Sometimes,
as Christians, Jesus followers, believers, church folks, we think that we
should be worry free, problem free, doubt free, trial free, and free from temptations. In fact, some churches actually teach that if
you are tempted to sin, you are not really saved. Or that if you have worry or fear or doubt
you are not really saved. This is simply
not true. Day one of this devotional
taught you that God’s Word is true, regardless of how you feel. The introduction taught you that your
salvation was not earned, but given, as a gift.
So, no matter how you feel, if you have confessed your sin, repented,
and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then you are saved.
Even so,
there will still be days you face temptation, fear, trials, worry, and doubt…
just like you did before you were saved.
God is now working in you, to make you a better you, to mold you into
His image, but you still have tendencies, you still have desires, you still
have wants, and you still have things you like to do. You have prayed a prayer asking for
forgiveness and God assures us in His Word that our sins have been washed white
as snow… but you have not forgotten how to sin, or how to worry, or how to
doubt, or how to fear. It’s normal to
have these emotions and these feelings.
It’s normal to be tempted. Jesus
faced all these emotions and trials too when He lived on Earth as a man.
“For we do
not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in
all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus faced
day to day oppositions and temptations just like us.
He was hungry.
He was tired.
He was sad.
He wept.
He hurt.
He was disappointed.
He was betrayed.
He was spat on, mocked, laughed at,
beaten, and tortured.
Imagine
having to eat dinner and even wash the feet of someone who was going to turn
you over to be tortured, beaten, and then crucified. Jesus ate with, and washed Judas feet, just hours
before Judas betrayed him!
It’s not the
trial and the temptation, the fear, the worry, or the doubt that comes our way,
but how we deal with the situation that makes a difference. A lot of people say “God will not give me
more than I can handle.” But the truth is life
is ALWAYS more than you can handle on your own. You need to run to Jesus with your troubles
and let Him guide and direct you through them.
Don’t despair that you have a problem.
Go to Jesus and pray about your problem and let Him show you the action
that will move you forward in making you more into His image.
He helps us
be able to bear the burdens of life.
“No
temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but
with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear
it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
He asked us
in His Word to lean on Him, rely on Him, trust in Him, and cast all our cares
on Him. This means to throw them on Him.
“Casting all
your care upon him; for he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
“Cast your
burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you: He shall never permit the
righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)
His Word
declares that He is a rock. He is a
fortress, and a place of refuge or hiding for those that feel overwhelmed and
need Him. Instead of sitting and
meditating on your fear and worry and doubt, or giving in to sin temptations
that you know will get you in trouble or do more harm than good… hide yourself
away in a quiet place, alone with your Bible, and begin to read and pray. Let God be the place you go to and tell Him
about your troubles instead of posting them on Facebook or social media or even
calling and texting other people.
“He who
dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is
my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
When you are
afraid or worried and don’t know where to turn, read all of Psalm 91. God protects you, He hears you, He knows what
you’re going through, turn to Him.
Read John
Chapter 11.
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