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Jehovah-Jireh
Part 2
By Susanne
Scheppmann
Key Verse:
Psalm
126:6, “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs
of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” (NIV)
Devotion:
In
yesterday’s devotion, we learned about my friend, Monika, and the troubles she
experienced within a short period of time—a move to a new state, the loss of
her faithful dog, the death of her beloved husband. Unbelievably, yet another crisis lurked
around the corner. Within a year, she
was diagnosed with breast cancer. The
destructive cancer dictated aggressive treatments: surgery, chemo and
radiation.
She
struggled with physical pain. However, in her heart she knew her God,
Jehovah-Jireh, provided and cared for her.
The pain in her body could not dampen the comfort in her soul. She no
longer questioned God’s trustworthiness in her life. Her heart now cried out to Him, “But he knows
the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job
23:10 NIV)
Even
though she felt like Job in the Old Testament, who lost everything including
her health, Monika also knew that in the end God blessed him. For Scriptures states, “The Lord blessed the
latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep,
six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. (Job 42:12
NIV)
Now
Monika didn’t receive fourteen thousand sheep.
(Of which she is very grateful!)
But the Jehovah-Jireh did pour out a few surprise blessings.
She
fully recovered physically. No trace of
cancer lingers in her body after four years. She feels wonderful physically,
mentally and spiritually. Monika bubbles
enthusiasm for life and boasts in the trustworthy hand of Jehovah-Jireh.
But
wait there is more. Her youngest son, unbeknownst to her, entered her name in a
national horse food contest. Can you
guess who won the grand prize of a two-week equestrian vacation to the
countryside of France? Monika!
Then
she wrote an essay about cancer survivors, which won her a three-day trip to an
ultra exclusive spa in Arizona. (Oprah visits there.) The list goes on and on of God’s faithfulness
in her life. Sometimes with a grin
across her face, she calls Him, Jehovah-Surpriso. For her life truly reflects our key verse,
Psalm 126:6, “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with
songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. (NIV)
You
see, despite the trouble and crisis that hit Monika’s life, God never left
her. He stood beside her in the darkest
of moments. Then He changed her tears of sorrow, to the joy of laughter.
And
now, she wants to share that joyful knowledge with other people whose lives are
hit with a tidal wave of despair. She is
the living fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts
us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the
comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of
Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
(NIV)
Take
heart my friend, Jehovah-Jireh, our God, is there to provide for you no matter
how dark your days may be. Take heart joy will come again. Take heart and share with other’s how God’
provides for you.
Prayer:
Lord,
I thank you that You are always by my side to comfort me. Allow me the privilege to share Your goodness
with others. Give me the correct words
to comfort the hurting people that I meet.
Thank you for the joy that comes after the weeping. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application steps:
Journal
your thoughts about the different sorrows and joys you have encountered in your
life. If you know someone who is going
through a similar circumstance, give him or her a call to encourage or to
rejoice with them. Remind them that God
will provide in their time of heartache and their times of joy.
Refection points:
Can
you think of different times God has surprised you with a blessing?
Did
you recognize them from the hand of God?
Do
you share with others the provision of Jehovah-Jireh in your life?
Power verses:
John
14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (KJV)
Psalm
51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me.” (NIV)
Acts
2:28, “‘You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy
in your presence.'” (NIV)
© 2006 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
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