Israel’s Strength and Consolation Day 13
Open Your Bible
Exodus 15:1-3, Psalm 68:34-35, Luke 24:44-49, John 16:28-33, 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 4:4-14
BY Bailey T. Hurley
During Advent, we sing songs like “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night” with jubilant and peaceful tones, the season ushering in “good tidings” to those of “good cheer.” But there’s real sadness all around us, maybe inside us too. Yet in the Christian faith, we are given permission to hold joy and suffering together and still rejoice. As we read through today’s scriptures, John 16:33 helps us walk through the hard things while also celebrating and anticipating our deliverance in Jesus.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
You will have suffering in this world.
Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
—John 16:33
Many Christians think that once they accept Jesus all their troubles will disappear. Yet Jesus is very clear that suffering is a part of the human experience. Maybe you feel like Paul, and you see your “thorn” as a way for God to humble you (2Corinthians 12:7). Or maybe your suffering has no explanation other than living in a fallen world. The same God who used Israel’s suffering to reveal His great power gives purpose to even our most senseless hardship to reveal His power (v.9).
After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Moses praised God, singing, “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2). How soon afterward did the Israelites find their circumstances too hard and begin to grumble against God? Pretty soon. We, too, quickly forget the power God has to deliver us. Unlike the Israelites’ response to hardship, we can continue to trust God because “The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people” (Psalm 68:35).
Courage as a Christian may not look like someone having it all together. True courage is taking our weaknesses to God and allowing Him to be our strength (2Corinthians 12:10).
The God who defeated Egypt is the same God who defeated our great enemy. In sin, we were enslaved. But Jesus took the ultimate suffering, was raised on the third day, and the “forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations” (Luke 24:47).
Jesus has victory over all suffering. Trials are hard, but He knows what we need and provides enough for us to find hope each day as we wade through the difficult waters of life. Our strength and comfort are found in knowing the same God who delivered Israel is the same God who delivers us—He has done it, and He will do it again.
78 thoughts on "Israel’s Strength and Consolation Day 13"
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❤️❤️
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This is such a beautiful study, thank you Lord, I can feel you working through me❤️
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Kristen, thank you for sharing this perspective. What a powerful reminder that focusing on the honorable, the lovely, the pure, the just, the commendable, also means taking our focus off of the hurtful and the ugly. Praying for you today.
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I offer my suffering to You, God. This is my offering.
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First time mama here, w/ COVID. Trying to keep my thoughts on Him and trust Him. I love what you shared @Kristen it really resonated with me. I tend to ruminate on negative thoughts and they make the situation worse. Trying to turn to scripture
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Jesus IS our strength and consolation! I am so grateful that I can rely on Him and not mankind…
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Amen ❤️
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I heard a message on Philippians 4:8-9. The pastor said that this should be our litmus test for every thought. I heard this message after my husband’s affair. I was obsessively thinking about it, and this led to more tears and problems. First, he said to ask is it true? Yes, it was true that this happened, but is honorable, lovely, or commendable? No! So I shouldn’t be dwelling and replaying things I found out in my mind. I’m not saying to ignore it or not to seek Christian counseling. My counselor was a man from Africa. He told a tale that he knew from his country about a woman carrying around a dead body asking for help. After a while, the body was decaying and smelling. The villagers asked her why she kept doing this. She needed to stop. He said that I am doing the same thing! I needed to let go of those thoughts. I couldn’t change what had happened and it wasn’t helping me to heal or move on!
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true,ab whatever is honorable,ac whatever is just, whatever is pure,ae whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
God, please help us with our thought life. May we read Your Word and our minds be renewed by Your Spirit, power and mercy! Please heal our minds and let our thoughts, actions, and words be pleasing to You! Amen.
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