The Lovey Letters: Peace in the Midst of Distress

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The Lovey Letters: Peace in the Midst of Distress

Our faith is strengthened and built up when we reflect upon the Lord, His character, and His life-changing Word—and don’t we need it! Someone commented that “2020” will become synonymous with “crazy.” I agree! Our world is seriously “2020” right now! Never could we have predicted the events that have unfolded in these last months—from the lockdowns to the riots and all the in-between. If we aren’t immersing ourselves in the Word of God, we will flounder in the midst of these unfamiliar, bewildering, and discouraging times.

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From Anxious Thoughts to Trusting the Lord

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God doesn’t want us to live in fear of bad news or to create trouble in our minds that hasn’t even transpired; that’s why He explains in the Bible how not to fear evil tidings. Psalm 112:7 gives us a picture of what this would look like in our lives, “He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” There’s no escaping the connection between not giving in to fear and worry and trusting the Lord.

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The Means God Uses to Instill Hope

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The Means God Uses to Instill Hope

The end result of tribulations is hope—emphasis on end result. Often, when we’re gasping for air, trying to wrestle down hope to gain some relief, we create a short bridge in our minds from verse 3 “we exult in our tribulations” to verse 5 and the “hope that doesn’t disappoint.” I think it’s safe to say most in-the-midst-of-trials people are “hope challenged.” It’s why we so quickly make the jump in our minds from “tribulations” to “hope that doesn’t disappoint.” There’s just one problem. We miss the means God uses to grant us that non-disappointing hope.

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He Will Not Reject Forever

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He Will Not Reject Forever

O, tried and tempest-tossed one, hear these words, “The Lord will not reject forever.” Think upon the reality of those words. Your present circumstances will not last forever. Even if they last the rest of your days on this earth, they will not last forever. For each believer “forever” holds special import. Forever means life with Jesus. Forever means seeing His dear face. Forever means no more sin, no more sorrow, no more pain. Ah, let us think on forever.

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What Question Would Jesus Ask You Today?

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What Question Would Jesus Ask You Today?

Recently I was reading in Acts 22 where Paul powerfully recounts how he came to faith in Jesus Christ as he encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. There the Lord asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” That question stopped Paul in his tracks. And then I wondered, “What question would Jesus put to me today?” I could just imagine it, Lisa, Lisa, why are you ­­­­­­­­­­­(fill-in-the-blank)? That wasn't too hard for me to do. “Lisa, why are you being so faint-hearted? Lisa, why aren’t you trusting Me? Lisa, why are you looking to a change in your situation to bring you joy? Lisa, why are you discouraged?” And on it went.

It was a good exercise for my heart. There’s no hiding from the Lord; He always gets to the very core of the issue.

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Mulling Over Your Portion Leads to Hope

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Mulling Over Your Portion Leads to Hope

Jeremiah is writing during a time of deep trauma and fear. He has been in the fires of affliction for quite a while. He is weary from troubles and sorrow. He feels singled out by the Lord, not for joy and blessing, but for further suffering and discouragement. Yet…yet, hear it now…when Jeremiah focuses his thoughts upon his Portion, hope lifts its head. And it’s not a beleaguered hope, not a wimpy, beaten down hope, but a stout, full-grown hope able to withstand whatever storms may assail him.

For many of us living in survival mode like Jeremiah, when life is boiled down to the essentials only, these truths help us keep moving forward. We have no hunger for appetizers or dessert; we know we need the life-sustaining, soul-refreshing, heart-restoring meat contained here. We have hope from our Portion because of who He is.

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Advent Meditations: The Wonders of His Love

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Advent Meditations: The Wonders of His Love

The final advent candle of Christmas represents love. How fitting to spend the last few days before Christmas thinking on “the wonders of His love” as the hymn, “Joy to the World” puts it. I think most people get the fact that Jesus’ birth is a huge proclamation of God’s love. We’re told this in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” God loved the world, and specifically the people that He created, so He gave His Son, His only Son, as a sacrifice offered up in substitution for our sins.

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Advent Meditations: Tidings of Great Joy for You

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Advent Meditations: Tidings of Great Joy for You

You might be struggling for joy because of trying circumstances and great sorrows, yet joy is possible. Good news leads to great joy when we remember the hope and exhilaration that forgiveness of all our sins, fellowship with the Eternal God, and the hope of heaven can bring. Joy isn’t out of reach. Joy just needs to be uncovered so it can be recovered. 

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Advent Meditations: Hope for Hopeless Hearts

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Advent Meditations: Hope for Hopeless Hearts

The hope given to us because of that little baby born in Bethlehem draws our eyes away from the tinsel and turkey, gifts and gatherings to the fulfilled promise of a Savior who rescues us from despair, isolation, and the hopelessness of sin.

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Choosing to Trust the Lord in Spite of Our Circumstances

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Choosing to Trust the Lord in Spite of Our Circumstances

Waiting is hard. Waiting in faith is even harder. Waiting in faith like Abraham does in Romans 4:18-21 is miraculous! And yet, if Abraham trusted the Lord in such a stellar manner, then there’s hope for you and me.

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Our Great Physician Will Never Harm Us

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Our Great Physician Will Never Harm Us

You might be feeling that your circumstances are harming you in some way, that they are so hurtful you feel you will never recover, yet no matter what your circumstances, the promises of God’s Word still hold true. He will not allow your situation to harm you. Your circumstances may hurt; they may be painfully difficult to endure, but they are intended for your good.

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