And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God...And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. -Luke 6:12, 20, 21 (KJV)
Anytime we find ourselves going through a difficult time it’s easy to begin to wonder if we will ever be happy and have peace again. Our nerves become rattled, our mood is down, and we cannot stop thinking about the current problem which is staring us (and maybe beating us) in the face. Today I want to encourage you to look to the Lord who in turn empowers us to look forward to a brighter day which is coming. God knows we struggle, have fears, are distracted, and often feel overwhelmed, yet the promise is a brighter and happier day is surely heading our way. Believe it my friends, for what God has promised will come to pass.
Jesus understood the pressures we often go through. He also had to deal with the stress of ministering to the crowds, many of whom were hostile, questioning, and looking for ways to defeat Him. On at least one occasion Jesus went away and spent an entire night seeking God in prayer. When He came away from this dedicated time of prayer and contemplation He then chose the 12 men who would be His disciples. After this He shared with a large crowd the message called “The Sermon on the Mount.” Two inescapable lessons meet us here; one is the power of devoted time alone with God, and secondly the hope of a brighter day.
The first part of the Sermon on the Mount is dedicated to reminding us of the promise of a happier time. If we are suffering financial problems, be faithful and the Lord will provide. If we are hungry, be faithful and continue to look to the Lord and He will met our needs. When we are so distraught the tears will not stop, keep looking to Christ, for a day is coming when we will no longer feel so burdened with sorrow. In fact, we will laugh until it hurts. Hopefully, you know the healing power of laughter. A good and healthy laugh has the emotional power of a B-12 shot. The Lord’s promise to us is that through Him we will find overwhelming peace and joy even in the middle of excruciating heartache.
What sort of trials and difficulty are you facing right now? Are you wondering if you will ever be happy or laugh again? Do not give up, do not give in, and keep looking to Jesus Christ. You will happy again. You will laugh again. Believe it, for Jesus has promised.
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