Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Psalm 34:19 (TLB) says, “The good man does not escape all troubles—he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.”

In my 35 years as a Pastor, I encountered people who were experiencing some kind of a crisis more often than I wanted. I saw how it affected their spiritual walk. I saw the man whose wife suddenly uttered those words that put his heart in a vice grip: I’m leaving you. I just can’t do this anymore. And the woman who just received the words from her boss, I am so sorry, but the company has to lay off fifty people, and I must let you go. And the person hearing back from their doctor, I am sorry to tell you this, but you have cancer. And the person who got the dreaded phone call about their loved one not surviving covid. All these horrible occurrences can grip the heart and attempt to send one’s mind into a tailspin.

When people experience these kinds of painful, heart-gripping events, it’s common for Christians to process through a spiritual inventory. The thoughts come: God, why did this happen? Did I do anything to bring this on? The devil uses these occasions to take advantage of one’s sincerity and heart check as an occasion to amplify any possible sinful activity and weaknesses and deceitfully beat this person over the head with condemnation. Satan loves these moments to deceitfully deceive you, suggesting that because you did this and that, and you were disobedient to God, this is what happened! It’s all your fault! This is Satan’s nature and what he does best.—accuse, lie, and condemn. That is what he will continue to do until Jesus has locked him in the eternal lake of fire once and for all. Satan is a liar and an accuser and is called the accuser of the brethren.  Revelation 12:10 NKJV says, “…the accuser of our brethren, who accuses them before our God day and night…”

After listening to these lies, people too often believe the accusations they are being berated with are from God and that He is mad at them. They don’t have the discernment to know it’s the voice of Satan. Consequently, some people run from and abandon their relationships with God in these times of crisis. Others get mad at God, thinking He let them down.

When people have been living reckless and sinful lifestyles, not caring what God’s word says, and are guilty of sin but won’t own up to it, and it has led to pain or crisis, they more often than not blame God. But, since they can’t see God, they blame those who represent God. They blame a Pastor, a church, Christian friends, or others who preach the gospel because blaming someone else feels better than looking inside through self-examination and repenting of sin.

The truth is, in times of crisis, God is never the problem, and He is never about blaming and abandoning someone in their hurt. People too often do that to each other, but that is not God’s character.

As I said, crisis often drives self-examination. We need to keep that experience healthy! Isaiah 11:3 (NIV) spoke of Jesus before He came to the earth and described His character. It said, “…He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears.” This is saying Jesus won’t judge just on the momentary circumstance. Why? Because His character is love and mercy, instruction, and reconciliation. Jesus modeled these godly characteristics for us.

So, in these kinds of painful times, don’t run from Him. Run to Him! Don’t let the devil beat you up. Look to God for His supernatural help and be absolutely convinced that because of His love for you, He will help you! Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God will help you through them, as Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) confirms, saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

We don’t need to wait for a crisis to examine our lives, but a crisis will drive us to examine it.  In those times, know that it’s always a good time to purge ungodly thoughts and attitudes. It’s always a good time to purge unforgiveness, immoral behavior, and anything that we would mark unpleasing to God. A crisis might drive us to our knees. But it would be better to hit our knees before a crisis came. It would be better to delight ourselves in the fear of God and move as far away from ungodly attitudes and behavior out of our love for God as possible. If we did, we’d have greater confidence that God would help and deliver us when crisis rears its ugly head instead of being buried in the devil’s condemnation. So, delight yourself in following God’s ways and discover just how much peace it can bring to your life. And no matter what’s going on in your life, keep your head and heart straight and run to God, who is your every present help and has the guidance you need to move forward and heal!

Psalms 46:1 (NIV) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” 

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

If today’s Fresh Manna was a blessing to you, please hit the “LIKE” button below!  And if you’d like to tell me why,  I’d love to hear from you!  Click here: FreshMannaFeedback

How Are Your Donations Used? click here  

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2024. All rights reserved
https://TimBurt.org