Devotions for Difficult Days

Bowed Down by the Load of Life

The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down.

The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

Psalm 146:7-8 NIV Psalm 146:8b NLT Psalm 145:14 NLT

The first thing I notice in these verses is that it is THE LORD who does the work. He is the One active on our behalf. The Lord sets free. The Lord opens blind eyes and The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. Verse 8 wraps it up with this beautiful sidenote – the Lord loves the righteous. (Of course, the only righteous ones are those who are cloaked in the righteousness of Christ.)

Though you may, or may not be, behind the steel bars of a physical cell, each of us can be prisoners of our past, or regret, or addiction or bitterness, or loneliness.

While we may not be physically blind, are there not moments (or years?) when we are blinded by grief or unforgiveness or emotional ache, or blinded to our own need for the Savior?

And who among us has not been, at some point, bowed down by the trials of life? Or as one translation puts it, “weighed down” beneath the load of real life? This is the snippet that caught my attention as I read and reread it this morning. In my mind’s eye, imagining a heavy load, literally bowing the back of a person struggling to simply put one foot in front of the other. And it is to you I want to speak.

Probably because I have walked many miles with heavy loads, I am most drawn to those bowed down by the weight of life. Some loads I have needlessly put on my own back; other loads have been placed there by someone else’s choices. Regardless of how the load came to be, the answer is the same. I must. You must. Look to the Lord God to enable us to *carry it. He Himself will bear the weight, as we walk in trusting obedience to Him. Not that He will remove the burdens of life, but that He Himself will carry us… and our burdens. Lifting the weight of it from our tired shoulders. Because He loves us. Simply astounding.

The sweetest prayers God ever hears are the groans and sighs of those who have no hope in anything but his love.” – Charles Spurgeon

Father, I confess there are times when the weight of the load of life seems more than I can bear. It’s then that You remind me that, apart from You, it is more than I can bear. Cause me to quickly release the weight and rest in Your sovereign care. Come what may. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

*There are some weights that He intends us to throw off, rather than carry. We need to seek His wisdom, through His Word and prayer, to know the difference.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

“Upholds”

סוֹמֵ֣ךְ (sō·w·mêḵ) Verb Strong’s 5564: To prop, to lean upon, take hold of

Black Saturday

Below is a link to a short video from the Eyewitness Bible series regarding the Saturday after Jesus was crucified. It brings to life what we’ve read in the pages of our Bibles.

God’s blessings on you as we contemplate what the Lord Jesus Christ endured on our behalf.

“Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

https://media.reallifenetwork.com/watch/channel/6467b9ba3049ed359ff2f2bc/series/140-kwtk7svyoxea-eyewitness-bible-easter/episode/140-acxyt5xhgpzl-eyewitness-bible-easter-ep7-black-saturday-the-last-day

And,

https://media.reallifenetwork.com/watch/channel/WATCH-EASTER-SPECIALS/series/140-6vfg1udhntag-real-life-network-presents-passion-week/episode/140-jcqsq9u9fv8j-passion-week-pastor-jack-hibbs

Directions

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

While the following true story is now a distant memory for me, its probing question is just as valid. Will I trust God and His Word more than my own insight and understanding? Will I allow my “feelings” or “felt experiences” to trump God’s inerrant Word (the Bible)?

Will you?

Not being very familiar with the freeway and how to navigate from one part of our city to the other, I asked my husband for directions on how to get from a friend’s home to our church. Hanging up the phone and assured that I understood his directions, I confidently merged onto the freeway. However, it only took a few moments before my heart began racing as I thought, “This doesn’t look right, I think I’m going the wrong way!” Quickly and with a bit of panic, I tried to recall his exact words. I was sure I heard him right, my question now became, did he speak correctly!? I reminded myself that if I needed to, I could just turn around (which I definitely considered!). But, knowing that my husband is literally a living, breathing GPS, I trusted that although I appeared to be going in the wrong direction, he knew what he was talking about. I could trust his directions, even when it appeared wrong. Minutes later, I could see the outline of familiar buildings and knew I was headed in the right direction. Whew!

