Then What?

Man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment. Hebrews 9:27 Berean Standard Bible

For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 World English Bible

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB 1977

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NASB 1977

I don’t watch much television, but when I do, I really hate commercials. Usually. There are a few that make me chuckle, but most are mute-worthy. But there’s one that has stuck with me, and caused me to think. Deeply. Though it’s been nearly twenty years since I last saw it, I can still hear the narrator’s grandfatherly-voice as he asked probing questions of a young man who’s just about to wrap-up his high school days.

On camera is pictured a smiling young man with his cap and gown, excited about his future. The unseen narrator asks him about life after graduation by saying, “Then what?”

Beaming, he replies, “College.”

“Then what?” the off-camera voice asks again.

“I’ll find a good job,” still smiling with anticipation of a hopeful future.

“Then what?”

“I guess I’ll get married and have some kids.”

“Then what?”

Appearing a little irritated at this point, the young man responds, “I don’t know, move up the corporate ladder I guess.”

“Then what?” the unseen grandfather continues to probe.

With a shoulder-shrug, he answers, “Save some money, buy a nice house, take nice vacations.”

“Then what?”

“I suppose I’ll retire to Florida and buy a boat.” (My husband would definitely add golf to that scenario.)

“Then what?” came the now, uncomfortably probing question.

The look on the young man’s face has changed from irritated, to a soberness at the harsh reality that he is forced to confront, perhaps for the first time. “I’ll die I suppose.”

“Then what?”

The on-camera scene fades from the high-schooler’s outdoor party, to a cemetery, where the camera lingers with silence before closing with the words, “Then what?” spoken by the narrator and emblazoned across the screen.

This decades-old commercial flooded my mind while listening to a podcast. The speaker reminded us of God’s Word that says, “It is appointed unto man to die once and then the judgement.” “And then,” leaped off the “page” and rattled around my heart. “And then…” There is something after we die. There will be a day. A moment in time when our “then” will occur. *And I don’t know about you, but if the Lord were to judge me on all that I have done, thought, said and/or left undone, I’m toast. Thankfully, God has provided us a way to stand before Him in judgement, without fear. But only one way. As Jesus Christ Himself said, “I AM the way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes to the Father accept through Me.”

We have earned (our wages) death and eternal punishment, but He offers us the free gift (grace) of eternal life. All we must do is repent (acknowledge our “I’m toast” condition and be willing to turn from it) and accept His free gift by faith (Trusting that what He said is true).

“The great exchange”, as Martin Luther put it. “That is the mystery which is rich in divine grace to sinners: wherein by a wonderful exchange our sins are no longer ours but Christ’s and the righteousness of Christ not Christ’s but ours.”

“Then what?” Though only a commercial tagline, the question is thought-provoking, isn’t it? What about you? Whether your life’s story is exactly as you’d imagined or closer to a bad dream, it will end one day. When it comes to death, the stats are 10 out of 10. We all have a shelf-life.

Have you made peace with the God who created you, and loves you so much He paid the penalty for all your sins? As with any gift, it requires we reach out and take it, it will not be forced upon us. None of us know our expiration date, but it has been appointed to us. Are you ready for your, “And then” moment?

“Christ did not suffer and die to offer cheap grace. Jesus did not willingly go to the cross so we could have an easy life or offer a faith built on easy-believism. As someone said, ‘Salvation is free, but not cheap.’ It cost Jesus His life.” – Billy Graham

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

For real-time help or to just talk with someone about the topic.

Here is how you can receive Christ:       (Taken from PeaceWithGod.net , affiliated with Billy Graham Ministry)

*Admit your need. (I am a sinner.)

Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.

Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior)

We suggest a prayer like this one:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I choose to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I ask Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

*Actually, I do know about you, because God’s Word says that “All have sinned and fallen short of His standard.” It’s the admitting it that’s the hard part.

My Story of facing … “Then what?“

My Story

We all have a story. No one is exempt from the difficulties of life. Some life stories are painful. Some seem unfair. Some feel hopeless. Some are filled with regret. None have escaped His notice. None are beyond His ability to use. To some how, some way, bring good from.

