Word for the Week August 25 - Sept. 1
By: Evang. Cascille
"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers
him from them all." Psalm 34:19
When you are in
the midst of trouble, it seems it will never end. Indeed, sometimes God allows His children to go through a dark valley,
only to be met on the other side by a darker valley. These are tests of your faith. When you can't see any
light at the end to the dark tunnel, you must blindly trust God, for He is the light. Many times He will leave you in
your trial so others may see how you go through the pain and suffering. Think of Daniel in the lion's den.
When they saw he was not harmed by the hungry lions, he was promoted and God was praised. Think of Shadrach, Meshack
and Abednego. They were left in the flames, but a fourth one was seen of gold walking with them. When the king
saw this and that they were not harmed, God was praised.
Sometimes the flames are not leaving and the lions will go no where. You may
think you are so spiritual that when you walk into the flames, they will instantly go out. Or when you are unfairly
thrown into the lion's den, the lions will turn and run or their teeth will fall out. Instead, the flames are turned
up seven times hotter and the lion's teeth are bared and remain strong. In fact, they will surround you. But
God must testify to the world through you that He is real and He alone delivers His children. We do not tell Him how
to deliver us. He does not always inform us how He will deliver us. We are to trust Him as Shadrach, Meshack
and Adednego said to the king at the threat of being thrown into the furnace, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need
to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able
to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O
king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." They said, "even
if He does not..." We are to live and breathe and walk our faith. In Him is our life and it is eternal.
When the trials come, stop looking
for a way out. Lock the door in the furnace and in the lion's den and STAND on your FAITH and TRUST in God to deliver
you. You can not deliver yourself. You can not be God. You will definitely kill yourself. Let Him
display is power for you. He will. That is WHY you are in the trial. And stop worrying about the intensity of the flames and the furiousness of the lions. Are you expecting
the lions to like you and cuddle with you? Sometimes trials come directly from our circumstances and sometimes from
people. If they don't receive you and the Word you give them, do what the Word says and wipe the dust from your
feet in protest and keep going. Let God deal with them. Stop expecting lions to be lambs. If people
reject the Word you give them move on. Man's rejection is God's protection. Leave them in His hands.
He will handle them as well as make the flames so that they will not harm you. The flames will not go away, they will
get seven times hotter but He will give you the ability to endure it and He will get all of the glory. This
is the purpose of your trial. To show the world the God you serve is real.
