Our economy is faltering, fuel and grocery prices are obscene and escalating with no end in sight, fear of lay-offs and the need to sell homes are weekly prayer requests ... these are difficult times.   Tough times bring the best and worst out of people ... my father used to say that "bad finances bring the worst out of the best of people ..."  Certainly, we find out how deep our roots of faith extend in times of difficulty. Jesus described this in his parable of the soils ... remember, the seed he described that was planted on shallow soil? It sprang up quickly but withered under the heat of the sun.
 

I want to encourage you ... God is still in control, stills love His children and His promises still apply ... no matter how dark the hour, how deep the hole you find yourself in ... do not give into anger, despair or desperation.  When finances are bad, remember that the Lord owns "the cattle on a thousand hills."  The truth is, God could remove all your debt and fill your bank account if He wanted and do so with no effort.  But that would not accomplish His ultimate purpose for you. 

Romans 8:28-32 tells us:  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Catch that purpose statement? "Conformed to the likeness of His Son."  God is more concerned about your becoming Christ like than He is that you be comfortable or even "happy."  The greatest spiritual lessons are learned in the hard times.  And, that perspective is only one you gain from having lived it.  As one friend said to me recently, "the views from the mountaintops of life are great but the fruit only grows in the valley."

If you are struggling right now ... struggling to trust God with your money, to trust Him for your job,  your marriage, a wayward child , ... here are a few things I want to encourage you put into practice:

1. Thank God for the good in your life.  The Psalmist says, Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise give thanks to him and praise his name (Ps 110:4).  In Ephesians 5:20 Paul said, "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Thanking God in hard times is a choice and sometimes it is a tough choice ... that is part of the reason it is called a "sacrifice of praise."

2. Deal honestly with your failures and accept God's forgiveness.  Perhaps, if you are honest, some of what you are dealing with is the consequences of poor or sinful decisions in the past.  "But I asked God for forgiveness" some say.  Yes, God does forgive but there are often consequences that we still must endure.  It takes both courage and humility to be honest with God; agree with Him about what you have been or done and then ask for His forgiveness as you turn away from those things.  In John 1:9 God offers a wonderful promise, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

3. Train your thoughts on the truth. There are many verse that convey the importance of setting both your heart and mind on God - this is especially true when you are in hard times.  I challenge you to preach to yourself ... find out what God says is true about your situation then when you are feeling guilty, discouraged, despairing, or whatever ... tell yourself that God's Word says "____" and choose to set your mind on that truth and thank God for it ... even if you don't feel it yet.  Isaiah 26:3-4 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal."

4. Let every worry prompt you to talk to God.  Nehemiah prayed "on the hoof" ... to mean, when he was engaged with a potentially life-ending discussion with King Artaxerxes, he slowed down long enough to pray before he responded to the King.  Prayer should become like breathing ... talk to God all the time, about everything, and then take time to listen.  Think God is too busy, disgusted with you or doesn't care?  Listen to what 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

5. Talk more to God about your problems than any person.  When stressed, most people respond by calling in "reinforcements" and talk endlessly about their problems to friends and family who will listen.  Those friends can offer some immediate comfort, encouragement and maybe even some limited advice ... but ultimately, they cannot do anything real to fix your problem.  God can!  Don't let yourself turn to people when the Lord may well have orchestrated this event in your life just so He could teach you to trust completely in Him.  At the end of a passage teaching about spiritual warfare, the Apostle Paul said, pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18).  From a prison cell, he wrote, " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

My friend, the Lord loves you and longs to walk closely with you through life.  Turn to Him and cling to Him ... that is the best place any of us can be.

God bless you,
Pastor Paul