There will be times when we must make the same, step-out-in-faith, choice to trust the Lord and the Truth of His Word, even though our senses are screaming otherwise. (Reminder, His instructions will never contradict His written Word). He who declares the end from the beginning, is the same One who Has promised to lead us and guide us with His eye upon us. Sitting enthroned above all, His perspective is without flaw.

Let’s trust Him, take Him at His word and relax in His everlasting arms. He will guide us safely to the destination He has chosen for us. We can trust His “directions.”

God’s Word is truer than anything you think, feel or see. – Linda Dillow

My Lord Jesus, enable me to not only listen for Your still-small-voice-directions, but also to trust what I hear! As I read Your Word and listen to Your Spirit, grant me the ability to trust You rather than my fickle feelings or human reasoning. You are worthy of my trust. I love You Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

If you have never acknowledged that you are lost in your sins, now is the time. Today is the day. Tell the Lord that you admit you are a sinner and by the power only He can provide, you are willing to turn from them to Him. Accept His offer of payment for your sins and receive Him as your Savior today. He loves you so… If you prayed this prayer, or would like to talk to someone, please click here for more info or call 1-888-Need-Him.

Somebody Knows…

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. PSALM 139:2-4 NASB

Are you old enough to remember the ol’ song… “Noooobody knoooows the trouble I’ve seen…” Not exactly a pick-me-upper is it? Worse than being a depressingly, feel-sorry-for-me tune, it’s a lie from the enemy of our soul.

The Bible tells us that the Lord God knows exactly how we feel. In fact, the original Hebrew word used for understand includes the word feel. So we could read the above verse this way, “You feel my thoughts.” Digest that for a moment, beloved. He feels your thoughts. I need a Kleenex just thinking about that truth.

The enemy wants us to sink in the emotional pit of despair and isolation as he whispers the vicious lie, “No one cares about you, no one understands or knows how you feel. You are all alone in this.” Que the violin. He has us right where he wants us. But wait just a minute. Before we nod our heads in agreement and give in to despair – What does God’s Word say? Though we walk through valleys, He promises to walk with us. Though we walk through fires, He promises they will not destroy us. And whatever our pain, He feels it with us.

I wish I could promise that He removes all our difficulties or keeps adversity from ever grazing our life, but we both know that’s not true. What I can promise is this – whatever your circumstance, whatever your pain, you are not alone. Someone does know how you feel. Someone is feeling the pain right along with you. And that Someone is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Beloved, He knows your path. (Job 23:10) He knows your unspoken pain. He is with you every step of the way.

If you’ll let Me, I’ll use your trials to make you into someone I can use in the lives of others to show them that no matter where they’ve been, no matter how deep the hole, no matter how painful the trial, there’s hope.
– Kay Arthur

Father, You know exactly how I feel, even when I can’t articulate my thoughts, You feel them with me. Teach me to rest in the Truth of Your Word, more than my feelings. Thank you, precious Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Audio Only – Isaiah 54:17

When Thoughts Hurt

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD. – Isaiah 54:17

Though it’s totally unscripted and not at all polished, I pray you hear real life thoughts on God’s Word and how to authentically apply it to our lives.

In His service, Becky White

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Standing on the Promises?

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice. Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 34:1-3, 8 BSB

Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 AMP

I love the classic hymn, “Standing on the Promises.” In fact, I have an old combo CD and cassette player in my van (no laughing), where I regularly play the song on repeat, belting out the tune with gusto. Never for an audience of course, my voice is not for the faint of heart. Standing on the promises is a succinct way of saying, “I see this Scripture, Lord. This promise in Your Word and I stand on the truth of it. With all that I am, I trust You and Your Word. Come what may.”

But I’ll let you in on a secret, sometimes (okay, often) I sing the song w/o faith or feeling. Singing instead, to praise and proclaim my trust despite what surrounds me or my lack of feeling. I know He’s good and He’s faithful to His Word. Period. So, I belt it out.

You see, standing on the promises is so very easy to say and so very hard to do. When we look a crisis full in the face. When we are confronted with the raw reality of our fears… When our worst-case-scenario actually happens. When all our prayed-for and hoped-for expectations are ripped to shreds. That’s when we discover if we’ve been “standing on the promises” or if our faith has been all talk and no Rock.

