Discouraged

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‘Why, my soul, are you discouraged? Why so disturbed within me?’ The psalmist in psalm 42:5 asks why at times we feel really down. It may be that there is no particular reason for it and we then have feelings of guilt. We have so many blessings and gifts from God that we think we should never be discouraged. At other times there are reasons for this depression with problems, illness or sickness.

We need to remember that God is not going to punish us because of how we feel. He is not there with a big stick. He loves us and wants the best for us. He knows only too well our weak and feeble state. It is at these times that we need to turn to Him. The hymn writer puts it so well –

‘Are we weak and heavy laden.

Is there trouble anywhere.

We should never be discouraged.

Take it to the Lord in prayer.’

‘Take it to the Lord in prayer.’

Conflict

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As I heard the news of people killed, maimed and traumatized by a suicide bomber in yet another part of the world my heart cried for all those concerned. Only the other day with our church young people, we talked about the 50 places in the world most dangerous for Christians. Country number 5 just featured in the news, killing Christians, Muslims and innocent.

Since the time of the Fall there has been conflict and strife. It can take the form of suicide bombing down to an argument with a neighbour. Whether we are ordinary people or world leaders, we want our own way. We think that we are right and others are wrong.

But the world needs the peace and harmony which the world cannot give. No wonder Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.’ Matthew 5. How can people like us be peacemakers, we do not sit at conference tables where decisions are made. But we can still be peacemakers. May we never pass on gossip, true or untrue. May we see the good in others and let go of our rigid opinions. My we continue to pray for the war-torn countries of the world and remember the words of Jesus, ‘My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives peace.’

We Brought Nothing In

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I recently had a visitor who only stayed a couple of hours. As he left i asked ‘Have you got everything with you.’ He lives one hundred miles away and I didn’t want to have to send any forgotten item through the post. His reply was ‘I’ve brought nothing with me and I’m taking nothing out.’ My speedy reply was, ‘Just like life.’

His reaction was not complimentary but it made me think.We do come into this world with nothing; we have no choice who our parents are or where we live. We have no possessions and we are dependent on others for our every need. The other end of our lives is just the same. We take none of our wealth or possessions with us; our friends and family will not be coming along.

So why do we give so much importance to things we cannot take with us.The pauper and prince will leave with exactly the same amount of wealth. I’m not saying I don’t like having a roof over my head and having enough to eat, but how foolish I would be to depend on them.

Do believers suffer like non-believers?

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Being a Christian does not mean that we do not suffer in any way. Christians suffer just as much as anyone. I had a friend who was a very important person in the Christian world. When his son was suffering a life-changing illness, he found himself praying ‘Lord, I’ve done so much for you, please heal my son.’ then he had to pull himself up sharp. Like all of us he had done nothing to deserve God’s favour. Everything is God’s mercy and gift.

Why do people blame God for suffering?

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It is so easy to blame God for when things go wrong and we see suffering in the world. ‘Why does God allow this?’ people say. Or ‘how can God be a loving God when there is so much suffering in the world?’ I’ve never yet heard anyone say ‘Why does the devil allow this terrible thing to happen.’ It is the devil and not God who is responsible for the wrongs of this world. When mankind disobeyed God, the devil had reign to chance havoc. The devil delights in discord and disharmony. God’s ways are harmony and peace.

Do You want to be Healed?

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This was the question that Jesus asked the invalid at the pool of Bethesda John 5. I noted with interest that the man didn’t actually reply to the question. In stead he answered why he hadn’t been able to get into the pool for 38 years. Very valid reasons! Someone always got into the pool before him. I wonder if he wanted to be healed. If he was healed he would need to get job and he wouldn’t be able to beg.

I remember someone who years ago did me much harm. I need to be healed of this remembrance. I need to feel genuine forgiveness; instead of sometimes playing the scene over and over again. I need to be healed. Do I sometimes hide behind my ill-health? If I feel too ill to do something it might be because I don’t want to do it in the first place. A bit of effort on my part might be all that is needed.

Jesus got to the heart of the problem. Do we want to be healed of our sins? Would it mean changing our lives, would it mean giving things up? This is a question we all need to consider at some time.

Seaside Rock

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I’ve just read an articles about how we first came to have seaside rock with the name of the resort all the way through the stick. The idea goes back to some time in the 1800’s. It was first made by hand, though the process is more mechanized now and too complicated for me to understand. It seems today there are a variety of flavours, Marmite, chicken tikka, gin and elderflower. The first would be very unpopular with some people and the second with me.

Having the name of the seaside place right though the stick is an intriguing idea, its still there however hard you suck. I would hope to liken the idea to my Christian faith, however well people get to know me, they would still see Christ all the way through, never distorted letters but readable all the time.

Frustration

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I’m frustration! Is that alright for a Christian? Through no fault of my own I have failed to achieve something which I have been planning for months. Others have managed to do this but at a faster pace. I am still waiting. There is absolutely nothing I can do about the situation; it is completely out of my hands. I know i will have success in the end, but not now. This is a matter which is adversely affecting my life during a period of many months. But God says be patient; this is not for you yet.

I know God has something better for me and with better timing, but I still struggle to accept the situation. What can I do about it on a day to day basis? My focus needs to be on God and not on my disappointment. I have read so often’ Be still, wait for the Lord, wait I say for the Lord.’ That is what i need to do completely. ‘We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.’

10,000 Years and then for Evermore

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Do you remember when you were young and waiting for Father Christmas to come? You were told it was five more sleeps and then four sleeps. Time never stands still. So much of our lives are spent counting down time – weeks until we leave school, months until we move or retire.

If our whole lives were condensed into a year, then I would definitely be in December, maybe you would be in October or November. Counting our lives away can be both sad and joyful, getting over the bad things, anticipating the good things. But we won’t always be living in time. Once we reach heaven time will be no more. Elijah and Moses will have no more time in heaven than you or I. They and we are no nearer the end. We creatures of time just can’t imagine what that means.

When I used to visit my friend and her young son, he would always immediately say ‘When are you leaving?’ There is no question like that in heaven. There is no departing. We can’t imagine what ten thousand years is like, let alone ‘evermore.’ It does make our trials and troubles here melt into insignificance. Our problems seem to go on for ever, but of course they don’t. Only one thing goes on for ever – our time in heaven.

Missing Child

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Only a parent can understand the horror of missing a child. Even if the event only lasts for a few minutes in a crowded supermarket. Thousands of terrible thoughts go chasing through mind in just a few seconds. Blind panic takes over and no logical thought is possible.

Therefore how terrible it must have been for the parents of Jesus, travelling a whole day thinking he was in the care of relatives only to find he was not travelling with them at all. At twelve he was nearly a man in that culture, but not quite. So he must still be in Jerusalem. The day travelling back was not quite so cheerful. Where could he be, what had happened to him? They would probably start by looking at the previous lodgings but with no success. It took three days before they looked in the temple. In their relief no wonder they spoke sharply to him. ‘Son, why have you treated us like this?’

If Jesus wanted to know more about his father, surely I can want to know more about God.