Praising God, Even in Trials

The past week has brought yet another change, an unexpected turn. On Monday morning, facing what had rather suddenly become my last day to go into the Lahash office, Paraclete gave me a couple words that I knew must be a Bible verse—about God not letting our feet be moved. A quick concordance search later, I found it in Psalm 66:9. That branched out into a three-day study of the whole chapter. Here are my thoughts on it :)

66:1 “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!”

66:2 “Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.” I need these reminders today!!! I do praise You, Abba, and I pray for the humility to praise You even in the midst of challenges.

66:3 God’s works are awesome, and even His enemies shall submit to Him!

66:4 All the earth—that is phenomenal really!!! That there would be global praise! The whole world can’t agree on anything else!

66:5 “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.” Amen, I know that is so true even though it doesn’t always feel good.

66:6 An example of God’s mighty deeds—not only once but twice turning water into dry land—worthy of praise!

66:7 God’s power rules, and He sees all the nations! So the rebellious should not exalt themselves!!!

66:8-9 “Oh bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.” Our call is to bless God and praise Him! He keeps our soul among the living (amen to that!!!) and does not allow our feet to be moved….or to slip! I do praise You, O Lord, for Your amazing graciousness to me!

66:10 But the reason seems counterintuitive….an abrupt turn: Because God has tested us and refined us! Which means being liquified by hot temperatures! Ouch, but I don’t like the truth of that verse!!

66:11-12a gets even worse. These do NOT sound like things to praise & bless God for—God bringing affliction on us??? Oh man! Going through fire & water, I can certainly understand that feeling. But praise & blessing is exactly what the Psalmist is calling us to!!! Oh help me, Lord, to have that heart of submission!

66:12b “But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” BUT GOD!!!

66:13-15 Bringing offerings to God’s house, paying Him our vows (promised deeds). 

66:16-17 Please God, bring these verses to fulfillment in my heart & life!!!!

66:18 If [when] I regard iniquity, God won’t hear.

66:19 “But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.” I praise You, O God, for this truth!

66:20 “Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!” So so so so very true!!!

A Short Study in Peace

Last night, I had a vague feeling trying to settle over my soul. The cloud of depression was trying to make a comeback after a week of doing really well mood-wise. This time, I was determined to fight it. I told God, “I don’t trust myself. But I do trust You. Please lead me & guide me in this fight.” And He has and I believe He will continue to do so!

Yesterday the verse He brought to mind was “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3, emphasis mine).

So this morning, still feeling a bit apprehensive, I decided to spend my quiet time looking at some verses about peace. {All italics are my own emphasis.}

Jesus’ comments about that in His valedictory address (John 13-17) immediately came to mind:

John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Yes Lord, Yes! Please let Your peace rule in my heart!

John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”!!! We don’t have peace in ourselves or in our circumstances—we have peace in Christ. Amen!!! Jesus never promised an easy/comfortable life—He actually promised trouble. But He also promised peace.

Next I thought of a verse about peace passing understanding. I had to use a concordance to find it, as it wasn’t in Ephesians like I initially thought.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Don’t be anxious!! Make your requests known to God, by praying with thanksgiving. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” And then of course that is followed by vs. 8, all about meditating on the things that are true and noble!!! Verse 9 is the command to the Philippians to follow Paul’s example, and then the God of peace will be with them!

I then pulled out a little notebook taking note of some various key words and tracing them through Scripture. Under the Psalms section, I found a couple relevant ones:

Psalm 4:8 – “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” As someone who has struggled off and on with insomnia in the past year, sometimes severely, this verse is especially meaningful!

Psalm 55:18 – “He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.” As I have before, I think You, O Lord, that my enemies are not and have not been the people around me. They care about me and want my best! But I believe that there are enemies in the spiritual realm who would love nothing more than to get me down and discouraged again. BUT GOD!!! You are Haggo'el, myRedeemer, and I praise You!

Coming full circle, I went back to the verse that had started me on this little journey:

Isaiah 26:3 – Please, Lord, strengthen again my trust in You in the coming days and weeks! As my pastor’s wife said at breakfast yesterday, please help me to send off my team with grace and joy. And help me to give You all the glory for that—for I know that in myself I cannot do that.

Peace is NOT the absence of trouble, but rather the fruit of trusting God in the midst of it.