Devotions to Bring Peace During Troubled Times

Devotions to Bring Peace During Troubled Times

Diane K Hiltz Chamberlain

Copyright by Diane K Hiltz Chamberlain

Smashwords Edition

Acknowledgement

I thank Jesus Christ, for these beautiful words that He has given me over time! If it wasn’t for His wisdom; then there would be no words to write. Jesus is the main source, for everything in my life and I know that just as these words have healed my heart and soul; they will also touch your heart in a very special way.

Through time, I have come to see that Jesus’ words are the only remedy and cure, for what ails me; whether it’s a physical or emotional need. His words also have a way of soothing the mind, from the cares and worries that attempt to take over our thoughts, while going through times of distress.

In addition, I would like to dedicate this book; to those who are going through very difficult moments of pain and heartache, in their lives. Our circumstances have a way of leading us down dark and dismal paths that can allow us to feel, as though we will never be able to press on in life; but when we use God’s words of hope to become medicine, to our hurting souls and spirits; then once more, we can see a glimpse of light; that can keep us focused on a powerful God, rather than a weak circumstance.

Introduction

Are you looking for the key that can unlock the circumstance; that has been attempting to keep you in bondage? Have you tried everything on your own; only to find yourself still at the bottom of your pit of despair? Come and find renewed hope and a way that will lead you out of your wilderness of despair, through Author Diane K Chamberlain’s newest devotional e-book…Devotions to Bring Peace During Troubled Times. The devotional writings within this book were first given to the author, as she faced overwhelming moments of pain and heartache and became the tools that would cultivate her heart and produce new and lasting growth.

Devotions to Bring Peace During Troubled Times is filled with 99 inspirational devotions that will shed light, on the darkest moment of despair; while replacing the difficult moments we experience in life; with a lasting peace that can only be found through Jesus Christ. The devotions can be used on a daily basis or they can be used as a means of inspiration, for a specific need. As the author found her own way of peace, during the deepest darkest moments of trial; she is now sharing these beautiful words; that were truly inspired by God; as a means of also reaching out to others, who live in despair.

Table of Contents

An Understanding God

Allowing Faith to Become our Sight

Good Cannot Produce Evil

Turning Our Complaints into Prayers

A Settled Back Feeling

God Sees a Way When We Don’t

Renewal through Christ Alone

Undefeated with God

Is Christ Clearly Seen through our Problems?

A Limitless Strength

God Always Has the Right Answer

God Already Holds the Answer to Our Needs

Escaping the Trap of Circumstances

Why Do We Feel Forsaken

A Greater Faith through Adversity

A Reason behind the Trial

Removing Our Focus Away from Despair

The Main Source of Provision

When God Allows the Fire…He Will Walk Us through It

A Constant Battle

Leaving Our Desires behind to Find Gods

A Personal Talk with God

A Reason to Rejoice Through Suffering

A Light that Shines through the Darkest Trial

Belief…a Tool that can Strengthen Weakness

Defeating Satan through a Positive Heart

A Short Season of Suffering Compared to an Eternity in Heaven

A Relationship Instead of Religion

Turning Away from Fear and Doubt to Focus on God's best

A Purpose for Suffering

Walking Away from the Past to Walk Towards Something Greater

A Good Friend

He’s Been There All the Time

Beginning a New Week with God

A Settled Feeling

God’s Footprints

Ignoring the Problem to Discover Sufficient Grace

God Crowns Our Efforts with Success

A True Source of Provision

Our Afflictions are never a Waste

Obedience Leads to Renewed Steps of Hope

Where is Our Faith?

Who are we Devoted too?

Is the Strength of our Circumstance Stronger than God?

We Are Nothing without God

Recognizing God’s Power

Gods Mercies Renew Us through Times of Adversity

Comforted that we may Comfort Others

Loving God through Affliction

Fear Can Become a Roadblock to Trust

Trusting God All the Way

Turning Our Worry into Praise

Is Money Our god or is God Our Provider

Gods Promise of Love

Using Our Afflictions in a Greater Way

Does God Have the Rightful Place He Deserves in our Hearts?

God is Closest to the One with a Broken Heart

Finding God through Insult and a Broken Heart

Resting assured that God is in Control

Worthy of God’s Love

God walks with us through the Seasons of our Lives

Loneliness Doesn’t Mean that God Isn’t Near

God Can Lift You from Despair

A Peace that Sustains

God Will Never Forget

Walking Away from Frustration to Discover the Peace of God's Presence

Renewed through Courage

Reflecting on God Rather than Adversity

A Sustaining God

God is Greater than any Circumstance

Destructive Feelings that can sever our Connection with God

A Cleansing through a Dirty Circumstance

The Armor that will protect us during Battle

Who’s in Charge of your Circumstance?

Where is our Circumstance taking us?

A Heavy Burden of Grief

How do we react to Despair?

Plans for Good not for Evil

Participating with God to Overcome

God’s Revitalizing Strength

God…Quietly at work for our Good

How is Christ Seen through our Circumstance?

Arms of Love that will carry us through Despair

God...a Mighty Shield of Defense

We Lose Something to Find Everything

Is your Circumstance Predicting Defeat?

