“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Grief is more than losing a loved one. We grieve the loss of anything that was important to us, including a home, a career, or our health. In the space of a few months, I lost my mother, then my music career, my home of 24 years, and what was left of my health. I had to move from a small town where I knew everyone to a large city where no one knew me or cared that I could no longer play the flute and piccolo in a symphony because I didn’t have the breath or the stamina. Nor would they know the places I held in my heart so fondly, or meet the loving parents I was privileged to live close to for so long.

During the dark months that followed these devastating losses, God patiently taught me not to look back. My previous life was gone forever. Now I look forward, toward the end of my journey and what awaits there, where my focus should have been all along. Nothing we do or have in this life lasts forever; only our soul is eternal.

If we keep that one truth in mind, it will keep us from looking back with regret. That way we can eagerly press forward toward the finish line.

Don’t let grief stagnate you. The best is yet to come. Believe it.

Lord, forgive me for looking back with longing at the past instead of keeping my eyes on the finish line. Give me the strength and discipline to persevere in my walk with you, until my very last step. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

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“When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.” Jonah 2:7

When Jonah Hit Rock Bottom

The prodigal son had to lose everything before he could “come to himself.” In a similar way, Jonah had to reach his lowest point. He found himself in the dark belly of a great fish.

Only then did Jonah remember the Lord and call out to Him.

A Painful Turning Point

My husband also reached a very low point when he was 26. He lost his job in a painful and embarrassing way. Soon afterward, he fell into a deep depression.

We used our small savings to move to a larger city. We hoped he would find better work there. However, his depression made the search difficult. He could only manage a part-time security job.

As his pain grew, so did his anger. His harsh words deeply hurt me. Finally, I took our two-year-old son and moved out.

The Wake-Up Call He Needed

Our leaving gave my husband the shock he needed. At last, he realized that he had hit rock bottom.

He humbled himself and returned to the Lord. In addition, he agreed to meet with a marriage counsellor.

Over the next several weeks, we talked and prayed together every day. Eventually, we renewed our marriage vows. By God’s grace, we have now been happily married for more than forty years.

Looking Up From the Lowest Point

People hit rock bottom when they reach the lowest point in their lives. At that moment, they may feel they have nothing left to lose.

For some people, this becomes a place of clear vision. They begin to understand themselves and their situation. More importantly, they see how much they need God’s love and mercy.

God can reach into the deepest pit. He can restore hope, guide us forward, and help us begin again.

If you are facing what seems like a hopeless situation, look up. Jesus is present, and He is reaching down to lift you.

A Prayer for Hope

Lord, may I never have to hit rock bottom before I see You clearly. However, if I lose my way in the darkness, help me look up. Remind me that You are near, and lead me back to You. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

The Pain of Letting Go

It’s All About Jesus

It will be Well

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“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

In the space of a few short months, it felt as if rocks were crushing me one after another. I lost my mother unexpectedly. My husband suddenly lost his job of 24 years. We had to uproot from our comfortable small town and move to a huge, unfamiliar city to find employment. Once there, we still had to be caregivers for two elderly relatives.

My health finally crashed from the weight of all these stones. Then our oldest son dropped a boulder. He had turned his back on God and wanted nothing more to do with him, mocking him and his Holy Word.

I believed the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:3 and had seen it fulfilled many times before. But how could I handle the spiritual death of my firstborn? Did I fail as a mother? I cried out to God from the anguish of my heart.

God faithfully provided a way of escape in a most unexpected way. A ten-year-old boy in our new church had recently lost his beloved grandmother. He swiftly “adopted” me as a surrogate, even sitting next to me in the pew. That physical contact from a bereft and loving child saved my faith from being hopelessly crushed.

While our prayers may not be answered in the way we want, God will respond to our cries. Instead of despairing that things are not turning out as we hoped, let’s keep our eyes open for the ways he begins to lift the weight from pressing on our lives and brings relief, stone by stone.

