Monday is the launch day of our new LGG Study – Beautifully Surrendered! I’ve done studies about women of the Bible before but I’m so excited to get a closer glimpse at how each one learned to walk by faith rather than by sight, even when they walked through pain or difficult situations that they didn’t understand. Join me on Monday morning and let’s learn from these women how to walk beautifully surrendered,while finding a greater purpose in the pain. (excerpts taken from the LGG Announcement – read the full announcement at https://lovegodgreatly.com/announcing-our-next-study-9/)
Let me know if you have questions – otherwise the first post – with everything you need – will be available first thing Monday morning for whenever you’re ready to get started.
I hope you’ll join us for the journey. There’s a comment bar available that I invite you to use for your thoughts on the day’s passage. You never know how your words may be an encouragement to others.
The study is also available on my Facebook Group Page – Journey Through the Word. The group is available at the link below.
The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore. Let all the people say, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 106:48
A Recounting
This is one of those readings that make it tempting to skip right to the soap/focus verse – but as always I encourage you to read the whole passage. It’s actually a beautifully written cliff notes version of God’s people during the exodus and the conquest. While it opens and ends with the Psalmist praising the LORD, much of the chapter focuses on repentance through a recounting of Israel’s failures. We can certainly learn a lot from it – such as failure to appreciate and remember God’s work and love for us leads to rebellion (7) and the importance of God’s reputation (8). We read of how they praised God and then would quickly forget what He had done (12-13). They resented their Spiritual leaders, Moses and Aaron (16) and did evil in the sight of the LORD – like making and worshiping idols and rejecting their true and living God (19-21). Even after His mercies were shown to them they still lived in rebellion (23-25). Because of these things God would eventually make them die in the wilderness (26-27), again and again they angered God by their hideous and rebellious deeds (29-40) so “He handed them over to the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them”(41). He delivered them many times but their attitudes were still rebellious (43). Yet, “He took notice of their distress when He heard their cry for help and relented because of His great loyal love” (44-45) – Because of the recounting of these things and because of all of God’s mighty acts the Psalmist acknowledged that God was worthy of praise now and forevermore and he encouraged the people to praise Him.
The Recounting Results
A “recounting” of God’s ‘mighty acts’ will always lead us to praise Him. Praise Him not only for the present but for the future and forever. The Psalmist not only realized that God deserved praise but he encouraged all the people to agree with him and praise the LORD.
How Then Do I Live?
I should be faithful to “recount” God’s mighty acts. I should be quick to realize and always be aware that God is worthy of my praise. I should also encourage ‘others to see and agree and praise the LORD’.
Why does it matter?
Because others will ‘see and agree’ only when we are faithful to recount and actively praise Him – sparking a fire in those around us and for generations to come.
Prayer Response
Father, help me. Help Your people to notice Your mighty acts. To remember them from days of old. And to recount them faithfully as edification and encouragement for ourselves and others to PRAISE You. For truly You are worthy, both now and always! Help us not only to learn to PRAISE You from the recounting but may the recounting also be a warning and reminder of where rebellion and discontent and grumbling and forgetfulness lead us. Thank You for Your loyal love and faithfulness to forgive – to relent. All Your deeds are praiseworthy – this we know and give you praise. Let all the people agree. – Amen!
The Psalmist declares his love for the LORD. Why? Because the Lord heard his plea for mercy and listened to him. Not only does he declare his love but he says, for as long as he lives, he is going to call on the Lord whenever he needs help. I get it. It’s an awful feeling to talk to people who you think – or worse yet – who you know don’t hear you or just aren’t listening. I get the sense by the Psalmist’s response, that this is how he had been feeling but notice how – when he realized he had been heard – everything changed.
Everything Changes When it becomes personal
When our relationship with God becomes personal everything changes. His testimony becomes one of praise and declaration of God’s mercy and fairness, of His compassion and protection. Now, because he knew, first hand, these things about God He knew he could rest in Him and what He had done. He tells how God rescued him from death, kept his eyes from tears, and his feet from the wrong path. So, in response, the Psalmist declares that he will serve the LORD and wants to know how he can repay Him for all His acts of kindness.
How Then Should I Live?
Like the Psalmist, when he truly realized the truth of all God had done, our hearts should be moved to seek a way to repay Him for all of His kindnesses and, as the Psalmist said, “to celebrate the deliverance” the LORD has given us and call on “the name of the LORD”. The LORD, our God, has delivered us from the power of sin and death and while we can never repay Him for what He has done – His word does give us a hint as to how we can show our love and appreciation. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me keep My commandments”, defining, in Mark 12:29-31, that the greatest commandment is loving the LORD our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is equal to the first and it is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Remember, God isn’t after our burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as Samuel said to Saul, He simply wants our hearts. The same applies to us today.
