From My Playlist: Trials...can they be blessings?

Struggles, hard times and difficult situations are all around us. We are either struggling with a problem ourselves or know someone who is. 

Sometimes, as believers, we pray asking God to take care of a situation and we feel like our prayers are hitting a brick wall and bouncing back to us. We feel like there is no change in the situation and God isn’t there. 

Other times, we see God answer our prayers.  We see the amazing way he works things out.

But today, it’s the times we don’t see the answer that I’m thinking about.  In these times, it might be that victory comes in getting to the point that we can give it completely to God.  To rest.  To trust Him.  To know that he will have his way and his ways are good.

Sometimes the trials bring us closer to God.  We don’t choose them, but we can look back and see God’s hand in them.

God always has a reason for the struggle; the trial.  We aren’t promised tomorrow and we aren’t promised a life without trouble.  However, we are promised that he will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), He knows the plans he has for us, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11), that if we pray about everything the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4: 7), that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) and so much more…

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

Doxology

Doxology, simply put, is an expression of praise to God.  Scripture is filled with doxologies.  The author is usually writing along on whatever the topic and the goodness of God seems to overwhelm them and they stop to praise Him in their writing. 

It’s an overflow of praise that comes from knowing the truth of God.

One example was in our Sunday School lesson yesterday morning.  We were studying I Timothy, chapter 6 and the main theme is contentment.  Oh that’s a hard one that we’ve probably all struggled with at one time or another and I’m not going there today.  But my favorite part of the lesson was the doxology we touched on at the end of class.

In 1 Timothy, chapter 6, Paul is instructing Timothy on doctrinal truths and then he interjects praise to God.  The truth of God and his goodness caused Paul to stop and give Him praise and recognition.  To recognize the reason He was writing the letter to Timothy in the first place and the reason they should live their lives “keeping the commandment without spot”.  He writes in verses 15b-16:

He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.  Amen.

This is true worship and it comes from knowing the truths of God.  Knowing what God’s word says and it being written on your heart.  Because when you think on these things it causes a response…a response of praise and worship.

I can think back to so many doxological moments in my own life.  Sometimes His goodness stops me in my tracks and I have to just sit in awe of him or throw my hands up in worship or weep with joy because of his love; his mercy.

I attended a ladies service this past weekend and we sang a song I haven’t sang in a long time but it is perfect for what I’m saying today:

When I think about the Lord
How He saved me, how He raised me
How He filled me, with the Holy Ghost
How He healed me, to the uttermost

When I Think about the Lord
How He picked me up and turned me around
How He placed my feet on solid ground

 

It makes me want to shout
Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus
Lord, you're worthy of all the glory and all the honor
And all the praise.

Be reminded today of the goodness of the Lord and what he’s done in your life.  Stop and give him praise for it.  He’s worthy!