Suffering & God’s Comfort
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading For The Day: Job 5: 1-11 Scripture Quote: "but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5: 3-5 (NASB) Have you ever wondered how God feels when one of his children suffers? Does he feel the same as we do when we comfort our own child in illness or despair? I think that he must. Although He is the one parent who has the power to alleviate suffering, so often he does not. Instead, He refines us as we endure this life’s hardships, permitting our suffering. It is all part of the design and yet I know that God suffers with us. How would our faith grow if everything were peachy-keen and we had little or no need for God’s help? If our faith were never put to the test, would it remain? How can God's children grow stronger in spirit, and closer to Him, without trials? And how much more does our faith increase when we do see His Almighty intervention on our behalf or feel His Mighty Comforter sustaining us as we somehow find the strength to endure? It is the trials and sufferings we experience that teach us God’s continuous presence in all our circumstances and our dependence on God in our weakness – And by all this we grow and are strengthened. Today’s Meditation: God holds us within the palm of His hand. Memory Verse: For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 (NASB Spiritual Blessings By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading for the day: Ephesians 1:1-14 Scripture Quote: “I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.” Ephesians 1:16-17 (NLT) We are blessed in Christ and have all the benefits of knowing God. As adopted children, chosen for salvation, we have every spiritual blessing - God’s forgiveness, insight, the fruit of the Spirit, power to do God’s will and the hope of eternity with Jesus. Those Christians, who pursue an intimate relationship with Christ on a daily basis, can have all these spiritual blessings now. They are not supposed to be seen as some far off prize but as our treasure here on earth. We can know without any doubt that we are set free from the law and from death and have become pure and holy in Christ – No condemnation awaits us. We will be made alive at the resurrection to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms. We are deemed justified through Christ and can come with joyful freedom and confidence into God’s presence. How can we ever stop praising our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Meditation for the day: “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. Break me! Melt me! Mold me! Fill me! Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.” David Iverson Memory Verse: “And now God is building you, as living stones, into His spiritual temple.” I Peter 2:5 (NLT) |
Bio: Toni Smothers has written articles for “Total Health”, “Let’s Live”, “People In Action” and “The North American Mentor” magazines. She is a member of the Faithwriters.com writing community and was previously the editor for the teen section of their on-line magazine. She has written many programs, sermons, and skits and has edited several websites. Additionally, she has answered hundreds of questions for GotQuestions.org, a biblical resource site. Here is just one of their many testimonials: "Thank you for this insightful website! I was able to look up many questions I have asked over the years since becoming saved. The site is easy to navigate and gave me so much biblical background for answers that I feel my armor has been strengthened. You and your staff be encouraged to continue to speak the truth for God's glory." When Toni is not writing, she can usually be found cuddling with her 10 pound, furry, Morky muse, 'Sweet Pea.' Toni Smothers studied homeopathy extensively and became a proficient layman. She wrote about homeopathy for “Total Health” and “Let’s Live” magazines. Smothers describes her experience befriending a refugee family from Laos in her article published in the travel magazine, “People in Action.” Additionally, “American Mentor” magazine has published some of her poetry. Smothers drew upon her fun experiences as a youth pastor to provide the needed insight to function as the editor of the teen section of “Faithwriters” magazine and she is a member of the Faithwriters.com writer’s community. Archives
February 2023
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