Theme of the month: LIVE HAPPY... TODAY

DAY 4: LIVE HAPPY... AMIDST HARD TIMES

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

I received an e-mail earlier this week from a reader with the words: “My heart feels dead. No emotion: just a beating heart.” Is this how you feel today? Are you trying to move forward with all your strength, but are stopped by an invisible wall? Or maybe you are trying to go back to the past to make different decisions, but are stopped by another wall? Or maybe it feel like you are stuck in a pit with walls closing in on you, to squeeze out the last bit of joy and life from you?

This is what Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego must have felt like, standing in front of the fiery furnace. They chose not to bow down to idols for God’s sake, but now they were about to be killed. Or Abraham and Sarah. They chose to trust God for a baby, but were now way past the age of having a baby and still there was none. Or what about the woman with the blood issue? She visited various doctors and prayed a lot for healing, but still nothing happened.

Do you find yourself in a similar situation today? Are you perhaps praying for your spouse’s heart to soften towards you, but it feels like your marriage is failing? Are you praying for a financial breakthrough, but it feels like your financial situation is getting worse? Or maybe you are praying for healing, a breakthrough in the workplace or a baby of your own – but the answer seems to stay away?

Listen to the words in Psalm 40:2-4 where the Psalmist reminds us that God can pull us out of any pit or dark hole when we trust Him to do it: “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. . .” And in Jeremiah 32:27 God reminds us that no crisis is ever too big for Him. Listen to His words to the prophet Jeremiah: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

God saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace without a hair burned – because they trusted Him to do it. He gave Abraham and Sarah a child way past child bearing age, because they never gave up hope for a miracle. And the woman with the blood issue received healing with one touch of Jesus’ garment – because she had faith without any doubt. God can do the same for you. Will you keep on trusting Him for your miracle – even if it takes a bit longer? He is never early, nor late, but always on time. God bless.

Father God, thank you that nothing is impossible to You. Help me to live happy amidst any difficult situation with the knowledge that You will never leave me nor forsake me. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.