As you watch my story, I hope you see that though the Lord didn’t necessarily prevent difficulties, He has been faithful to use all that touched my life… for my good and His glory. And He will do the same for you.

By Becky White for my Lord Jesus Christ

“Though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

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.

Poke the Pain

“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.”  Hosea 6:1 ESV

For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal. Job 5:18 BSB

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:3 NLT

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result. The saving of many lives.  Genesis 50:20 NASB

Seated at a rectangular plastic table adorned with a sugar jar and plenty of creamer, I begin probing.  “So …  tell me, what’s your story?” This purposefully penetrating and open-ended question is one I usually ask in the course of urban ministry. Many of the folks seated across from me, have no home, no bed, no anything.  And often, feel without hope. As other volunteers serve breakfast with all the “fixins”, along with a bottomless cup of hot coffee, I listen intently. My goal is to gently poke until I find the pain. Some share decades-old hurt or regret. Others, eye me suspiciously for possible motives, as they lift their fork for another bite of a dripping-with-syrup waffle. It’s then that I begin sharing a few of my own pain stories as well. I have come to understand that no matter the socioeconomic background, regardless of ethnicity or educational level, pain is our commonality. Some more than others, that’s true, but always, something.

Why do I ask this? Because I know that pain can either be used as a weapon in the hands of the enemy, or a tool in the hands of our Almighty, and sovereign God. As the Old Testament account of Joseph puts it, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” The words didn’t ignore his years-long pain of unjust imprisonment or suffering, but it did put it in perspective. Yea, You meant to jack-up my life.  But hold on. God meant for that pain to bring about something good in my life. And very often, the enemy has used their pain to convince them of God’s “neglect” or even lack of existence.

Pain can either be used as a weapon in the hands of the enemy, or a tool in the sovereign hands of Almighty God.

Becky White

How about you? What’s your story? Is your pain point one of deep regret or childhood trauma? Is it dashed expectations that linger in your heart or widowhood or illness or a prison cell? Is your pain caused by watching the ache of someone you love? Pain is always a pivot point. Do we allow it to drive us to our knees and to greater dependence on the Lord, or allow the hurt to push us away? Away, in anger or depression or bitter unforgiveness?

As I share with the folks at The Bridge Ministry or The Columbus Dream Center, I freely admit that I don’t have answers to all the questions of “why.” But this I know, If God willingly gave the life of His Son for us, surely we can trust Him with what we do not understand. Trust Him with our pain.

The question we all must answer is, will we let our pain draw us to Him or repel us from Him?

In whose hands is your pain?

Father God, Yes, there are times when my heart is pained and raw from the realities of life. But I choose to trust You with all that comes my way. For my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus  

Because You Prayed

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Because you have prayed to Me …”

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Isaiah 37:21a NASB     James 5:16a NASB

In the middle of the crisis, it just didn’t occur to me. Busily making decisions and finding solutions as I dealt with the reality in front of me, I forgot all about praying. Only as the crisis subsided did it occur to me that I had completely forgotten … to pray. Not even a whisper of, “Help, Lord!” came from my lips or heart. Honestly, I would like you to think I’m so spiritual that it’s always my first response, but it’s not. Try as I might, there are (many) times when I react, rather than pray, and then ask God to bless my hurried response.

 While reading through the OT book of Isaiah I noticed a stunning phrase that leapt off the page at me. “Because you have prayed to Me”… The LORD goes on to express what He will do for King Hezekiah simply because he prayed. This praying king is confronted with a physical army coming against him on the outside, along with taunts intended to strike a paralyzing fear within him. The army’s leaders mock the king for trusting in God, “After all”, they tell him, “Have any other nations so-call gods, saved them? What makes you think your god will be any different?”

“Because you have prayed to Me“… I picked up the phrase and held it to the light, taking in the depth of truth embedded within. Wondering out loud I asked, “Father, why does prayer move Your hand?” His Spirit spoke this simple thought to my heart; To pray is to trust.

