10/13/2021
What has the Lord done for you recently? Was it marvelous? Powerful? Did He save your life, or the life of someone you love? How about your soul… was it lost until He sent Jesus to redeem it? Salvation, what an amazing feat that was… God’s right hand, and holy arm, working together to redeem us, to purchase us for Himself. Well what if He walked you into the valley of the shadow of death, and brought you face to face with it while your last breath lingered on your lips… would your final exhale be a new song, or prayer to Him? Our answer should be ”YES!” Let’s talk about why.
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”
Psalm 98:1 ESV
We are quick to sing God’s praises when life is smooth, the skies are blue, and we have plenty, but on those stormy days when our life is lousy, and our future seems uncertain, what do we say to Him in our prayers? Is having Him with us in that moment good enough?
“Even 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.”
Psalm 23:4 ESV
We are inclined to believe that the Lord will make our lives as soft as a newborn’s skin, but He doesn’t. However He does tell us that he will be with us in the hard places, and sacrifice things He loves for us, like people, nations, and even His own Son. God also tells us He will comfort us. Listen to what He told Jacob…
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.”
Isaiah 43:2, 4 ESV
I once heard a fellow waxing poetic about everything he would sacrifice just to be near the girl he loved, and I recall thinking on many occasions since then that as intensely emotional as this man’s poem was, it couldn’t hold a candle to the way I felt about Jesus, and my God. If the only way to be near my Lord involved walking through the valley of the shadow of death, or through fire, then that would be my choice. How about you? We say that we are willing to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, but are we just talking the talk, or could we actually do that?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-25 ESV
Now let’s think of the worst moment in our lives. Perhaps it was the greatest pain we ever felt, the deepest sorrow, or the most lost we have been; but regardless of how dark, or painful things were in that moment, God has chosen to be there with us, and this is not trivial… not even for Him.
“... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
When Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead scripture says that He wept, but why? He knew He was going to raise Lazarus up, and return life to him, so why did He cry? In that moment He was actually feeling the pain of those He was with; it was an example of His perfect empathy; to the point of His experiencing pain and suffering.
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!””
John 11:33-36 ESV
So during those times when we are in our darkest places, and God is there with us… what do you suppose He is feeling? Have we ever considered Him to be suffering alongside us as he waits for us to display a glimmer of hope in Him? Have we ever considered the possibility that He might be waiting for us to call out to Him in faith, and with a firm belief? Have we ever heard, or felt, Him weeping alongside us?
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:13-14 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us, having compassion for us, and being with us always; even in our valleys and the pits of our despair. Hear our prayers Lord, and lift us up in your strong arms. Let your tears sooth us, and sighs comfort us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose Son has wept with us, and in whom we see love everlasting. Praised be your name for every moment of sorrow we find ourselves in because in those times we know you are with us. Loving are you who holds us to your breast and mourns with us, and merciful are you who lifts us to our feet when we fall prorate in our grief. Your grace abounds Holy Father, and you wipe the tears from our eyes as you cleanse us with the blood of Christ. Call us your children, and seat us at your table forevermore. Fill us with everlasting joy as we worship you with all our being, and give us your peace for all eternity.
“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
Psalm 104:33-34 ESV
Rich Forbes