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Christmas, Christmas blues, El Melekh Ne'eman, God, GOD is a Faithful King, GOD is Faithful, hardships, holiday struggles, life struggles, loss, pain
El Melekh Ne’eman – GOD is a Faithful King!
How FAITHFUL is God? From cover to cover, the various scribes throughout history record event after event, miracle after miracle of GOD’s faithfulness.
Does that mean no one suffered? Not even close! It means that even suffering has a redemptive purpose. Childbirth hurts, as any mother can attest, but the joy of that new life is more than worth the pain. Our suffering “births” (or brings about increase) of God’s purpose in our life.
So then we always feel secure or safe? Ha! One would think, but no. We are flesh and blood. We are weak! Even when we cognitively understand the enormity of GOD, we manage to suppose our situation, our disease, our family issue is somehow beyond His interest, right?
How then should be face the challenges that confront us in this life? Can you imagine as a young teenage girl (or her fiance) learning you’d been chosen by God to bring His Son into this world? Say What??? Yet, unbelievably, Mary’s response echoes through the ages … “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1)
Christmas seems to spotlight “sore spots” in our hearts and lives. At least in my world, it does. Year after year, I struggle, but this year is different. Or perhaps I should say the struggle is different. I have a dear friend who recently lost his wife. My heart breaks for him as he faces his first Christmas without her together with his girls. I know the GOD of comfort will be with them. I have another friend whose husband just learned he has a brain tumor, yet God’s grace is buoying them through the surgery and treatment. I have still another friend whose work hours were drastically cut suddenly last month. She has barely enough to pay bills, and certainly nothing left for gifts for her family. There are thousands of men and women, many of whom served our nation in uniform, living on our streets with no roof over their heads. There is much suffering. There is unimaginable pain. BUT there is GOD …
Each of us have “sore spots!” Life is not perfect. There are obstacles and traps along the way. Then, there is that one thing, that one huge “sore spot” we can’t seem to shake. We need to foster Mary’s deep understanding of GOD. Instead of struggling against that thing, that “sore spot,” embrace it as a tool for growth. Whew … easier said than done, right?
“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
I am not a woman of great financial resources, but I have faith for these and other unmentioned needs. Do you? Prayer is not a last resort, it is a FIRST resort! It is our declaration to GOD that we know He can handle what we cannot. It is acknowledging His greatness and His faithfulness to us, His children. Christmas is the manifestation of His faithfulness in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to take away the sin of the world.
Our pain and suffering may not end, but His faithfulness is more than enough to turn our pain and suffering into beauty. Let’s turn our minds and hearts outward and look for ways to lift the burden others may feel at this time … and everyday!
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
Charles Dickens
You are Faithful & True You are Faithful and True,
You are Faithful & True to your people.
You are Faithful & True You are Faithful and True,
You are Faithful and True to me.
There is no emptiness in You.
No failure or loss, no turning away,
You are the God of all purpose,
You are Hope, You are Life, You’re the end to my strife.
You are Faithful & True You are Faithful and True
You are Faithful & True to your people.
You are Faithful & True You are Faithful and True
You are Faithful and True to me.
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