Troubles in Life

Troubles in Life 

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” LUKE 8:25 

We often begin the journey of faith serving God confidently and enthusiastically—and then troubles come and doubts arise. Sometimes our circumstances can look utterly hopeless, but we never know the reality of our situation until we have sought Jesus’ perspective on it. He knows many things we don’t, and He has power that we can’t imagine. Furthermore, it’s foolish to be discouraged or afraid when Jesus is right next to us to calm, to reassure, to act, and to graciously remind us that, despite our circumstances, we are still in God’s will. Difficulties don’t necessarily mean that we have missed or misunderstood God’s will, but if we need to make adjustments in our lives, He will let us know. Remember the disciples being surprised by a storm as they sailed on the Sea of Galilee? Jesus told them to head across the lake (God’s will)—and then came the storm (difficulties). But Jesus was in the boat right next to the disciples, and He exercised a power we can’t imagine: Jesus rebuked the wind and waves . . . The measure of your faith is revealed during life’s storms. Establishing your life on God’s Word and walking through life with Him bring a security nothing can shake. - Blackaby Being Still with God 

"and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.I and the Father are one.”" John 10:28-30 NASB

"And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God." Luke 16:15 NASB

There's oh so many books, videos, lecture circuits on people telling people how to fix their lives.  Doctors in today's world will never tell you how to fix your problem, rather, they tell you steps to maintain your physical state. Money, as the Scriptures say, is the root of all sorts of evil. 

To see all of what you just read come together in one sitting was amazing to me.  Trials are a part of life.  They will be until we are in the arms of our Savior, only then shall we find peace and rest. 

Look at that last passage in particular because it does agree with the others that you read.  What, in your life, is of this world that you value more than your relationship with Jesus?

Was reading in another devotional this morning by Blackaby and he mentioned that in this life, anyone or anything that we value above our relationship with God, expect God to take exception to it.  

In years past, even before writing anything like this blog, I was convicted about things that were revealed to me as being idols in my life.  From sports to science fiction I had things that I was valuing above my relationship with Jesus.  Of course the very first knee-jerk reaction is to proclaim your allegiance to your Savior, all the while pulling a rug over those idols for the moment.  You can deceive yourself but not Him.

What the world holds in high esteem...wow. that covers a lot!

We have enough troubles in this life without adding to it on our own.  

We add the biggest and best material things to our lives and when they break we get the biggest and best repair bills or replacement that costs just as much.  

We put our all into family or friend relationships yet neglect our relationship with Jesus.  Then either wonder at the low to moderate levels of stress and anxiety we go through.  

We can self-sabotage our lives by what we value more than Jesus in our lives. When we don't take care of our walk with Jesus first we allow other things to take His place. 

Our lives are not our own we were bought with a price.  The Pharisees loved money. They loved being held high in the eyes of the people. They loved power and authority to control others.  Jesus called them out on all of these things.  In some moments He gave scathing rebukes. Telling some that they make their disciples twice the son of Satan as themselves. 

Where is your life taking you?  Is there evidence that your relationships with others, with the money, power, status, or anything in your life being more important than your relationship with Jesus?

Are you being truthful in your answer? I don't need your answer, but you do.

Are you at all loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and Spirit?  All does not mean all that's left over after everything else. 

We all need to look at what we hold onto when troubles avail us.  The passages before this one of Luke 16:15 speak to the love of money.  Yet it applies to all of the things of this world when Jesus got to what we read in verse 15. 

The cause of many a grief in this world is our own choices.  Of what we hold onto. 

Maybe it's time to get real with you.