The mention of His name is not just a title of a song. Whenever I mention, even a pronoun of Him, not just His name, I experience a sweet, warm feeling of His nearness in the atmosphere. Just to be conscious of the Lord Jesus Christ, His loving kindness and His majesty change the environment.
In His name we find comfort! This is my story:
A few years ago we were invited to a very nice birthday celebration and not even in my wildest dream, I could have imagined what was going to take place. The whole environment was beautiful and very friendly. In that safe family setting, no one expects to fall prey to a paranoid schizophrenic. Sadly, that was the case. We were taken by surprise, we didn’t see it coming until the assault was face to face with us. It was a very traumatic encounter, mainly for one of my daughters.
The other night before I went to bed, I walked down an alley of memories. A vivid memory of that painful scene came up to me. It felt like a stab in my heart and I plunged into a feeling of sadness and helplessness. I knew that going to bed with that hostile feeling was useless for a goodnight rest. But what to do when the blows of life hit us inadvertently leaving us emotionally paralyzed? My success story over and over again, is just a little talk with the Lord Jesus Christ, He is my Strong Tower and I feel secure in Him. He is my Hidden Place and His name is my Guarantee for open heavens!
I asked the Lord to give me a Word for me to stand firm until that defeated feeling be overcome. John 14:27 shone in my mind! “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”
While I was repeating it over and over, the soothing presence of the Lord was replacing the feeling of hopelessness with a feeling of warrior feeling to defend the feeble. Then, in that peaceful atmosphere, my memory shifted.
Different Aim:
Now that the turmoil of that memory is gone, and in the comfort of my bed, I began to meditate on the persecuted church and on all those people fleeing the war. How they have suffered unspeakable abuse and they have no voice. How wounded are their souls! Then I began to pray for their emotions, because time heals physical wounds, but wounded souls need to be restored by the grace of God.
The most cruel and unbearable pain I have suffered was the death of my son. Since then, I have set out in my heart not to waste any pain, but to learn something out of it to bless others.
That night, I realized how easily we can fall into depression caused by small things. The helplessness caused by that memory served as a mean of enlightening my mind to see the suffering that plagues so many in the world. Then I was grateful, to have relived it because it turned into an awareness of something sublime, to be a voice for the voiceless. The Book of Wisdom, Proverbs 31:8-9 commands us to:
“Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.”
My experience brings to mind the Apostle Paul, he was having a hard situation and asked God to remove it. After the third time of his pleading with the Lord for being delivered from that situation, this is the answer from God:
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
This truth has been so real in my life, the grace of God is sufficient for any trial. When we think we cannot take one step forward, His grace sustains us. In our weakness we depend more and more on God, that way we see His power manifest in a greater dimension.
God governs the world and everything that happens has a purpose. Sometimes it may look meaningless to us, it could seem unfair, but when we trust the Lord and His wisdom, sooner than later we understand. With that comprehension comes a peace and gratitude that we can sincerely thank Him.
The Apostle Paul understood that whatever was being a torment for him at that present time, it was only a glorious chievement…
“for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
When we take an issue that torments us and compare to the issues others are going through, we pray in the authority of the name of Jesus for those people that we don’t even know. Our prayers do miracles that one day in heaven many will come and thank us. From the comfort of our homes, we can pray for others in different continents and God will send angels to help them. While we are concerned for others, God has angels working in our behalf. This is how we respond to the blows of life!
This is my story! what is yours?