Hurts need healing.
This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Stormproof – Hurricanes of Hurt (CLICK HERE)
Hurts take time to heal.
Western North Carolina are continuing to rebuild from the destruction of Hurricane Helene. Floridians are cleaning up and returning life to normal after the devastation of Hurricane Milton. For some the loss is tremendous and the task of rebuilding seems overwhelming. For others, the return to normalcy was more efficient.
Hurricanes are somewhat predictable and many can take precautions to protect their property and lives. However, sometimes the prediction is wrong and one can be caught unprepared. Regardless if you are prepared or not, at times the impact is felt for a long time after the storm.
So it is with hurts.
Regardless of whether you saw the hurts coming or they completely caught you off guard, the ramifications of the hurt linger for longer than one would expect or like.
Hurts come in various forms, but different from a tragedy where one experiences sudden loss of property or people, hurts are those things that affect us internally. Hurts can come from mean words that were spoken to you. Hurts can come because you were mistreated and abused. Hurts can come when one is taken advantage of. Hurts can come when you are laid off of your job unexpectedly. Hurts can come when I think God hasn’t been fair. The list will go on.
Hurts can last a long time. I still remember what a classmate did to me in gradeschool. We ended up getting along, but that memory of a bit of bullying lingers.
Hurts drain our spirit and our emotions. Hurts can be very heavy and lead us to do rash things to avoid the hurt. Addictions come from hurts. Depression comes from hurt. Yes, even suicide is a decsion some make to avoid the hurt.
Is this the answer? No. Not at all.
So what is?
Where do I turn when I am hurting inside?
The book of Psalms in the Bible is filled with the words of God’s people who are hurting. They question God. They cry out to God. They wish God to act and more. The Psalms are a great place to turn when you are hurting. This week we will turn to Psalm 130 which is labeled “A song of ascents.” This psalm was used by worshippers as they traveled up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD, carrying with them the hurts to the Lord to be healed. This morning enjoy reflecting on the whole Psalm. The next days of the week we will look at the verses more carefully so we can find the hope God desires amidst the hurt we experience inside.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Apply: What thoughts strike you from Psalm 130 to help deal with the hurts of life?
Prayer: Lord, into our hurts we ask you to bring hope and healing. AMEN.
Tragedies turn us back to the Lord!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Stormproof – Tornadoes of Tragedy (CLICK HERE)
Perhaps the greatest intended benefit of tragedies in life is it exposes our weakness and leads us to rely on the Lord’s strength.
At least that’s the greatest blessing that it can bring.
The pages of Scripture are not devoid of tragedies. Tragedies are a reality in a world broken by sin. However, in the midst of tragedy, we see God’s people turning to the Lord. Let’s wrap up the week with a few of these examples that might encourage you when tragedy strikes personally or you can share with people you know experiencing tragedy.
Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. 17 O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.
Like a child running to a parent for protection, so we as God’s children can run to the Lord for protection and strength in times of trouble. With the image of an imposing castle fortress, the psalmist reminds us that the arms of our Savior are the safest place to be when trouble and tragedy strike.
Tragedy has lingering after effects. Property can perhaps be rebuilt faster than our hearts. When we experience trauma and loss of loved ones, the hurt lingers. Emotions move from shock to sadness to dejection or depression. Joy is faint and sorrow is great. We may see more darkness in our days than light. We wouldn’t be alone. Again the psalmist writes in Psalm 40:1-3:
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 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.”
In the aftermath of tragedy it may seem like your prayers go unheard and your heart unhealed. It may seem like God has forsaken you and doesn’t care for you. But that is not the case. He is in the pit with you.
To digress a moment…I have run in a few Tough Mudder races. It doesn’t get it’s name without reason. There are obstacles that you are in a muddy pit. To be sure, the only way you get through that obstacle is to have someone outside the muddy pit pull you out. Without help, you keep sliding back down into the pit. I don’t think the psalmist ran a Tough Mudder, but the heavy emotions of loss feel like a pit we can’t get out of …until the Lord pulls us out and sets us on solid ground. From outside the pit, we see a new perspective on life and the future ahead. The Lord puts a new spirit in our heart and a new song on our lips and joy returns and the darkness is overcome by the light of God’s presence, promises, and power.
For the Christian, the greatest perspective that guides us through tragedy is the promise of heaven. What we might perceive as the greatest possible tragedy, death, is really the entry point to experience the paradise of heaven promised to us through Jesus. So, when you really think about it, the ultimate answer to tragedy is the eternal joys of heaven won for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b]
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c]”
Tragedy does rock our world and challenge our faith, but my prayer is that when tragedy strikes, it leads us closer to our Savior and keeps us longing with hope for life in heaven.
Apply: What promises of God have helped you navigate tragedy and loss in your life?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for securing heaven for me through the tragedy of the crucifixion of your Son. Keep me close to you always, but especially in time of tragedy and loss. AMEN.
Tragedies expose our hearts!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Stormproof – Tornadoes of Tragedy (CLICK HERE)
As a parent, you made sure to take things away from your child that were harmful or potentially harmful to them.
If you saw them with matches or a lighter…nope. They can’t have that.
If they somehow got ahold of a bottle of cleaner…swipe that away quickly!
At times after you take away a harmful thing, you child has a fit. They cry and scream and make a prolonged fuss. If they are old enough to articulate their thoughts they might even say, “I hate you!” (Maybe this is older when you take the car or phone away from them!)
In the moment your child has no ability to see the blessing in you taking away that item. They were convinced that they should have that item and to have it taken away was the worst thing in the world and you as a parent were to blame.
Is it possible that tragedy might be one of God’s ways to take away from us something that was going to be harmful to us?
