Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Thursday, May 23, 2024

QT 5/23/2024 2 Time 1:13-18, Glimpses of God in the midst of pain and sorrow

2 Timothy 1:13–18 (ESV) — 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

 

NOTE: I've been there, where it seems everyone and everything is against you, and then God supplies that one person to refresh you and remind you that God cares and he is at work in your present circumstances. We will all go through hard times in life. It can include a myriad of attacks -- financial struggles, persecution for faith, physical health, and many more things. I don't believe God promises to protect us from pain -- the world is evil because we chose to rebel from God's rule back in the garden. Pain shows our need for God to rule, and for us to repent and return to him. He does promise that in ALL things, he works for the good of those who love him. But remember, God's definition of what is 'good' for our life is not always how we view 'good.' God wants us to experience a deep relationship with him and seldom does it occur through abundance. My message to the person suffering -- don't give up. The Lord loves you greatly. He cares!

 

PONDER:

  1. Do you trust God in the midst of your pain?
  2. Can you believe his love for you is great and he will bring good out of the situation, if you know him?

 

PRAYER: Father, Have mercy on me. I am undeserving of any goodness on your part. You have loved me. You sent your son to the cross to die for me. And you have given me eternal life and a relationship with you that has changed everything about me. Thank you.

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