May we be moved to give Him our heart.
“What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22
Prayer and worship Response
Lord, I give You my heart! For all You have given me. For all of Your kindness. For Your deliverance from sin and death, for Your faithfulness to me through the years, Your healing hand that I have seen, Your provisions that I have needed, Your love and guidance that I would be lost without. – I will praise You and seek to walk in Your ways all of my days! – Oh yes LORD, I give You my heart! – In Jesus’ Name +
for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion.
Tell the nations what he has done.
Psalm 9:10-11 NET
“You can be an instrument through which others encounter God, but only to the extent that you encounter God.”1
The Commitment to Remember
From the beginning of this study, Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering, we have been given examples about remembering and how it helps us turn our laments into praise. In Psalm 77, we read how Moses, a man who was undeniably an instrument of God, committed to remembering the works of the LORD and we saw how it changed his whole attitude. Now we’ve arrived at the last week of the study and we see, as we have throughout, that it’s still about remembering, recalling, pondering, and talking about the goodness of God that strengthens us to walk through the valleys of this world.
I will remember the works of the Lord.
Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.
12 I will think about all you have done;
I will reflect upon your deeds.”
Psalm 77:11-12
The Impact of Remembering
Our Psalm today was written by David who, without question, was and is used as an instrument of God. From this Psalm alone you can tell that he encountered God often and in a number of ways – and his praises seem to flow endlessly, even in the midst of his laments. The impact of his words still inspire us today. His prayers teach us to cry out to God, to pray against the enemy, to trust God, to find favor in His sight, and the list goes on. Consider also the words he spoke of his encounters with God when he was petitioning Saul to allow him to face the giant, Goliath.
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” His words were bold and his acknowledgement that God was with him seemed to have an impact on the decision - as we read: Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”
Then, when he is standing before the Philistine giant, again he remembers and uses the words almost as ammunition against the giant. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
You see David's words and remembrance of his encounters with God rescuing him not only impacted Saul's decision but they impacted David's courage and tenacity - and ultimately the fate of the giant.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2017&version=NIV
HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE
Like Moses and David, we need to encounter God regularly through His Word, through prayer, and watching for His fingerprints of activity in and around our lives. We need to know that His Word says and has shown that we can trust Him in times of trouble (Ps 9:9, Nahum 1:7). We need to remember that, according to Matthew 28:20 and others, we can trust Him not to abandon those who belong to Him.
According to this passage (vs 10-11) and many in the new testament, namely Luke 9:23 – we should be loyal followers, ones who deny themselves and take up our crosses daily to follow Him. We should trust in Him not being afraid that He will abandon us. We should seek His help, sing His praises, and tell others what He has done.
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23
Father, Thank You for showing me, in so many ways that You can be trusted. From hearing our prayers to provision of safety and not abandoning us-even in the difficult days we can trust You and praise You. We can tell others of Your good deeds so that among the “Nations” You will be praised! May You find us faithful, servants after Your own heart.
1 Priscilla Shirer (one in a million, journey to your promised land)
A song used at the dedication of the temple: by David
David’s Response to Answered Prayer
This psalm begins with an acknowledgment that a prayer has been answered. It seems to be a recounting or a testimony of what it was all about and how David’s sorrow turned into joyful dancing. However, don’t miss the line of lament in verse 7 where David says the Lord rejected him and he was terrified. Note the progression from there, David cried to the LORD (8), David’s focus was the Lord (9), and David seeks the LORD’s mercy – indicating he knew that he deserved God’s displeasure and rejection. Suddenly David’s lament is turned into dancing and he says he can no longer stay silent. Oh that we would all respond so joyfully with praise when God answers our prayers.
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Psalm 30:11-12
In these two verses David realizes, with great joy, that his prayers have been answered and he gives God the credit. He makes his joy known and pledges to always give God thanks.
How then should we live?
When God removes or improves our suffering we should make it known. We should not be silent when God acts on our behalf. Instead, we should, without hesitation or timidity give thanks to the LORD. Our responses not only bring delight to God but they have the power to make His name known to others around us, which may in turn encourage them to pray or praise God as well.
My Response
Father, Thank You for all the times You have turned my mourning into dancing! Let me never withhold praise that is due Your name. Let me dance and sing with joy – making Your goodness, greatness, mercy, grace, and love known! And in this, may You be glorified.
Going Deeper
Don’t forget to read the LGG Blog Post lovegodgreatly.com/blog/
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:24-25
Adoption, the Redemption of their bodies
Let me start, like I often do, by backing up. This time we only have to go back to the end of the previous verse (23), where Paul writes of believers groaning eagerly as they “eagerly await their adoption, the redemption of their bodies.” I believe Scripture defines Scripture and this verse particularly gives definition to verse 24 and 25. Let’s look at how –
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23
In This
In most translations verse 24 reads, “In this hope” instead of “in hope”. That little word, “this”, doesn’t change the meaning of the verse but it defines the hope Paul mentions as the same hope he referred to in the previous verses, particularly the description of hope painted with the words of one who “eagerly awaits their adoption, the redemption of their bodies.” After all, isn’t that what we were hoping for when we believed in Jesus for our salvation? – Thus, Paul wrote: “In this hope we were saved”.
Eager Anticipation
Now, let’s turn our attention to one other phrase of Paul’s that caught my attention. “Because we hope for what we have not seen we wait with eager anticipation“, or endurance or patience in some translations. In other words, picture with me children at Christmas and how their excitement builds as presents begin to appear under the Christmas tree. They imagine what’s in the packages and they hope, with growing anticipation, that it’s what’s they’ve asked for … but that same child would not be near as excited for Christmas morning to arrive if the presents were added daily under the tree, unwrapped and visible for all to see. You see, part of the fun for that child is the anticipation of what is to come – and that is how Paul says it should be for us as believers who “hope for what we do not see”. “We eagerly wait for it with endurance”
Am I and How Can I?
So, a set of three questions arose in my mind that perhaps you are asking of yourself? – Am I “eagerly awaiting”? If not – why? Finally, how then can I begin to live in “eager anticipation”? I believe the answers lie in fueling our thoughts with what’s to come. Like the child running to see if any new packages appeared or simply sitting, staring at the lights and colorfully wrapped presents dreaming of what’s to come, we need to look often into God’s Word for His promises that are ours in Christ Jesus. Promises, such as our “adoption”, the “redemption of our bodies”, “the glory that will be revealed to us”, and all of the packages we have not yet unwrapped. Then, with that child-like heart we need to anticipate the very best. After all, we know He’s already given us His only son to die in our place – and to jump ahead and borrow the words Paul wrote in verse 32 of this same chapter, “How will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?”
Prayer Prompt
Father, I do long for that day more and more when I will see you face to face, when I will know the glory that is to come. I confess though – how easy it is to get caught up with the blessing of our lives, our families and friends, ministries and jobs. It can be equally hard not to focus on the pain and suffering in our lives, the lives of those we love, and the world around us. Your Word talks of us enjoying life and seeing many happy days and surely You bless us with many joys that we seek to enjoy at Your good pleasure – but help us to never take our eyes off of the hope and the joy set before us at the “redemption of our bodies” – and may we be faithful to share the truth with others that they too might share in the hope. These things I pray in Jesus’ name – Amen!
For I (Paul) consider that [the sufferings] of this present time are not worth comparing with [the glory] that is going to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
from groans to glory
While in most Bibles verse 18 starts a new “section” of Romans chapter 8, Paul is actually continuing a train of thought that he had just mentioned in verses 16-17, where he wrote: The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. It’s important to understand this if you want to understand the “suffering” he refers to throughout the rest of the chapter.
Clearly the suffering is related, at least in part, to our belief in and relationship with Christ. Whatever the suffering is – every day pain on this sin-cursed earth or persecution as His follower, or both – clearly we will face suffering. However, Paul’s point of hope seems to be that our suffering will be far outweighed by the glories of God revealed to those who belong to God – enabling us to transition from groaning over our situations to rejoicing in the glory to come, our inheritance in Christ and the fulfillment of God’s promises of eternity.
A Change Of Focus
When we suffer, whether it is from petty hurts, great sorrows or persecution, an anguishing illnesses or catastrophic event – as God’s children we can suffer with hope. However, our hope is different than the hope that the world has. The hope of the world says things like, “keep your chin up things will get better” but our’s is the hope of the glory to come. Please don’t misunderstand me, this doesn’t change the realness of the “present suffering” but it definitely can and should change our focus. To borrow from another of Paul’s letters, we must “press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us, Phil 3:14.
Prayer Prompt
Father, how exciting it is to know that one day our present suffering will be over! One day we will stand before You taking in Your glory and majesty. Every pain and sorrow will be gone! Thank you for this hope and may it be our focus over today’s suffering. In Jesus’ name I pray –
22 The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. 23 They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! 24 “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (NET)
Jeremiah Lament Turns Personal
Lamentations 3 appears a more personal lament of Jeremiah’s. In the previous laments he has focused on the city, the destruction, the responsibility, God’s wrath, and a few personalized comments. However, chapter 3 there are a lot of “I” and “my” statements like:
“I am the man who has experienced affliction”
“He drove me into captivity”
“He made my moral skin waste away”
“He has shut out my prayer”
“To me he is like a bear lying in ambush”
“I have become the laughingstock of all people”
“He ground my teeth in grave”
“I have lost all hope of deliverance from the LORD”
“I am depressed”
Then the lament changes from despair to hope (21-24) and it wasn’t because his situation had changed – but because Jeremiah had purposefully made himself remember truths about God that countered the fears of the circumstances.
