The Righteous Suffer, Too!

 

Ligia Contreras Molina – Prayer Center Representative – CBN Vida Dura

Eighteen years ago, I served as a pastor on a retreat. The power of God was at work: women were converted, they were delivered from demons, and 70 to 80 people were baptized in one day. But one day, suffering came!

I was three months pregnant. When I asked the Lord what we should name our baby, I felt He wanted us to choose “Isaac.” That made me wonder if I was going to be asked to give up my child, as Abraham was asked to give up his.

We fell asleep and I woke up because I started bleeding. Realizing this, we went to the doctor and he told us that our son had unfortunately died. He was a boy.

Some asked us the question, “But why you…?” Well, the righteous also suffer in this world of evil. But the present sufferings do not compare with the glory that will be revealed to us. Let us remember Israel that suffered exile and captivity by a nation that deviated from the Lord.

Let us remember Jesus Christ, holy and just, who came to save humanity, but was rejected, wounded, beaten, and humiliated. When we suffer hardships, we are often judged, but the power of God continues to work. In the midst of this situation, I was able to see my father give his life to the Lord and I was able to comfort my sister, who lost her son a month later.

Many righteous people call and write to our Vida Dura program prayer line. Many would prefer not to go through trials and pain. However, it is the Word of God and prayer that comforts them and helps them remember God’s love and power, while increasing their faith.

I remember a young woman who called asking for prayer. She was in the terminal phase of stomach cancer and the doctors had removed half of her stomach. She called desperately from the hospital where she watched our show and felt that she was losing her faith. She was wondering why God had abandoned her. We prayed with her on more than one occasion. A year later she called on the day that she was discharged from the hospital. She wanted to testify of God’s power over her life and how He had healed her of cancer.

For others, their victory has been passing from this life to the next. They have obtained immortal life.

Those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isaiah 51:11 NIV).

Many things may happen to you in life. Some things you will understand over time, and others perhaps not. Some will be for the glory of God to manifest itself in your life, and others will help you to reach maturity in your walk in God. Whatever way that suffering may come, God controls the outcome and fights for you to come out strong.

Meanwhile, take the hand of the Lord, day by day, through the adversities that may come and know that you are founded on the Rock. Your house will not fall.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Hope in the Grieving

 

 

Sarah Fletcher – Prayer Centre Manager – CBN Europe

Why God? Where were you? Why didn’t you come?

Ever screamed these words at God? I know I have! I yelled at God when Debbie drew her last breath. Debbie was my big sister, but she lost her fight with life at the age of 35. I was just 23 with too many questions and not nearly enough answers!

Where was God? Why didn’t he heal her? Why didn’t He rescue her?

In my many questions, my perspective of God’s goodness became a tad tainted. I began to believe the lie that God wasn’t good and that He had failed both me and my sister.

Jesus encourages us to bring our burdens to him (Matthew 11:28-30). This includes our questions and our angered frustrations. He Himself was a man of sorrows; acquainted with many griefs. As I walked through this shadowing valley, I came to realize that God understood my thoughts, feelings, and frustrations. He once watched His own Son walk this path, and He also saw a bigger picture for Him and for me. It was not the immediate moment that impelled Jesus to walk to the cross, but rather the joy that was set before Him; a future perspective that meant He could endure the pain at Calvary.

That joy was you, me, and my sister Debbie at the other side of the Cross; a secured eternity with Him for each of us; a hope of what was to come.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (NIV).

Please understand, nothing about burying my sister was light and momentary, but this truth renewed my hope.

Outwardly Debbie really was wasting away, but when Jesus released her from her torment and suffering, she was instantly and inwardly renewed in a place where every tear was wiped from her eyes; a place where there was no more death or mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).

Years later, this was the hope that flooded my own heart and soul; the assurance that one day I would see her again!

Yes, God could have healed my sister and restored her my way, but He didn’t; and now she is wholly and completely free! My best hope for her could never have achieved this, but God’s hope at work did. Living hope in this devastating situation not only paved the way for her rescue but also my salvation. It played a part in a greater plan that set us both free.

