God's Oozing Compassion (Psa. 56:8)

Read Psalm 56:8.

This verse oozes the sympathy and compassion of God.

1.  God takes account of our wanderings.  This is not to scold us.  He remembers our default state without submission to Him, that we are prone to wander.  In His gracious dealings with us, He remembers we are so unlike Him -- dependent, finite, easily confused or deceived.  Why would God keep account of our wanderings, then? In order to bring us back to Him.  The purpose of His keeping records is restorative, not punitive.

2.  God collects our tears in bottles.  When we wander, it is sure to cause us pressure, trouble or deficiency.  As that pressure builds, we tend to gravitate toward anger or sadness.  How desperate we become, hoping for relief!  Each tear -- God sees it and preserves it.  He is the Archivist of your sorrow.  How great is His compassion toward us!  With God's watching,  we have no insignificant tears and no unnoticed disappointments.

3.  God keeps notes about each tear.  He is not only the Archivist of our tears, but He is also the Historian of them.  Each tear has its own notation.  Why?  Surely, it is not because God has any memory deficiency.  The Almighty God does not have Alzheimer's!  This record, I suggest, is for our benefit, as an eternal testimony to His faithfulness. Perhaps, someday, we can sit in God's library and read these "tear books."

Where's God? (Psalm 42)

Read Psalm 42.

When you're struggling with the question "Where's God?" . . .

1.  Don't stop passionately pursuing intimacy with God.  Let trouble drive you to Him, not pull you away (42:1-2).

2.  It is okay to cry and to release emotion (42:3).  You can experience a range of emotion when limited by circumstance, time, energy or lack of answers.

3.  Don't forget to remember the good times (42:4).  You weren't always in the situation you're in.  Things weren't always this way (42:6).

4.  Tell your soul what to do (42:5,11).  Discipline your words, thoughts and conclusions (42:6-9).

5.  Keep on waiting for God (42:11).

Trouble's Final Word (2 Kin. 4:18-37) (Part 2)

1. WHEN TROUBLE CAME, THE SITUATION DIDN'T HAVE THE FINAL WORD. 

FOR THE MOTHER, DEATH DID NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD. The story began with a death but ended with a resurrection. That's a dramatic turnaround, wouldn't you say?

For the mother, death did not have the final word; likewise, FOR A CHRISTIAN, DEATH DOES NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD (1 Cor. 15:51-57).

2. WHEN TROUBLE CAME, HUMAN EMOTION DIDN'T HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

FOR THE MOTHER, GRIEF DIDN'T HAVE THE FINAL WORD. She felt sad, empty, angry, and disappointed, but she didn't allow grief to shut her down.

Not only did grief not have the final word but, FOR THE MOTHER, FEAR DIDN'T HAVE THE FINAL WORD. She didn't entertain “what if” scenarios.

• What if all this happened to let me know that God is displeased?
• What if I become the talk of the town, having no son to support me and love me as I get older?
• What if my husband won't let me go to see Elisha the prophet?
• What if Elisha won't agree to return with me?

If neither grief nor fear should have the final word, then what should? While the ultimate answer will be given near the conclusion, here is an answer for now. FOR A CHRISTIAN, FAITH SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL WORD. What you feel should not have the final word. Being led around by your feelings can be condemning, disruptive and confusing.