To pray is to humble ourselves and acknowledge that we need Him. That He alone has the answers. Prayer breathes out the truth that He is mighty and able to answer and able to help us. Even if His answer is “no”, or “not yet.”

Our only guaranteed outcome is that He is always good,
and always faithful. And we can trust Him.

Becky White

God went on to give King Hezekiah a tremendous victory that day. Through this praying king’s real-life crisis, I am reminded that our God’s mighty hand is moved through simple, trusting prayer.

Whatever crisis you’re facing, whether it’s monumental in scope or a pebble-in-the-shoe irritation, pray. Right now, this moment, unburden your heart. I don’t know how He will respond, but this I know … He will respond … and He will honor your faith to seek His face.

Prayer is my acknowledgement that I need God, while my lack of prayer reveals the opposite.

Becky White

Father, please forgive my pride, I know that’s the real issue of my heart. Go ahead, do whatever it takes to remind me of this truth – I need You. Period. For all things and in everything. Forgive my self-sufficient attitude. I lay _____________ in Your hands, please move in that situation, Father. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Lawn Lines?

There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death. Proverbs 16:25 AMPC

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your path.  Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC

My husband is very particular about our lawn. He spends most summer weekends manicuring the green carpet to perfection. No weeds, golf-course style trimmed and perfect lines. So, I felt pretty good about myself when he gave up the task a few times several summers ago and let me do the mowing. Let’s just say, our neighbors could tell the difference! No matter what I did, I couldn’t get perfectly straight lines like my husband always seemed able to create. Then I remembered something I’d once read about how pioneers used to plow their fields in straight lines and I began applying it to my mowing. Before you knew it, straight lines began appearing!

The pioneer plowman would focus on a distant, though straight-ahead tree or a fence post. Not diverting his gaze from the fixed point ahead, he resisted the temptation to watch the plow. Trusting the fixed point to guide him rather than what appeared straight. Such focus enabled him to successfully plow straight lines.

In our own lives, it’s so easy to take our eyes off the distant fence-post of God’s Word, relying instead on our own understanding rather than His Truth as revealed in His Word. Oh so subtly, our focus begins drifting (not unlike my lawn lines!), as we start trusting our own insight – trusting what we see, or hear or feel or what’s popular rather than His Word. And before you know it, we have crooked lines of confusion, anxiety and fear.  Crooked lines of bad decisions and broken relationships. And if not corrected, crooked lines that lead us to eternal consequences.

God’s Word reminds us that there is a way that seems straight and right, but at the end of it is the way of death. He tells us to trust Him with all our heart and not to rely on our own insight or understanding. Simply put – He wants to be the fixed point we gaze at, the “fence-post” we trust in. And cautions us of the danger in trusting in ourselves.

God’s Word reminds us that there is a way that seems straight and right, but at the end of it is the way of death.

My husband never once complained about my lack of mowing skills, always showing me grace as he smiled and said “thank you.” How much more our heavenly Father will respond with grace to us as we ask Him to help us shift our trust back to Him and the authentic Truth found His Word.

My Lord, It’s so easy to drift away from the Truths found in Your Word, and Oh so slowly begin trusting my perception of things instead. How easy it is to walk by sight! Please forgive me and enable me to fix my gaze straight ahead – to You. Thank You! In Jesus name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

http://www.DevotionsForDifficultDays.com

Products

Golden Thread

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 46:1 and 10a     Psalm 37:5 Berean Standard Bible

I hope it’s not hard to notice the golden thread, woven throughout my writing, speaking and teaching. A thread that the Lord continues to daily weave throughout my own heart. Offering me ongoing life lessons, and providing real-life opportunities to put the thread into practice. And to answer the question, “What happens when that thread gets pulled?”

This golden thread is summed up in one word. Trust. Specifically, trust in the Lord no matter our circumstance.

Recently, on my drive home from work, I thought deeply about a particular challenge in front of me. I talked it through with God, and though the challenge and pain remained, I recognized that I was at peace and confidently trusted Him with the outcome.  

