January 2010 Devotionals
January 25, 2010
One Small Miracle in the Tragedy of Haiti
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Handford
So much grief, so much misery, so many seemingly unsolvable problems have overwhelmed Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. One of our friends has gotten mixed news from her family—her father and the immediate family are all safe, but one cousin and her family have still not been located. I wondered, as I thought about sharing one small miracle Walt and I witnessed, if you would question why some were spared when others, equally deserving, were not. The answer to that will have to wait until we get to Heaven. But this story is one of many stories of God’s marvelous grace in tragedy, so I’ll share it.
With the news of the earthquake, we also got word that two of our dear friends were in Haiti, and neither had been heard from. One was the man who first brought us to Greenville 45 years ago. Walt and he worked together in the ministry at Southside for 28 years. The other was a woman whose wedding Walt had performed years ago. Sarah’s husband had just left for the States, and she was to leave shortly. Frank and Sarah were in Jacmel at the mission begun by Sarah’s parents. Frank was teaching music in the church; Sarah was attending to the business needs of the mission. Neither had been heard from since the earthquake.
Tuesday night passed; we could not sleep. We could only imagine the fears their families fought. Wednesday brought no word. We prayed, of course. We wanted to be at peace, however it turned out, but our hearts kept begging God to please keep our dear friends safe. Still no word on Thursday.
Then late Thursday afternoon a cryptic e-mail came. Through miraculous circumstances, Frank and Sarah had both been found. Later we received the details, along with pictures to assure us they really were all right!
Finally, on Sunday evening, after numerous disappointments and cancelled flights, the two arrived at the Greenville airport to a tumultuous welcome—a large crowd of friends and family, some from afar, with songs, signs, balloons, TV cameras, lots of tears, lots of smiles.
It seemed to Walt and me a kind of foretaste of that wonderful day when we will gather around the throne of God. Some will have gone through great suffering, others not so faithful, but grateful just to be within the shelter of God’s love—but all of us there by the grace of God. And to think! It certainly will not by our goodness, but only by the free gift of Christ’s sacrifice on cross that will bring us together there!
January 18, 2010
How God Feels about the Tragedy in Haiti
A Word of Comfort from Elizabeth Handford
Walt sometimes teases me about trying to “unscrew” the “inscrutable.” Why God would allow something to happen as terrible as the earthquake in Haiti is a question that has plagued Christians through the centuries. I can’t tell you all the reasons why, but I do know how the great heart of God grieves when He allows such a tragedy to happen.
The Bible tells us that when Adam sinned—just as you and I have sinned—God’s whole beautiful creation was damaged. Hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, disease, and earthquakes all are a direct result of that damage. Romans 8:22 says, “ For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
But verses 19-21 says, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” God assures us that someday He is going to make this whole earth brand new again, with every pain, every sorrow, blotted out forever. God gives us that hope.
How did God feel that Tuesday afternoon when the earthquake rocked Haiti? Lamentations 3:31-33 says, “For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” It grieves God that we must go through sorrow. He doesn’t do it willingly. It pains Him.
Jesus certainly showed that grief when He wept at the grave of His friend Lazarus. He could have prevented his death; He didn’t, because Lazarus’s family would see God’s glory through it. But Jesus’ heart is broken by the suffering of His creation, and He certainly wept on Tuesday at the incredible loss of lives in Haiti.
This doesn’t “unscrew” the mystery of pain, but it can give us comfort that God grieves with us in our pain, and someday He is going to make it all right.
January 11, 2010
Something Better Than a 401-k!
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Handford
Depending on which headlines you read last week, the stock market is up, or it’s down. Fewer mortgages were defaulted, or more people filed for bankruptcy. The unemployment rate is better, or it’s worse. Thank God, Christians have a promise that is better than any financial hedge.
First Peter 1:3-5 tells us about it.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
This tells us that because Jesus died for our sins and arose again, we have a vibrant, living faith, and we are full of hope. But notice in this verse that God also promises us an inheritance—something better than a big 401k, something surer than preferred stock in a corporation, something safer than a federally-protected bank account. It’s an inheritance straight from God, our Heavenly Father. It can never be embezzled; it will never be devalued; it will never disappear. And the best part is that it doesn’t depend on our smartness or our goodness. It’s kept in Heaven for us by the God who has all power and all wisdom. We are “shielded by God’s power.”
In the current economic climate, we face many uncertainties. But God is the One who is in charge, and He promises us not just safety and forgiveness, He promises us an inheritance He Himself protects for us.
And that’s better than the best 401-k!
January 4, 2010
"Walking into the Unknown"
A Word of Encouragement from Libby Handford
A little girl and her father were walking down an unfamiliar street at night. Her father measured his footsteps to match her small ones. She stayed close by his side, and clung to his hand.
Finally she asked, in a quavering voice, "Papa, is you skeered?"
"No, darling, I'm not scared."
"Then," she said, "I'm not skeered neither."
You and I will be walking down an unfamiliar street this coming year. It's dark, and there are many uncertainties in it. But Jesus will be right there with us holding our hand, and He says, in Hebrews 13:5,
I will never, never leave you.
I will never, never forsake you.
This Jesus, our wonderful, loving, wise and strong Jesus, promises He'll walk with us every day of 2010. So we can say with confidence, as verse 6 says,
The Lord is my helper,
And I will not fear.