Psalms 8:1 and 31:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures very distracted by persistent tech issue with one of my websites. I hate it when this happens, but I’m sure you understand; sometimes distractions like this can be difficult to shake off and they follow you into the prayer closet. Perhaps I should speak for myself. (I can’t go into how seriously this problem affects me, but trust me, it is more than a mere inconvenience.)

He brought me to Luke 1 (see Luke 1:26-39), and as I read the story of Mary’s perplexing moment when she was told she would be giving birth to God’s Son, a thought occurred to me: sometimes perplexity is the prelude to productivity. That sounds quaint, and a bit of a reach to fit my situation, but it actually ministered some comfort to me. Often, it is through perplexing troubles that God does His greatest work in and through our lives.

Along the still waters, I pondered the fact that travail always precedes triumph. It’s one of the most persistent subplots of Scripture and of life. Triumph waits patiently on the other side to travail and only rewards those who through persistence prevail.

In the valley, shadowed by the Cross, I contemplated the travail of Calvary, and thanked GOD and our Saviour that He prevailed to triumphal declare: “It is finished” (John 19:30). When sin is “finished,” it brings forth death. But when Jesus “finished,” He brought forth life. In the Garden He travailed, on the Cross He prevailed, and then “up from the grave He arose, with a mighty TRIUMPH over His foes.” He spoke: “If any many will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I took it up and noticed it was not so heavy as it was earlier.

At the table, my Shepherd comforted me yet more, and we commiserated a while until it was time to enter the harvest. Goodness and mercy followed close.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7fpsjo-shepherds-pasture-travail-to-prevail.html