Any of us can have faith and toss out a cutsie scripture reference when the bank account is full, the family is well and life is running along smoothly. Right? Who requires faith for that? Faith is needed in the testing hour, not the resting hour. When everything appears contrary to His promises. Is that where you are? That’s okay. I’ve been there more times than I can count. Truthfully, there are a couple “promise tests” tests confronting me even as I type these words. They are opportunities to take Him at His word and trust Him, no matter the circumstance. As a follower of Christ, If He allows it, He has promised to bring good from it.

If today finds you with a few promise tests of your own, I am so sorry. Allow me to encourage you to read His Word and while you’re at it, belt out “Standing on the Promises, of Christ My King…” A newer song that was borne from walking this out in real-life is titled, Faithfully, by TobyMac. In rawness, he sings of re-learning to trust and stand on the Word, after the tragic death of his son.

Heavenly Father, sometimes the trials of real life are all I can see … all I can feel. It’s at those times and in those moments that I am tempted to forget the Truth of Your Word and Your utter faithfulness. Cause me to praise You even as I wait for You to work Your perfect will in me and in my life. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

To purchase a hard copy of the devotional, Stony Paths or Shelter from the Storm visit the products page or visit Lulu Publishing. It may also be purchased on Amazon.

Learning to trust Him as we walk along Stony Paths – $14.99 A gritty devotional that confronts the hot-mess reality of life while landing on the bedrock of the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

Shelter from the Storm – 101 Messages of Authentic Hope for Difficult Times, $14.99 will remind readers that they are not alone and there is hope. Authentic hope. Not by ignoring the reality of pain but by viewing it through the lens of God’s great faithfulness.

The Gospel 101

Keep it Simple Stupid (aka K.I.S.S.)

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

One of my all-time heroes is Nazi concentration camp survivor, Corrie ten Boom. When speaking to audiences, she often used the acronym, K.I.S.S., Keep It Simple Stupid. That’s what I hope to do with this short, Gospel 101 presentation. We don’t have to understand theology or be able to explain creation or the Greek and Hebrew syntax. What I have written are the basics for having a real relationship with the One Who created you. I pray that He opens our eyes and ears to hear His voice and receive His free gift. If we seek Him, He’s promised to be found by us.

According to God’s Word, the Bible, man is not basically, good, rather we are all born with an inherited sin nature. No amount of good works or effort on our part can change the fact that we are sinners by nature. It’s not just what we do, it’s who we are.
God can’t look at sin, which is a bummer since we are all sinners. “He is Light and in Him is no darkness.” Like turning a light on in a room, darkness simply ceases to exist when the light comes on. Because God can’t look at sin, as Jesus puts it, we will all go to hell once we die (it is our default destination, not heaven).
But, and this is a game-changer, because He loves us, He chose to make a way for us to become new, sin-removed creations. He did this by coming to earth in the form of The sinless Man, Christ Jesus. Paying the full price for the entire sin debt of all humanity, so that anyone who chooses to accept this gift may receive the free gift of eternal life. This process is called being born again.
Jesus also tells us that there is no other way to The Father. In other words, while exclusive in that He is the only way, it is available to all who call upon Him.
So, to Keep it Simple – We admit we are sinners, willingly turn from our sin, tell Him we humbly receive His payment for our sin debt (past, present and future) and accept His free gift of eternal life. He then grants us the right to become children of God. Our spirit which was dead (which literally means separated) is now brought to life.
Things like reading the Bible, talking to God (prayer) or doing “good works” will naturally flow from a heart that has been forgiven. These good deeds don’t save us or even keep us saved, they are simply a reflection of what has happened inside us. As His Word says, “He who has been forgiven much loves much. And if you love Me, you will obey Me.”
As with any family, you resemble those you’re related to. In this case though, rather than those brown eyes or the big Italian nose (but I digress), the longer we are His child, the more we begin to “resemble” Him and His other children. This process is called by the Bible word, sanctification. Which is a life-long process.
One last important point. We are free to choose or reject this amazing-grace offer. It’s not forced on anyone (what kind of gift is forcefully given?). There is no other offer on the table. No other way to God’s home, the place we call heaven. According to His Word, no other so-call god or religion or set of good works, or sincere intentions can earn us a place in His home. And, as we all know, the stats are 10 out of 10 people when it comes to death. We all have an expiration date. A shelf life. And this offer extends only till that point. Now is the time to make a decision. We aren’t promised tomorrow. “Today is the day of salvation.”

