English: Apostle Paul in the apse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Devotional Thought of the Day:

As I went over our passage for Bible Study tonight, II Corinthians 1, the comfort and strength God gives so supported Paul the Apostle. He was convinced of it, as was many in scripture from Job to David, to John on Patmos. here is part of the verses we shall look at

⁸  …The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive. ⁹  We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead.     2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (TEV) 

Now, I am one of those who hates being discomforted – even if it’s just pricking my finger to check my blood sugar.  But it seems I have to face challenge after challenge these days.  Or worse, I have to watch people I care for endure them. That really… well. sucks…

Yet, I’ve learned that as we take on the challenges, whether they are external afflictions like Paul endured in Acts 17 &18, or those endured by those who penned hymns like “It is Well”, “A Mighty Fortress”, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, or “Amazing Grace” ( or anything by Casting Crowns) we find ourselves face to face with God.  And that is when these times turn to blessings.

It’s not that God wants us to need Him that desperately, it simply is, He will be there when we need Him.  I wish to God that our trials never get that bad (even though some of the stuff I’ve been through recently makes me wonder) but I cannot doubt that He is here, and He will be there…

He is Yahweh – the I AM, and Immanu-EL – the God who is here.

Even if we, in despair, give up all hope, wonder why life is the way it is…

THere is time to be still, and find ourselves praising the God who is with us… for He is with us… and that changes everything. Including us!

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