trials - The Text Messages

The 23rd Psalm is often read during the most trying times that we as humans experience – the grief of loss. But it expresses a reality which can only be known by someone who has learned to condition his or her life to trust in God at ALL times.

King David, the writer of this psalm began by acknowledging the Lord as his trusted and faithful shepherd; as the One who provides comfort, rest and refreshment while leading him on “paths of righteousness.” This was David’s lifelong confidence: the Lord would provide what he needed in every circumstance.

King David was a worshipper of God and while (as one pastor friend of mine reminded me recently) our worship is neither to pay God back or gain some benefit from Him; it is rather, indicative of our relationship with the Lord. I mention this because I’ve had fairweather friends (hopefully I’ve never been one) who only interacted with me when it was convenient or advantageous to them (I’m sure you had friends like that too), King David was not such a person.

So when David writes, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” he was not treating the Lord like we do our insurance agents, but was expressing his confidence that no matter how bad it got the Lord would be with him.

As I said, most often the reference to the “shadow of death” is mentioned to console us in our deepest moments of grief over the loss of a loved one in death but the grief common to us all is much broader in scope. Maybe today your marriage or family is under the shadow, causing you great grief and concern over what might become of your life together. You may have just received an unfavorable and even terrifying medical diagnosis. Whatever your “hopeless” moment might be I declare to you that there is hope in that dark valley.

We must be careful here though. We are not promised that an exit from the valley of the shadow won’t still result in loss of a life, the death of a relationship, an on-going illness or some other grieving circumstance BUT be assured, we will exit with Him who led us through that valley and because we understand that the Lord IS with us we, like David will not fear.

The goodness and mercy of the Lord WILL follow us all the days of our lives and because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection we WILL dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Is the Lord YOUR Shepherd? Are you passing through the middle of the valley of the shadow of death? Sometimes, it is only in that valley that you are able to see that your greatest need in any moment is a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The other day as I was scanning my Facebook page I came across a well used Christian expression: “God never gives you MORE than you can handle.” This time, I thought about it – and I asked myself what I’m now asking you, is that really a true statement?

First, I considered it from the perspective of experience. In the weight-room, on the track or in the gym does a person get stronger without adding weight to the bar; does he or she build endurance without going the extra lap or mile – does an athlete really develop strength, endurance or stamina without challenging themselves to go further? Do you suppose faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is developed differently?

The answer is an obvious – “no.”

I also considered this expression from the pages of scripture. When Israel quickly exited from Egypt in what the Bible titles the Exodus and was pursued by Pharaoh and his army into what seemed to be a dead end (see Exodus 14) might that have been a situation deemed to be MORE than they could handle by those going through it? When the youngest son of Jesse, a stinky little shepherd boy compared to his nobler brothers faced a giant of a man named Goliath on a battlefield not one other soldier great or small of Israel’s army dared to step out on (see 1 Samuel 17) – might he have though that the giant was MORE than he could handle? When a father came to Jesus’ disciples begging and pleading for them to help his son who was possessed by a demonic spirit (see Luke 9:37-40) – might it have been because deep down they thought that the situation was MORE than they could handle?

The reality is that God allowed those situations named above for the same reason He allows the impossible into your life and mine – He allows the overwhelming into our lives, the MORE than we can handle so that you, me and those around us would know that NOTHING is impossible for Him! He told Moses in [Exodus 14: 17-18]:

“And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

Likewise, young David shouted as he charged towards Goliath with nothing but a sling and a stone [1 Samuel 17:46-47]:

“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

In one of the parallel accounts of the father who brought his demon possessed son to Jesus and His disciples, we see how God allows the impossible into our lives to strengthen our faith in Him [Mark 9:23-24]:

“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

James the half-brother of the Lord Jesus wrote: [James 1:2-3] “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience;” he knew that God adds weight to the bar so to speak to grow us in our faith. The Apostle Paul knew it too, see what he wrote of it in [Romans 5:3-4] “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

But wait, I have often heard this expression as it supposedly relates to [1 Cor. 10:13] which reads:

“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 the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Listen, God never adds the weight of sin to our bar, He wants to relieve that burden rather than increase it – sin is too much for you and me, we cannot over come it BUT Jesus HAS overcome it bearing it all on the cross. As we grow in faith and relationship with Him temptation may come our way, God even allowing it to come – to demonstrate to us and to others His great power living in us!

God may allow suffering, persecution and all sorts of adversity into your life but my friend, count it all joy – He is about to show you something about Himself and yourself because of Him that you would have seen in no other way.

Tag: trials

The Valley of the Shadow

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