Monday Morning Devotion-April 20, 2020
No Surprises
In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Let's start with the basics. What is a surprise? The dictionary definition is: "an unexpected or astonishing event, fact or thing."
` Taking it a little further let's examine a surprise in terms of the emotions it can cause a
person to feel. According to Wikipedia". "Surprise is a brief mental and physiological state, a startled response experienced by animals and humans as the result of an unexpected event."
A surprise may be neutral/moderate, pleasant, unpleasant, positive or negative. And in the case of the coronavirus we could add frightening. It was certainly unexpected. If it's appearance in our lives had been anticipated, perhaps we would have been better prepared to cope with the seriousness of it and accelerated the battle to defeat it. It is natural to have a fear of things that we don't understand until we can get a handle on them.
While the presence of this evil virus is no longer a surprise. Unfortunately, its effects continue to plague us daily in many ways. As the world's greatest medical minds continue, around the clock, to try to find a way to defeat this enemy. We hope for positive surprises each day.
This morning I found comfort in the message from Dr. Charles Stanley in his book of Daily Devotions- "Jesus, Our Perfect Hope:365 Devotions. -" a book I highly recommend. It is available on www.amazon.com. I don't usually advertise a book in these devotions but in these difficult times I wanted to share this one with you because it will uplift your spirits just when you need it.
This comes from Dr. Stanley's April 16th devotion. He calls it: "Stability in the Chaos" and he starts off with the scripture from John 16:33 that is referenced at the top of this devotion.
Then as follows:
"It is natural to feel fearful when everything appears chaotic. No one likes the feeling of being out of control---without a firm place to stand or something to hold on to. However, when those times come, we must remind ourselves of the one fact that can stabilize us: God has a plan, and He is in control. When we're reminded that nothing, we experience is a surprise to the Lord, we can cling to hope.
Just before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples. 'Behold, an hour is coming and has already come, for you to be scattered°These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me, you may have peace.' (John 16:32-33.) In other words, everything will look chaotic, but remember that God already knows about it and will bring stability out of the chaos. And certainly, three days later, they saw the greatest victory they'd ever witnessed---the resurrection.
Friend, God is in control of all that's happening to you today. So take heart. He has a plan for you. Cling to Him, and you will see His awesome purposes for you fulfilled."
Then Charles Stanley adds this sentence prayer and follows it with another reason our hope should be in Jesus. He does that with each daily devotion so when you complete the entire year of reading them you will have 365 reasons that you have hope through Jesus and should trust Him.
Jesus, I cannot see my way through this, but I am grateful that You have a plan that will be accomplished. Amen.
"My hope is in Jesus because He is in control."
Although this devotion seems spot-on for the predicament that we find ourselves in at this time in 2020, Dr. Stanley wrote these devotions two years ago, in 2018.
Dr. David Jeremiah in his daily message: "Turning Point" writes:
Dear Friend,
There is no question, we are living in a time of unprecedented uncertainty---it is unlike anything I have experienced in my lifetime.
The temptation in times like these is to allow fear and worry to creep into our thoughts and to rob us of our joy. But in this uncertain world filled with many unknows, we need to remember what we do know:
1) God is still in control
2) He is on the throne.
3) He is not surprised by the events in our world today!
4) He is sovereign---nothing happens without His permission.
5) He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Dr. Jeremiah reminds us that we are loved by God and nothing can separate us from His love.
Even though each new day may hold many surprises for each of us it is important to remember that God is not surprised. No matter how complicated life may seem to us our hope is still in the Lord because He is in control.
Prayer: Lord Jesus our hope is in you for we know that you love us and you are in control. Amen!