Wise Quotes - POWER OF A PRAYING WOMAN 22

DAY 22 - LORD, COMFORT ME IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.

"Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning"...."Seasons come, seasons go"....."No matter how long the winter, spring is surely next to come" - These are all quotes we say to encourage each other in the storms of life.........but my question is, when that storm is upon us, what do we do?

Many times we fail to forget that no matter how bad the storm is,  it's possible to rise above to a place where everything is fine. Our spiritual and emotional lives are much the same. When the dark clouds of trail, struggle, grief or suffering roll in and settle on us so thick that we can barely see ahead of us, it's easy to forget there is a place of calm, light, clarity and peace we can rise to. If we take God's hand in those difficult times, He lift us up above our circumstances to the place of comfort, warmth and safety He has for us.

One of the names of God is COMFORTER. He is our Comfort and that's what He is. Just as we don't have to beg the sun for lIght, we don't have to beg the Holy Spirit for Comfort either.  We must pray that when we go through difficult times, He will give us a greater sense of His Comfort in it.

Tough things happen to everyone at one time or another. Pain and loss are a part of life. There are many different  reasons why these things occur, but God is ways there to bring good out of it when we invite Him. If we understand the different possibilities for our suffering,  it will help us overcome pain and see our faith grow in the midst of it. Here are four good reasons for difficult times; 

1. Sometimes difficult things happen to us that the glory and power of God can be revealed in and through us - we may not understand why certain things are happening at the time and we may never know why we have to go through them until we go to be with the Lord, but when we turn to God in the midst of difficult situations, God's glory will be seen in then and on you.

2. God uses difficult times to purify us - suffering in difficult times burns sin and selfishness out of our lives. God allows suffering to happen so we will learn to live for Him and not for ourselves and also pursue His will and not our own. It's not pleasant at the time, but God's desire is "that we may be partakers of his Holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). He wants us to let go of the things we lust after and cling to what is most important in life - HIM.

3. Sometimes our misery is caused by God disciplining us - The fruit that godly discipline and pruning produces in us is worth the trouble we have to go through to get it, and we have to be careful not to resit it or hate it.

4. Sometimes we are caught in the midst of the enemy's work - it's the enemy's delight to make you miserable and try to destroy your life. Often the reason for the anguish, sorrow, sadness, grief, or pain you feel is entirely his doing and no fault of your own or anyone else's. Your comfort is in knowing that as you praise God in the midst of it, He will defeat the enemy and bring good out of it that you can't fathom. He wants you to walk with him in faith as he leads you through  it and He will teach you to trust him in the midst of it.

Every time you rise above the pain in your life and find the goodness, clarity, peace and light of the Lord there, your faith will increase. God will meet you in the midst of your pain and not only perfect you, but increase your compassion for the sufferings of others.  As you continue to live in the presence of the Lord, His glory will be revealed in you.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember that no matter how dark my situation may become, You are the light of my life and can never be put out. No matter what dark clouds settle on my life, You will lift me above the storm and into the comfort of Your presence. Only You can take whatever loss I experience and fill that empty place with good. Only You can take the burden of my grief and pain and dry my tears. "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer" (Psalm 4:1).

In times of grief, suffering, or trial, I pray for an added sense of Your presence. I want to grow stronger in these times and not weaker. I want to increase in faith and not to be overcome with doubt. I want to have hope in the midst of it and not surrender to hopelessness. I want to stand strong in Your truth and not be swept away by the emotions.

Thank You that I do not have to be afraid of bad news because my heart is steadfast, trusting in You (Psalm 112:7). thank You that "You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling" (Psalm 116:8). Thank You that I walk before You with hope in my heart and life in my body. Thank You that "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD" (Psalm 118:17). Even when "my soul melts from heaviness," I pray that You would "strengthen me according to Your word" (Psalm 119:28).

Help me to remember to give thanks to You in all things, knowing that You reign in the midst of them. Remind me that You have redeemed me and I am Yours and nothing is more important than that. I know when I pass through the waters You will be with me and the river will not overflow me. When I walk through the fire I will not be burned, nor will the flame touch me (Isaiah 43:1-3). That's because You are a good God and have sent Your Holy Spirit to comfort and help me. I pray that You, O God of hope, will fill me with all joy and peace and faith so that I will "abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). Thank You that You have sent Your Holy Spirit to be my Comforter and Helper. Remind me of that in the midst of difficult times.


Scripture for Meditation

I Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

I Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.


Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!


Matthew 5:3-4

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.


Psalm 121:8
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

#inspired...ann #WiseQuotes

*Stomie Omartian, The Power of a Praying Woman(2006)