“I will … make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope” (v 15).
This promise of hope comes in the context of a season of trouble caused by the wayward infidelity of God’s people. In Hosea’s metaphor, the unfaithful wife has been severely disciplined for her promiscuity; the nation of Israel for allowing Baal worship to flourish.
Read More trouble, hope, shameRead Reflect Have you ever felt absolutely inconsolable? Have you ever felt as if nothing and no one could possibly comfort you because of what you’re going through? I have. The pain, the anguish, the hurt and emotions in a moment can easily make us feel as if they might completely consume us. However, today’s […]
Read More trouble, comfort
Read Reflect I had just walked into the living room of this new friend who still seemed to be a stranger to me. His wife had us sit down in a place where they had laid out blankets on the floor. She then proceeded to serve us hot tea as he shared their recent tragedy. […]
Read More trouble, enemies, deliverance, God’s goodness
Read Reflect How amazing are the first eight verses of this passage? The psalmist is full of praise for the Lord and heaping all the victories onto God – we can’t help but feel inspired! Then, out of nowhere, bitter complaints and scornful grumblings right to the very end. Where God was once given victories, […]
Read More trouble, deliverance, defeat, feeling abandoned
Read Reflect Paul, the pastor-missionary, opens his heart and reflects on his vocation in 2 Corinthians. Some parts of the letter are intensely personal and reveal his inner struggles. The debate about the unity of the epistle (there are suggestions that it was composed of portions of two or more letters) does not affect our […]
Read More comfort, service, times of need, troubleRead Reflect A sleepless night, and the psalmist blames God. After all, God had promised his people that he would be kind, loving, and merciful to them, but trouble has come into his life anyway. The psalmist, though disappointed in God, nonetheless still turns to God in his present difficulties and boldly calls him to […]
Read More Exodus, trouble, the cross, lamentDoesn’t it sometimes feel like the world is falling apart? The morning news brings reports of murders, bombings, warfare, financial trouble and more. Our own lives experience illness – our own and that of others, fractures in relationships, difficulties at work. The list goes on and on.
Read More king, water, Near Eastern imagery, troubleThis is a great psalm! There’s a call to praise (vv 1-3), then four examples of how God helps and delivers his people (vv 4,10,17 and 23) and finally a beautiful summing-up (vv 33-43).
The lonely wanderers in vv 4-9 may look back to the wanderings of the people of Israel in the desert, after their escape from Egypt.
Read More kindness, trouble, distress, rescue, loveUnder the supervision of the governor Felix, accusations are brought against Paul by Ananias the high priest and his followers. They have an orator named Tertullus as their spokesman. He begins by heaping praise on Felix for providing a long period of prosperity and peace.
Read More trouble, integrity
