Our Strength and Ultimate Refuge

When we encounter setbacks and difficulties, we often make an effort to keep pushing on in an attempt to improve our situation by relying on our own strength, ideas and abilities. But how much progress do we think we can make if we depend on these alone? In our own strength, we cannot overcome any…

No Profitable Reason to Complain

“I have a good reason to complain!” How often have we spoken these words to try to justify our feelings! Complaining is a way of expressing our grief or pain or dissatisfaction. Sometimes we complain in a formal way, but more often it is a casual statement or attitude. And we know that everyone wants…

Dependent on God… in Bountiful Times?

Have you ever noticed that when a prosperous season comes to you, the Lord will often send you away to a place of separation, somewhere that leaves you dependent on God? It won’t necessarily be to an isolated shack in the middle of a desert or a forest; in fact, you may never even leave…

“The Well is Deep”

I once went hiking near the massive rock formation of Sugarloaf Mountain, with its great, striking view, toward the low forest area of the lower footpath. After a while, it brought me close to a beautiful meadow. I could have taken a longer way around which would have led me to the main road. But…

Can God Help with Your Cares, Burdens, and Afflictions?

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 53:22 To cast your burdens upon God means resting upon what He has promised and on what He provides. Cares can heavily weigh your heart down, but the Lord won’t allow you to come…

Waiting for the Breath of God

Throughout the course of our life we will find ourselves lost and in such figurative darkness that we can hardly know the position of our own hands. We often lose hope in ever breaking out of this gloom and despair just like the youth in the following story. But it is usually at this point…

The Wrong Piece

It is annoying, downright annoying, when assembling a jigsaw puzzle, to find that a piece is in the wrong place. One part of the piece that connected to the other pieces fits correctly. And it seemed to match the corresponding picture. Yet when you try to connect the other pieces to it, they just will…

The Peril of Trusting in Our Own Way

When we make a commitment to God, we have chosen to follow and obey only Him. We have no right at that point to chart our own path, because we now belong to Him and have come under His direction and care. When we surrender our life to God we cannot go off into just…

Little is Much

“And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered…Give…

God Will Take Care of You

“… [Cast] all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 There are times when the Lord God chooses to put His people into intensely difficult situations which appear to lead to a position where there is no way of escape. If He were to ask you in advance what you…