Trusting God In Trials

Have you ever suffered for the cause of Christ? Perhaps you took a stand on the inerrancy of the Bible. Maybe you held to the conviction that Jesus is the way, truth, and life; no one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Perhaps someone distanced themself from you because you held to the Biblical definition of marriage as being between a man and woman. 

What can you do when you suffer for the cause of Christ; when our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer being disowned by their family, being beaten, imprisoned, or die for their faith? 

Peter, who suffered for his faith, writes that we are to entrust our souls to our faithful Creator. “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 4:19). Peter also directs us to look at God’s character; that He is Creator God and that He who created the world and us is faithful. We can trust Him, knowing that He will remain faithful and make all things right. 

Consistent with what Peter writes is the vision John received and recorded in Revelation 19:11 regarding Christ’s return. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” 

Our Creator God is faithful and true and He will act faithfully on your behalf. 

FAITHFUL LORD, I praise You that I can trust You and entrust my soul to You. 

One of our key verses today is 1 Peter 4:19. To watch Debbie’s teaching on all of 1 Peter 4, click HERE. You can also check out her 1 Peter Bible study, “Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos” HERE. The study includes free accompanying videos and podcasts. You can access them by going to “Bible Studies” in the main menu or by clicking HERE.

Have you ever felt weak when you were attacked by Satan? Have you ever felt that you were teetering and could fall? I have. What’s especially troubling is sometimes I haven’t even immediately recognized when I was under assault by the enemy. 

Those times could be more than disheartening if we didn’t have the full assurance that the Lord is our Defender, as David wrote in Psalm 27:1-3. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I will be confident.” 

What a contrast David draws between teetering in fear and being confident. Was his confidence in himself? No. The word “defense” in this verse means a fortified place, rock, strength, and a place of safety. David’s confidence was in the Lord, his rock, strength, and place of safety. 

The next time you feel under attack by the enemy or you are attacked by a person because you are standing on Biblical principles, go to the Lord, confident that He is your defense, strength, and place of safety. 

Lord, how I thank You that You are my DEFENDER against the enemy. I place my full confidence in You. 

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In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), but we don’t need to be left battered by the storms of life. Instead, we can find reassurance that God is a refuge in times of trouble as David states in Psalm 61:3, “For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.”

A tower is a high place from which we can look at life and see it from God’s perspective. A spiritual tower of prayer is the place from where we can pray, pour out our hearts to God, intercede for others, and quietly listen for His counsel. If we want to experience God’s best, we can. Our Father is a tower of strength and refuge to whom we can go.

With your face set like flint toward heaven, with your pen in your hand, write words of praise to your Father and your prayers for your family, church, nation, friends, and yourself. 

The Bible is a journal of God’s interactions with man, of people’s struggles, and of God’s faithful interventions. Let His Word speak to you as you scale the tower of God in prayer.

Jesus, TOWER OF STRENGTH AND REFUGE, I praise You. When I don’t know how I can get through the next minute, You are my strength and help. Thank You for all the ways You guard and guide me. 

In her teaching on John 16, Debbie touches on Jesus’ words from John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Watch her teaching on the subject HERE. 

A new teaching from the James Bible study is now being uploaded to YouTube each week. Click HERE to watch or listen. Don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss future videos!

Are the storms in your life overwhelming you, perhaps literally? Whether the storms are literal or metaphorical, fear can flood our emotions. Lightning bolts of regret can strike us to the core. Worry can flood our minds. But God doesn’t want us to stay overwhelmed, drowning in fear, worry, and regret. That’s why He has given us His Spirit, His very presence to be with us.

Psalm 46:1 reminds us that “God is our refuge, a very present help in trouble.” Just as shelters offer a place for flood victims, God calls us to come to Him for refuge. The Hebrew word “refuge” means shelter from danger or falsehood. 

The more closely we stay under God’s arms of truth, the more protected we are from the enemy’s lies. So go to Him. Shelter under the truth of His love for you.

Lord, You are a REFUGE who shelters us from Satan’s lies, worldly deceptions, and life’s storms. Remind us to not stand in the rain of discouragement, but rather shelter under You.

The Lord is always present and wants us to talk to Him through prayer. Learn to pray more purposefully through Debbie’s book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.