Psalm 27:14

Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 27:14 

“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14 

This idea is found throughout scripture, both in the old and new testaments.  Throughout the scriptures, we see examples of how God has promised and fulfilled all that He has said.  Here the psalmist is saying there is no reason for us to fear.  He may not come to us when we would like, but he tells us to wait patiently anyway. 

We must always remember He is with us and by our side.  Isaiah puts it this way.  “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:28-31. God does not ever grow weary, and if we grow weary, He will renew our strength.  Also, when we do grow tired and do not see a way out, we tend to become afraid.  Isaiah speaks to this as well.  “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you, Surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

As I said earlier, He may not come as quickly as we would like, or even as we would like.  Sometimes we desire Him to do things in a way that will make things easier for us.  Then, we look for things to happen as we would like them to.  However, we must always remember that He knows infinitely more than we can ever understand.  He knows all things that have happened, is currently happening, and will ever happen.  Again, Isaiah puts it better than I ever could.  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. 

Could it be that what God allows to happen is for our best, and what we believe is best is actually not?  I think this happens more times than we want to admit.  Let’s look at one of my favorite passages in all of scriptures, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.   So, this begs the question, and I have asked myself this on several occasions.  Do I want what I think is best, or what God thinks is best?  I have decided after many situations that the latter is far superior to the former. 

And one last thing.  Maybe these times are not necessarily for us.  Maybe, He wants to train us for a future ministry opportunity He has for us.  Paul says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

Therefore, when we go through trials and difficult situations, be strong and wait patiently for His help.  He knows better than us what we need, and when best to come to us.  We do not know what He has in store for us through this.  But if we can learn from God how to comfort those who suffer in the same way we have in the past, is it not worth it so we can provide comfort to them?   

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

John 16:33

Verse of the Day Devotion: John 16:33 

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 

Our country has been thrown into turmoil.  A man by the name of George Floyd died because a police officer suffocated him as He held him down on the ground.  The officer, as well as the other policemen involved with the death of George have been arrested, with the officer who actually pushed his knee into his throat was charged with 3rd degree murder.  This is such a sad moment in our history.  Yes, it was absolutely outrageous what happened to this man.  Was he engaged in an illegal activity?  Maybe, but this does not excuse the outcome of the police officer’s actions.  This has brought about major protests that have moved into extremely violent actions.  Many major cities finding retail establishments being destroyed and robbed of everything found within.  There are cars being destroyed by setting the inside on fire and churches are being set on fire in the same way.

It seems like every time we turn around, there are people who are attacking for almost any reason.  This happens to individuals and groups.  It is getting to the point where if we do not totally agree with someone, we stand the risk of paying the price as they take out their anger on us, just as we see people destroying property and attacking those who stand between them and what they desire.  What a sad season we find ourselves in.

 So, in these times, we need to find peace in our lives.  In John 16, we see Jesus speaking with His disciples about His departure.  “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” John 16:28.  He again tells them that He is leaving to go back to the Father.  They now have a greater understanding than before.  “His disciples *said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” John 16:29-30.  Jesus answers with, “Do you now believe?” John 16:31.  The idea here is, ‘ Do you finally understand and thereby believe? He then states, “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” John 16:32.  Their lives will be changed in ways they cannot imagine.  They will no longer be with Jesus here on earth, but they will be scattered.  He will be alone when they scatter to their own places, however not entirely, for the Father will be with Him. 

And then He comforts them with these words, which is our focus verse.  “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.  These are powerful words spoken to them, letting them know that difficult times were coming; they would suffer trials and tribulations that go beyond anything they have experienced up to this point.  The world will be against them because of Him, but He tells them He has overcome the world.  And because of this, they  can have peace.

And these words are also spoken to us.  The world hates us and the closer we come to the end it will hate us even more.  And we must always remember this, so we are not surprised when it comes, and also to remember we are also not alone.  He is always with us.  We must stand strong against the world and what it throws at us.  And because He has warned us, we can have peace because, in todays vernacular, we are on the winning team.  So, be at peace, because if we experience incredibly difficult times as the end draws near, always focus on what He has promised us.  “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.  A beautiful unending future that far outweigh anything we ever experienced here.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.