Monthly Archives: June 2015

You’ve probably heard the country music song titled “You Were Always On My Mind” at some point in your life. The song was performed by many different artists back in the 70’s and 80’s, including Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, who won a Grammy Award with his version.

Country crooners aside . . . did you know that there never was a time when you were not on the Master’s mind?

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

From everlasting to everlasting, you have been on God’s mind. That’s right! The Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe is thinking about you continually. You might very well think that God has enough to be thinking about in running the universe. Yet David rejoiced in Psalm 40:17, “I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.” And this was coming from a man who committed adultery and ordered the death of his paramour’s husband. Indeed, in the very same psalm, David confessed that “My sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.” Yet the Lord still took thought of David, to deliver him from his troubles and from his own sin!

The truth in this life is someone can be thinking about you today and forget about you tomorrow. Think about all the people in your life you no longer think about . . . some of whom you loved dearly and many of whom you liked a lot! Staggering isn’t it?

But God is not a man that He should forget you. From before the creation of the world and everything in it, you were on God’s mind and in His heart (Ephesians 1:4-5). From the moment of your first breath and every breath thereafter, God has thought about you, loved you, and drawn you with His loving-kindness.

And God’s lovingkindness doesn’t stop when you take your last breath here! If you have placed your trust in His Son, you will be forever on His mind throughout eternity as you walk with Him and talk with Him and rejoice in Him.

Right now Jesus has you on His mind. Regardless of where this finds you, Jesus is thinking about you at this very second. That thought should absolutely rock your world! Remember that terrible night when Peter denied Jesus; after the third denial, the Lord looked at him across the courtyard (Luke 22:61). Peter must have thought Jesus hated him and would never think of him again . . . but you remember the rest of the story, don’t you? After His resurrection, Jesus reaffirmed Peter and assured him that his sin has not stopped Jesus from thinking about him. In fact, the exchange they had (recorded in John 21:15-22) confirms that Jesus had great plans for Peter to engage in courageous, compelling ministry work.

When we think we have utterly blown it and are convinced God would want nothing more to do with us ever, we discover that the exact opposite is true. God keeps drawing us with His love, even when we deny and desert Him. Remember, Jesus said He will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), no matter what you do. And that means you will always be on His mind.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!    

Perhaps you have heard the term “mired in debt,” which means someone is in a troublesome situation regarding their finances. “Mire” is thick, deep mud or slush that makes travel and forward progress difficult, if not impossible.

Does that word “mire” resonate with you? Have you ever thought that you were stuck in the mire of life? If so, I want to offer you great comfort: God can take us from the mire to the choir!

Drink in these words from one of David’s inspired psalms:

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1-3)

King David was in a mess, which is the universal life experience for everyone. The fact that we are all broken people living in a broken world means we will all find ourselves bogged down in the mire of life from time to time . . .

• Trouble at the office
• Difficulties in marriage
• Prodigal child
• Broken relationships
• Financial reversals
• Health concerns

The list, of course, could fill this page. We all encounter life experiences that can lead to discouragement, depression, and utter despair. The question is not, “Will we find ourselves in the mire of life?” The question is: “What will we do when we are in it?”

There is Hope . . . and His name is Jesus Christ. He can take us from the mire to the choir. The psalmist said “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Our Lord will lift us out of the mire and put us on a straight path again . . . but that’s not all. His divine rescue gives us a new song of praise to God! “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

David knew that the way out of the mire to the choir was to keep his focus on God and not the circumstances of life. The king of Israel knew personally what it meant to reach rock bottom, but he also knew that when he reached bottom, he was still standing on the Rock of his salvation.

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalm 40:4)

The key to going from the mire to the choir is to continually make Jesus your trust. Whatever pit you find yourself in, remember Jesus is there with you. Keep looking to Him and in His time and in His way, you will be lifted out of the pit and brought into His palace, going from “mire” to choir forevermore.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

When you think about Jesus, what kind of Savior comes to mind? Do you picture a Savior who is waiting for you to come to Him . . . or do you picture a Savior in hot pursuit of rebels on the run? Consider these inspired words that King David offered in the 23^rd Psalm:

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

David knew that God is good (Psalm 34:8); that God is love (1 John 4:16); and that He is merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31). David’s life experience testified that his Savior is a Pursuing Prince.

