Give Thanks 2

PSA 68:19 NIV

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

There's an erroneous teaching going on these days that says that when you come to Christ, all of your problems are over. You cease to carry any, you simply hands them over to Jesus. Some say: since Christ has suffered, I cannot suffer anymore. While this is true to an extent, there's a deeper truth than this. Knowing Christ is not the end of challenges; it is having a mighty hand to help sustain you through the challenges. There's nowhere in the Word of God that we are promised an easy ride through life; what He promised us is his ever- constant presence in the midst of the most distressing of circumstances.

People with the largest hearts of compassion and understanding are people with the most difficult lessons life has taught them. How does God use you to speak to the world when you have not learnt any lessons yet? Of what use is an untested, unproven vessel, which has not been subjected to any stressful situation? How do you know how it would stand up to the heat that is coming?

Matthew 11:29-30 NIV

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

These words of Jesus himself are instructive. He has a yoke we must bear as his children and as we carry it, He has promised to bear the yoke with us. He doesn't abandon us to our fate; he's always there, even when all familiar faces walk out. He's the omnipresent God, who is always watching over his children, ensuring that no circumstance gets so bad as to swallow them. He deserves Praise for who He is and what He has done. Praise him, in the midst of the most distressing circumstance; praise him, even If events around you give you no reason for it. Let me remind you of this again: we look so long at closed doors, forgetting the many others that God is opening for us. Praise will open doors that nothing else will. His time of favour is here.