Sample prayer:

God, I admit I am a sinner, by birth and by choice. I repent (turn away) from my sin and turn to You. I receive the free gift of eternal life purchased by the Blood of the Lord Jesus. I accept Him as my Lord and Savior, this day. With the help of Your Holy Spirit, help me to live a life that honors You. In Jesus, name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Some of the Scriptural references used:

Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29 , Isaiah 55:6, Acts 17:27, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Habakkuk 1:13, Isaiah 59:2, John 3:18, John 3:16, John 14:6, Isaiah 7:14, Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:9, Acts 3:19, John 1:12-13, John 14:15, Luke 7:47, Romans 8:29, Philippians 2:11-13, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Hebrews 9:7, Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, Hebrews 10:4-10, Isaiah 53:5, Luke 13:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Gospel 101 Download

The Gospel 101

Poor, or Just Broke?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 NKJV

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

The daffodils are blooming, tulips are sprouting and the fresh scent of spring fills the air, that means that Good Friday and then Easter, are just around the corner. I admit, I love seeing the little ones get dressed up for Easter, I enjoy the beautiful pastels of the season and I definitely eat my share of peanut butter filled “eggs!” But I know that’s not what Easter is really about. It’s a Holy Season, set apart to remember what our Savior accomplished for us, over two millennia ago. This year, as I thought deeply of my own hot-mess, brokenness, and what Jesus did for me, the following story came rushing back to my memory. A story shared years ago at a ministry meeting.

Teaching on the topic of poverty, and with a heart-felt effort to connect with the kids in the urban ministry youth-group, the leader shared his family’s financial challenges due to recent employment struggles. Curious, one of the young men spoke up and asked the leader if “he had his lights or gas turned off, or if they were on food stamps”.

Shaking his head, the leader replied, “No.”

The young man sat back in his chair, cocked his head, and said “You ain’t po’, you just broke.”

“You ain’t po’, you just broke.” Such profound wisdom from such a young man.

There is a world of difference between being poor and being broke. To be broke is a temporary condition. It implies we just need a few bucks to get by, just a little help to make it through the month. To be poor is interwoven into every aspect of life. How we think, how we dress, where we live, what we eat and even, where we sleep. Poverty is a way of life. Shaping our very identity.

The Lord Jesus calls us to recognize that we are poor in spirit. Not broke. Poor. Every single one of us. Busted. Lint-lined, inside-out pockets. We don’t just need His help to get through a crisis, we need Him to give us new life. Or as Christ Himself put it, we “must be born again” (John 3:7). I know from experience that He often leverages the crises of our lives to lay bare our own poverty, not to shame us, but to heal us. He longs for us to recognize what He already knows; we are poor. Yet all too often, we stubbornly cling to the “few bucks” of goodness we have. Protesting that we aren’t as bad as the other guy, we just need a little help to get back on track. Telling Him in essence, “I’m not poor, I’m just broke.” Trouble is, He only saves the “poor in spirit”, not the broke.

Which are you?

He often leverages the crises of our lives to lay bare our own poverty, not to shame us, but to heal us.

If we’re willing… the choice is ours to make…
Becky White

One last point, sticking with the poor vs broke (money) theme… We’re not just poor, we’re a gazillion dollars in debt, with no hope of paying what we owe. And no one but the Lord Jesus Christ can (and also willing) to pay our debt. Completely. Not you, not another “god”, no one. Try as we might, hope all we want, ignore this Truth to our own peril. HE is The only Way out of the mess we’re in.

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. – C. S. Lewis

Father God, I am so thankful for Your tender-goodness towards me. You revealed my poverty and then caught me in Your arms as I fell to my knees in awareness of how poor I really was/am. I surrender my life to You anew (for some, it may be the first time) this Holy season, I need You. I receive new life through Your shed Blood. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Written by Becky White for my Lord Jesus, thank You …

Click here for a FREE pdf of Stony Paths, a gritty, real-world devotional to encourage you as you walk the Stony Paths of real life. You may also purchase a hard copy by following the link.

OG – “Help! I need Encouraged!”

I have decided to share a few of my OG devos from years past, in their original form for the most part. These were written right smack in the middle of a decades -long season of great trial. I’m sure you may notice a few grammar issues or strange sentence structure. Please try to look past that, and land on the lesson He was teaching me at the time, and maybe even use it to remind/or teach you as well. The following is pulled from its pages…

For His glory and your encouragement.

Becky White

Help! I Need Encouraged!

If you’re breathing, you qualify.

To be discouraged is to lose courage. Find it in Christ and His Word.

Recall the old song, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me. God’s Word says; “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies and yet not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm. You are of greater worth than many flocks sparrows. And in the Old Testament, “I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains.”
(Luke 12:6-7b and Psalm 50:11 Amp)

”Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble, say to those with anxious heart ‘take courage, fear not.’ For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous. You number and record my wonderings; put my tears in a bottle — are they not in Your book? Those who feared the Lord talked often one to another, and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.” Isaiah 35:3-4 Psalm 1:6 Psalm 56:8 Malachi 3:16

Be encouraged, God knows your sorrow, He is aware of the path you take. He is not impotent in your situation. He is all powerful. He is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and He loves you. He thinks on you. He has engraved you on the palm of His hand. Trials come and trials go (thankfully!). But He is faithful. Even when He allows struggles into our life you can be sure He will at the same time provide all you need to emerge as more than a conqueror. It will not always be this hard.

I remind myself (often!) of Romans 8:28, by saying; if He’s allowed (fill in the blank) into my life, He’s promised to bring good out of it as well. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians1:9 “Indeed we had the sentence of death within ourselves, despairing even of life, but this was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God who raises the dead.”

Dead lives, dead marriages, dead relationships, dead finances, dead feelings….
He is THE resurrection and THE life… Behold, He [Jesus] makes all things new.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Devotions for Difficult Days – to purchase hard copy of DDD OG devo or click here for free pdf download

ddd-og-pdf-for-download Download

OG Devo – “No Life Lines Left”

Please forgive the “rerun” devo. As I have walked through a bruising trial over the past month, this verse from Psalm 62 keeps running through my mind. “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” He is my Rock. I shall not be moved.

‐—————

I have decided to share a few of these OG devos from years past, in their original form for the most part. You may notice a few grammar issues or strange sentence structure. Please try to look past that, and land on the lesson He was teaching me at the time, and maybe even use it to remind/or teach you as well.

For His glory and your encouragement.

Becky White

When my heart is overwhelmed and fainting,

lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2 NASB

One afternoon I found myself distraught over a very difficult situation in my home, feeling overwhelmed by the crisis I reached for the phone to call my *prayer partner. Knowing she would take time out of her day to listen and then pray with me. As the phone rang, I waited in great anticipation, wanting desperately to unload this burden or at least have her share it with me. But…she wasn’t home. In tears I hung up the phone and cried; “Why is this happening, God?!”

In the words of Regis Philbin I had “no life lines left”. Or in the words of Scripture, God had brought me to “a place of wits’ end” Psalm 107:27. I had no where to turn — but to God. After a brief pity-party I realized I hadn’t even talked to the Lord yet about the problem.

Sometimes our Heavenly Father has to take away all our life lines so we will be brought to the place of wits’ end. It’s there that we realize our total dependency on God — that we experience first hand His comfort and faithfulness. So often we turn to our friends or pastors or counselors before ever turning to God. Sadly, some never seek Him out. Though God has given us friends and others to lean on in times of distress, He never intended for us to turn to them at the expense of a relationship with Him.

Once I composed myself, I went to a quiet room and sat down with God. Pouring my heart out to Him and then reading a Psalm aloud. He comforted me as no human could ever do and I learned a valuable lesson. I still called my friend the next day and shared with her my situation, but now I also had the opportunity to share with her what the Lord had taught me and give glory to God for His provision.

When my spirit is overwhelmed and fainting (throwing all of its weight) upon me, You
knew my path.” Psalm 142:3a am

“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”
Corrie ten Boom

Father God, I have found by experience, that You truly are the God of all comfort. I would have never signed up for the classroom You used to teach me such lessons, but am so thankful for learning it. I love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

*Jeanne Liston

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

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