COPING WITH THE CALAMITIES OF LIFE

BIBLE PASSAGE:
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will 
hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
(Psalm 27:4-5)

MEDITATION:
The Psalmist had one main objective 
in life – to dwell in the house of the Lord.
This goal influenced his thoughts, his attitudes, 
and the way he lived his life.
We can see the God’s influence on his life, by the way he expressed 
confidence in the Lord being with him no matter what calamity came his way.

Do you have the same goal as the Palmist, 
and has it affected your life in the same manner?
We can experience many calamities in our lives, and we need the confidence 
of the Psalmist in knowing the Lord will help us during those times.
People get sick, some lose their jobs or homes, loved ones die, 
spouses may be unfaithful, and the list goes on and on.

It is not unusual to wonder 
why God allows us to suffer the troubles of this life.
However, we should realize that God does not take pleasure in our suffering 
and difficulties, but they can cause us to grow closer to Him; and when we 
endure faithfully, it can increase our faith and make us spiritually stronger.

God’s Son, Jesus Christ, suffered many things, 
so He understands our pain and can help us through our trials.
When we have faith in God and His plan, 
we can be assured that there is a purpose in what happens to us 
here on earth, even though it may not be obvious to us.

Coping with calamities can have a positive effect on us 
and our relationship with the Lord, as well as others.
As our spiritual strength is increased, 
we can become more kind and compassionate. 
We can develop a new awareness of the Lord’s presence, 
and cultivate a greater desire to serve Him.

Dealing with adversity is one of the ways we are tested, and tutored.
When we remain faithful through trials, 
our loving Heavenly Father has the ability to compensate us 
for any injustices we may have to endure in this mortal life.
With God’s help we can experience joy even in times of trial, 
and face life’s challenges with a spirit of peace – peace in our 
relationship with our Father.

When we remain faithful regardless of our circumstances, we will be rewarded 
in our life to come, in a way that is beyond our capability to comprehend. 
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived 
what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

ACTION:
Are you having difficulties, or going through a trial right now?
Maybe you have been hurt because a friend or loved one 
has disappointed you in some way?
Learn from the Palmist and make your highest priority to be with the Lord.
Develop the kind of confidence he had in the Lord keeping him safe.

This includes protecting you from the evil one and his attempts to use your 
calamity as a way of luring you into doing things that displease the Lord.
Don’t fall for his tactic of causing you to think that since remaining close to 
the Lord did not keep you from trouble, 
you might as well succumb to temptations.
When you allow him to affect you in this way, 
you become rebellious toward the Lord.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to be with me in all 
things, and for making all things work for good when I am faithful 
in my love for You. When I have troubles, teach me to better cope 
with them by remembering my desire is to be with You. Help me 
to learn from my calamities, so that I will grow spiritually and 
increase my relationship with You. Thank You, Jesus, for making 
it possible for me to one day see what has been prepared for me.”