I told the Lord I couldn’t remember “the moment” the eyes of my heart were opened and began trusting Him, no matter the outcome. Not for my salvation, but for living this life. A life that often encounters circumstances that scream the opposite of what I “expect” from the good God He is. He reminded me that genuine trust in Him is something learned one hour at a time, one day at a time, one trial at a time. A life-long process of living and walking with Him, and learning by experience that He is good and He is faithful, regardless of what comes into our lives or our world. A lesson that cannot be learned through a theology course, Ted Talk or TikTok video. This is a lesson that requires constant refresher courses.

Part of this golden thread is our life lens. Do we view God through the lens of our fluctuating circumstances, or do we view fluctuating circumstances through the lens of our good and faithful God?

In the beginning of my walk with the Lord (over forty years ago), if I lost a job or the car broke down or my then-spouse was unfaithful or tragedy took the life of my child (all have grazed my life) … I thought that I must have done something wrong or that God was too busy to notice my hurt or that maybe He didn’t care about someone like me or was angry at me … My view of God was determined by the trials or blessings of my life. This thinking also meant that when I earned a raise or the kids were healthy or my ladies Bible study was humming along, God must be Oh so pleased with me. Again, my view of God was wrongly determined by my circumstances.

Just like an optometrist, who flips to one lens after another and asks, “is this better or worse? One or two?” At some point along the way of life, God enabled me to switch lenses from my circumstances to Him. Enabling me to see all that I walked through (blessings and challenges) through the lens of His goodness, His faithfulness and His great love for me. A love that compelled Him to send the Lord Jesus to die in my place.  (Face to the floor astounding!) As seen through the lens of our good and faithful God, the inevitable trials of real life have served to draw me closer to Him. To talk with Him, to read His Word, to wrestle out the pain, and view it all with the golden thread of trusting Him no matter the outcome. A steady trust that may at times, still bend low with heartache, but refusing to view God through the lens of that heartache.

There is nothing–no circumstance, no trouble, no testing–that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose. –

Alan Redpath

How about you? Do you view God through the trials of your life, so when the inevitable difficulties come crashing through, your picture of God crashes with it? (No condemnation here, I did that for years, and sometimes still fall into that trap). If so, would you ask Him to help you switch lenses and to view your life through lens of the goodness of God? He will not fail you. May the golden thread of trust be woven throughout your life.

Father God, I am in awe of Your goodness and utter trustworthiness. And did I mention, Your patience? Please enable me to see all that touches my life through the lens of Who You are – The Faithful One. Not my fluctuating circumstances.  In Jesus, mighty name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.

Click here to purchase a hard copy or get a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths

Gentle Reminder

“You were wearied by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, ‘It is no use.’ You found renewed strength, Therefore you did not grow weak.”  Isaiah 57:10 AMP

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.  Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, He will save you.” 

Isaiah 35: 3-4 AMPC

All of us need a reminder now and then. When life hits us square between the eyes or when a challenge grows from weeks to months to years… We need reminded that God is in control, that He is at work, that He has a plan. The challenges, set-backs and real-world reality of life have a way of draining our strength, weakening our resolve, even obscuring our view of our Father God’s love. Like the dripping of water eroding a mountainous rock, trials that are long in duration can erode even the mightiest among us.

If HOPE has become a 4-letter word to you. If a painful circumstance has gone from a simple set-back to a way of life. If anxious thoughts fill your heart, robbing you of His peace. If the unthinkable has touched your life…

May I gently remind you? Not with syrupy, I-feel-your-pain, empty words – but with His inerrant and infallible Word. The same Word that has sustained me, and countless others, through some of life’s toughest challenges. He has promised never to leave or forsake us and to be our Mighty Fortress. He promises that though we walk through fiery trials, we will not be burned, neither will the flame kindle upon us. He is behind and before us. And that when the enemy comes in like a flood, He will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight. Though He allows for our free will, He assures us that no plan of His can be thwarted and His sovereignty rules over all.

Our trials aren’t proof that He doesn’t care or is impotent to act. In whatever form they take, our trials are opportunities to walk out the reality of our trust in Him and learn by experience that He is good, He is faithful and He is enough.

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”

Corrie ten Boom

My Lord Jesus, As You have strengthened me, not by the absence of trials but in the midst of them, I pray You will infuse strength into Your weary ones today. Grant the ability to arise to new life and fresh hope, and a knowing that You have it all under control…whatever the outcome…we can trust You. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

When the Extraordinary becomes Ordinary

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

1 Peter 5:7 Berean Study Bible   Psalm 55:22 NASB

Because He cares for you.…

Familiarity breeds contempt. The extraordinary becoming ordinary. In the era of social media, the Truth of Scripture can be lost on us as we scroll past another artfully crafted meme with a feel-good phrase. Even when that phrase is God’s Word.

That nearly happened to me recently as I read my “verse for the day” pocket calendar and quickly recognized this often-quoted and meme enhanced Scripture. Mindlessly thinking, “Oh, I know that verse…” yawn… (I’m being totally authentic with you here.) But this time, as I read the verse, the Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks as the words Because He cares for you leapt off the page and washed over my heart.  I read and reread those words… Holding them up to take in each facet of meaning.

He could have ended the prayer directive with, “because I said so.”  … He is God, afterall. But He didn’t.

It struck me so strongly and so emotionally. What a tender phrase added to the instruction of casting all our anxieties on Him.

On Him to carry.

On Him to handle.

On Him to work out the myriad of beyond-our-ability-details.

Yet He wasn’t just academically providing direction on what we ought to do with a religious, legalistic pattern to follow.  He wants us to know the why… Because He cares for us. Such love and tender compassion embodied in that phrase. The Amplified Bible reads, He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

Whatever burdens our heart, burdens His.

Becky white

Whatever burdens our heart, burdens His. He longs for us to bring our every need, our every concern, our every question, our every fear, our every what-if and even our every “why?” and cast them onto the One who cares for us.

Oh Father, It is face-to-the-floor astounding how You tenderly care for what concerns my heart. I lay my anxieties and burdens in Your strong hands and rest in Your sovereign care and control over all that grazes my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Salsa and Life

“Lord, do You not care…?” Luke 10:40 ESV (38-42 for entire story)

Homemade Salsa

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”  Job 13:15 NKJV

This year, our daughter’s small backyard garden produced a bumper tomato crop, so with great anticipation, we set aside an entire day for me to show her the finer points of canning homemade salsa.  As we washed, diced and jarred the tomatoes, onions and peppers, we talked about life and family and our world. In the midst of it all, she asked one or two heavy questions that still linger in my thoughts. Before I share the questions, allow me to give you part of the short answer I gave her. “I don’t know. But I know we can trust Him.”

With obvious emotion she asked, “Mom, why did God allow a woman with several young children to die of cancer?” The heartfelt question that came amid the dicing of tomatoes and jalapenos, demanded more than a memorized theological answer. Keeping my hands busy with the task of canning, I thought/prayed how to answer her question. Even as I was secretly thankful she intuitively understood the larger issue of God’s control over all circumstances. Even tragedy.

Have such questions ever lodged in your heart? Have you ever thought deeply about why a divorce or why singleness? Why an addiction or why a betrayal? Why financial ruin or a broken relationship? Why the death of a child or the death of a hoped-for dream? Pain begs for an answer.

In today’s verses, we see two contrasting examples of facing the inevitable pain of real life. When Martha was confronted with the minor irritation of no help in the kitchen, she spoke almost harshly to the Lord Jesus, when she asked, “Lord, don’t You care?” By contrast, we read of Job, who has just been given the news that everything he owns has been stolen by an invading army, and all his servants killed. As this news hits his ears and before there’s time to digest the reality, another servant shows up to tell him the devastating news that all his children have perished in a freak accident. (Read Job 1 and 2). Job’s first response is to worship God. He knew he dare not give priority to his emotions; he spoke out what he knew to be true rather than allow his emotions to do the leading. A couple of chapters and several more trials later, we hear Job say, *“Though the Lord slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Perhaps Martha was too self-focused as she rushed and hurried and grumbled… Whatever the reason, she snapped at the Lord Himself and accused Him of not caring.

