I am thankful to the thousands of readers who receive these daily devotions.  I am truly blessed for all of the letters and emails of encouragement I have received from all of my readers and supporters over the past week.  Thank you for all of your prayers and they are being felt. 

Over the past fifteen months I have gone through trial after trial and through many tribulations.    It is a very disconcerting truth for many of us that are Christians that even though we are children of God and we belong to Him, through faith in Jesus Christ, we still seem to experience troubles that have plagued us before we were even saved.  It seems that we somehow get entangled into situations that affect us, our families, our ministries, when we are totally innocent. 

I have to admit that I personally have been discouraged and bogged down in life’s cares lately.  There are many situations that I know in my heart have caused a major distraction on God’s desire and calling in my own individual life.  Most of these issues have been beyond my control, but have had a diverse effect on my livelihood and ministry calling.  Recent troubles have caused great anxiety for me and my family.  I have always strived to live a righteous life and do what is right in the eyes of God, but it seems that continual persecution is still ongoing, especially the more you attempt to live for God and fulfill the will of God.

I am a prayer warrior and I know God will answer my prayers.  I serve a God that I know will move the mountains that are causing these distractions.  Many of you have been praying for a special prayer request I recently made.  God reminded me this past week of a verse that Paul wrote and it has hit home for where I am in my journey through life.  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 

To be totally transparent, this passage is exactly where I am as a Pastor and as a Christian in my daily walk.  I cannot recall a more troubling time in any facet of my life than right now.  Thankfully God has given us the same solution He gave Paul and the saints we read about in the Bible.  The Bible says to cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).   I know through faith and through all of the prayers God has answered in the past that He will never leave me nor forsake me.  I also have received assurance through the Holy Spirit of God’s Word that He is going to tackle the problem and remove these obstacles.

I am living on two life statements and I hope that they will help you as you go through life dealing with troubles.  First, God has promised to “work all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Even in times of doubt, God is still working.  I have assurance already from the Holy Spirit that God will move anything that becomes a hinderance to His ministry calling.  God will provide a means of escape from our troubles, so I am living with this assurance.

Secondly, I am living on Romans 8:31 where God says, “If I be for you, who can be against you?”  God is bigger than our troubles.  Every person suffers with difficulties.  We must not let Satan deceive us into thinking our troubles are all our fault.  If we confess our sins, God forgives us.  The key is asking Jesus to take our burden.  Have you asked God to take that burden or trouble that you are going through?  The Bible says, “we receive not, because we ask not.”

Disclaimer: Pastor Shane's devotions are written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God and are never intended to be directed toward any one individual or group or any particular situation. These daily devotions are sent to thousands of subscribers through different mediums and is intended to proclaim truths from the Word of God. Thank you for taking the time to read and please continue to pray for wisdom as Pastor Shane's heart is to write in a spirit of love and to bring life application for every day living to those who are reading. ~Blessings!