Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10, NIV
Some time ago, an 82-year-old woman in China, known as Mrs Zhang, asked her family members to catch some frogs for her. She never explained what she intended to do with them. It was only after she developed severe abdominal pain and was admitted to hospital that the shocking truth came to light.
Mrs Zhang had been suffering from intense back pain caused by a displaced vertebra. After hearing that frogs could help relieve her pain, she decided to swallow eight live frogs! Unfortunately, instead of finding relief, she developed a parasitic infection that landed her in hospital.
As bizarre as this story may sound, it made me think about the different ways we sometimes respond to emotional pain in our own lives. When we are hurting, we often reach for anything that promises relief. It could be an unhealthy relationship, alcohol or something else that temporarily numbs the pain. But sometimes, the very things we turn to for comfort end up hurting us even more.
Perhaps you're struggling with physical pain. Maybe you're battling anxiety or depression, or carrying emotional wounds from your past. Whatever form your pain may take, God sees it. And he never intended for you to carry it all on your own.
Listen again to the words of Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
God is able to bring healing and restoration. Sometimes he works through medical treatment, professional support or the people he places in our lives. And sometimes, the healing we long for takes time. But through it all, we can draw strength from him in the midst of our struggles.
Today, let's put down the “frogs” we've been holding onto to numb our pain and start turning to the one who can fill us with His wisdom, strength and peace.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know every pain we carry and the things we sometimes turn to for relief. Help us to turn to you for strength, wisdom and comfort. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
Benescke Janse van Resnburg
Verder nog dit: Soek julle krag in die Here en in sy groot mag. Efesiërs 6:10, 1983-vertaling
In China het ’n 82-jarige vrou, bekend as mevrou Zhang, ’n tyd gelede haar familielede gevra om vir haar paddas te vang. Sy het nie verduidelik waarvoor sy dit wou gebruik nie. Dit is eers toe sy erge maagpyn ontwikkel en in die hospitaal opgeneem word, dat sy met die waarheid na vore gekom het.
Mevrou Zhang het gesukkel met erge rugpyn weens ’n werwel wat geskuif het. Sy het gehoor dat paddas dit kon help verlig en daarom agt lewendige paddas ingesluk! Die paddas het egter ’n parasitiese infeksie veroorsaak, en mevrou Zhang moes in die hospitaal opgeneem word.
Hierdie verhaal klink dalk absurd, maar dit het my laat dink aan hoe ons soms optree wanneer ons emosionele pyn ervaar. Ons gryp na enigiets wat ons glo verligting kan bied: ongesonde verhoudings, alkohol of selfs ander maniere om die pyn te verdoof. Soms maak dit waarna ons gryp ons uiteindelik net seerder.
Dalk sit jy met fisiese pyn. Dalk worstel jy met angs, depressie of hartseer uit die verlede. God sien alles en Hy vra van jou om nie te probeer om die pyn alleen te dra nie. Luister weer na die woorde in Efesiërs 6:10: “Soek julle krag in die Here en in sy groot mag.”
God kan genees en herstel. Soms doen hy dit dadelik. Soms stuur Hy mense oor ons pad om ons in die proses te help. Deur alles kan ons na Hom nader vir krag.
Vir vandag, kom ons sit die “paddas” neer en kies om God te soek. Hy vul ons met wysheid en krag.
Gebed: Vader God, U ken ons pyn en die dinge waarna ons gryp om verligting te vind. Vergewe ons waar ons aan dinge vasklou wat ons skade aandoen. Bring genesing en herstel volgens u wysheid en wil. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. Genesis 26:12, NIV
When last did you read through the book of Genesis? I find the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob fascinating. Time and again, we see God choose them, guide them, protect them and test their faith – and how he blesses them.
This brings us to today's Scripture. There was a severe famine in Gerar, where Isaac was living. With food becoming scarce and uncertainty all around him, leaving for Egypt may have seemed like the sensible thing to do. But God instructed Isaac to remain in the land and promised to bless him. Isaac had a choice: he could either follow his own instincts or trust God.
Isaac chose to trust God.
He planted his crops, even though everything around him seemed to suggest that the odds were stacked against him. Yet when the harvest came, he reaped a hundredfold harvest that very year! Why? Because the Bible tells us that the Lord blessed him.
Today, many people are facing financial pressure. Fuel prices, food costs and electricity bills continue to stretch household budgets. Some are even wondering, "How am I going to make it through the month?"
In moments like these, we may feel just as uncertain about the future as Isaac did. But we, too, have a choice: we can allow fear and worry to dictate our decisions, or we can choose to trust God, even when our circumstances seem overwhelming.
