Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Pain, Peace, and Joy

 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God wants his people, including you and me, to experience his peace and joy, but it comes at a price. It cost God, and it costs us. The peace and joy of God often arrive through a process of pain, pain often rooted in sin of some sort.

There is a good promise in it all, one that we must hear. It’s articulated in lots of ways and in lots of places in Scripture.

Listen to God, in/through Isaiah (ch. 43), comfort his people who were defeated because of their sinful rebellion. They were in exile, in pain, and wondering if God loved them anymore. He does!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

God knows your name and has not given up on you. If you turn to him and desire to walk with him, then he’ll walk with you through everything in your life, even, and especially in, your pain.

No comments: