GOOD GRIEF
BREAD
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:19-20 (NIV)
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:12-14 (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD…….31 For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. Lamentations 3:19-26, 31-33 (NIV)
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Somehow in the wonder-working providence of God, our worst problems become our best pulpits. God turns our tragedies into testimonies and our emergencies into evangelism. Our testimonies are forged and crafted in the trials of life, our pain has an evangelistic purpose, our problems become His pulpits, and the things that happen to us turn out for the furtherance of the gospel.” Robert J. Morgan
“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” George Mueller
“To added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.” Annie Johnson Flint
“On Him then reckon, to Him look, on Him depend: and be assured that if you walk with Him, look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older brother, who has known the Lord for forty-four years, who writes this, says for your encouragement that He has never failed him. In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me; but because I was enabled by His grace to trust in Him, He has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of His Name.” George Mueller
“We pray for blessings, we pray for peace – Comfort for family, protection while we sleep – We pray for healing, for prosperity – We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering –
All the while You hear each spoken need Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things – ‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops – What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights – Are what it takes to know You’re near? What if trials of this life – Are Your mercies in disguise?” Laura Story
“All trials are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in, and for, us.” David Livingstone
“We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which He leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths – they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the ‘city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.’ ‘All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant.’ Let’s put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, His purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy…..His dear love will make us far more blessed than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world’s fire.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Praising God lifts us above our trials and reminds us of how He overcomes them….Our praise reminds us of Who God is. As we worship Him, the threats and burdens that weigh us down grow smaller and He grows bigger. The thought of an exalted God Who is entirely on our side is an awesome inspiration….Praise is based on Who He is. And He is Who He is all the time.” Chris Tiegreen
HEART SAVOR
• The promise of Scripture for every believer in and lover of Jesus is that all things will work for our good. The “things” may or may not be necessarily “good” yet they are His chosen tools to work for our good. I am not to kick against His best because I dislike the tools He chooses. He is God and I am not. I am to cut the grumbling and complaining. He knows what is best for me and He loves me. I can fully trust Him with my life.
• For a Christian all pain has purpose and it is for our good.
• The Lord’s compassion never fails, they are new every morning. It is good for those whose hope is in Him, for those who seek Him with all their hearts. His love is unfailing.
Beth Yoe's Sharing Bread 