kingdom travelin'

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm‬ ‭62‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” Psalm‬ ‭62‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalm‬ ‭62‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

There are – and have been – times when we feel deserted by God. This brief teaching addresses this very real and important experience.

What encouragement would you give to a Christian who feels deserted by God? In this video, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson points to a prescription, a remedy, and a great prognosis for Christians. https://t.co/LpWj95pq6m pic.twitter.com/EeoZED4mRQ

— Tabletalk Magazine (@Tabletalk) May 1, 2023

To which our reply should be:

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭115‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria!

“O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.” Psalm‬ ‭115‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When circumstances are hard, fellow disciple of Jesus, remember this:

God is with you, He is not surprised by events, and He is god.

If we can keep these in mind, we can press on. For it is in knowing, trusting, and following Him that gives our feet solid ground on which to walk.

It is not our own strength, dear believer, it is our reliance that leads us to victory in life.

So, deepen your knowledge of our great and almighty God. The result will be easier prayer when trouble comes.

As the song goes…

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.”

HOW?

Read your Bible.

Daily.

Voluminously.

Take no shortcuts. Take the long road through Scripture.

Excuses for why you can’t read the Bible are just that, excuses.

Your excuses will neither help you know God better nor provide comfort when trouble comes.

Turn to Him. Abide in Him!

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Good Friday? A triumph?

YES!!!

For the only man who ever was GOOD took my sin (and yours too, dear fellow disciple) and he willingly and lovingly suffered and died. In doing so, he satisfied the justice that was necessary so that we could become righteous.

May we never sell the cross short. On the cross is the finished work of Christ, making it possible that we be made righteous. It was a triumph!

“…Christ looked upon His crucifixion with the eye of firm faith as the hour of triumph.” – Spurgeon

So keep… “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Press on dear fellow disciple! Cast off those weights and sins and run the race he has laid for us with endurance, how? By beholding Jesus and considering his triumph! Glory to Jesus!