Far too often we base our happiness on having certain things that we feel are essential to enjoying life. However, sometimes it is only in the losing of those things that we discover the one and only true way to find satisfaction. Consider these words from the pen of the late J. R. Miller:

“If we have God—no other loss is irreparable! There
is surely enough in God’s love, to compensate a
thousand times for every earthly deprivation! Our
lives may be stripped bare—home, friends, riches,
comforts, every sweet voice of love, every note of
joy—and we may be driven out from brightness and
music and tenderness and shelter—into the cold ways
of sorrow. Yet if we have God Himself left—ought it
not to suffice? Yes, is not He Himself infinitely more
than all His gifts?

Often we do not learn the depth and riches of God’s
love, and the sweetness of His presence—until earthly
joys vanish out of our hands, and beloved ones fade
away out of sight. The loss of temporal things empties
our hearts—to receive spiritual and eternal things! The
sweeping away of earthly hopes—reveals the glory of
our heart’s refuge in God. “God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1″

“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”Genesis 22:7-8

In the darkest of nights, God’s promises are the brightest of lights.

Adonirum Judson was the first missionary to India. Upon arrival to Burma, he started witnessing, started church services, and did all he could do, but to no avail. For seven years, he preached in Burma with not one convert. By many standards he was a failure. In fact, he was thrown in jail and while in jail, his wife was shipped back to America.

In that Burmese prison with thirty-two pounds of chains on him and a Burmese prisoner next to him, he could have justified giving up in his own mind. But rather than give up, he remained faithful. When his fellow prisoner asked him what he thought of the prospect of the conversion of the heathen, he replied, “The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God.” By the time Judson left Burma, there were over ten thousand people who had trusted Christ and dozens of churches that had been started, all because a man passed the test of faithfulness.

Even when things looked grim, Adonirum Judson believed that God would keep the promises made in His Word. Just as Judson believed God, so Abraham trusted God’s promise to provide an heir. Even when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he trusted God’s promises. Even when he raised the knife above his head and there seemed to be no other way of escape for his son, he believed God. Abraham was able to remain faithful because he trusted God’s promises.

We all have difficult times in our lives. We may not have to offer our children on an altar, but we face difficult situations nonetheless. What happens when you’re fired from work? Do you trust God’s promise to provide? What about when your health fails? Do you trust God’s promise of protection? The only way you will be able to make it through difficult times is if you rely upon the promises of God.

Abraham had faith that God would follow-through in what He said. Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

When you have faith in God’s promises, there is hope in even the darkest of nights. Never doubt God’s promises. From provision, to protection, to a home in Heaven for those who trust in Him, our God has promised us so much!

Are you going through a difficult circumstance today? Does there seem to be no “light at the end of the tunnel”? Friend, if you are a child of God, you can trust His promises! Abraham was able to see the blessings of God because he trusted the promises of God. Spend time searching God’s Word for His promises today. Then apply them to your life and rely on God and His promises when difficulties arise.(By Paul Chappell)

“So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?”Exodus 15:22–24

The story is told of a husband and wife who didn’t really love each other. The man was overbearing and downright mean sometimes. Early on in their marriage, he prepared a list of rules for his wife. He demanded she adhere to the list strictly each day. Some of the rules he established for his wife was her “wake-up” time each morning, what he wanted for breakfast, and details of how the house was to look when he got home each night.  After many years of this, the husband died. Over time the woman fell in love with another man, but feared he would treat her the same way. This man was different; he actually loved her and was willing to do anything for her. Soon they were married. This man did everything he could to please his wife. Then one day as the wife was cleaning house, she found tucked away in a drawer the list of rules her first husband had given her. As she reflected on the list, it dawned on her that even though her present husband hadn’t given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband’s list required anyway. She realized she was so devoted to this man that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation.

The wife’s second husband had achieved more through love and patience than the first husband had through demand. Patience had won her over and caused her to obey everything her first husband had wanted her to do, but with joy rather than heartache.

So often we see a lack of patience in our world. People are so busy to go places, meet people, accomplish things that they fail to yield to others and practice patience. Just look at the people around you next time you’re standing in line at the grocery store or sitting in traffic on the freeway. There is little patience in people made to wait!

Yet God desires that we would practice patience and longsuffering to those around us. Notice God’s example of longsuffering in our verses today. The people of Israel were embarking on a journey from slavery to a land of their own, a land God had promised them. Yes, there were hardships on the journey as there are with any journey, yet the people failed to remember God’s promise.

If you read the context of Exodus 15, the Israelites had just witnessed God’s miracle at the Red Sea. That miracle was still fresh in their minds yet they murmured and complained against God. The murmuring of the Israelites wasn’t a one-time thing; they continued to murmur against God and Moses throughout their journey to the Promised Land. Yet God showed much longsuffering by continuing to bless and guide them throughout their journey.

Too often we fail to practice patience in our lives. As James 1:3 says, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” Those trying times, even the small daily trials, will develop patience in your life if you submit to God’s working. Just as God displayed patience with the children of Israel, He desires you to display patience with those around you.

How often do you display patience to those around you? It’s not easy to yield to others and allow them the “right of way” in life, yet God desires that you humble yourself and practice patience with others. The next time someone cuts you off, takes your favorite parking spot, or treats your child unfairly, practice patience. Rather than becoming upset or angry at others today, submit to God’s will and allow Him to develop patience in you.  (By Paul Chappell)

Several years ago in an interview during his battle with cancer, theologian Francis Schaeffer said, ‘The only way to be foolishly happy in this world is to be young enough, well enough, and have money enough,and not give a care about other people. But as soon as you don’t have any of the first three, or if you have compassion for the weeping world around you, then it is impossible to have the foolish kind of happiness that I believe some Christians present as Christianity.”

What is our greatest need in life? Is it to be happy? We may long for a change in our circumstances, and sometimes that’s what we get. But a changed life is our deepest need. Changed circumstances may make us happier, but a changed life will make us better, for it will make us like Christ.