Adam knew this by way of personal experience also. After turning his back on God and following the way of the serpent, Adam fled in terror when he heard God walking through the garden; no doubt he assumed that the Lord God was coming to destroy him and start over with some better dust! But to his astonishment, God was not pursuing him to punish; He was running to redeem. It’s a picture almost too hard to believe . . . too good to be true! The Creator and Sustainer of all things—the righteous and holy Judge of all the world—was pursuing two people who had decided to follow their own desires rather than the clear command of God . . . not to crush them, but to care for them.

Francis Thompson penned a poem titled “Hound of Heaven,” which beautifully depicts our God as a “holy hound” who is in hot pursuit of the hare. No matter where the hare runs and tries to hide, the hound will let nothing stop him from catching that rabbit on the run . . . but not to kill it; rather to caress with love! Is this not a wonderful picture of our God? No matter where we run to and try to hide, God will let nothing stop Him from reaching the objects of His desire: US!

In another psalm, David marveled, Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:7-10)

To know what David knew is a source of both comfort and courage. What comfort to know that goodness and love will pursue us all the days of our lives! And oh, what courage that truth brings to our hearts to face whatever storms blow our way! The courage to face the challenges of daily living is rooted in knowing that our God loves us and will work everything together for our very best interests. There is no question that some really bad stuff happens in this life. Yet through it all, God will ultimately turn it for our good and His glory.

One final point: Knowing that goodness and love will follow you wherever you go is one thing; to know that you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever is another thing altogether. The sheep are always at home with the shepherd; and if one wanders off, the shepherd will go after him and bring him back home.

All those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation can enjoy the deepest level of comfort and security and peace, knowing that God’s home is their home for all eternity. And along the way, their daily experience will be that goodness and love is in hot pursuit of them . . . regardless of the paths they travel.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

When it comes to the life you are currently living . . . when all is said and done . . . what would you like said about all you have done? If you have not considered this question, I encourage you to consider the greeting that the apostle Paul gave to the Christians at Thessalonica:

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

WOW! What a confession of a life well lived coram Deo—before the face of God—for the glory of God and for the good of others!

So . . . what would those who know you best say about the life you are currently living? Would it be anything like the lives described in the verse above? Let’s take a closer look.

1. Your work produced by faith . . . When it comes to our work, there are only two options: work that is produced by faith or work that is faithless. In other words, we can either work in our own strength to accomplish our own goals to receive our own glory. Or we can work in the strength of our Savior to accomplish His goals for His glory. How would you describe the work you’ve preformed this day?
2. Your labor prompted by love . . . All of our labors are prompted by love—either the love of self or the love of the Savior. We either work for the applause of man or the applause of our Master. And if we are working to receive the approval of men, we are not serving our Savior (Galatians 1:10). When the love of Christ compels us, our labor is prompted by and produced in a vertical love for God and a horizontal love for others . . . all others.
3. Your endurance inspired by hope in Jesus . . . You’ve probably heard it said that the race of life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. It is a race that requires endurance, and the only kind of endurance that will carry us through to the finish line is inspired by hope in the only One who will never fail us: Jesus! In an exhausted world, Jesus has given us His inexhaustible hope that never fails, even when things seem absolutely hopeless.

So now I’d encourage you to prayerfully consider the answer to the question I asked you at the beginning of this article. Because you still have breath, you still have time to change the course and direction your life is currently going in. You are more than you have become! The key to change is to see yourself as God sees you. When Jesus met Simon, the brother of Andrew, He changed his name to Peter (meaning the Rock). Jesus saw Simon—not as he was, but as he was going to be. Jesus sees you the very same way today.

Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from death to life is the same power that is at work within you (See Romans 8:11 and Ephesians 1:18-20). And He who began that good work in you has promised to complete it (Philippians 1:6). You need only work by faith, labor by love, and endure by hope in the One who died for you so that you could live for Him.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

What “booty” (treasure, plunder, spoils) have you been in hot pursuit of lately . . . both personally and professionally? Notice I did not ask “if” you have been in hot pursuit of any kind of booty lately, because the Bible makes it clear we are all pursuing some kind of treasure:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there you heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

By nature, we are all treasure hunters. The question is not if are we in hot pursuit of some kind of booty, but what kind of booty are we looking for. Jesus told us that we need only to check our hearts to find out what we treasure and value most. If you would have to admit that you’ve been pursuing something smaller than Jesus (which is true of all of us from time to time), I have a word of great comfort and encouragement for you today from the pen of the apostle Paul:

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Saul the Pharisee pursued everything smaller than Jesus until his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road. And he had collected plenty of booty before Jesus showed up: he was educated at the highest level; he ran in the most elite social circles; he received the applause of man on a regular basis. And then one day Saul sat in Damascus, blinded after being confronted by the glory of the living God. He fasted and prayed for three days, and after a careful examination of his past life, he came to the realization that everything he had pursued and possessed was a loss compared to his relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything was rubbish compared to his right relationship with his Redeemer. At that point God gave Saul his sight back, gave him a new name (Paul), and gave him a new heart that would treasure the glory of God. After catching a glimpse of the surpassing greatness of God in Christ, Paul knew there was nothing smaller than Jesus would ever again satisfy his deepest need.

Can the same be said about you today? Is Jesus your greatest treasure? How are you spending your discretionary time and money? What captures your attention and consumes your focus?

What we all end up learning the hard way is that there is nothing smaller than Jesus that can deliver on its promises. The stuff of this world promises meaning, but that can only be found in our Master. The stuff of this world promises significance, but that can only be found in our Savior. The stuff of this world promises purpose, but that can only be found in our Prince of Peace.

Jesus is the only treasure that makes good on its promise. Temporal treasure can bless us temporarily but it simply cannot meet us in our deepest place of need. Only Jesus can do that and He will do that moment by moment, every step of the way into glory. Jesus is the true believer’s booty!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!    

We have all experienced times when we felt both helpless and hopeless. Whether we were facing a difficult medical diagnosis, financial reversal, broken relationship, or simply the challenges of daily living, that sense of helplessness and hopelessness is simply a product of living as broken people who inhabit a broken world.

Yet the Bible tells us there is a cosmic cure available to all of us.

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

The psalmist knew that God was his cure for helplessness and hopelessness. Because of this ever-present truth, fear gave way to faith and the psalmist was able to rise above the storms of life.

When David said, “Let all who are helpless take heart” (Psalm 34:2), he spoke from deep conviction that was rooted in both faith and personal experience. As you read through the psalms of David, you’ll see how often he felt helpless because of the enemy without and the enemy within. David spent ten years on the run from Saul. Later, when God had given David rest on every side, an ugly enemy rose up within him. When David should have been leading Israel off to war, he was at the palace sleeping with another man’s wife. Yet through it all, David’s heart was fixed on the One who gave him both help and hope, even when things seemed helpless and hopeless.

Can the same be said of you today? Regardless of the difficulties you are facing, turn to your refuge, strength, and ever-present help. God did not bring you this far to leave you here! What He began in you, He has promised to complete (Philippians 1:6); and along the way, God has promised that all things (even the really bad things) will ultimately work together for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

If you attempt to work through whatever life throws your way in your own strength, make no mistake, you will quickly realize that you are indeed both helpless and hopeless! But when you turn to God and trust in Him, He will give you the help you need and the hope you cannot live without.

In all of recorded history, I cannot think of a more helpless or hopeless situation than Jesus nailed to crossbeams on the hill Golgotha. In the eyes of the watching world, the promising ministry of Jesus ended in disgrace and agony. But the watching world did not get the last word; it never does! God always gets the last word (Romans 11:36), and after three days in the tomb, Jesus was raised from death to life . . . . from helpless and hopeless to honor and glory.

Because a dead man got up and walked, you are never without help or hope, regardless of the circumstances you face. Though it may seem that the earth is giving way under your feet and the mountains are collapsing into the sea all around you, fix your eyes upon Jesus. The hope you desperately need will be found in the help He continually provides.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!    

We all know by way of personal experience that sin stinks up the life of the saints of God, but the truth that sin also shrinks the lives of God’s people may not be as readily apparent to us.

The DNA of sin is a self-absorption that causes us to shrink the size of our existence down to the size of our existence. This is exactly what happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden when they sinned against God.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:6-8)

After Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were filled with shame and tried to cover their nakedness. And if that wasn’t bad enough, they were now running from God, rather than walking with Him in the cool of the day. Instead of expanding the borders of their lives to the boundaries of God’s creation, they turned in on themselves, shrinking the borders of their lives down to the borders of their lives, which is something they were never to have done.

