Psalm 38

April 04, 2016 Monday Message:

“LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.” Psalms 38:15 NIV

Our lives are a lot like David’s – too many pitfalls, snares and trials. Too many evil people out to “get” us. And eventually, discouragement invades our minds.

Jesus never promised that our lives would be trouble-free. In fact, quite the opposite. “In this world, you will have trouble (tribulation.) But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b So anything bad, evil, out-to-get-us is “darkness,” trying to take our focus off the light.

We know that Jesus is the light of the world, so our problems didn’t come from him. Rather, Jesus is the solution for what the evil one has tossed into this world.

Right after a few things go wrong in our lives, Satan oftentimes puts one of his best tools into high gear – discouragement. We’re human, so we fret, we worry, we “coulda-woulda-shoulda,” when what we ought to do is pray for God to intervene, and then patiently wait for his help. No one ever said, “When my life was a mess, the worry got me through the whole thing.” No – it turns out that worry is unproductive at best, and Jesus is always the best answer.

“Do not be far from me, My God.” Psalms 38:21b

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10 am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, April 10, 2016, Pastor Retha continues teaching from Romans.