Lord, help me to grow in my faith and trust that you will always provide a way of escape when I am tempted to despair. Help me remember to simply look for it! Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

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God Is Faithful by Phil Ware

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The post The Rock Pile appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” Mark 1:30-31

An elderly Christian I once knew had multiple health problems, the worst being his heart, which caused him pain and shortness of breath. As a young man, he’d been a country preacher, and for several years he was the chaplain at a tuberculosis sanatorium. He loved to talk about the “olden days,” and I loved to hear his stories!

Though Brother Neal lived with constant suffering in his final years, he never complained. He kept looking for ways to serve and encourage others, both large ways and small. He did more than always greet everyone with a friendly smile; when it came time to move into assisted living, he found a struggling young couple who needed a place to live and sold them his small house below market value, carrying the note for them.

Neal went home to be with the Lord several years ago, but his example of a servant’s heart still encourages and inspires me today, especially in my health struggles. Simon Peter’s mother is another example that reminds me I can be of use to God’s Kingdom no matter what my physical state is.

When we’re sidelined by illness or other trials of life, we shouldn’t allow it to keep us from serving God and one another in every possible way. Even if it’s just the encouragement of a friendly smile.

You never know who will benefit from the faith you show, especially when things are not the best at the moment. You can always be used by God. It just may be the healing you need as well.

Lord, help me to love you and your people so much that, like Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, my desire is to serve rather than make excuses why I can’t. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Serving the Lord Wholeheartedly

Serving Faithfully and Fully

With Your Whole Heart

The post A Servant’s Heart appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

While we were driving from Florida to Texas on I-10, our planned schedule came to a screeching halt in Louisiana. After waiting for an hour, we crawled en masse to the next exit where law enforcement diverted all westbound traffic off the highway. We saw why. An 18-wheeler lay on its side, blocking all lanes.

In that swampy area, the only parallel road had two lanes. We kept crawling for another hour, sandwiched between other vehicles, until the next exit was accessible. At first it was maddening to get so behind schedule. Then we started noticing trees, flowers, birds, interesting houses, and yard art, things we wouldn’t know existed had we kept driving 70 mph on the highway.

In the same way, our lives take unexpected detours when we experience job loss, a forced move, serious illness, or death of family or friends. We have choices: we can grumble, curse, or scream about the unfairness of changing our plans, or we can trust God, pray for wisdom, and accept the new route open to us.

For all we know, God might have placed that detour in our path, either to prevent a worse tragedy from occurring, or to experience unforeseen blessings along the way.

Lord, help me put my trust in you when my plans fail and grief and disappointment result. Let me accept the unexpected detour graciously, with faith that you will guide me safely through my journey. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• 14 Verses for when it Feels Like God is Silent
• Personal Revival
• The Roadblocks of Life by John Grant
• Dealing with Discouragement – by Charles Stanley

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“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.” Psalm 71:9

During my first year of college as a music major, our chorus sang “Go Not Far From Me” by Zingarelli, which is based on verses in Psalm 71. The first part of the song is slow and somber, written in a minor key; the second half modulates to a major key, brighter and filled with joyous praise. Over forty years later, I can still sing my soprano part because it’s such a beautiful, unforgettable song.

At age eighteen, I had no idea what these powerful words meant, but now, I finally understand them in a personal way.

Aging brings not only physical challenges but emotional and mental ones, too. A lifetime of disappointments, betrayals, and even tragic losses can weigh upon one’s soul. If we don’t keep our spiritual focus on Jesus and are not constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit, our souls can dry up and harden in the desert of bitterness.

Like the psalmist, we too can pray to our Father, who will strengthen us when we are weak and powerless. In Isaiah 46:4, he promises,

“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs, I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

Along with our supplication to God, we can continually praise him for all he has done for us. Psalm 71:8 is a good reminder:

“My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all the day.”

It’s amazing how quickly our spirits can revive from despair to joy when we remember to thank and praise God for his loving care.

Almighty Father, please don’t forsake me as age slowly steals my strength. Help me to trust utterly in your strength. And help me remember to daily praise you and thank you for all your mercies and blessings. Amen.

Whatever your age and whatever the state of your health, invite the Holy Spirit to keep your eyes focused on Christ and his amazing love in both your working and in your resting moments

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

•  God is Faithful
•  God Demonstrates His Love

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

For years I puzzled over the meaning of these verses in 2 Corinthians 12. They didn’t make sense. How could power be made perfect in weakness? And why would anyone boast about being weak?