God is faithful
His kindness never stops
His compassions won’t fail
His faithfulness is great
He remembers that God (not the circumstances or people around him) is the source of his happiness and blessing
Please notice that Jeremiah’s and Jerusalem’s situation had not changed what changed were his thoughts and the attitude of his heart. In the middle of the lament he determines to list out the goodness of the LORD. He purposes to keep his hope in the LORD and replaces what he had declared as lost in verse 18 with an attitude that seems to mirror the Psalmist’s in Ps 73:26.
My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.
Applying this requires being purposeful and determined like Jeremiah, who after lamenting he was depressed said, “yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.” At perhaps the lowest point of his lament, hopeless and depressed the thought of God’s goodness, the knowledge of His great love, the remembrance of His daily, unending mercies, and His great faithfulness flowed through Jeremiah’s mind like a song and restored his hope. I wonder if he ever imagined that his lament and recorded resurgence of hope written for all of time and used by God to change people’s life in the 21st century? I know they certainly changed mine more than 32 years ago and they continue to make a difference today.
When depression and hopelessness set in I learned to think about the truths that Jeremiah listed in verse 22-24. Consider writing them down or reading them often so that they become part of your thinking.
Look for and remember ways that you have seen God like this in your life
Say to myself/yourself, I will put my hope in the LORD because He is my “portion”, my true and lasting source of happiness and blessing.
Prayer Prompt
Father the circumstances of life and the choices we’ve made are often a bitter poison. They will easily rob us of hope and joy unless we purposefully call to mind Your kindness, compassion, mercies, faithfulness, and sufficiency. Help us, even in our laments, to be determined to know and be quick to call these truths to mind whether in times of trouble or everyday living. – and in this may others see and hear of You – for Your glory – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!
But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance.
Psalm 13:5 HCSB
When You Can’t See God’s Hand Trust His Heart
Whatever David’s situation it seems to have been around for a while. He’s feeling ignored, agitated, and a bit impatient. BUT … He doesn’t let these feelings shake his faith and resolve to trust God’s heart (who God is at His core) even when he can’t see His hand at work. The true beauty and evidence of this is displayed in the second statement of verse 5, “my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance”. So sure is David of God’s faithfulness he is already planning to rejoice when God delivers Him. Oh to have the Faith of David!
As I wrote the words above, I was reminded that David had demonstrated this faith when facing Goliath, the Philistine giant … I know you may remember the story – but do you remember why his faith was so strong in God or why he didn’t wear the armor Saul had given him? Take a minute to read the story again – and look at the essence of David’s faith as told by David in 1 Samuel 17:32-50.
His faith was strong because God had delivered him from the claws of the lion and the bear and he didn’t wear Saul’s armor, not because he trusted the sling and stones but because he trusted in the LORD who rescued him from the bear and the lion!
In response to Saul’s challenge that David couldn’t because he was only a boy – David replies, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
And in response to Saul wanting David to wear his armor when facing the giant, David replies, I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:34-40
Walk by Faith
There will definitely be times of lament (disappointment, sorrow, frustration…) in our lives but we must not let them shake our faith in God. We must learn and resolve to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).
Prayer Prompt
Father, I trust in Your faithfulness and I have rejoiced many times over in Your deliverance. I will sing praises to You my God. I will magnify Your name and continually see Your face, Your help, and Your strength. In the name of Jesus my Savior – Amen!
Materials Now Availablefor Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering!
We are one week away from our next study, Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering! This is a 4-week study by Love God Greatly that I will be sharing/hosting here at Mefomthensideout.
Whether you’re joining me for the live study on Monday, May 2, 2022 or some date beyond that I’m so glad you are here reading this and hope that you will join me for the journey. The beauty of an online study is it can be done any time from any where, alone or be brave andask a friend, a neighbor, or family member to join you and see what God does. Who knows, you might be an answer to someone’s prayers! Scriptures are provided but I would suggest grabbing your Bible and the LGG study journal and come explore God’s Word with me as we embark on this journey where we will discover what it means to trust God, even in the middle of deep pain and suffering.
Here’s how it works … I will provide daily (M-F) readings, my thoughts, and links to the daily post from Love God Greatly. You can simply go solo, reading and journaling one on one with God, or you can gather with a group or participate here by leaving comments – which I will happily engage in. The choice is yours and I pray abundant blessings will be as well. Once you’ve finished this study be sure and check out the past studies or see what’s coming next.
Take your Bible study to a deeper level through the Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering study journal!
Me From the Inside Out 