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Listen while you read: "In The Garden"1 (Lyrics) |
As I write this, there are wars raging in various places. The ones most heard and talked about are in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Dozens if not hundreds of people are being killed every day in the attacks. Meanwhile, so many people are praying for an end to these hostilities. Almost every morning, I ask God to speak to the hearts of those who have the ability to put an end to this insanity. But from day to day, nothing seems to change. To be honest, some of us are starting to wonder, Where is God? Why does He allow these events to take place?
Although sometimes we wonder, doubting God's purposes is nothing new. Even Bible heroes had times of great doubt. One of the best examples is John the Baptist. Here's what the Bible tells us happened to him:
Mark 6:17-19a – Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. (NIV 2011)
While he was in prison, John sat and wondered what was happening to him. He had spent so much time preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah, and he had been so sure that his cousin Jesus was the expected One. He had baptized Him just a short time before, and he had made this profound statement:
John 1:34 – I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One. (NIV 2011)
But now in prison, he began to doubt this.
Matthew 11:2-6 – When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." (NIV 2011)
During these tumultuous times, do you, like me, sometimes wonder where God is in all this? John did. But then, Christ is with us to help us overcome our doubts, and the very words that He added to His reassurance to John offer us encouragement: "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Praise be to God!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, there are times when we worry and wonder about all the things going on in the world. We pray that You will speak to the hearts of those who have the ability to change things and that a change for peace will come about. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen, Joel.
Thank you, Joel, for a wonderful message today.
Thank you! That was a great reminder and much appreciated!
I greatly enjoy reading your devotional. They are very appropriate in today’s world.
The selflessness of John is amazing to me Joel. Thank you for your worthy devotional. Blessings.
Thank you for these encouraging reminders when some days seem so void of hope. I am memorizing 1 Peter 1:3-4 to help me remember my Living Hope.
Good Morning:
The Matt 11 passage is quite special to me.
Thank you again for this devotion.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall inherit the earth.”
Blessings.
Joel, your words and Scripture references have been an amazing combination today! Thanks for sharing such a meaningful devotional.
Blessings.
Joel
Thanks for your devotional.
Hope all is well with you and your wife.
Wishing you God’s blessings.
Hello Joel
Great devotional this morning. I think there are so many people asking that question. It seems like the world just goes from one war or disaster to another. Your devotional reminded us that God is still in charge.
Thanks Joel
I often wonder how people like John rationalized their fate along with their belief in Jesus. Could it be that John had such a profound belief in life everlasting, that he was convinced this was not the end, but a new beginning?
Blessings.
Such a good connection Joel. Thank you so much. “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world”. That’s a hymn/song that has been running round my head for a couple of weeks now. May we all continue to lean on HIM and trust HIM and be praying constantly for the peace that passes understanding, that only HE can give. God bless.
Thanks, Joel, for another of your thoughtful devotional writings. Hearing the happenings around the world in today’s news is very heart breaking and I just feel so sad to hear about the fightings and killings of people happening in so many places and especially in the Ukraine and Gaza. How do they feel they are accomplishing anything by these horrific actions. They really need to stop and seriously seek God’s word and direction. Blessings for your writings.
Like you, I too, have been wondering if God has abandoned the world and the people he supposedly loves. I have been struggling with everything that’s going on in this world for some time now. It all started with the events that happened with the Indigenous children. Power, greed, devastation, and millions of innocent lives lost and corrupt politicians profiting from unfulfilled promises are escalating and it seems like the world is going to explode. And I wonder….
Your devotional this morning was a welcomed thought. My prayer is the same as yours.
Good morning, Joel,
Great example from the Bible to help us understand that God has a plan even though we cannot understand. I always wondered why God kept hardening the Pharaoh’s heart.
Talking about wonder, it was wonder about the eclipse which brought lots of people together for a happy experience and they were in awe of how God’s world creates these phenomenon.
Thanks for sharing and I am joining in your prayer to add my voice. Prayer does work. Blessings.
AMEN Joel.
Good morning, Joel,
Thank you always for your thoughtful devotionals. They are a blessing.
Your words today will encourage the readers to keep praying for the Holy Spirit to move in these areas of war. It is good to read of revivals of Christian faith taking place in Gaza and Ukraine where Christian people are bravely continuing to preach the gospel.
Very timely and meaningful devotional Pastor Joel.
Many of the leaders in the Old Testament were on an ego trip – pride – causing misery and suffering to many innocent people, just like many world leaders today. Pray for peace.