Then I had to subject myself to nuclear-bomb strength chemo in order to save my life from aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 46, and these verses became crystal clear. Before cancer, I boasted in my own strength. I was a control freak and fiercely independent. I didn’t “need” anyone’s help.

But when chemo made me helpless as a newborn kitten, I finally realized control was an illusion. I humbly learned that I had no power of my own. I had zero strength and learned to lean fully on God for the first time in my life.

In weakness I finally rested solely in Christ’s power and could honestly “boast” in the grace of God rather than in my own feeble efforts. As a result, my faith grew stronger than it ever would have if I’d remained in my “independent woman” state.

What are you struggling with today? You are not meant to go through this alone. Draw closer to our Lord instead.

In your weakness, lean on God’s holy strength. He won’t let you down. Instead, he will lift you up and may bring people into your situation to help you. If so, thank him, and them.

Father, I thank you for all the times I am weak and helpless so I can be reminded how much I need your strength. Help me never to rely solely on my own meager efforts, but only in your all-sufficient grace. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

Would you like to know God and have him walking beside you, helping you, as you go through this tough journey?  You can begin this personal relationship with God today if you sincerely want Him to give you direction from now on.

Why don’t you ask Jesus Christ to come into your life,

“Lord Jesus, I need You!  I am hurting, confused, feel rejected and emotionally scarred. Will you please come into my life, forgive my sins, heal my body, soul and spirit and walk beside me as I walk through this tough journey.  Would you please direct my life from now on?  Thank you! Amen”

The post My Weakness, God’s Strength appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” 1 Thessalonians 1: 6-7

I used to tell my children that we needed to be careful about what we said and did because someone was always watching us.

We could be a good example and encourage others to be Christ-like, or we could be a bad example and discourage others from learning about or growing in Christ.

Now that I am older, I realize we’ll never be perfect examples. Life can wear us down and suck the joy out of our hearts.

But God can use us anyway. Seeing how a sister in Christ handles financial difficulties with a smile on her face or how a brother faces a poor medical prognosis with courage and faith can strengthen us during our challenging times. And that strengthening can then help others.

Jesus wants believers to be an example. In the Sermon on the Mount, he said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). We can’t hide from others. Someone is always watching. But even if we’re not perfect, we can still be an example of faith to others if we try to reflect Jesus.

What do others see in us? Do we show them how to answer grumpy people with kind words? How to bear loss and suffering with patience? How to be content when turmoil swirls all around us?

Let’s seek to reflect the light of the Gospel to a dark and sinful world and give courage to Christians in every place by our examples of faith, joy, and love.

Jesus, thank you that your Spirit enables me to express his fruit by faith. Send others to show me how to trust in him to live in and through me so that I can, in turn, show others. Together, we can all learn how to be a great example of your love, joy and peace in the lives of others as we walk in your Spirit’s strength. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

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Beware! We Have Many Observers

Harsh Judgments Can Kill One’s Spirit

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“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  2 Kings 6:16

When the king of Syria wanted to seize the prophet Elisha, his army of horses and chariots surrounded the city of Dothan where Elisha lived. The prophet’s frightened young servant asked, “What shall we do?” Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes to see the heavenly host with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha! No wonder the prophet was so fearless!

We can be fearless like God wants us to be if we, like Elisha, remember who is on our side—The Lord of Hosts and his mighty angelic army! The Bible is filled with examples of God granting victory to those who appear to be weaker than their enemies. The account of the shepherd David slaying the mighty Goliath is one well-known example. David’s fearlessness because of his utter trust in God is humbling when I let fear paralyze me.

This year, the world has been turned upside-down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, violent protests, riots, and hatefulness directed against those who believe in Jesus Christ. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and allow fear to gnaw a hole in our faith.

