The Afflictions of the Righteous
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. (NRSV)
You know what they say: life wasn’t meant to be easy. Yeah, right, but deep down, we still have this sneaking suspicion that that’s for everyone else. Me? Well I love Jesus. He loves me. Surely He’s going to make my life easy. Surely!
Sometimes it feels as though the more you try to do the right thing, the more the rest of the world wants to come against you. I remember days where, in the morning, I’d spent time with God. I’d given my life over to Him afresh and anew for the day. I’d walked away with a spring in my step, with joy in my heart. I mean … really, I’d done the right thing, not just because it was the right thing to do, but because I wanted to.
And no sooner would the day begin than it felt like the gates of hell had swung open and all the forces of the enemy had been unleashed against me … like everything in my neck of the woods was against me.
Hang on … hang on just one minute! That’s not the way it’s supposed to go – especially Lord, let me tell ya, after an amazing prayer time like that!!
But you see, that’s often the way it goes. When the devil sees one of God’s own people filled with the joy of the Lord, do you think he’s just going to sit idly by? Not on your life.
So what’s the answer? Do we become despondent? Do we say to ourselves, “Well, that was a complete waste of time, that time I sat with God this morning?”
I hope not. Because God’s Word is full of promises for us when the forces of hell are unleashed against us:
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. (NRSV)
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Tangu
Thank you so much for the timely message, just what I need right now 🙏
Thank you so much for the timely message, just what I need right now 🙏
Catherine
Thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.