We have been made by God to live for the glory of God, which means we are to be living for something bigger than our own lives. Sin shrinks our commitment to God and our care for others. Sin shrinks our purpose for living down to the momentary pleasures this life offers us. Sin shrinks the lives we are living down to the size of the lives we are living; at that level of living, we really are not living at all! Living for ourselves rather than our Savior is a denial the reason for our existence . . . it is a denial of our very humanity.

So . . . where is sin shrinking your life? Where is sin shrinking your identity, meaning, purpose, and significance? If you aren’t sure, take an inventory of some of the things you have been pursuing lately. Have you been pursuing your goals . . . or God’s goals for your life? Have you been pursuing the expansion of your little kingdom . . . or God’s big kingdom?

If you have been pursuing anything smaller than Jesus, you can be sure that sin is stunting your happiness, stealing your joy, and shrinking your life. Sin shrinks our lives down to living for the creature rather than the Creator. It is only when we acknowledge this awful truth that we can begin the process of transformation.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came so that we might live an abundant life (John 10:10), the life Adam and Eve were living before their terrible descent into sin. Make no mistake, the abundant life is not a life rooted in self-protection and self-satisfaction, with self seated on the throne of life. Rather, it is a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, with Jesus seated on the throne that expands the boundaries of our lives back to the borders of God’s creation.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

The Bible tells us that the challenges of daily living are NOT to be overcome in our own strength, but in the strength of the Almighty.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

Writing from a prison cell, the apostle Paul made it clear that his great spiritual strength was found in none other than the Lord . . . just as ours is to be. God has provided His children with what is known as “Almighty Armor,” so that we can fight against the devil’s wicked deceits that are designed to knock us off the path God has called us to walk. We are to be strong in the Lord, not in ourselves, and we need to be reminded of this daily because we naturally tend to battle in our own strength.

In this same passage about Almighty Armor, Paul used various pieces of a Roman soldier’s standard equipment as metaphors that paint a clear picture that our only true power is found in God alone. Let’s take a look:

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17)

Belt of truth – The Roman soldier’s leather belt protected his abdomen, gathered his tunic, and secured his sword . . . pointing to the faithfulness, truthfulness, and utility of God’s Word.

Breastplate of righteousness – The Roman soldier’s breastplate protected his vital areas from frontal attacks . . . pointing to the imputed righteousness of Christ that God graciously provides to protect our hearts from the slings and arrows of Satan.

Footgear – The Roman soldier’s sturdy sandals provided great stability in his fighting stances during battle . . . pointing to the stability that the Gospel provides the people of God, giving us a deep peace in times of great strife. Philippians 4:7 promises that “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Shield of faith – The Roman soldier’s shield in view here is not the individual 2-foot-round shield, but rather the large (2 ½-foot-wide by 4-foot-high shield) that covered the whole body. When used in formation, these large shields provided protection for the entire group; when dipped in water before a battle, they would extinguish flaming arrows that were fired by enemy archers . . . pointing to the power of faith in Christ that extinguishes all the flaming arrows that our enemy, the devil, shoots our way.

Helmet of salvation – The Roman soldier’s helmet, obviously, protected his head . . . pointing to the protection that salvation—salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone—provides every believer now (everyday salvation) and future (eternal salvation). We are to keep our thoughts focused on Christ, not on the temporary trials this world throws at us.

Sword of the Spirit – The Roman soldier’s sword was used for close, personal combat against the enemy . . . pointing to the only offensive weapon that a Christian believer needs in his or her arsenal: the Word of God, which can be used to defeat every attack that comes our way.

From the equipment of a Roman foot soldier, to Old Testament images of our Messiah as a warrior, to the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords in Revelation 19:11-16, we are told to lean not on our own understanding, but to lean into Him. You see, don’t you, that all of this points not to our faithfulness to God, but His faithfulness to us? We are protected because He protects us—not only eternally, not only daily, but moment by moment.

So . . . have you put on the full “Almighty Armor” of God today? It is the only foundation upon which to build the life God is calling you to live.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!  

