Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12 that he was given a “thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me.” He continues that he prayed to be relieved of this torment, and was told, In 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he [Christ] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
We don’t know if Paul was ever relieved of this torment in his lifetime, but we can learn from his report of his experience.

We too may have been afflicted with a torment. It may be physical ailment, financial struggle, relationship issue, or the psychological torment caused by the struggle affecting someone we love. Like Paul, we may pray for delivery from the torment, but have not been relieved.

We should take the message that God gave to Paul, and accept that if God is letting us experience the torment, he will provide “sufficient grace” to endure. Will the torment last long? We don’t know, but God’s grace is enough for the duration.

I take comfort, however, that the torment will not go on indefinitely through Peter’s words of 1 Peter 5:9,10, “Stand firm against him (Satan), and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

Dear Lord, Thank you that we know that your grace and power are more than enough to support us in our tests and torments, and that you will relieve us from our suffering in your time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you noticed people who seem to have everything they could ever want, but they can’t seem to be happy? If they really want to find happiness and joy, they need to realize that it does not come from outside themselves getting more and more. It comes from inside, by having a state of peace that then allows us to be happy in any circumstance.

Psalm 128:1,2 says, “How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!”

Dear Lord, we cannot truly find peace and joy until we have you in our hearts, and follow your ways. Help each of us to recognize this so we can experience the joyful prosperous life you promise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We have all probably seen the stories of great sports coaches, military leaders, and business executives who led their teams and players to great results and performance; Performance that they probably would not have had without that leader’s support and guidance. As a result, the leader and the players are recognized and awarded.

In a similar way, God has a plan for his creation and each of us have a part in that plan. God also wants us to do great things and succeed while we work our part in His plan.

Psalm 35:27 says, “Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”

God wants you to be a great Teacher, Lawyer, Engineer, Pilot, Business person, Pastor, Student, Parent, or whatever your calling may be. We need to know and live with the confidence that when we put God’s will first He wants us to succeed.

Dear Lord, what confidence it gives us to know that when we have your will as our priority, you are supporting us and taking pleasure in our success. May our success bring you glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I recall a profound expression from one of the wisest of my friends, Pastor Scott Bruzek, St. John Lutheran, Wheaton, IL, who said, “Love is where mercy meets misery.”

Isn’t this what Jesus is, the mercy of God that comes to us in our misery. He also is the mercy of God carrying the struggles of our lives.

This idea brought to mind the image of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:29, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Though not so Biblical, I could hear the song written by one of modern day’s musical geniuses, Brian Wilson, “Love and Mercy” express this sentiment. Written after years of his challenges of mental illness and and struggle. He wrote, “Love and mercy is what you need tonight, Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight.”

God’s gift, Jesus Christ is that Love and Mercy.

Dear Lord, Your love and mercy is the gift we need to accept to overcome any misery of our lives. Help us find our way to accepting it and being the path to it for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Many times in life there is something we know we should do, something we feel that God is calling us to do, but we are reluctant to start. We don’t start because we don’t know if we will have the time, the money, the ability, the support, or some other limitation, to make it work.

What we don’t realize, is that God may be waiting for us to move forward, demonstrating our faith in him, and then he will give us that time, money, knowledge, etc, we wanted before we started.

In Joshua 3 the Israelites are just about to cross the Jordan River and enter the “Promised Land” after wandering in the desert for 40 years. The Jordan River at that time was at its high, overflowing it’s banks.

Joshua 3:7,8, “The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.'” verse 13 then says, “As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

God told them to start, and once they did, he took over. He will do this for us if we act faithfully.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the knowledge that you are always there to support us when we step out in faithful response to your call. Help us have the courage to do so. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.