Hurt Shouldn't Hurt Your Hope

Pain is a part of everyone's path. Don't let pain turn you away from God, let it turn you towards Him. Here are a few reasons why Hurt Shouldn't Hurt Your Hope.

Reason #1
God can bring purpose out of our pain. God can take your worst experiences in life and turn them for your good. Where some may have intended to do you harm, God can use it to help you. Perhaps your scars can carry a greater purpose beyond your own pain. God turns messes into masterpieces all the time. Don't run from the One who can redeem, renew, and restore.

(Verses to Read: Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, Isaiah 53:4-5)

Reason #2
Pain, like a fire, can purify us. Character is forged and personal growth is sparked when we are tested. Pain can either burn us or build us. It can take our life or take the things out of our life that are holding us back. It's about the perspective you take and the people you are walking with. God will walk through the fire with you. Don't go at it alone and take heart because, "When it feels like you're down to nothing, God's probably up to something."

(Verses to Read: Daniel Ch. 3, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7).

Reason #3
Jesus understands our pain. It is a comforting fact to know that Jesus has experienced the worst that life has to offer and can empathize with us. It is a reminder of the love and compassion that is at the heart of God. Jesus willingly subjected himself to persecution for our sake. He loves us and understands our plight better than we do ourselves. Don't let pain harden your heart, rather to turn to God. Jesus’s hurt is our healing. You will find comfort, communion, and courage knowing that you are not alone.

(Verses to Read: Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Reason #4
Jesus conquered in the midst of pain and suffering. Jesus not only experienced the worst that life had to offer, but He conquered it as well. When Jesus rose from the grave, He claimed a victory over sin and death. They have no power over Him. He has all the authority. Pain doesn't get the final word. Sickness doesn't get the final word. Cancer doesn't get the final word. Not death, not sin, not Satan. Only Jesus. He gets the final word. Jesus has the power to do something about our pain. And it's not just a momentary measure; it's a permanent plan. One day there will be no more pain because of Jesus our Conquering King. In the meantime, you don't have to be a victim of your suffering. You can have victory in spite of your suffering just like Jesus.

(Verses to Read: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Revelation 21:4-6, Romans 8:31-39).

Reason #5
God's reward is reserved for those with a godly resolve. The Bible is clear that it is the one who endures, overcomes, and is victorious that will inherit God's reward of eternal life. Don't let suffering turn you away from what God has in store for you in Christ Jesus. Don't let today's problem make you miss tomorrow's party. There's no comparison. Strengthen your resolve in the midst of your pain. And what is our resolve you might ask? To put all my faith in Christ's sufficiency to save me from my sins, to sustain me through life, and to secure me for heaven. You have to keep the faith. He's the only way. It's simply Jesus. Don't toss Jesus to the side because life is hard. He didn't come to make our lives convenient; He came to save us. The crown of thorns precedes the crown of glory. Don't let pain make you miss out on God's greatest gift. Hang onto Jesus with every fiber of your being. He is all we really got in the end and He's enough.

(Verses to Read: Romans 8:18, Revelation 2:8-11, John 14:1-6).

Let the Church Bells Ring

In light of everything going on in the world with the coronavirus and with Easter coming up I wanted to share a few things. First, I’d like to share a story I came across that is quite relevant for our time.

Horror gripped the peaceful village of Feldkirch, Austria, early on Easter morning in 1799, when high above the valley in which the town nestled, they spied the tents and the gleaming armour of a foreign army. The uniforms, plainly seen in the clear dawn, were those of Napoleon's French forces.

With the weapons of enemy soldiers glittering above them, and their own Austrian army far away across the mountains, the villagers had reason for desperation. Hurriedly, the town council assembled. Hopelessness pervaded the council chamber.

Someone proposed that they send a peace offering up the steep cliff, handing the keys of the city to the enemy commander and petitioning him for mercy. But up rose the old dean of the church, serene as the sunrise, stout-hearted as the ancient trees upon the hill. "This is Easter morning," he declared, his voice echoing the peace of the first resurrection day.

Confusion instantly subsided among the council members who were calmed by the tones of his voice. "We have been reckoning on our own strength; and it is but weakness. Let us ring the bells and have services as usual. We will leave our troubles in the hands of a Higher Power." His courage was contagious, and the council agreed with him. Soon the village church bells rang out joyously. Gaily dressed villagers, on their way to worship, thronged the streets. The surrounding hills echoed the rich tones of the church bells as they pealed louder and louder, proclaiming the resurrection of the living Christ.

