Tag: Jesus Christ

By Pastor Andrew Farland

It’s ridiculous to think that your suffering is always because you did something wrong, and now God is getting you back. Let me say it again . . . ridiculous!!

Job was considered the most righteous man of his time and yet he suffered. We are hard-pressed to find a more righteous mature Christian man – or a person who suffered as much as he did. Not only that, but amidst that suffering, Job’s friends tried to convince him that he must have done something wrong! What help, right?! But in the end, God vindicated Job, and He dealt with those who gave this honorable Christian that bad advice. Why? Because He knew how foolish their claims were when they were convincing a righteous man that he was wayward.
What was the truth? Job didn’t do anything wrong and yet he still suffered.

Here’s the lesson of the day:
Suffering and pain visit everybody. We all have to get through challenges. But here’s the comfort: You can know today that if you are going through a difficult time, everyone else is too! Maybe not today, but at some point, they also will go through fiery trials . . . it’s a part of life.

Here’s what I want you to know: while you’re traveling through these dark and scary places, you are sheltered by the love and care of God. He cares about you and your situation. You can trust that He’s got your best interest at heart, and He will help you through it as long as you continue to trust Him.

Matthew 5:45
“For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

God never promised any of us a rose garden.
Even in the center of God’s will for your life, it won’t all be easy!
Going through valleys is normal and inevitable. You are either in one now, just got out of one, or are going back into another one. God is more than the God of the mountain tops; He’s the God of the valleys too!

Think about Joseph and Job in the Bible. These were two men that were righteous and who sought to honor God with their lives! They didn’t do anything wrong, yet they both had to endure hard days and much suffering. It seemed like their journeys took them through valleys more often than not, but in the end, they came out on the other side!
The same can be true for you. Just because you are going through a hard time doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
Hard days happen to everyone.

The Bible says that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike!
I want to remind you today that no matter what you are going through, God is with you. He is faithful, and He will lead you through every valley!

Deuteronomy 11:11
“The Promised Land you are about to enter is a land of hills and valleys.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

People seem to fall into one of three types of categories: those that are in a struggle, those coming out of a struggle, and those about to go into a struggle!

But with God, no matter which group we find ourselves going into or coming out of, we have a reason to be thankful and joyful! Your circumstances might make you sad, angry, depressed, or rejected. Any of those emotions might tempt you to drop your head and look down at the ground under your feet.

Stop looking at the situation you’re in.
Instead, lookup
Taking our eyes off of our situation and putting them onto our Savior changes everything. God promises to keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are fixed on Him, and that’s because He is our joy.
That joy exists regardless of the reason for our struggles if we’re just willing to look up and see it.
He is our reason to be thankful!

HABAKKUK 3:17–18
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Andrew Farland

No matter how much you despair, take comfort: you are never alone.
Psalm 42:3
“Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help…”

I acknowledge my need for God’s help.
Psalm 42:2
“I want to come to see the face of God.”

I remind myself of God’s faithful track record.
Psalm 42:4
“Remember when you use to be out front leading the procession of praise?.. So then my soul, would you be depressed. Yet
I will still remember you as I ponder…”

I speak over my heart-broken soul in Faith.
Psalm 42:4b
“I will say to God “You are my mountain of strength, how could you forget me?”

I remember joy comes from God’s presence alone.
Psalm 42:6
“Yes living before His face is my saving grace.”

Today if you are going through a hard time, know that I’m praying for you!
Isaiah 58:9
“Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and He will say, “Here I am.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.