God’s grace is greater than any grief we may ever have to endure. Psalm 107 describes the greatness of His grace with the Israelites.

First, like them, we are pilgrims: “They wandered in desert wastelands...” We are all “wandering” as pilgrims most of the time. We struggle to determine right from wrong and often make improper decisions because we have left God out of our thoughts. We have a great example of what to do when this happens: When the children of Israel realized that they were wandering, they returned to the Lord and asked for His directions. He would always welcome them back and point them, once again, in the right direction. Remember, too, the words of Jesus: “I am the way.” Wherever or whenever we wander, His grace is always available to welcome us back.

Second, we are all prisoners: “Some of them (were) prisoners, suffering in chains.” Sin fascinates for a while, but it soon fastens us in chains that keep us from enjoying God’s best. Habits are easy to form but difficult to forsake. But when the Israelites called upon God to free them, He always “snapped” their chains, and released them from their bondage. Whomever God saves, His grace sets free.

Third, we are often overwhelmed with grief when persons we thought loved us turn on us and hurt and harm us. “...give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love.” We have all suffered unbearable pain when someone whom we thought cared deeply for us turned against us and tried to destroy us. Being abandoned is difficult to survive alone. Thank God Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” We have His promise of His never-ending peace and presence, care and compassion, healing and hope. 

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, that You love us, care for us, and will always be there for us. Thank You for Your much-needed, always available love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Psalm 107:4 

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God’s grace is greater than any grief we may ever have to endure. Psalm 107 describes the greatness of His grace with the Israelites.

First, like them, we are pilgrims: “They wandered in desert wastelands...” We are all “wandering” as pilgrims most of the time. We struggle to determine right from wrong and often make improper decisions because we have left God out of our thoughts. We have a great example of what to do when this happens: When the children of Israel realized that they were wandering, they returned to the Lord and asked for His directions. He would always welcome them back and point them, once again, in the right direction. Remember, too, the words of Jesus: “I am the way.” Wherever or whenever we wander, His grace is always available to welcome us back.

Second, we are all prisoners: “Some of them (were) prisoners, suffering in chains.” Sin fascinates for a while, but it soon fastens us in chains that keep us from enjoying God’s best. Habits are easy to form but difficult to forsake. But when the Israelites called upon God to free them, He always “snapped” their chains, and released them from their bondage. Whomever God saves, His grace sets free.

Third, we are often overwhelmed with grief when persons we thought loved us turn on us and hurt and harm us. “...give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love.” We have all suffered unbearable pain when someone whom we thought cared deeply for us turned against us and tried to destroy us. Being abandoned is difficult to survive alone. Thank God Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” We have His promise of His never-ending peace and presence, care and compassion, healing and hope. 

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, that You love us, care for us, and will always be there for us. Thank You for Your much-needed, always available love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Psalm 107:4 

Please leave a comment and tell us how you were helped by today's devotional!

Robert Lowry, a pastor in New York City, was going through a difficult time during an epidemic. Many of the suffering would die in a matter of hours. Day after day he stood beside the graves of those who had died and tried to give hope to their loved ones. On one occasion, however, his faith was deeply challenged and he cried out to God, “Shall we meet again?”
Really? Can a gracious God do this to good people? We are parting at the river of death. Will we ever meet again at the river of life? He took his doubt seriously and began to read his Bible on his knees. Finally he found God’s answer, went to his organ, sat down and wrote the words and music to the great old hymn, “Yes, we’ll gather at the river that flows by the throne of God.”

The Steds were enjoying a beautiful day of sun and sand on the Long Island Sound. Suddenly, they heard a cry for help. With no though for his safety, Mr. Sted ran into the water to rescue the boy - but failed. Mrs. Sted’s heart was broken when she returned to her empty home.

She fell on her knees and began to pray. God heard and helped her and gave her hope. She sat at her piano and wrote the beautiful hymn, “‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus”

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Bicker, missionaries to Peru, were waiting to board a ship that would take them home for a vacation. Just before boarding the ship, Mr. Bicker was killed in an accident. To comfort his wife, and now fatherless children, Dr. Oswald Smith wrote the poem, “God Understands and Cares.”

Said the Psalmist, “Sing for joy on beds of pain.”

Prayer: How grateful we are Lord, for the assurance of Your presence and peace, even when life seems senseless. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 149:5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

God’s grace is greater than any grief we may ever have to endure. In Psalm 107 His grace is made plain.
First, we are pilgrims: “They wandered in desert wastelands...” We are all “wandering” as pilgrims most of the time. We struggle to determine right from wrong and often make wrong decisions because we have left God out of our thoughts. We have a great example of what to do when this happens: When the Children of Israel realized that they were wandering aimlessly they returned to the Lord and asked for His directions. He would always welcome them back and point them, once again, in the right direction. Remember, too, the words of Jesus: “I am the way.” When we wander, His grace welcomes us back.

Second, we are all prisoners: “Some of them (were) prisoners, suffering in chains.” Sin fascinates for a while but it soon fastens us in chains that bind us from enjoying God’s best. Habits are easy to form but difficult to forsake. But when the Israelites called upon God to free them, He always “snapped” their chains and they were released from their bondage. Whom God saves His grace sets free.

Third, we are often overwhelmed with grief when persons we thought loved us turned on us and hurt and harm us. “...give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love.” We have all suffered unbearable pain when someone whom we thought loved us turned against us and tried to destroy us. Being abandoned is difficult to survive alone. Thank God Jesus said, “I will never leave you or forsake you!” We have His promise of His never-ending presence.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You love us, care for us and will always be there for us. Thank You for Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 107:1-43 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains,

One day, John promised us, “God will wipe away all tears.” Sickness and sadness, sorrow and suffering - whatever causes people pain or problems - will be gone, banished forever. We all look forward to that special day!

So it is strange that David said that “God will record my sorrows, and list my tears on His scroll and in His record.” Whatever could be God’s reason for doing this to David? And might He do the same for us? Does it make sense that God would make a permanent record of grief - David’s grief and our grief as well?

God knew of David’s suffering and He knows when we suffer. Our God is a God who cares for us and has compassion for us when we are gripped with grief. Why keep such a record?

Because God will respond to our suffering!

Too often when we are overcome with illness or are struggling with sickness, we turn to the products we have stored in our medicine cabinet or to the countless remedies on the shelves of our pharmacies. And if and when they do not work we turn to a physician and seek his counsel and cure. It is the normal thing to do.

Unfortunately, all too often we only pray when all else fails. It is as if God was not aware of our sickness or had no time to be concerned with our health.

Not so, says David. God has a permanent record of each and every tear that falls from our eyes because they matter to Him. This is His way of saying, I do care!

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for Your constant concern and never-ending care. We praise You for our well-being. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 56:8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?