But God is on his throne, no matter how powerful the demonic forces in the spiritual battle appear. Satan has already been conquered by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who place their trust in the Lord are

“more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

We need not fear anything or anyone on earth. Instead, we should strive to honestly say,

“To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Dear God, please forgive me for allowing fear to keep me from serving you wholeheartedly. May I never forget that you are all-powerful and desire more than anything to save souls. Help me see your chariots of fire so I can always remember you are with me to protect me from the evil ones. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Four Grizzly Bears – What are the Grizzly Bears (fears) in your life?
• Fear, Faith and Migraines – Renewing your mind can help renew your body
• How to begin a relationship with God

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

When I was a girl, I was fascinated with biology. I put a caterpillar in a jar and fed it daily, hoping to see it change into a butterfly.

One day, I came home from school and found the caterpillar had attached itself to the side of the jar by a tiny anchor. It was squirming and writhing, as if it was in pain. The caterpillar’s body seemed to melt while its skin was pushed down. Before my eyes, it transformed into a chrysalis. Then the old skin fell off while the new continued to change into a firm casing. Inside the protective shell, its body kept changing over the next few days before the butterfly emerged.

In the same way, our lives of sin and rebellion are cast aside when we are transformed by God’s love and mercy into a beautiful vessel recreated by the Master’s hand, for his use. It can be painful to give up the desires of the flesh and submit our will to God’s, but he lovingly protects us during our transformation. Our new creation can be a source of inspiration to others, leading them to Christ.

Heavenly Father, help us to seek to be transformed into a beautiful reflection of your love and glory. And once transformed, help us never to forget to offer thanks for making us more like Christ. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  How to Be Confident You Will Go to Heaven When You Die

•  How To Be Sure You Are a Christian (video and longer explanation)

•  Salvation Explained

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“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7

I don’t remember when I first noticed the questions marks in an old hymn. Once I did, I better understood the words of the song, which helped me begin to understand God’s peace. The hymn is “Peace, Perfect Peace” written by Edward Henry Bickersteth in 1875, and these are the questions asked:

• • • “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?”
    • “Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?”
    • “Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?”
    • “Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?”
    • “Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?”

How can we have any peace at all when discouraged by the darkness of this world, overwhelmed by our busy lives, crushed by grief and loneliness, and anxious about the future? The answer given in each verse of the song is the same as Philippians 4:7 — in Christ Jesus. Only in him can we find true peace. Additionally, Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

It’s not possible for our limited human minds to fully understand God’s gift of peace to our weary souls. Nonetheless, when we give our burdens to God in prayer through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can experience that gift. After all, God wants his children to have peace of mind! And once we have it, that peace shines like a beacon to those trapped in the turmoil of this “dark world of sin.” Not only will we live a better life, we can draw others to Jesus so they can have it, too.

Father, help me to seek your peace through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and through my relationship with Jesus. Please let me remember it’s not only for my soul’s benefit but for others desperately needing the peace that only you can give. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

The Importance of Knowing God

Fully Committed to God

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“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’ But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.’  2 Kings 5:10-11

Do we ever think God’s instructions to us are too simple, that there should be “more to it ”?

The Syrian army commander, Naaman, was powerful and successful, though burdened with leprosy. When a servant girl mentioned the prophet Elisha could cure him, Naaman sought him. But the cure was not at all what Naaman expected. He assumed Elisha himself would use great power and ceremony to dramatically take away the leprosy. It made him angry that he was told to wash seven times in the Jordan River instead. Not until he listened to the wisdom of his servant did he follow the prophet’s instructions and was made clean of his dreadful disease.

I have wanted to be a foreign missionary since I was sixteen years old but it has never been God’s will for me to serve him in that way. In my pride and desire for the praise of others, I “thought” I should be doing something “more important” than being a wife, mother, teacher, and neighbor. But that not only questions God’s wisdom — it also takes the spotlight off him and shines it elsewhere. When I did that, I no longer served God. I put my thoughts above his and served myself.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).

Even if God’s purpose for us is not what we “thought” it should be, he treasures our trust and our willingness to follow him. It is as simple as that.

Father in heaven, help me accept that your wisdom is so far above mine that I can’t know what’s best apart from you. Thank you for your mercy and guidance, and may I humbly submit my will to yours. Amen.

By Katie Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

God’s Plan – A Study on God’s Destiny for Me?

Stepping Into a Personal Revival

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post Behold, I Thought appeared first on Thoughts About God.