Marriage and Divorce Healing and Reconcilation
Are you hurting due to divorce, separation, or estrangement from your spouse during the holidays? Greg Laurie’s message “Immanuel” speaks the truth that Christ is with us and knows first hand the pain and loneliness of estrangement.
Listen to Immanuel (MP3) > Greg-Laurie-God-Is-With-Divorced-and-Lonely-People
Imagine you are a child on a long difficult car trip on a very bumpy road. Now imagine you didn’t know where you were going. That would be hard.
But then picture the same scene, long trip and a bumpy road, but you knew you were going to see your grandparents. Their house was filled with all sorts of goodies, lovingly prepared for you. You didn’t know when you were going to get there, but you knew there was a good destination ahead.
This is the position we are in as followers of Christ. There is no doubt we are on the long, rough road of life, but Jesus did not keep us in the dark about our ultimate destination.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” — John 14:1-4
Jesus wants us to know our ultimate destination to comfort us. Let’s not forget our destination, and every pothole that shakes our bones is part of the same road that brings us to Him and pure joy beyond our comprehension.
Sometimes we read that the Lord is with us and and will help us, but things get worse and we don’t see the reality of these words. In the bible, Job, who went through many trials, also felt this too. He said of God:
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. Job 23:9
Listen to this short message of encouragement, for God is at work!
It’s easy when we’re going through trials to think that God is mad at us. The reality is is God wants to bless you, and he’ll give you more than you ask for. Listen to this short message:
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10
Have you ever been in situation where you have to rely on the Lord? Where there’s no human way out?
Well, I’m in one of those situations now. I look around me and it seems like there’s no hope. But I know this. The Lord is the one who brought me into this world. And this is one of those times where I just have to get low and say, “Lord you’re the only hope I have.”
And then I remembered all of the times that the Lord got me out of troubles. And David in Psalm 124 also remembered this as well.
Bottom line is we have to get low, not relying on our own strength, to trust the Lord.
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2if the Lord had not been on our side
when men attacked us,
3when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;
4the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird
out of the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Is your future uncertain? Do you wake up in the night playing out the scenarios and none seem good? If you trust in Jesus, God holds your future securely in His hands and will work them out for your ultimate good. Listen to this short audio message of comfort:
He knows the way that I take (mp3)
Referenced scriptures: Job 23:10, Psalms 139
God uses us when we are on empty and at our wits end. This has been the pattern for millennia. Take for example the prophet Elijah, who after a great victory ran from overwhelming troubles against overwhelming odds. Elijah thought he was alone, but he learned “one plus God is a majority.” Are your feeling empty and that you’ve run out of resources? Listen to J Vernon McGee’s sermon:
I’m sure you have loved ones, perhaps a family member, who you want to come to the Lord. Here’s a quick two minute audio message on some importent things to remember about God’s mercy, his salvation and our role in prayer and forgiveness.
Are you low? Does this statement resonate with you? “For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draws close unto the grave.” Psalm 88 begins with this statement, and it clearly written by someone pouring out their heart to God in a time of deep despair and affliction. But there is a word of encouragement in this Psalm. I invite you to listen to this three minute audio message on how this Psalm spoke to me during my hard times.
Listen to: Word of Encouragement (mp3)
Yes, I’m in the midst of another crises – this one of employment and career. There are many pressures and worries that are attacking my mind and many hurts that have cut my heart. However, the fact remains is God is in control and he loves us. It’s good during these times to remember all the ways God has come through for us in the past. This time is no exception. Consider this Psalm of David:
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. – Psa 103:2-6 NIV
The fact is we can’t live life alone. We would have been destroyed and killed a long time ago without His help. God will fight for you, but he wants your trust.
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
– Exodus 14:14 NIV