Though Job didn’t understand the why of his horrific pain, he knew his God and he knew His character. So even in the midst of such guttural ache … he trusted.

Back to my daughter’s heartbreaking question – I could have offered to bullet-point Bible verses that academically explain God’s sovereign control over all things, or sin’s impact on our broken world, or God’s ability to bring good out of even the vilest circumstance, etc. But I did none of those. Now wasn’t the time. I admitted to her that I did not know the why of such tragedy, but I did know that we could trust God with it. Reminding her of the story that she’s heard repeated since childhood. Of her own brother and sister who died as babies, and how such tragedy taught me (still teaches me) to trust my Father God even when, (especially when), I don’t understand.

The best answer to a hurting heart is simply, “I am so sorry for your pain.”

Becky White

The truth is we may never know the why of a particular trauma this side of eternity. It’s enough to know our God is good and faithful and He can be trusted. Even with, and in, our pain. If He gave the life of His Son for us, surely we can trust Him when we don’t understand.

Father, I know You are good, and You are faithful, but there are times when life’s pain blinds us of that truth. Please enable us to rest in You as we walk through tragedy, or as we walk with others in their pain. We choose to trust You even when we don’t understand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I lay my “whys” before Your cross in worship kneeling, my mind too numb for thought, my heart beyond all feeling: And worshipping, I realize that I in knowing You don’t need a “why”.

– Ruth Bell Graham

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

*Some may say that God did not cause Job’s pain, but surely, we must agree that his trial came as a direct result of God’s permission.

Stop, Drop and _______

Recently, when an unexpected trial showed up in my life, the Lord reminded me of this decades-old devo. Written in 2009, much has happened since that day nearly 20 years ago, but one thing remains the same… Life will always provide us with tests, trials and challenges. Sometimes of our own making and sometimes not. The question is how will we respond when they show up in our life?   – Becky

(This OG devo from 2009 has been left in its original form).

Stop, Drop and Worship!

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:20-21 NASB

Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23 NASB

Job lost all a man could lose in one fell swoop. His fortune and family, his health and his home; gone. Job’s response? He literally fell to the ground and worshipped God. In pain mind you — but he worshipped as an act of obedience.

Daniel was thrown to the lions for his obedience to God and spared because of his unshakable trust in God. Not a I’ll-trust-You-as-long-as kind of thing. No. Daniel trusted in God’s faithfulness regardless of his outward condition. His confidence in God didn’t keep him from being thrown to the lions but did keep him from being eaten by the lions!

Worship and simple trust. That’s what the Lord Jesus wants from us as a response (natural reflex) to our trials. Not the most polished or eloquent prayers. Not our promises to do this if He’ll do that — that’s bargaining. No. He wants us to simply worship Him and trust Him, right in the midst of whatever trouble we’re facing. The Lord provided me with a living example of this as I have been eyewitness to a friend enduring a great injustice. He’s handling it with all the pain you would expect while trusting and worshipping all along the way. What a powerful example of God’s ability to carry His people through whatever trial they might face (not necessarily around or out of).

Do you have your own version of a lion’s den or a Job type experience? Has the Lord allowed you to be “thrown to the lions” or have you jumped right in due to your own bad choices? Have you “lost it all” as Job did? How are you handling it? If it’s not through worship and trust, please — stop right now and drop to your knees. Pour out your pain, your confusion or even anger, then — lift your hands in surrendered worship. Your Father God will make a away where there seems to be no way, count on it. He is worthy of your absolute trust.

Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties. – C.S. Lewis

My Father, I lay my burdens at Your feet, I surrender this “lion’s den” experience to You and CHOOSE to trust You through it. I choose to worship You in the midst of it. Where there was once turmoil and confusion, cause Your peace to fill me. I love You, Lord.  In Jesus’ name. Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus