The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE" for Wednesday, 1 June 2016 with Scripture 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE" for Wednesday, 1 June 2016 with Scripture 2 Corinthians 1:8 For, brothers, we want you to know about the trials we have undergone in the province of Asia. The burden laid on us was so far beyond what we could bear that we even despaired of living through it. 9 In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead! 10 He rescued us from such deadly peril, and he will rescue us again! The one in whom we have placed our hope will indeed continue to rescue us. 11 And you must add your help by praying for us; for the more people there are praying, the more people there will be to give thanks when their prayer for us is answered.
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God rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us. We have set our hope on him that he will rescue us again.[2 Corinthians 1:10 (CEB)]
Statements from well-meaning friends like, “God will not give you more than you can handle,” often cannot provide the comfort we hope to receive when going through a difficult situation. Sometimes in these situations we feel as if we need to put on a façade of faith while we remain inwardly broken.
Paul had a different point of view on dealing with hardships. Pressed on every side, he confessed that his trials were, in fact, more than he could bear. But in the same breath he proclaimed God’s faithfulness and his belief that God would deliver him. His hope was set on God’s promises, but he also knew he needed the prayers of his community to support him.
Sometimes we bear burdens so heavy that we are left in a place of despair. But we still have hope because God is with the brokenhearted. When we are not suffering, we can take time to notice those around us who may be weary and wounded. We can lift them up in prayer and cry out to God on their behalf. When we pray for one another, we can set our hope on God that God will rescue us again.
Read more from the author, here."An Encounter with God"

One of the most amazing moments a writer or a reader can have is when a truth is imparted. In that moment, a revelation and deeper understanding open our eyes to the goodness of God. Suddenly, the former confusion is gone and we know at once that the burning in our soul is witness to an encounter with the living God.
When I wrote today's devotional, I wept. Not because it saddened me, but because I had seen the goodness of God. I would likely not have recognized God’s goodness if I had not suffered first. The devotional was an answer to how I had felt when life had caused considerable pain. It did not matter if no one else understood – my God did.
I had just started blogging a few days prior to writing this devotional, but I have journaled for 28 years. Now two years later, I have written many more devotions with similar impressions. I cannot help but get emotional when I consider how awesome God is.
It is in the valleys that we can choose to focus on the problem at hand or to trust in the God of the universe who has the problem in hand. Faith is simpler than we let it be. We complicate things by placing expectations and rules where God gives freedom. It’s ok to cry out and admit we don’t have it all together. It is beautiful humility to see our need for God, who longs to answer the prayer of the contrite and broken.

When the waves of the sea are billowing all around us, it is easy to become distracted, but the greatest moments in my walk with God have been when I surrendered my broken heart and trusted God, even though the pain puzzled me. It was in those bittersweet moments that I began to see God's divine purpose.
The Israelites mourned the loss of the food they had eaten while in Egypt when the desert was becoming unbearable. We, too, can become disillusioned and wonder what God’s purpose is and deceive ourselves into thinking any earthly belonging could ever compare to his promises. Like the Israelites, I had to walk through many hardships, but God brought me out and restored my joy. He can do that for you, too.
Come stop by, bring a cup of joe and visit my blog at www.denisepass.com or my ministry website and music at www.seeingdeep.com. I would love to hear God’s story in your life, too. He is faithful and will complete the work begun in you![Denise Pass, The Author: Denise DuBois Pass (Virginia, USA)

Thought for the Day: I can place my hope in God.]
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to know that even when we are incapable of handling life’s struggles, you are completely sufficient to bear our burdens and strengthen us. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY

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