Monthly Articles

Devotionals

Tis So Sweet

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take him at his word; Just to rest upon his promise; Just to know, thus saith the Lord. No, that's not the words to the latest Southern Gospel song, but it is the words from a great old hymn of the church. And, Oh! What a message. We all go through troubles and trials. We all face situations that loom like Goliath over our lives. We all face mountains we have to climb. Everybody does. Becoming a Christian doesn't make you exempt. In fact, because becoming a Christian puts you on the devil's hit list, you're going to have some challenges. Jesus said we would. Remember, He said: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NKJV Look at this same verse in the Amplified Bible: "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" Wow! That says a lot more. Jesus warns us that we will have some challenges, but don't stop reading there!! So many people do. I've heard Christians say, "Well, Jesus said we were going to have tribulation," and just roll over and take whatever the devil dishes out. NO!! Read on!! He immediately tells us to "be of good cheer," and the Amplified adds "take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted". When we're going through the trial, it's so easy to get discouraged. I do understand that. It's so easy to let our eyes focus on the problems rather than the Answer. But keep reading!! He has already won! He has already overcome the world. I like what the Amplified says, "I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you." Glory! That's shoutin' ground!! We've all heard the sermons and messages that tell us to keep up that shield of faith, and stand firm in our confession, and I believe that. I love to preach that. But I was sitting in a Bible study not long ago, and a precious lady was sharing how she had just come through some trials. She said she tried to do all the right things, keep her faith up, watch her confession, and such, but she said she kept hearing that still small voice of Jesus in her spirit saying, "Child, do you trust me?" And every time she got entangled in "waging war" against the problem, she would hear again, "Child, do you trust me." She said it finally sank in to her that it was her job to believe, and it was Jesus' job to bring it to pass. It was all a matter of resting in, and trusting in Him for the outcome. Paul said when we're facing the fiery darts and having done all, to stand! (Ephesians 6:13) So many times I've had people ask me, "How do you just stand." For a long time, I don't think I knew. I thought it was just bucking up, digging in, and, bless God, making a stand. And yes, you do that, but that's not all. Standing becomes much less of an act of war when it become more a process of just watching God work. And that's where this great song really stirs me. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Or better said, 'Tis so sweet to know I can trust Him. Knowing that He keeps His Word, that He's going to come to my aid, to know it's my job to believe and His job to bring it to pass, lets me relax. It lets me "rest in the Lord." I'm resting in the knowledge that I can trust Him, and He is working on my behalf. As the song says, "Just to take Him at His Word." We have the Word. We have His promises. And we can rest in truth of His love and knowing that we can trust Him! 'Tis so sweet!!! Blessings, Bob Whitehead