Read the words of Genesis 26:12 again: Isaac planted his crops and reaped a hundredfold harvest because the Lord blessed him.
May these words encourage you today to keep trusting God, even when your circumstances seem uncertain. The same God who guided Isaac through a season of famine is still with you today. He sees your faith, knows your needs and remains faithful to his promises.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being with us, even in life's most difficult seasons. Help us to trust you and remain obedient to your Word, even when we cannot see the way forward. Remind us that you are our Provider and that nothing is impossible for you. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benescke Janes van Rensburg
Isak het toe in dié land gesaai en daardie jaar honderdvoudig gewen, want die Here het hom geseën. Genesis 26:12, 1933/1953-vertaling
Wanneer het jy laas deur die boek Genesis gelees? Die verhaal van Abraham, Isak en Jakob fassineer my. Keer op keer sien ons hoe God hulle kies, lei, beskerm en toets – en hoe Hy hulle seën.
Dit bring ons by vandag se teksvers.
Daar was ’n hongersnood in Gerar waar Isak gewoon het. Die mense rondom hom het begin wegtrek Egipte toe. God beveel hom egter om in die land te bly en belowe dat Hy hom sal seën. Tog het Isak ’n keuse gehad: Hy kon óf sy eie kop volg óf hy kon God vertrou.
Isak kies om God te vertrou. Hy saai, al lyk dit asof alles teen hom is. En dan, teen alle verwagtinge het hy daardie jaar ’n honderdvoudige opbrengs gehad. Hoekom? Want die Bybel sê: God het hom geseën.
In hierdie stadium is daar ’n paar dinge waaroor mense bekommerd is – die stygende brandstofprys, kospryse en elektrisiteit. Sommige vra selfs: Hoe gaan ek deur die maand kom? In sulke oomblikke voel ons dalk ook soos die mense in Gerar, bekommerd oor die toekoms. Maar God gee ons ook ’n keuse: Ons kan Hom vertrou of ons kan bekommerd en bang raak en ons eie kop volg.
Luister egter weer na die woorde in Genesis 26:12: “Isak het toe in dié land gesaai en daardie jaar honderdvoudig gewen, want die Here het hom geseën.”
Mag hierdie woorde jou vandag bemoedig om God te vertrou, selfs wanneer jou omstandighede onseker lyk. Dieselfde God wat Isak deur ’n tyd van hongersnood gelei het, is vandag steeds by jou – en Hy sien geloof raak en seën dit.
Gebed: Vader God, dankie dat U by ons is, selfs in moeilike seisoene. Help ons om U te vertrou en gehoorsaam te wees, ook wanneer ons nie die uitkoms kan sien nie. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
Ruanne van Zyl
Wees veral versigtig met wat in jou hart omgaan, want dit bepaal jou hele lewe. Spreuke 4:23, 1983-vertaling
Die hart waarvan hierdie vers praat, is nie net emosies nie, maar die sentrum van ons gedagtes, begeertes en motiewe. Alles wat ons doen, begin hier. Daarom sê God ons moet dit “veral versigtig” bewaak.
Ons harte word daagliks beïnvloed deur wat ons sien, hoor en oor dink. Negatiewe woorde, vergelyking met ander, vrees en bitterheid kan stil-stil wortelskiet. As ons dit nie aanspreek nie, begin dit ons houding en optrede beheer. 'n Onbewaakte hart lei tot 'n onrustige lewe.
Om jou hart te bewaak, beteken nie om koud of afgesluit te wees nie. Dit beteken om doelbewus te kies wat jy toelaat om jou binneste te vorm. Dit vra dat ons gereeld ons gedagtes aan God se waarheid toets. Wanneer leuens soos “ek is nie goed genoeg nie” of “niks sal verander nie” opkom, moet ons dit vervang met wat God sê.
'n Gesonde hart bring lewe. Dit lei tot geduld, liefde en wysheid in moeilike situasies. Wanneer ons hart vol vrede is, reageer ons anders op druk en konflik. Die kwaliteit van ons lewe word dus direk beïnvloed deur die toestand van ons binneste wêreld.
God is nie net geïnteresseerd in ons dade nie, maar in wat dit dryf. Wanneer ons Hom toelaat om ons harte te reinig en te vernuwe, verander Hy ons van binne na buite.
Gebed: Here, wys my wat in my hart nie van U af kom nie. Help my om my gedagtes te vul met u waarheid en my hart te bewaak sodat my lewe U eer. Amen.