Read this parable Jesus told before you answer…
Luke 12:13 A man in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us.”
14 Jesus answered him, “Friend, who gave me the right to judge or to divide the property between you two?” 15 And he went on to say to them all, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be.”
16 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. 17 He began to think to himself, ‘I don’t have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? 18 This is what I will do,’ he told himself; ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. 19 Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?’”
21 And Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight.”
Could it be that tragedies sometimes remove the idols in our lives? Could it be that the only way God saw to prevent eternal tragedy was to remove an earthly idol?
It’s hard to always understand the mind and motives of the Lord and exactly what he is up to. However, one thing is certain. He wants us in heaven and wants nothing to get in the way.
If I lose my job unexpectedly…is it possible that job was taking way too much time away from the Lord?
If I lose a significant piece of my property (home, business, etc.) is it possible that that item was security I was relying on instead of the Lord?
If I lose a loved one, is it possible that person was more important than the Lord in my heart?
To be sure, I don’t know…but it’s worth reflecting on.
If someone or something is first in our heart, it’s an idol.
Idols replace our love for God and maybe God is removing the idol in our heart to lead us back to him.
Tragedies do expose our hearts…but it’s not to turn them from the Lord, but to return them to him.
Apply: Have you experienced a tragedy? How has God used it to turn you back to him?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me enough to remove things in my heart and life that get in the way of my relationship to you. Keep my love for you always first in my life. AMEN.
Secure or shattered?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Stormproof – Tornadoes of Tragedy (CLICK HERE)
Tragedy rocks our world…will it rock your heart?
There is no doubt that tragedy rocks one’s world. This past summer a pastor’s family who is part of our Lutheran denomination lost six family members at a family reunion due to a house fire. As different individuals who survived recount their story, it is horrific to hear screams you can’t get to and be outside the house as you know your children are perishing inside and there is nothing you can do about it.
It’s hard to know how you will react until tragedy strikes in your own life (in no way would I wish tragedy on anyone!). It’s hard to know how the tragedy will affect your life not just immediately after, but years after.
Tragedies can shatter our lives.
Loss is hard. Loss of lives you love is super difficult.
Your world comes crashing in and the question is how will one move forward?
Will you come away from it with hope?
Will you come away from it with hopelessness?
This family that suffered tremendous loss has been an amazing testimony on TV News broadcasts of both the heartache and challenge of the tragedy, but the peace and hope they find in Jesus and the promise of his love and future resurrection to eternal life.
Amidst their tragedy, they find secure hope in Jesus.
Psalm 112 is a reflection of characteristics of a righteous person. The Psalmist writes,
Psalm 112:6 Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. 7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
It seems that the psalmist has predecided how they will deal with tragedy. Here are the decisions:
“I’m not going to live in fear of bad news.”
“I will trust in the Lord…always.”
“I will not fear…even when bad things happen.”
“Ultimately, I God will provide the victory.”
These heart decisions are made by the individual before a hardship strikes so that when the hardship comes, the decision is already made.
In the moment of tragedy, I am going to find my hope in Jesus.
Tragedy does rock our world…but when it does, stand firmly on and rely on the Rock…your Savior.
Apply: How has a tragedy rocked your world? How has your relationship to Jesus helped you find hope in that tragedy and not hopelessness?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my solid hope even in the midst of great loss. AMEN.
In times of tragedy, where do you run?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Stormproof – Tornadoes of Tragedy (CLICK HERE)
Where do you run?
I can’t imagine the panic that some felt in the mountains of western North Carolina as the sudden floodwaters of the mountain rivers began to rise. Homes that were twenty-plus feet above the riverbed soon found themselves surrounded by the raging waters. People that had seen the river flood and watched it from the safety of their homes, now found themselves in a predicament. Do we stay in our home or run or try to drive to higher ground?
Sometimes we have a very short period of time when a tragedy strikes to make a decision that will either save us or kill us. Stories emerge of individuals barely escaping as their house crumbled into the flood waters or clinging to a tree hoping it would hold amidst the rush of water and debris.
Decisions in the moment of disaster can be life altering.
Decisions after a tragedy can be eternally altering.
Tragedies bring sudden loss of life and/or possessions. When this happens, even for Christians, it is natural to ask of God, “Why?” The answer is often elusive or not directly revealed and so the next step is to make a story about why the event happened. Some of that story may include thoughts like, “God hates me.” “God is supposed to be good, but I can’t see any good in this.” “God was supposed to protect my loved one, but he didn’t.”
These narratives about God really boil down to a key question: “In the time of tragedy, will I run TO God or away FROM God?”
Those are really the only two choices. Does Satan use the tragedy to separate us from God or does God use the tragedy to draw us closer to him?
So which is it for you?
I have talked to people on both sides of this question. My prayer for every reader is that tragedy is an impetus to run to God and not away from him.
I may not always have the “Why?” answered. But I always want to know “Who?” will journey with me through the tragedy.
The writer of Psalm 73 definitely went through periods of tragedy, hardship and times where they couldn’t understand what God was doing. Their hearts were sad and their spirit embittered. However, even amidst the hurt and heartache of a tragedy, here is what they decided to do: Run to God.
Psalm 73:21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 3 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Tragedies take away things on this earth. When my heart realizes my time on this earth is temporary and my home is in heaven, I have only one thing to do when tragedy strikes: Run to God.
Apply: How have you experienced tragedy in your life, or lived through it with someone else? What makes it tempting to run from God? What blessings come when I run to God in time of tragedy?
Prayer: Lord, I don’t always understand why you allow tragedy in my life. In all circumstances, lead me by your Spirit to always run to you and not away from you. AMEN.