The presence of God is not the absence of heartache and struggle; but if we allow the living hope of Christ to anchor our broken hearts and wounded souls, we can live in complete assurance that any physical end is not an eternal one!

Through any valley that we should walk, be encouraged that Jesus has gone ahead. His rod and His staff will comfort us (Psalm 23).

But how? How can two pieces of ancient wood bring any comfort in a time of anguish?

Well … two pieces of wood once stood on a hill at the top of another valley so that you and I could pass from death to life. The Cross of Jesus Christ will never lose its power, even in the midst of grief or loss. It is through the Cross that hope was made manifest. Through Jesus, we can know God’s eternal comfort and peace; a living hope in the face of death and a light in the darkest of times.

He Is Yahweh: The Eternal God Will Carry You Through

 

 

Paul J. Palma – Professor, Regent University Biblical Studies & Christian Ministries

The journey of fatherhood remains filled with immense reward. One of my wife and I’s favorite pastimes has always been going for outdoor walks together. We love hitting the trails at local parks to soak in the fresh air, get in a cardio workout, and behold the beauty of God’s creation. When our son and first child, Joseph, was born, we decided to take him along for our weekly outdoor adventures. Accomplishing this meant strapping him to my chest in a snugli. He enjoyed the ride and smiled ear to ear to have the front seat view. And I didn’t mind the added weight, which equaled a better leg workout and more calories burned.

I carried our little guy up and down the rolling hills, around winding trails, and through rugged terrain for miles at a time. Of course, I had to exercise care. Some paths were too treacherous to tread with a toddler in tow.

Similarly, God looked after the Hebrew people as he led them through the barren land of the Sinai wilderness:

The LORD your God, who goes before you, is the one who will fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your very eyes, and in the wilderness, where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as one carries a child, all the way that you traveled until you reached this place (Deuteronomy 1:30-31, NRSVEU).

For forty years, “the Lord” (Hebrew, Yahweh) ushered the Israelites through unfamiliar desert lands, revealing himself strong on their behalf amid hunger, dehydration, and the many quarrels threatening to divide them. He steered his people’s course and, in due time, brought them into Canaan, the Promised Land.

Since Joseph, we added two more kids to the mix—our twin girls, Katarina and Theresa. While it’s not practical to strap two kids to my chest in snuglis, we found a double stroller and started taking the girls on many of the same excursions as when it was just three of us. As our kids grow up, I aim to be there for them, to guide and see them through no matter what obstacles lie in their path. I will walk beside them through whatever valleys they have to cross or mountains to climb for as many years as I have on God’s green earth.

Yet, as surely as the terrain changes, my days on earth are destined to come to an end. Thus it behooves my wife and me to build into our kids a solid foundation in the faith, teaching them the ways of God’s word and the power of prayer. This way, even after our time on earth comes to an end, they (and we) can rest assured that Yahweh (literally, “I am the I am”) will carry them through. The meaning of this Hebrew name implies the self-existence and eternality of God. The life and purposes of Yahweh are not conditioned on any other being in the universe; indeed, he created everyone and everything. He is the eternal God, existing from the beginning of time (even before time since he’s the author of time itself). Because God has always been and always will be, I find consolation in the reality that although my days here on earth are numbered, he will still be standing by to look after my children long after I am gone.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you (Isaiah 46:4, NIV).

Our heavenly Father walks beside us to steer our course and direct our path through whatever wilderness we face, now and forevermore. Indeed, even after we grow old and weary, Yahweh is still keeping watch over our posterity to guide, sustain, and rescue our dear ones in their hour of need. We can have confidence that the Eternal One will one day bring to fruition his plan, ushering every child of God into the Promised Land.

Just Passing Through

 

Jessica Teed – cbn.com

Getting stuck in traffic is something I have never heard anyone say they enjoy. Since being on time is important to me, I can become annoyed quickly when I get stuck in traffic. My husband is not bothered by delays because he believes that God has a purpose for them. When I feel myself becoming stressed about traffic, my husband is quick to remind me that it is only a temporary situation. He sees these delays as an opportunity to stop and praise the Lord. The truth is God is worthy of our praise regardless of what we are facing, even if it is just a temporary delay in traffic.