A Humble Moment of Affliction

Arms of Love that Can Lift Us from Despair

Experiencing God’s Presence through Weakness

Connected to God through our Thoughts

Shaking Away the Dust of Circumstance

God...the Only Way

Committed to God through Adversity

Are We Suffering Needlessly

Are we fighting a Battle Alone?

An Anchor of Hope

Words that Work for our Good

A Loving Friend

A Persistent Faith

An Understanding God

People preach that we aren't supposed to go through affliction because we are sons and daughters of the Most High God; but yet we see how Christ became the example of weakness, so that His Father's strength could be felt and experienced through the cross.

Today I would like to share a special verse with you in II Corinthians 13:4, which reads...For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. Paul uses the death of Jesus Christ, to illustrate that as Jesus was crucified in weakness but rose with God's great power; we too will face weaknesses in our lives; that we may rise above despair with a greater power that can only come from God.

Jesus became the example for us to live by. He taught us how to pray and how to share His love with others, even during moments of despair. The road He traveled wasn't always an easy one but His Father in Heaven was with Him from the cradle to the cross and so He will always be with us too.

Through our weaknesses, we gain a new insight into God and the power He possesses...only if we choose to do so but when we choose to take the rugged pathway alone...always aiming to make life work our way, then it's as if we have left God behind, while we face the giant circumstances alone.

We know that God's power is greater than any circumstance; but what happens when we lose touch with God, while going through these difficult times in our lives? We find that the circumstance begins to reveal its power in a way that weighs even heavier on our spirits.

No matter what we may be facing today; whether it's a light burden or a heavy burden...we need Jesus Christ to ride the storm out with us. He was crucified through weakness, so He understands our weaknesses too. When we remain connected to Jesus, while facing these difficult moments in our lives, then He will teach us how to rise above defeat, as He did, when He rose from the grave.

May we continue to trust in a God, who understands our needs and is more than willing to lead us from despair into a time of victory! May you feel the presence of a mighty God in your life today!

Allowing Faith to Become our Sight

There can be times when it's difficult to walk through a circumstance that we don't understand. Many thoughts can cloud our minds, until they seem to have overtaken us and caused us to fall beneath the weight of the problem.

In I Corinthians 13:12, it reads...Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Life can have its moments, when our circumstances seem to scramble up our thoughts, until we feel like a puzzle that can't be pieced together. We see the circumstance clearly but when it comes to understanding the circumstance, we begin to feel as though there is a piece missing to the puzzle that could answer each question that's going through our thoughts. These moments in our lives, can allow us to feel as though we are standing before a mirror at one moment; seeing clearly but when we walk away, the pieces seem to scramble up and we begin to feel lost once more.

There is a cure though...a remedy that can help us through these moments and that is Jesus Christ. Even though Christ allows some things to remain hidden during these present times of trial, there will come a day when we will know all the answers to our questions. When we can trust Him to take control of our lives, even when we can't understand why, then we are truly walking through a dark circumstance, with the light of His faith, shining brightly before us.

God never said the road would be easy and He never promised that we would have all of our needs supplied according to our own desires. He's just looking for people who will press on, with strong faith, while loving Him and knowing, without a doubt, that He will never forsake us.

I pray that we will learn to accept God's desires for our lives and when we cannot see beyond the difficult moments; we will trust Him for what we cannot see. May we continue to feel the presence of a great and powerful God in our lives each day!

Good Cannot Produce Evil

In Lamentations 3:33-36, it reads...For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. (34) To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, (35) to deny a man his rights before the Most High, (36) to deprive a man of justice...would not the Lord see such things?

We live in a world, where God seems to be the One who is blamed for moments of affliction. People say things like...Why would a God of love and mercy do this? and Why has God done this to me, when He's supposed to be a loving God? If we were to look closely to these verses, we would see a picture of a God who does not long to see such things happen to us. It's not His desire to see us suffer and it's not God who brings on such moments of pain and heartache.

We need to remember that God is a god that represents all things good, so why would good try to create evil in our lives? We need to point the finger at the one who is truly evil and that one is Satan. Yes...God could stop these moments but what we need to remember is that sometimes God allows these moments into our lives to better us.

I can see it now...Satan laughs into the face of God, while he seems to feel as though he has control over one of God's children; but while he's laughing into the face of God...God is taking the evil that we have been afflicted with and He's molding it and reshaping it into something greater, that will cause us to rise above despair and see God in a much greater way.

We, as children of the Most High God need to look through eyes that lead us to a god of great wisdom, so He can work through our hearts, to reveal the true story and purpose behind our moments of affliction.

I pray that we will be able to find the reasoning and purpose behind the affliction; that we may walk closer with God and further away from evil! May we truly know and understand the will of God for our lives each day!

Turning Our Complaints into Prayers

Do we find ourselves complaining more about our affliction or are we turning our complaints into prayers? In Romans 12:12, it reads...Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

If we are living face to face with our affliction each day, then maybe we aren't talking to God enough. Our prayers to God should become like a daily journey, where we share each need...friend to friend, instead of just coping with our circumstance. We should feel close and at ease with God; to the place where we can share the good moments and the bad.

God is a god that can handle our prayers, no matter how dark and dismal they may seem. He longs for us to approach His throne and treat Him as a best friend...a friend who can do so much more than we could ever do.

There's a feeling of relief and peace that comes to a troubled heart, when we lay the whole circumstance on the line before God. We not only feel His peace; but