As long as we are in this world and among all the evil we’ll be touched by some of it.”
              –Cliff Hudgins  (Viejo and the Ranger)

    “Have you not brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God when He led you in the way?”
              –Jeremiah 2:17 (NKJV)
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I sincerely apologize.  I have to run out early and hurried this morning.  Need to drive an hour for a special procedure.  The doc wants to make sure the heart is ticking all right.  So, I’m giving you a devotion by Lois A. Cheney from her book, GOD IS NO FOOL.

         Once,
         A long time ago
         God spoke to a man
         And the ground around the place where
         God was speaking was so holy that he made
         the man take off his shoes, just to stand
         there.

         Once,
         When God’s house was new,
         Only certain very special and very holy
         people were allowed into its center, where
         God himself lived for it was so holy.

         Once,
         When they were carrying God’s house
         From one place to another, one of the holiest
         parts, the part that held God’s very
         words, slipped, and a man
         (he only wanted to help)
         reached out to keep it from falling, and
         God struck him dead,
         for it was so very holy.

         And
         This holy God,
         From time to time,
         a long time ago,
         talked right out to certain holy men
         like Abraham,
               and Moses,
                  and David,
                      and others.

         Today,
         We have crosses for earrings
         And crosses for necklaces
         And wallet size pictures
         of Jesus
         in living color.

         We have little saints
         for our cars;
         And we sometimes
         start important
         football games
         and baseball games
         with
         little
         prayers.

         And the God
         the Holy God
         who spoke to a certain few,
         a long time ago,
         talks right out
         to no one…
         anymore,
         as far as I know.

         God have mercy on us.

A man of bad character will test how far you’ll go to take care of yourself.” 
               –Cliff Hudgins (Viejo and the Ranger)

     “Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”
               –2 Samuel 10:12 (NKJV)
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Ponder the following verse and see how it fits in today’s society…

          “Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.”
                   –Proverbs 17:13 (NKJV)

All those who call themselves Christians but want to serve a watered-down Gospel need to hearken to this verse.  It is dangerous to be playing around with the things that God calls evil.  It is dangerous to become a partner with them.  Your and your family are in danger if you do so.  There is no place for compromise or complacency in the Kingdom of God.
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In times of trials, troubles, and adversity we need to trust upon God’s Word.  Take a close look at Romans 8:28 and the words of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (taken from Walking With God)…

          “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
                   –Roman 8:28 (NKJV)

     “…The ways in which this promise works out are almost endless; but the principle that is common to them all is that there is but one ultimate good–the knowledge of God and the salvation of our souls.  Holding that in mind, we see that trials and tribulations work out in the following ways:
     They awaken us to the fact of our over-dependence on earthly and human things.  Quite unconsciously, oftentimes we become affected by our surroundings, and our lives become less and less dependent upon God, and our interests become more and more worldly.  The denial of earthly and human comforts and joys often awakens us to the realization of this in a way that nothing else can do.
     Our trials also remind us of the fleeting nature of our life here on earth.  How easy it is to ‘settle down’ in life in this world and to live on the assumption that we are here forever…  Anything that disturbs this sloth and reminds us that we are but pilgrims here therefore stimulates us to ‘set your affection on things above’ (Colossians 3:2).”
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David went through many and various kinds of storms in his life.  Contemplate the following by David J. Strand.

          “I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”
                   –Psalm 55:8 (NKJV)

     “…Storms will come into your life!  The storm may be the fire of battle, the frustration of financial reverse, the plague of illness or injury (i.e. Covid-19), the sorrow of death, the suffering of separation, the trial of temptation.
     You will seek shelter from the storm!  You may seek shelter in financial security, in feverish activity of one sort or another, in some physical overindulgence designed to hide one from the reality of the storm.  These shelters will fail and prove ineffective!  Worse than ineffective, they will prove in themselves to be destructive to your total person.
     ‘As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me’ (Psalm 55:16, NKJV).  This is the conclusion of the psalmist David as he sees the storm of adversity around him.  God is the only Shelter that will stand against the inevitable storms of life.
          Prayer:  Eternal and unchangeable God, I call upon you to be my guide in every avenue of life, so that when storms come, I may know the location of your sheltering presence.  Amen.”

How much better I am for what has come to me!  I’ll let the future take care of itself.  Whatever falls, I’ll be ready.”
              –Zane Grey  (Riders of the Purple Sage)

    “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
              –2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
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We sang this old hymn in church on Sunday.  It’s a good one for any time, but especially in these troublesome times.  One can always stand on the Word of God.  God’s promises are sure, they are solid and they do not waver.  However, I will say that promises carry with them commands.  Never say that God didn’t fulfill His promise; most likely you did not fulfill its command.  Let’s take a moment to ponder the powerful, inspiring words of R. Kelso Carter.