Sometimes it can feel like there is no end in sight when you are stuck in traffic or caught in construction, but the end always comes, doesn’t it? The same is true of difficulties, hardships, and trials. They are temporary and they have a beginning and an end. Even when it feels like there is no end in sight, that end will eventually come.

Isaiah 43:1-2 is such a great reminder of this.

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (NLT)

Read that again with me. When you go through deep waters… when you go through rivers of difficulty… when you walk through the fire of oppression. Those deep waters, rivers of difficulty, and fires of oppression are only temporary. Though it may seem like there is no end in sight, it is there! You are only passing through. I don’t know about you, but that is such a relief to me and that’s not even the best part.

God tells us that we don’t have to be afraid when we go through these things because He has ransomed us, and He has called us by name. We are precious to Him, and He loves us. While difficulties are inevitable, God is faithful to walk with us through them. No matter what comes our way, God remains the same and He will take care of you. The Bible tells us repeatedly not to be afraid because the God of all creation is with us. He is on our side. He fights for us. He works all things for our good. These aren’t platitudes; this is biblical truth to hold onto.

The next time you are walking through a season of difficulty, remind yourself that it is only temporary, and that God is with you. Nothing is impossible for Him. You are not alone. You are just passing through. See it as an opportunity to stop and praise Him, because He is worthy of praise.

Love Out of Faith

 

 

Laura Spratt – Marketing Assistant & Graphics – CBN Europe

The Covid-19 pandemic caused widespread devastation — from physical and mental health, to the economy and beyond. A heart-breaking number of lives were lost, jobs taken away, many struggled to feed their families, and the loving touch of those we hold dear was restricted – and became something the world feared.

For the past two years, Covid got me thinking about a very well-known passage in the Bible that I’ve read over and over again my whole life. However, sometimes it takes an event such as this to truly shake my spirit and realize the importance of what is written down right in front of me.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV).

This passage has found a very real and new meaning in my life. I think you’d agree with me that Covid-19 was very much an unexpected event. Many of us did not expect a global pandemic to shake the very foundations our lives are built on, yet here we are – over two years later.

This passage has taught me to make sure that every part of my being is grounded and built on a firm foundation. A foundation that can withstand any storm, any pandemic, any sickness, any job loss, any isolation, any grief and most importantly – at ANY time. We need our core to be built on faith in Jesus every second of the day. Faith that ‘He’s got us’, faith that He will provide for us, faith that His love is all we will ever need. When our minds go to a place of darkness and we don’t know if we can make it through, we need to go straight back to Jesus. My prayer for the nations is that faith arises in all of us, more than ever before.

Something else that this pandemic is teaching me is the importance of love. More than ever, people need love. A love that lasts and a love that has faith in them. We have the power to love at any time, but the most powerful love comes from a place of faith. When our faith is on track, the love that comes from that place will burst with freedom, color, light, laughter, joy and the Spirit of Jesus. That love is more than enough to conquer any trial, set free any captive of fear, loneliness, depression or sickness.

Loving out of faith is something that I want to make a priority for this year. I want to keep fuelling the fire of my faith so that I can love others deeper. I want to be able to love others in a way that shows them my faith in Jesus is real. We have something so solid to cling to in a time when everything else seems to be so unreliable – let’s share that with others.

May your future be one of loving out of faith. God bless you!

Like Eagles

 

 

Jessica Teed – Well & Clean Water Coordinator – OB Headquarters

2022 did not start out how I would have hoped. Within the first few days of the new year, both my husband and I ended up in the Emergency Room twice. The second time, I was the only one who got to come home.

I was afraid and overwhelmed. So many thoughts ran through my mind and it was hard to silence them. The next 23 days were tough. My husband remained in the hospital fighting for his life and I couldn’t visit him at first. We called and talked to each other every day and prayed with each other every night. We knew that our God was Healer, and He was with us every step of the way. My husband had to overcome many obstacles before they would let him come home. We brought every single one of these to the Lord and trusted Him for the outcome. I knew I needed to trust the Lord step-by-step, moment-by-moment, day-by-day because He loves my husband more than I ever could.

One night while praying, the Holy Spirit brought Isaiah 40:31 to my mind.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (NLT)

This passage of Scripture became what I held onto during my husband’s time in the hospital and in the weeks that followed (once he was able to come home). He too needed to trust the Lord step-by-step and believe that God would help him to run and not grow weary and to walk and not faint. Together we stood firm on what the Word of God said, and what we believed was true, and trusted that God would come through for us because He loves us.

I am so very thankful the Lord was with us during that time. He did many amazing things through that season of difficulty. He heard us, answered our prayers, and helped my husband fully recover, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

When difficulties and troubles come our way, it can be difficult to keep our eyes focused on the Lord and not on the problems around us. The Bible tells us that troubles are to be expected, but not to be afraid when they come, because God has already overcome them (see John 16:33). There is no problem, no issue, and no difficulty that is too big for God. He has seen it all and nothing is impossible for Him.

If you are facing difficulties right now, know that you are not alone. Trust in the Lord and you will find new strength. He will help you soar on wings like eagles. He will help you overcome each obstacle you face. The strength the Lord gives you will help you run and not grow weary and help you walk and not faint. You can trust Him with every step because He is with you.

Father God, I need your strength. I can’t get through this without you. I choose to look to you and not to what is going on around me. I surrender every obstacle to you because I believe that you are with me every step of the way. Thank you for helping me run this race with endurance without growing weary. Thank you for your peace and for giving me the strength to overcome every obstacle. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Leia and Stick

 

 

Beth Patch – Senior Internet Editor & Producer

Her brown eyes stared at her favorite companion lying lifeless on the ground. Yes, “Stick” had not moved for at least 15 seconds (and yes, it is a fetching stick named “Stick”). Leia panted. If I could read her mind, I believe she was thinking, “Surely Mom will pick this up and throw it soon.”

Seconds passed and my German Shepherd’s posture remained the same. So did mine. Then she sat, took her eyes off Stick, and looked up at my face. “That’s what I was waiting for,” I said as I reached down to the ground, picked up Stick and tossed him across the yard.

Leia wanted Stick to fly across the yard so she could catch him in the air. For as long as she was focused on Stick, it didn’t happen. But when she turned her focus to me, her master, her problem was resolved. My place of authority and her place of submission were established, and we could continue. In training my dogs, the relationship of who is in charge is important and must be in regular practice for the relationship to be mutually beneficial.

Day after day, our German Shepherd and I repeat this learning process. Most days, when we are just getting started with her morning fetch workout, Leia chases Stick, retrieves him, drops him at my feet, sits, and immediately shifts her gaze to my eyes. I say, “Good girl,” and toss Stick across the yard. But after several successful retrievals, Stick has wedged his way into first place. The fun of chasing and retrieving has surpassed her desire to remain loyal to the humble relationship with her master.  So, instead of looking at me, she’s staring at Stick.

I’ve often wondered why she breaks the pattern of looking at me to throw Stick after we’ve been in the yard a bit. I’ve also wondered why I fail to keep my eyes on my Master when I can start out so strongly connected to Him and then go about my days juggling responsibilities, making decisions, spending time with friends and family, and start behaving like the stuff in my life needs my attention more than my Savior.

God spoke to my heart: Keep your eyes on Me. When you do, your perspective on life will be more like Mine and you will have My peace. When the busyness of your life takes priority, you miss out on so much. Focus on Me. Trust Me. My ways are not your ways.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2 ESV).

It’s a simple action—to focus on the Master. He’s so patient as He holds what we need in His hands and waits for us to trust Him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6, emphasis mine).

Father God, please forgive us for those times when the concerns of our lives become our focal point. Help us to remember to drop our wants and needs at Your feet and then look to You, our mighty Lord, to provide what’s best for us.