The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Very Present"
If we could find the born again believer who most experiences the peace and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ, might he dwell in a palace or a prison? On a bed of rest, or of pain? By a still pond, or a raging river? Gazing upon vistas of beauty from a lofty summit, or looking up from a dark chasm?
We do not know the answer. God can be known in all circumstances, situations, and conditions. However, David provides a clue of that which may be the case...
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).
The Bible never affirms our Lord to be "very" present in our pleasures. Only in troubles does He offer such promise and assurance. Certainly, this does not preclude the joy of our blessings. Happy moments bless us as gifts from the Heavenly Father who loves to please His trusting children. He will do so in eternity to come, when every tear will have been wiped away and a forever of indescribable joy in His direct presence graces us with "the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). We all rightly look forward to such an eternal state of blessing. Presently, however, God must be known in both happy and difficult moments. The Psalmist declares the "very" of our Lord's presence not in the former, but in the latter.
Somewhere just now, a believer may draw closest to the peace of the Lord Jesus from a venue that seems to offer no pathway to such grace. It does, however. The Apostle Paul wrote of a "peace which passeth all understanding" known by those who in their trials prayerfully and thankfully seek God's grace (Philippians 4:6-7). This experience of seemingly impossible tranquility can only be known in pain and difficulty. We understand the experience of peace in pleasure. By definition, however, peace that "passeth all understanding" can only be known in conditions where it seems such rest cannot be found. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" (Psalm 34:18).
The believer most aware of God's peace in this moment may well direct weeping eyes to look upon the Prince of peace who shines ever more brightly through tears. The places where peace seemingly cannot be may serve as the best venues to find the greatest measure of peace and joy found in our Savior. The Prince, the Prince of Peace, is that faithful, that willing, that able, and that present -"very present" - in those places of challenge He Himself knows so well…
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)
"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing."
(II Corinthians 6:10)
Weekly Memory Verse
"The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."
(I Timothy 1:14)
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