         “Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
         Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring;
         Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
         Standing on the promises of God.”

You can trust God!  You can trust Him no matter the situation.  Therefore, you can stand upon His promises.  I will not argue the theology of “rhema” and “logos”, but although all the promises are there for us, there are times when the Holy Spirit will direct you to a particular promise.  You can be sure it will come to pass.  I know that some have “life verses,” and I’m not opposed to them, but I have found that the Holy Spirit has directed me to certain verses at different times in my life, or even to study certain books.  The key, no matter the situation, is that God will fulfill His Word.

         “Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
          When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
          By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
          Standing on the promises of God.”

It is important to realize that the promises of God are for believers.  I might add that there are some exceptions, most of those dealing with judgment pertain to all people, but the promises of guidance, protection, security, heaven…are for those who are born again.  When you hear people scoff and mock it is because they have not experienced the new birth.  The first promise we have upon accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior is that of eternal life.

         “Standing on the promises I now can see
          Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
          Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
          Standing on the promises of God.

There are many promises in the Word of God.  Seek them, study them, learn them, lean upon them, claim them for they are yours as a child of God.  It is by knowing God’s Word that we can overcome the world and the evil one.  It is standing upon the truth of God’s Word that we have victory–daily.

         “Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
          Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
          Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
          Standing on the promises of God.”

So in these times of worry and fret, push them aside and rest secure in the promises of God.  When the storms howl and threaten to destroy, stand firm in the promises of God.  When the time of sorrow comes to the family take comfort in the promises of God.  When life in all its forms rears its ugly head in your direction and after having done all continue to stand–stand on the promises of God.

         “Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
          List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call,
          Resting in my Saviour as my all in all,
          I’m standing on the promises of God.

                        Standing, standing,
                        Standing on the promises of God my Saviour;
                        Standing, standing,
                        I’m standing on the promises of God.”

I didn’t tell you it’d be easy.  Nothin’ good in this life ever comes to a man easy.  You just got to be patient, and give a little.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (The Time It Never Rained)

    “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
              –James 1:2-4 (HCSB)
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This portion of Psalm 44 makes it seem as if God has rejected the people; that He has left them to be destroyed.  You were with us, and now…now you have forsaken us.  I like what F.B. Meyer says when we encounter situations such as this, “Sometimes God takes away all sensible enjoyment and encouragement to see whether we still cling to Him for Himself.”
    Life with God is not always pleasant.  We may and should have some tremendous victories, but then there are those times when we wonder where God is.  Why have you left me Lord?  Now there may be many reasons.  There may be sin in the camp, there may be personal sin, there may be circumstances with others involved in the situation, and then there may be the unseen happenings in the spiritual world–remember Job.  What was happening to him was because of a conversation in the spiritual realm and Job didn’t have a clue as to what was happening.

    9 – But You have rejected and humiliated us; You do not march out with our armies.
   10 – You make us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves.
   11 – You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.
   12 – You sell Your people for nothing; You make no profit from selling them.
   13 – You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
   14 – You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock[a] among the peoples.
   15 – My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,
   16 – because of the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger.
   17 – All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.
   18 – Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.
   19 – But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness.  (HCSB)

    God where are you?  We cry out for Him to answer, for Him to relieve our distress, for His love to cover us and again bring victory.  Ah, but what do you do if the victory does not come?  We live in a time where so many in the church say that all you have to do is claim your victory.  I will say that they do not live in the real world.  Sure, there are times when the Holy Spirit will direct you to do that, but what happens if there seemingly is no victory?  What happens when you rebuke the devil and he don’t “buke”?  Do you fall away from God, or do you still cling to Him?  Remember Job!
    Wait a minute!  Doesn’t Paul say that in all things we are more than conquerors?  (see Romans 8:36-37)  It is vital that we recognize that God is always working for good in our lives even when it seems He is not there or has taken a siesta.  “Negative circumstances are not a sign of His rejection of us; rather, He is working for the good.” (George O. Wood)  Our part in all of this is to obey and continue to trust Him.
    True, it is hard to trust the Lord when you are in pain.  It is hard to trust when sorrow floods through your being.  It is hard to trust when your world seems to be crumbling around you.  In all of this–TRUST.  The Psalmist says, verse 18, “Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.”  This must be our declaration in the midst of whatever calamity that may be coming our way.  

              “Redeem us from perpetual shame,
               Our Savior and our God!
               We plead the honors of thy name,
               The mercies of thy blood.”
                      –Isaac Watts