On the heights above the little town, General Massena in command of Napoleon's invading army with 18,000 troops, hearing the sounds of rejoicing, and seeing the carefree, brightly-clothed throngs, concluded that there could be but one reason for such gaiety in the presence of his military might.

He was sure that the Austrian army had come up in the night and might even now be encircling his position on the wooded hill. Massena ordered his army to break camp speedily and depart. Almost before the bells had ceased ringing, long before church services were concluded that Easter day in 1799, the French army was in retreat.

When the worshippers of Feldkirch poured out of the church doors and looked up at the heights, they saw not one tent, not one French soldier, not one flashing sword above their peaceful village!
(From: The Mighty Hand of God by Katherine Pollard Carter)

            I’d also like to take a moment to encourage you. Many of us are combatting an enemy that we cannot see. We face potential disease and sickness. Even though problems may abound, our resolve should remain the same, especially as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our resolve is this: “We will worship God.” The church cannot be silent in times like these. We must worship. If we don’t worship, the rocks would cry out. Let the church bells ring.

            The willingness to praise God in the toughest of situations and choosing to rejoice provides tremendous strength for the believer. When we feel surrounded on all sides, choose to take a different perspective and look to the joy of the Lord which is our strength. Whether you are alone, meeting in person, connecting via a livestream, going to a drive-in service, or wherever you may be, let the songs of your heart go forth. Praise God first and foremost whether the times are good or bad. When you face the enemy let the church bells ring.

            Our hearts are full because the tomb is empty. Nothing is more powerful and contagious than the love of God, not even the coronavirus. Don’t be stuck in fear. Stand in faith. Even though circumstances may be different, let God be God and simply worship Him. Let the church bells ring.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
-Nehemiah 8:10

(For further study read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30)

Be a Doer of the Word

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem like a king. In less than a week’s time, the city would turn on him and Jesus would be crucified. How is this possible when so many people would gather to hear his message and Jesus spoke nothing but truth?

            Much like the parable of the sower, Jesus’ message was not falling on “good soil”. During his time in Jerusalem, Jesus spent much of his time answering difficult questions asked by the Pharisees, whose only purpose was to test him. Jesus spoke so much truth during his short time in Jerusalem, but the people were not receptive. James 1:22 – 24 says,

Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

            It is not enough to hear the words of Jesus. You have to allow your head knowledge to become heart knowledge. Once the Word penetrates your heart, the only natural response is to let God’s love flow out through your hands and feet, now making you a “Doer of the Word.”

            This is something the religious leaders of the time were not able to do. It’s evident in their need to accomplish their own selfish agendas. Nothing about Pharisees attracted others to become closer to God because, while they knew the word, they did not live it out.

            There was a film that came out about 10 years ago called To Save A Life. The main character is a nonbeliever who becomes interested in what it means to be a Christian. He starts going to church but is quickly put off by many who attend that seem to act just as worldly as nonbelievers. Growing frustrated, he finally blurts out, “What’s the point of all this if you’re not going to let it change you?!”

            The answer? There is no point. Your walk with God can either attract people or turn people away. Matthew 5:16 says,

Let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

            Unlike the people in Jerusalem, allow Jesus’ message to change you. Be a doer of the word and a reason someone chooses to glorify your Father today.

Make the Change

           There are times in life when we realize that we just have to make a change. Things cannot stay the same. Something has to budge. Sometimes God feels the same way and He is much more attuned to what needs changing than you or me. If you make space for God in your life, I think that you will find that He is in the business of changing people. I want you to consider this question. If you took the time today to sit down and pray, what do you think God might say needs changing in your life?

            The bible has a word for the change God wants for our life. It’s called repentance. Biblically speaking, to repent means to make a change and turn to God for help. Turning to God involves turning away from something else. This is a process of letting go of something old so that you can experience something new. It’s more than just being forgiven by God. It’s making a change. For God, forgiveness and repentance always go hand in hand. There's an old rabbinical saying,

If a man has an unclean thing in his hands, he may wash them in all the seas of the world, and he will never be clean; but if he throws the unclean thing away, a little water will suffice.

            When we seek forgiveness without repentance, we are missing the point. God is not just trying to hand out "Get Out of Jail Free" cards. He is calling people into a real relationship. Repentance is a turning around; you make a 180-degree change. If you say want God to work in your life, you must be willing to let go and turn around. It means turning from your sin and turning towards God. It's a real change in your heart and mind.

            When we turn around, we find the embrace of a loving Father. When He calls your name, turn around. Repentance is not about perfection; it's about setting a new direction. Maybe it’s time to let go, turn to God, and with open arms embrace all that He has for you. God is closer than you think. Take the time to listen. Make the change.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
-Matthew 4:17, NIV