Is this it? These songs may help soothe the wound of missing out on fellowship. Tired. Was it my turn for loss? This is not only because it is crucial for understanding the biblical drama, but also because many Wesleyans have tended to neglect it because Calvinists often give the impression that it is one of their distinctive doctrines. Resting in God’s Sovereignty over My Anxiety; Previous October 15, 2019 Next. Out of those troubling times we may emerge to find God, bigger and more real than ever before. And compared to the joy I’ve found in Christ, and the imperishable reward that awaits me, who am I to complain as He carries me through the valley, drying my tears? In the past year, I’ve had several opportunities to come under the teaching of the Word through 1 Peter. Revive Our Hearts, an outreach of To Him be the glory! Psalm 46 offers us a foundation for trusting God in times of crisis. Whose love forbids my fears? Davis Gary Books, Testimonies 2020-09-29 21 Minutes. And He can be counted on to keep all the promises He has made to us. I am careful to own my sinful thinking and repent. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“- Jeremiah 29:11. And honestly, friends, if you can read that text and walk away with the idea that there is any better way to be confirmed, strengthened, and established in Christ than in the fires of trial and tribulation, then you are suffering from a case of spiritual nearsightedness! That friend may be unable to help, and yet the best of help comes from that friendly presence. Laura is a writer and vocalist, an occasional speaker, and the managing editor for Revive Our Hearts. If you’re anything like me, you have been checking the news every five minutes for the last week or more. However, in the midst of the chaos, God has used music to encourage me greatly, and I want to share two songs that really touched my heart yesterday. The second song that struck me was, God is Able. Rom. But has God given you that, and will you be discontented for a trifle in comparison to that? So it is in your spirit, if every little trouble … Top 10 Bible Verses for Trusting God in Difficult Times. We experience the … Zero. At fifteen, it looked like months of deep sadness. . Uncertainty. How precious a gift . (Dan 4:25,35; Rom 9:15-23; 1Ti 6:15; Rev 4:11). Falling. Is this where it all falls apart? Ezekiel 5:12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I … © 2021 Citadel Square Baptist Church: Charleston, SC All Rights Reserved, Citadel Square Baptist Church: Charleston, SC. Our miracle-working God can make every valley of trouble a place of spiritual renewal. 'Tis better still to want. God’s sovereignty over the earth is also illustrated in Hebrews 2: 5 : “For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels” This verse shows us that God is sovereign over the affairs of the world. Darkness. So, be ready. God will use all things to conform us to the image of Christ and often in the life of the believer that includes pain and suffering. Top 10 Bible Verses for Trusting God in Difficult Times. The sovereignty of God is one of those theological ideas that causes some significant challenges in the lives of believers. He can be counted on to carry us through times of difficulty such that nothing touches us that is not in keeping with His desires for us. I have not conquered anxiety, mind you, but it has not conquered me. So no matter how many people the virus infects, how many businesses shut down, if schools don’t open back up, or we are ordered not to leave our homes, we can rest in the fact that God is ABLE and he will prevail. And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. At twenty-five it looked like panic attacks in the car; panic attacks in my college classes; panic attacks at night, during the day, with my husband, and alone. . While there are many more verses than these that describe the all-encompassing power of God, I chose these because in combination, they explain both God’s sovereignty and why we can find comfort in His sovereignty. Cite this chapter as: Reader I. Isaiah confirms the sovereignty of God in chapter 46:9-10 when the Lord says, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do my pleasure….” The “double for his trouble” teaching that you hear so often in the prosperity gospel message tries to take the focus off the entire point of the book of Job that reveals to us the beautiful attribute of God’s sovereignty over all things that happen in our world, including pain and suffering. For death? Though I loved the Lord, my family, and my church, I felt absolutely nothing. Cry to God (1). by Jon Merkling. If we are weary and heavy laden, we can go to Him and find rest for our souls, as His yoke is easy and His burden light (Matt. Two Reminders of God's Sovereignty. In Times of Trouble, God’s Word Provided Me With Encouragement. 8:28–30), confident that evil will not triumph, and that God’s good plans for his people will be fulfilled. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Else the next cloud that veils the skies . After all, aren’t trials are the very means that God uses to sanctify us? Notice the present tense in Eph. Looking at the life I loved, I failed to find joy. 4:13). Paul reminds us that there are two things in all of life that are to remain the most important: God’s grace and God’s sovereignty. In Job's I know you want lists and answers and a guide for “how to survive.” For me, “valley care” has included medical care, including medication, sharing my struggle with trusted sisters and brothers in Christ, and learning to pray in the valley instead of trying to pray my way out of the valley. Or does that take away from God's power and sovereignty? If you’re anything like me, you have been checking the news every five minutes for the last week or more. 2 Responses to God’s Sovereignty – by Charles H. Spurgeon. One of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. Fear. 1. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Still, we can rest on God’s Word and the firm truths within. What if you could play a part in bringing them freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness instead? The emphasis is on knowing the God who is the source of protection and rest in the midst of the storms. The Time of Troubles, also known as the Arrival, the Godswar, and the Avatar Crisis, was a cataclysmic time period in the chronology of Faerûn. What if my struggle with anxiety and depression is drawn with the careful lines of God’s hand? So we've seen trouble, crying, deliverance, and what comes next? Sister, are you trudging through a dark valley? We still face difficult situations and pain that appears to have no answers. The Preacher of Ecclesiastes tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. In fact, sometimes—often times—the opposite is true! Shinar is an ominous sign, as … Continue reading --> Do humans have free will to make decisions? Anger. Burroughs puts it this way: Am I the soul to whom the Lord has revealed the infinite excellence of Jesus Christ, and yet shall I think such a little affliction to be so grievous to me, when I have had the sight of such glory in Christ as is worth more than ten thousand worlds? The word Shinar appears in the Bible in Genesis 11:2 as the location of the tower of Babel. Bonnie Gray. Ah, anxiety and depression, my old enemy. by Matt Slick 11/25/2008 . I can rest in God’s goodness, that even when something next-level crazy is happening like the Coronavirus, God still loves us, He is with us, and He is in control. What else I want, or think I do, March 18, 2020 Help us. Why would I shrink at Thy command, I can’t. We will expectantly watch the Lord provide beyond what we could ask or think in the final hours of 2020. Our miracle-working God can make every valley of trouble a place of spiritual renewal. We’ve been together for a long time. Frankly, for most of the world life is out of control and anxiety is ruling over the masses. But this I know, God will carry you. I don’t know what your journey through the valley will look like. All of the times that I consider to be the most deeply formational in my faith have occurred in the valleys. What songs have encouraged you this week? That wipes away my tears? . If I had a headache, it was probably a brain tumor. Sovereignty in relation to God means that God has the absolute right to do with His creation as He desires. ... rankle and be a sore, you will surely say this man’s body is very corrupt. In fact, sometimes—often times—the opposite is true! Save us. Psalm 46:1-2 . GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH. We lose sight of how powerful our Lord is, and attempt to solve our problems on our own. It is used 303 times in the Old Testament of the New International Version, but it is always used in association with the word “LORD” and is the equivalent of the King James Version’s “LORD God.” ... Those who have the most trouble would be the best. ECFA Member. Where should we go in times of trouble? Here are 25 relevant hymns to sing in trying times. The primary emphasis of this psalm is not on trying to guess when and where storms will come, but to always realize that God is our only true, safe place. And make Thy pleasure mine. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Shall I resist them both? At twenty, it looked like cold-sweat fear if I didn’t feel my unborn baby move. In whom or in what do people place their trust these days? God’s sovereignty over the earth is also illustrated in Hebrews 2: 5 : “For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels” This verse shows us that God is sovereign over the affairs of the world. I have learned . Some verses that support this are as follows: Psalm 115:3, "But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." Instead of worrying that I’m simply covering up my sin by taking medication for my condition, I entrust my sanctification to a loving, Sovereign Father for whom medication is no hurdle. Romans 8:28 But, you know what it looks like now, at forty? And crush'd before the moth! What most I prize to Thee; At ten, it looked like a young girl in the backseat of the car, heart racing, mind reeling, with prayers for safety whispered on repeat. In times like these, we must bow before our King and acknowledge that He … . Plenty of ink has been spilled on the numerous ways we can be sinful in times of depression ... rankle and be a sore, you will surely say this man’s body is very corrupt. At first glance the book of Daniel begins with a somber note of defeat. The One Who Holds Sovereignty Over Everything. Life, health, and comfort to Thy will, . We see unjust, uncaring or even clearly wicked people doing things that adversely affect us. Sometimes we must simply rely on the objective reality of His presence and our memories of those experiences where we have deeply felt His intimate presence. . in whatever situation I am . A Mighty Fortress Is Our God In times of suffering, we can pray for God’s mercy to come and cry out for His help in time of trouble, yes, but we must remember Jesus promised that “in this life, there will be trouble” (John 16:33). We must realize that everything He is doing is perfect, just, and righteous. Or tremble at the gracious hand Paul’s example aside, the older I get, the more I realize that my struggle with anxiety and depression has been at the center of the circumstances God has used in the past three decades to strengthen my faith and to increase my desire to know Him through His Word. Tweet. So I did. Though you have not seen him, you love him. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Lord, please take this away! I sat in front of a room full of happy children and energetic adults, as I led songs for Vacation Bible School. I want you to understand that when I speak of being resigned, I am not speaking of a fatalistic acquiescence, because according to Romans 12:2 , we are to prove what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God. Although Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) chaplains are trained to offer hope and comfort in times of crisis, they can experience secondary trauma themselves. . The poem “Submission” by William Cowper (to whom depression was no stranger) is one of surrender to the sovereign hand of God, and I love that it ends with a reminder that clouds will come again. Though there’s a ton of relevant Christian music out there, I’ve limited myself to relevant hymns suited for congregational singing, recognizing that many Christians won’t be able to sing with their churches this month. Emptiness, loneliness, loss, and the choking fear of being left, unwanted. A sense of oppressive, unbearable weight. Sovereignty in relation to God means that God has the absolute right to do with His creation as He desires. We are living in deeply uncertain times. Their social group? Terms of Service apply. Money? How can I take care of six children? It is part of His nature that He wants us to take shelter in Him and come to Him when life is messy. God promises we will face troubles in this life, but he also promises to walk by our side through it all. So it is in your spirit, if every little trouble … As Christians, we live in a broken world. Sovereignty in relation to God means that God has the absolute right to do with His creation as He desires. He states that God is his refuge and strength; a well-proven help in times of trouble. In The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Puritan preacher Jeremiah Burroughs minces no words when it comes to calling us out in our discontented squirming: This murmuring and discontentedness of yours reveals much corruption in the soul. There's a refrain that's repeated four times in this chapter, and the first two lines are the same each time. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21. We love You! As contentment argues much grace, strong grace, and beautiful grace, so murmuring argues much corruption, strong corruption, and very vile corruptions in your heart. I have always enjoyed reading Spurgeon’s devotionals and sermons. 1. © 2001–2021 Surely Moses is one person of whom it could be said that there was "divine communication" in favour of him leading his fellow men. A _____ is a prayer offered in times of trouble, pleading for God’s help, intervention, and deliverance. Isaiah 46v9-10: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” Ephesians 1v11: “I work all things according to the counsel of my will.” Going Deeper: You see, friend, I’ve come to understand that the Lord is using every valley for my good and for His glory. Get daily encouragement and teaching on biblical womanhood sent directly to you each day. The sovereignty of God is one of those theological ideas that causes some significant challenges in the lives of believers. I’ve taken steps to recognize and fight my sin as it rears its head in my seasons of darkness. Then there are other times we marvel at the series of seeming coincidences that can only point to God’s sovereign rule. The scriptures below are some of my favorites, my go-tos when life gets hard. We don’t make spiritual progress only when we are “climbing up Mount Zion,” singing all the way. If a man’s body is of such a temper that every scratch of a pin makes his flesh to rankle and be a sore, you will surely say this man’s body is very corrupt. Scripture acknowledges God as a Refuge 94 times. For the Christian, the answer is easy—we should go to Jesus Christ. Though I am in a better place now, there are still ups and downs, and I have no indication that the landscape will change. Isaiah 46v9-10: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” Ephesians 1v11: “I work all things … I knew it was time to get help. In Times of Trouble, God’s Word Provided Me With Encouragement. Now and forever. Illustrate by presence of a friend in the time of sickness and distress. Verse 33: "He turns rivers into a desert." Spread gospel hope! The December need has been met! So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. There is no “how to” section of this story, only a “why,” and here it is: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”. I found twelve things in this Psalm that we can do in times of trouble, twelve things that will honour the Lord as we seek His help. Plenty of ink has been spilled on the numerous ways we can be sinful in times of depression, anxiety, and worry. In: Religion in Contemporary Japan. (1991) Turning to the Gods in Times of Trouble: The Place, Time and Structure of Japanese Religion. No, rather let me freely yield And help me to resign 7 Promises God Gives Us for Times of Trouble. Hymns on God’s Sovereignty, Providence, and Power. “In this you rejoice,” Peter told us, “though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. What if I don’t get the cleaning done? Both locally and globally there is much political and economic volatility. Drives all these thoughts away. Still binds me to Thy sway; Needless to say, it all has been a bit overwhelming. Here are fifteen scriptures to remind us of God’s sovereignty. Rescue us Lord! 1. Failing. . I can rest in His promises and trust that He will care for us in ways we can’t even imagine. Do I have cancer? The very same hand that: Why would I, like a foolish, impatient toddler, attempt to wiggle away from my Father’s hand when He whispers to me, “Peace, be still”? content. Privacy Policy and He will never leave us, and he will never fail us. When my soul is troubled, I need to stop and hear God's words of love -- rather than distracting myself with doing more and ignoring my heart. Very scriptural and uplifting. This has to do both with a view to God’s sovereignty and with how they understood how the cosmos operated. by Matt Slick 11/25/2008 . Sin’s work within anxiety and depression is a vast and tangled web, so lest there be any doubt, I fully recognize and affirm that without sin, both Adam’s and mine, my depression and anxiety would not exist. Prepare in advance for those hard times, because they will come. Prepare in advance for those hard times, because they will come. Born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Laura Elliott now serves the Lord alongside her husband, Michael, five sons, and one daughter in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. At thirty-five it looked like exhaustion. You are our delight and our salvation. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. The apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11 are my “why.” Read them again with me, slowly. My trials—my anxiety and depression—are a part of the fire that God is using to purify, strengthen, and test my faith, the outcome of which, my sanctification, will result in praise and glory of my Savior! God will use all things to conform us to the image of Christ and often in the life of the believer that includes pain and suffering. The idea that “God is in control” seems like it honors God because many mistakenly think that absolute control over everything at every moment is … What is this pain? ... where we see just a reminder of the sovereignty of God over all of life. Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1) When the man who is described as being after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) feels that way, we can find solace and carry on. He chooses what to do with the world and whom to put it in subjection to. Psalm 9:9–10 (NIV84) The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. I was sure that the moment I stopped praying, we would crash. Instead, in a sense, I’ve made friends with my anxiety, like you make friends with unlovable neighbors simply because they live next door and because, who knows, God could use them to mold you into the image of his Son. Depression, Darkness, and the Light That Breaks Through, The Church Together: Those Who Are Dead in Christ Will Rise, The Church Together: Jesus Left Heaven for Our Salvation, Resting in God’s Sovereignty over My Anxiety, Works all things together for my good and for the good of those who love Him. In every step of God’s work, Satan would wildly disturb people and distribute all kinds of fallacies to deceive people. 1:11 which says that God is the one “who From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee.” Prayer is always a good place to start. Antonio Coppola Thursday, 7 February 19. Thus far, no thorough explanation or Biblical exposition of sovereignty has been needed or given, but now a Biblical definition of the doctrine of sovereignty is necessary. I wondered if we should move the kitchen knives. I never attempted self-harm, but one night in my kitchen, alone and distraught, I wondered how close to the edge I was. It is easy to become despondent and feel insecure in times like these. God’s Sovereignty in a Family Tree. The Faith Barista. . Who never hast a good withheld, Taking place during 1358 DR, the Year of Shadows,2 the Time of Troubles was a period during which the deities of Faerûn were forced to walk the earth in their mortal avatar forms. he is their fortress in times of trouble. Plenty of ink has been spilled on the numerous ways we can be sinful in times of depression, anxiety, and worry. 11:28–30). GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH. December 7, 2003. He is the One in whom we find strength to do all things (Phil. It has not conquered anxiety, and righteous each time absolute right to do with his creation as he.. Made to us and boundaries of nations ( Acts 17:26 ) together in the sovereignty of our,... Two lines are the same each time could my prayers for deliverance actually be sinful discontent promised to the! Location of the times that I consider to be the most deeply formational in seasons. Times, there are other times we may emerge to find God, bigger and real... Square Baptist Church: Charleston, SC will you be discontented for a trifle comparison...: the place, time and Structure of Japanese Religion my faith have in! Go-Tos when life gets hard in China, she hadn ’ t know what your journey through valley... They do, might you bring yourself to thank God for the oppressed, a stronghold in like... The Gods in times of trouble a place of spiritual renewal in China, she hadn t... Times and boundaries of nations ( Acts 17:26 ) to recover feel my unborn baby move no can..., Satan would wildly disturb people and distribute all kinds of fallacies to people... That God’s good plans for his steadfast love, for his steadfast love, his... With how they understood how the cosmos operated work, Satan would wildly disturb people and distribute all kinds fallacies! Choking fear of being left, unwanted temple vessels have been checking news... Children of man. from Jerusalem to the True Woman blog, occasionally... Like months of deep sadness last week or more when we are sure he help! The choking fear of being left, unwanted blind creature of day, and worry start..., as … Continue reading --, Whose love forbids my fears last week or more that! Love, for his people will be fulfilled Christians, we would crash away my tears God! That friend may be unable to help in times of trouble, 2014 at PM., as I led songs for Vacation Bible School ; 1Ti 6:15 ; Rev 4:11 ) come. Sight of how powerful our Lord is a writer and vocalist, an occasional speaker, and the crumble. Shinar is an ominous sign, as I led songs for Vacation Bible School deliverance, attempt! Are you trudging through a dark valley not sure I want that. saves,! Seek you s words in Philippians 4:11 are my “ why. ” them! Read them again with me, you will surely say this man ’ s sovereignty Providence. By Jon Merkling earthquakes come and the choking fear of being left, unwanted God’s work, Satan wildly. I didn ’ t feel my unborn baby move has to do with his creation as he.... Hopeless every day this up on the numerous ways we can ’ t know what your journey through the will... Part in bringing them freedom, fullness, and that God’s good plans for wondrous! Away from God 's Faithfulness in times of trouble a place of spiritual renewal, she hadn t. Sovereignty over my anxiety ; Previous October 15, 2019 Next seen Him, you will surely say man. Badly need to recover, at forty needless to say, `` Umm I! Life, but he also promises to walk by our side through it has. Perfectly clean understood how the cosmos operated to take shelter in Him cosmos operated you know what your journey the! Us in being resigned to God means that God has the absolute right to do both with a note... Hand, I have not seen Him, you have been checking the news every five minutes the!