Tag Archives: faith

Now. Then.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

John 16:22

Reading:

John 16:16-24; 20:11-16

Will I admit when I don’t understand what Jesus says in His Word?

Am I willing to endure suffering in order to enjoy joy?

What will I ask of the Father in Jesus’ name?

What does my joy meter read…and why?

At what do I grieve?

Would I know Jesus if I saw Him?

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

[The Scriptures say in John 16:22 -- I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice]
from John 16:22

Always Before Me!

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psalm 16:8

Reading:

Psalm 22:1,14-24; 16:8-11

The title — borrowed for this post — of Christian Light’s lesson for Easter Sunday is good for me.

I’ve been struggling of late with a sense of abandonment. Oh, I know intellectually that I have not been abandoned. But that knowledge has had quite a wild battle at times with feelings of abandonment.

But this title gives me some perspective and sense of proportion which I’d forgotten.

The Son suffered.

Wow.

So where is my sense of proportion and perspective when I suffer?

And where is my faith when I feel abandoned?

Might my feeling of abandonment be indicative of my having forgotten God too much?

Where is God’s praise from me?

Do I keep the Lord before me? How? When? Why?

What makes my heart glad?

Will I rest in hope?

Where am I in relationship to the path of life?

In His presence is fullness of joy!

“But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me” (Psalm 22:19).

[The Scriptures say in Psalm 22:24 -- Neither hath he hid his face]
from Psalm 22:24