~In Quietness and Confidence~

Actually, this is a photo from a postcard that my friend in Germany sent me...It's a birthday card!
But as I was writing today, isn't this what we feel like we've been handed in life at times...Something that was supposed to be all good and wonderful, and instead, we get a mouthful of gravel...or a surprise plate of glop straight from the pit of hell itself. As we can tell, this poor little woman isn't too happy about her "Happy Birthday" cake....Life went terribly wrong!

And that's what happens to us. There are just those times in life that we're just plain knocked sideways into the next dimension or slam dunked in our now; whether it be a circumstance in which we find ourselves (an accident, death of a loved one, job situation)....or in dealing with people (misunderstandings or an all out frontal assault by the enemy of our soul). It happened then....It happens now....It will happen again....for we know that when the enemy came against Jesus, he left Him (Matt. 4:11), but then we know that the enemy returned at later times - especially when he thought he'd won by crucifying the Lord.

We know from Job 1:6 that Satan came before the Lord to present himself among the sons of God. And we read that the Lord asked Satan, v. 7 "From where do you come?" Then reading further in v. 8 the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

It is from then on that Satan takes Job's property and his children, but we also know that God told him (Satan) that he could not take Job's life. (v. 12)

Trouble....It's a reality of living on this earth. It is a reality of our lives as Christians. One such event for me personally, was the receipt of an item that was totally unexpected. A slew of accusations fired hailstones into my heart...WHAM!...And momentarily I found myself spinning sideways...feeling off balance...threatened....Where to go from here?

These are the times we've all experienced...but what do we do with them?

The Lord gives us His Word for these times of trouble which pursue us, but do not overtake us.

Let me share with you what He's shown me so often, that your heart will be encouraged as well. He knows that we need His tender reminders. He knows our situation....He understands....He sees it all....and He will take care of it. And all we need to do is our part...to nestle under the shadow of His wing. (Ps. 91:1)

Be Comforted Beloved with His Word:

Isaiah 30:15 "For thus said the Lord God...In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.."

Psalm 46:10-11 "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause and calmly think of that].

Psalm 58:11 "Men will say, Surely there is a reward for the [uncompromisingly] righteous; surely there is a God Who judges on the earth."

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted!] For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."

In closing, precious ones....if you've been going through a trial....rest in Him right now....He has you covered....He will take care of your situation. Rest...Abide...Snuggle in....Be at peace....

God wastes none of our experiences in life or our trials~ And as Job, may we be able to say that our spiritual eye sees Him through this even more than we did before. (Job 42:5 "I had heard of You [only] by the hering of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.") The Apostle Paul wrote it this way in Ephesians 1:17 "[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."

Love always - in Him Who gave His life as a ransom for our salvation and our peace~

Crista
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/