🌻 WHEN ONE DOOR OPENS AND ANOTHER CHALLENGE APPEARS

 

🌻 WHEN ONE DOOR OPENS AND ANOTHER CHALLENGE APPEARS

God Is Still on His Throne!

📖 SCRIPTURES 

Psalm 103:19 (NLT)

“The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.”

Psalm 119:14 (NLT)

“I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.”

Romans 12:21 (NLT)

“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Joel 2:28 (KJV)

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh…”

Genesis 32:28 (NLT)

“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

🌻 LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!

Have you ever had one of those days when your to-do list looks like a mountain, the news makes you wonder what in the world is happening, and you haven't even finished your first cup of whatever you happen to be drinking before life starts throwing things at you?

Well, my friends, welcome to being human! 😂

Sometimes, I think we need to put a sign on our front door that says, “Under New Management: God Is in Charge!”

Actually, that might be a good sign for our hearts, too!

Today, Ross and I have a HUGE reason to celebrate! We received the wonderful news that he has been approved for a grant to cover the repairs on our Jeep, including the tires! Can you imagine how grateful we are?

We knew we couldn't continue driving much longer without getting those repairs done. With our finances being as tight as they are, this blessing takes a tremendous weight off our shoulders. We are so thankful!

But isn't life funny sometimes?

Here we are celebrating this wonderful answer to prayer, and at the same time, we're waiting for the doctor's office to open because Ross is experiencing severe back pain that is making his legs so weak he has to sit down.

One minute, we're celebrating, and the next, we're concerned about what comes next.

That's life, isn't it?

We can receive a wonderful blessing in the morning and face a difficult challenge before lunchtime. We can be thankful and worried at the same time. We can laugh, cry, pray, and sometimes wonder if we accidentally signed up for the extra-challenging version of life!

Ross and I have certainly had our share of those days. We've faced financial struggles, health concerns, unexpected expenses, and situations that seemed to have no easy answers. We know what it's like to wonder how we're going to manage something when we don't have the resources to fix it ourselves.

But we've also learned something important along the way: A new problem does not cancel out a blessing, and a difficult day does not mean God has abandoned us.

That is where our Scriptures today come into play!

GOD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE!

Psalm 103:19 reminds us that God rules over everything.

Let's think about that for a minute.

God isn't sitting in heaven wringing His hands, wondering how things are going to turn out. He isn't surprised when our plans fall apart or when an unexpected bill arrives. He isn't pacing the floors because our lives have become complicated.

He is God, and His throne has not moved!

The Hebrew word malkût (מַלְכוּת) means kingdom or royal rule. God's kingdom is not dependent on whether our circumstances are going well. His authority doesn't disappear when we have a difficult day.

And the Hebrew word bāṭaḥ (בָּטַח) means to trust or place our confidence in someone.

That's what we're called to do: trust God, even when we cannot see how everything will work out.

Notice I said trust God, not pretend that everything is wonderful!

Faith doesn't mean we deny our problems. It means we bring those problems to the One who is greater than they are.

We can celebrate the Jeep grant while praying for Ross's health. We can thank God for one answered prayer while asking Him to help us through another challenge.

We don't have to choose between gratitude and asking for help. We can do both!

HIS WORD IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN RICHES.

Psalm 119:14 tells us that the psalmist rejoiced in God's laws as much as in riches.

Now, most of us would probably be pretty excited if somebody handed us enough money to pay every bill, repair every broken thing, and leave a little extra for groceries!

There's nothing wrong with being grateful for financial provision. Believe me, Ross and I understand that very well!

But the psalmist reminds us that God's Word is a treasure that money cannot buy.

The Hebrew word Torah (תּוֹרָה) means instruction or teaching. 

God's Word isn't simply a collection of rules designed to make our lives difficult. It teaches us how to live, how to love, how to forgive, and how to walk with Him.

When life gets messy, Scripture gives us something solid to stand on.

When our emotions are running wild, God's truth helps us find our footing.

And when we cannot see the next step, His Word reminds us that we don't have to understand the entire journey to take the next faithful step.

That doesn't mean reading the Bible will magically make every problem disappear. It means we have God's wisdom to guide us while we work through those problems.

Our greatest treasure isn't a life without trouble. It is knowing the One who walks with us through it!

DON'T LET EVIL STEAL YOUR JOY!

Romans 12:21 gives us some powerful advice: Don't let evil conquer you; conquer evil by doing good.

Now, let's talk about that little troublemaker we sometimes call the slew-footed one! 😂

We know that Satan seeks to tempt, discourage, divide, and turn our hearts away from God. He would love nothing more than to see us become so overwhelmed by our circumstances that we forget who we belong to.

But we must remember that not every difficulty is a direct attack from the enemy. Sometimes life is simply hard. Bodies get sick, vehicles break down, money gets tight, and people disappoint us.

Regardless of where a challenge comes from, we can choose how we respond.

We don't have to let fear take control of our thoughts. We don't have to let frustration turn us against one another. And we don't have to allow disappointment to rob us of every reason to be grateful.

The Greek word nikaō (νικάω) means to conquer, overcome, or gain the victory.

Paul teaches us that we overcome evil by doing good. We don't defeat darkness by becoming darker ourselves!

When somebody treats us badly, we can choose kindness without pretending their behavior is acceptable. When we're discouraged, we can encourage somebody else. When we're struggling, we can still offer a helping hand.

And when our own strength runs low, we can ask God to help us respond in a way that honors Him.

Sometimes, doing good means helping someone else. Sometimes, it means forgiving. Sometimes, it means setting a healthy boundary. And sometimes, it means getting out of bed, saying a prayer, and deciding that today we will trust God one more time.

Victory doesn't always look like winning an argument or watching every problem disappear.

Sometimes victory looks like keeping our hearts tender when life gives us plenty of reasons to become bitter.

GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT!

Joel 2:28 contains God's promise to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. This promise is connected to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, described in Acts 2.

We are not expected to walk through this life relying on our own strength alone.

The Greek word dynamis (δύναμις) means power or ability. In the New Testament, it is often used when speaking about God's power at work.

We may be weak, but God is not weak.

We may be tired, but He does not run out of strength.

We may not know what to do next, but we can ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, patience, courage, and guidance.

And here's something we need to remember: relying on God doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing. Sometimes God answers our prayers through doctors, financial assistance, helpful friends, church family, and people who show up at just the right time.

That Jeep grant is a wonderful reminder of how much practical help can mean when we need it!

We can pray for provision and still complete the paperwork. We can pray for healing and still make the doctor's appointment. We can pray for guidance and then take the next sensible step.

Faith and action belong together.

And sometimes, the most faithful thing we can do is admit that we need help.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WRESTLE BEFORE WE SEE THE BLESSING.

Genesis 32 tells us about Jacob wrestling through the night before receiving a new name: Israel.

Jacob's life had been complicated. He had made mistakes, struggled with relationships, and spent years trying to secure his future through his own efforts.

But in this encounter, Jacob came face-to-face with a moment that changed him.

The Hebrew word Yisra'el (יִשְׂרָאֵל), or Israel, is associated in the biblical account with striving or wrestling with God. Jacob's new name marked a turning point in his story.

His circumstances didn't suddenly become effortless. But his encounter with God became part of his identity and his journey forward.

Have you ever wrestled with God in prayer?

Perhaps you've asked Him why something happened. Maybe you've prayed for an answer that seemed to take forever. Maybe you've sat quietly with tears in your eyes because you didn't have the words to explain what was happening in your heart.

My friends, God is not afraid of our honest prayers.

We don't have to pretend to be stronger than we are. We don't have to dress up our worries in fancy religious language. We can come to Him just as we are.

The Greek word proseuchē (προσευχή) means prayer. Prayer is not about finding the perfect words. It is about bringing ourselves honestly before God and seeking His presence.

Sometimes the answer comes quickly. Sometimes we must wait. Sometimes the circumstances change, and sometimes God changes our hearts as we walk through them.

But we can keep coming to Him.

We can keep praying.

We can keep trusting.

And we can keep believing that our struggles do not have the final word.

ONE BLESSING DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T FACE ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

So, here we are today, celebrating a grant for the Jeep while being concerned about Ross's back pain.

Are we grateful? Absolutely!

Are we concerned? Of course!

Can both feelings exist in the same heart? You bet they can!

Ross and I are learning, day by day, that we don't have to wait until every problem is solved before we give God praise.

We can thank Him for the provision we have received while continuing to pray about the things we have not yet figured out.

We can celebrate the open door without becoming discouraged by the closed one.

And we can remember that even when our plans change, God's love does not.

Our faith doesn't promise us a trouble-free life. It gives us a relationship with the One who will never stop loving us.

So, if today finds you wrestling with a problem, take a breath. Talk to God. Open your Bible. Ask for help when you need it. And don't forget to look around for the blessings that are already there.

Maybe your blessing is financial provision. Maybe it's a friend who checks on you. Maybe it's a doctor who listens, a church family that cares, or the strength to face another day.

Whatever it is, take a moment to thank God.

And remember, my friends, we don't have to understand everything God is doing to remain faithful to Him.

The King of the universe is still on His throne. His Word is still our guide. His Spirit is still at work. And His love is still greater than anything we will face.

The slew-footed one may try to discourage us, but we don't have to surrender our hope, our kindness, or our faith.

We will pray. We will trust. We will do the next right thing.

And we will keep our eyes on Jesus!

Today, let's celebrate the blessings God has given us, bring Him the burdens we are still carrying, and trust Him to walk with us through both.

Because God isn't finished with us yet!

Amen! ❤️

🙏 LET'S PRAY

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being our constant source of hope, strength, and provision. Thank You for the wonderful news about the Jeep grant and for making a way for us to take care of repairs that we could not manage on our own. We are grateful for this blessing and for the people who made it possible.

Lord, we also bring Ross before You today. You know the pain he is experiencing and the weakness in his legs. Please guide the medical team, help us get the care he needs, and give us wisdom about what to do next.

Father, help us remember that receiving a blessing does not mean we will never face another challenge. Teach us to be grateful in the good moments and faithful in the difficult ones.

When fear creeps in, remind us that You are still on Your throne. When our strength runs low, renew us through Your Holy Spirit. When we are tempted to respond to evil with anger, teach us to overcome it with goodness, wisdom, and love.

Help us treasure Your Word, trust Your promises, and keep our hearts turned toward You. Give us the courage to ask for help when we need it and the compassion to help others when we can.

Thank You for walking with us through every season of life. May our lives reflect Your goodness, even when the road ahead is uncertain.

We love You, Lord, and we place this day, our family, our needs, and our future in Your hands.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen. ❤️

🙏 THE LORD'S PRAYER (KJV)

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive our trespassers.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED AMEN BOBBA ❤️

Love, Penny 💛

 #Godisgood #faith #devotional