What was the first thing that came to mind when you read that question? If you have been with me for a while, you knew immediately that I am not talking about a physical building with brick, stone, and mortar. Rather, you immediately picked up on the fact that I am directing your attention to the people of God, whose body is called “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). So let me ask you again: Are you a temple builder?

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

To be a temple builder is to be an encourager. It is to be the kind of person who lifts others up and comes alongside as wind beneath their wings. And being an encourager is not an option for the Christian; it is as much a command as any other imperative in the Bible.

What is the key to being the kind of encourager God is calling us to be? It is to see others—all others—as what they truly are: image-bearers of the Most High God. As image-bearers, we reflect God through our gifts, talents, abilities, and accomplishments. Encouragement is nothing more and nothing less than finding God’s reflection in the person we see. An encourager acknowledges the truth that God is at work both in and through an individual, which becomes a power source of positive affirmation.

This is the encouragement that builds other up and strengthens their resolve to be all God is calling them to be. It is also the foundation upon which we connect with and evangelize others. Francis Schaeffer said, “One of the best ways to evangelize people is to treat them well through encouragement.” At the deepest level, we all need encouragement. We have been wired by God to need encouragement that builds us up.

It’s important to make a clear distinction between encouragement and flattery. Encouragement is rooted in biblical truth and is expressed for the good of the person we are encouraging. Flattery is smooth, selfish talk that is designed to benefit the one speaking it.

So I ask you once again: are you a temple builder? How would those closest to you answer that question? The Bible contains so many “one another” commands—encourage one another, accept one another, love another, to name only a few—because we need one another! God hard-wired us for community, and community is built upon biblical encouragement. The Bible knows nothing of living in intentional isolation. To be sure, we are saved individually, but we are saved to community.

Jesus modeled just how “other-oriented” we are to be; we are to lay our lives down for each other, which is the supreme demonstration of encouragement. We are all more than we have become, and encouragement is one of the tools God uses to inspire, motivate, and challenge us to keep going when the going gets tough. Biblical encouragement empowers others to expand the borders of their lives to the boundaries of God’s creation, where we spend our time expanding the cause of God’s kingdom rather than our own.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!    

God not only cares for you, He cares for you deeply . . . so deeply that He is not only there with you in your storm, He has promised to take you through to the other side of it.

Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

In my weekly sermons, I frequently discuss the definitions of words used in the Scriptures in the original languages, because our English translations don’t always capture their full meaning and impact. I generally don’t do that in these short blog articles, but today I am making an exception. I’d like to introduce you to the Greek word sumpatheo (pronounced “soom path EH oh”), translated as “sympathize” in the passage above, which means much more than we might think it to mean today. You and I hear the word sympathize and probably understand it to mean feeling sorry for someone . . . having a bit of pity or compassion for someone who is experiencing a difficult situation. In the original Greek text, the author of Hebrews used sumpatheo, which means . . .

TO BE MOVED BY SOMETHING THAT HAS MOVED SOMEONE ELSE!

In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ is moved by the stuff that moves us. He suffers when we suffer! You may find that hard to believe . . . that our Lord is that concerned with the details of our lives. Sumpatheo rises well above the level of feeling compassion or pity for us when we are facing some difficulty in life; it goes far beyond Jesus “feeling sorry for us” when we are in the midst of a storm.

The sympathy Jesus has for us is sympathy for a pain or heartache that He has already experienced; He has gone through what we are going through, and He is willing to do something about it. The storms in our lives become His storms! The double negative—“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize . . .”—is a profound positive proclamation that Jesus is with us every step of the way. Our storms do not scare away our Savior.

Do you see how intimately personal this makes our Lord? He is right there with us in the middle of every storm we face. The God of the universe is deeply concerned with the affairs of our lives; He hurts when we hurt, and He sympathizes with us as we navigate (and sometimes stumble) through every difficulty that blocks our path. There is nothing that moves us that doesn’t also move our Lord.

And don’t forget this: God both sends storms in our lives and allows others. Scripture speaks of the “stormy winds that do his bidding” (Psalm 148:8). These storms always come for the same two reasons: His glory and our good.

When we know that our Savior cares deeply enough to sustain us through every trial, we are able to face pain and heartache with the confident assurance we will get to the other side . . . because He will take us there! And when we arrive, we will be better than we were before, because we will be able to testify of His great grace and sustaining power.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!