October 30, 2024

October 30th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Nehemiah 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!””
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yep, I picked another party verse.

There’s lots of them.

It’s almost as if God loves a good party.

The twist here is that this party comes with a command not to be sad.

It started with the reading of the Law. That made people sad because of how short they had fallen from obeying the Law.

The celebration comes from the provision for sin through sacrifice.

Our celebration should be far greater than theirs since our redemption is permanent through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Yes, our sin should sadden us.

But our repentance and redemption should bring about an awesome celebration.

Have you celebrated your redemption lately?
How can we make that celebration greater?
August 25, 2024

August 25th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Why won’t you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow!”
‭‭Job‬ ‭7‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I read this complaint of Job to God, I want to shout to Job, “What are you thinking? Find your hope in God. He didn’t do this to you.”

But, in the middle of his suffering, he has lost all hope.

In his frustration, he cries out in hopelessness to God to let the suffering be over.

God not only allowed Job to complain, but he allowed Job’s words to be immortalized in the Bible.

We will see later how Job reacted when God spoke back to him and his friends.

For today, just realize that God allows us to voice our complaints to Him.

He doesn’t want us to stay in that hopeless place, but he allows us the healing that comes through speaking out of our pain.

Have you ever voiced bitter complaints to God?
How did that turn out in the end?
August 18, 2024

August 18th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 5-6

Highlight Verse:

““If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to him.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s easy to blindly take Job’s side in this book. He was the victim, and his friends were lousy comforters.

But Eliphaz wasn’t all wrong. Insensitive but not necessarily wrong.

That’s especially true in this verse.

Job had lost everything. He was drowning in his little pity party.

I’d say this was a pretty good time to have a good conversation with God.

The book of Job is full of “stinkin’ thinkin’” both by Job, his wife, and his friends.

Sprinkled throughout it are little gems like this verse.

Let’s see what we can find as we read through it.

But for today:

When your world is falling apart, is God the first person you talk to?
What’s that conversation like for you?
June 2, 2024

June 2nd, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I think it’s glaringly obvious that we cannot see the whole scope of God’s work.

What we sometimes miss is the fact that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”

We get down on ourselves and on our circumstances and forget how temporary they are.

God planted eternity in our hearts, but we dwell on the temporary.

If we could look at everything through the eyes of eternity, we could see how the worst of our troubles are temporary and that good will come from each one.

They may not be good while they are happening, but God can bring good from the worst of circumstances.

Can you think of any good that has come from your past bad circumstances?
How different would your life look today if you viewed it with an eternal perspective?
November 10, 2023

November 10th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Lamentations 5

Highlight Verse:

“Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My middle school students reminded me last night that November is the perfect month to remember to give thanks every day.

Lamentations is kind of the opposite of that – until we get to the few verses like this scattered through the book.

While it is not exactly giving thanks, today’s verse points to the fact that God is able to restore His people. Joy can return. They have not gone beyond the point of no return.

God did restore His people to their land, in His timing.

His people did return to joyous praise and worship.

No matter how bad your situation, there is always room for giving thanks, even if it is just for the potential of joy existing.

Have you ever been in a situation where all you had to give thanks for was the fact that there was nowhere to go but up?
What are some of the things you can give thanks for today?
November 1, 2023

November 1st, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 17-18

Highlight Verse:

“The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.””
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How tempting it was to highlight the fact that Absalom was undone by his huge head of hair.

But I felt more led to speak of a father’s emotions.

I can relate to David.

Okay, I’m no great warrior or king, nor have I committed adultery or murder.

But he was a man of many emotions.

My kids have not always walked in the ways I would like. No, they haven’t stolen half my kingdom, but there are times when I have to pray that their plans not succeed. I want them to seek earnestly after God and sometimes their plans go against that.

At the same time, I love them deeply. I would take a bullet for any of my kids or my wife in a heartbeat.

So, I understand David mourning.

Sure, he could have been a little more discreet about it, but he was a dad.

The takeaway for me here is that emotions are real and complex. While there are times they need to be kept under control, there are also times when they need to be released.

David had deep compassion. That came out as deep sorrow in this case.

Sometimes it must in us as well.

Are you a person of deep emotions?
Do you sometimes express deep sorrow?
Are those emotions channeled into deep passion for action at other times?
September 24, 2023

September 24th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 116-118

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This morning, I had the privilege of having breakfast with a group of guys that included a widower.

After six decades of marriage, he found the strength through the Lord to carry on.

Now, a year later, he lives a vibrant life that includes sharing his wealth of experience with us other guys.

This evening (I write these the evening before they get posted) I got word that the wife of a dear old friend from my Santa Cruz days passed away. I know that she is in the presence of Jesus now and all her pain has been washed away.

My friend’s pain right now is deep.

I know that he has a close relationship with God and will find strength drawn from that relationship.

Even so, he and his kids and grandkids could use all our prayers to get through this time.

From this passage we know that God cares for those who have passed from this world into His heavenly kingdom.

I believe without a doubt that he cares just as deeply for those left behind.

The psalmist speaks of moving on with an attitude of thankfulness. With that, God can get you through the hardest of times.

Have you had to deal with losing a close loved one?
How have you dwelt with that anguish? Please share that others may benefit from your experiences.
August 30, 2023

August 30th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 29-31

Highlight Verse:

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭30‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And you thought your neighborhood was bad.

In that time and place, the political system was simple feudalism. Different kings led small kingdoms which often fought against each other.

In this story, David and his men returned home to find their town burnt to the ground and their wives and children kidnapped.

David was both crushed by the loss of his wives and fearful for his own life as his men blamed him for allowing this tragedy to happen.

David turned that anguish into action as he pursued those who had attacked his home. That action paid off.

There are times in our lives when we feel we are at the rock bottom. It is then that we most want to give up. We would do well to remember David at his rock bottom. He chose to channel that anguish into action.

May we choose action over despair too.

Have you ever felt like giving up in despair?
What motivated you to not give up?
August 11, 2023

August 11th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 28-30

Highlight Verse:

“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Israelites had been sent into the lands of their enemies. The survivors of Babylon’s conquest of the land were uprooted and forced to live in a foreign land.

And Jeremiah says to work and pray for the peace and prosperity of the city they’d been dragged off to?

Aren’t you glad you don’t live in that time?

Aren’t you glad that prophecy doesn’t apply to you?

Or does it?

Many of us have been put into less than ideal situations. For some, corporate takeovers have landed you with jobs in companies you thought you had avoided. Maybe circumstances have forced you into less than ideal living conditions.

We all have things we could grumble about.

Jeremiah basically says to live your life to its fullest praying and working for the best of those around you. Just because life isn’t ideal doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it.

Please note that I am not advocating staying in abusive and/or dangerous situations. God and other people can help you find a way to safety.

For the rest of us,

let’s be thankful in our situations and and work and pray for the best.

Do you maintain a positive attitude even when situations don’t seem very positive?
What ways have you found to make the best of a less than perfect situation? Please share!
July 12, 2023

July 12th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 15-16

Highlight Verse:

““I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When was the last time you were so deeply moved that you cried out to the Lord all night?

The only events that pop into my mind are the loss of a loved one.

So here’s Samuel, who opposed the idea of Israel having a king, mourning the loss of God’s blessing on the king.

I believe that Samuel was mourning the loss of godly leadership in Israel.

Did God tell Samuel to get over it or remove Saul from kingship?

No, but God did answer Samuel’s prayers.

He had Samuel anoint the next king – the “man after God’s own heart” – David.

I don’t believe that was the answer Samuel expected.

Nor do I think that Samuel thought Saul would hang onto power for at least 11 more years (David became king at 30 and could not have been more than 19 at the time of anointing as he wasn’t yet of age to serve in the army).

But God answered Samuel’s prayers in the best possible way.

Have you have God answer your most earnest prayers in unexpected ways? – Please share.
Are you in the middle of desperate prayers? God has your answer. It just might not be what you expect.

Tag: sadness

It’s almost as if God loves a good party.

The celebration comes from the provision for sin through sacrifice.

But our repentance and redemption should bring about an awesome celebration.

In his frustration, he cries out in hopelessness to God to let the suffering be over.

For today, just realize that God allows us to voice our complaints to Him.

He doesn’t want us to stay in that hopeless place, but he allows us the healing that comes through speaking out of our pain.

But Eliphaz wasn’t all wrong. Insensitive but not necessarily wrong.

I’d say this was a pretty good time to have a good conversation with God.

What we sometimes miss is the fact that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”

God planted eternity in our hearts, but we dwell on the temporary.

They may not be good while they are happening, but God can bring good from the worst of circumstances.

My middle school students reminded me last night that November is the perfect month to remember to give thanks every day.

No matter how bad your situation, there is always room for giving thanks, even if it is just for the potential of joy existing.

But he was a man of many emotions.

David had deep compassion. That came out as deep sorrow in this case.

Sometimes it must in us as well.

This morning, I had the privilege of having breakfast with a group of guys that included a widower.

I believe without a doubt that he cares just as deeply for those left behind.

And you thought your neighborhood was bad.

May we choose action over despair too.

Or does it?

We all have things we could grumble about.

let’s be thankful in our situations and and work and pray for the best.

When was the last time you were so deeply moved that you cried out to the Lord all night?

But God answered Samuel’s prayers in the best possible way.