February 11
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, Colossians 1:11
My mother always had an expression about bad things happening in threes. If someone of notoriety passed away, there were sure to be two others following. And I remember keenly awaiting for those subsequent other two! And of course, eventually at some point, on the news we would hear about two more people! But all kidding aside, doesn’t it seem sometimes that just when we have had to deal with enough, something else is right there to take its place or to add to what already is weighing our spirits down. How do we manage this? How do we endure the blows that life sends our way? Where do we find help that is consoling, gives direction and lifts us up?
In this Scripture passage God tells us so much about the help that is there for us. This is no wishy-washy, maybe, sort of assistance. He tells us we will be strengthened with POWER! A power that comes from Him, that provides endurance and inner strength, no matter what challenges we face in our lives. He tells us that the patience necessary to take baby steps forward to face each moment, each day on this journey will be provide; the support needed to keep going when we just plain don’t know how, is within reach; the strength needed not to fold when we just don’t think we can endure another thing – or another moment, is within each of us. We have His Word that this gift is at our fingertips, at the ready, with a breath - all we have to do is turn to Him.
And most importantly the key word in this passage is joy. He tells us we will have joy! Joy? How can that be? Hard to imagine when we are hurting in any way, yet we all know people who radiate joy no matter what circumstance they are in. No matter how much sadness or pain, still they reflect the joy that God wants for all of us – each and every one – to have. That joy we so reach for and hope for when we suffer, is ours, when our hearts are one with Him.
Power, strength, endurance, patience and joy . . . so many profound words in such a short passage! So many unfathomable words to stop and take a moment to think about, especially when we are in pain; and God is waiting - waiting in His steadfast glorious love to fill us with the true meaning of each and every one.
O Lord, in our distress we open our hearts to you. Fill us with your enduring strength, patience and joy!
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, Colossians 1:11
My mother always had an expression about bad things happening in threes. If someone of notoriety passed away, there were sure to be two others following. And I remember keenly awaiting for those subsequent other two! And of course, eventually at some point, on the news we would hear about two more people! But all kidding aside, doesn’t it seem sometimes that just when we have had to deal with enough, something else is right there to take its place or to add to what already is weighing our spirits down. How do we manage this? How do we endure the blows that life sends our way? Where do we find help that is consoling, gives direction and lifts us up?
In this Scripture passage God tells us so much about the help that is there for us. This is no wishy-washy, maybe, sort of assistance. He tells us we will be strengthened with POWER! A power that comes from Him, that provides endurance and inner strength, no matter what challenges we face in our lives. He tells us that the patience necessary to take baby steps forward to face each moment, each day on this journey will be provide; the support needed to keep going when we just plain don’t know how, is within reach; the strength needed not to fold when we just don’t think we can endure another thing – or another moment, is within each of us. We have His Word that this gift is at our fingertips, at the ready, with a breath - all we have to do is turn to Him.
And most importantly the key word in this passage is joy. He tells us we will have joy! Joy? How can that be? Hard to imagine when we are hurting in any way, yet we all know people who radiate joy no matter what circumstance they are in. No matter how much sadness or pain, still they reflect the joy that God wants for all of us – each and every one – to have. That joy we so reach for and hope for when we suffer, is ours, when our hearts are one with Him.
Power, strength, endurance, patience and joy . . . so many profound words in such a short passage! So many unfathomable words to stop and take a moment to think about, especially when we are in pain; and God is waiting - waiting in His steadfast glorious love to fill us with the true meaning of each and every one.
O Lord, in our distress we open our hearts to you. Fill us with your enduring strength, patience and joy!
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson