Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Renewed Faith

Encouragement, Faith

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.””
John 20:19

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples stayed in the upper room for fear of the Jews. Because they were disciples of Jesus, they feared they may be crucified next. But along with the fear, they were confused as to what to do next.

For three years they dedicated themselves to the ministry work that Jesus taught them. On top of the fear and confusion, the women reported to them that Jesus was alive and spoke to them. Fear, confusion and bewilderment!

All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, Jesus appeared to them in the upper room. There is a reason why His words were, “Peace be with you.” They were terrified. The doors were locked. And there appeared Jesus, alive and well.

Can you imagine what the disciples were feeling? How would you react?

There was a common response to everyone who witnessed Jesus after the resurrection. They were amazed and they wanted to tell others. They went from fear, confusion, and bewilderment to a new sense of amazement and excitement. The disciples were reenergized with faith and hope.

Are you energized with faith and hope? Are you eager to tell others that Jesus is alive? All it takes is to encounter a moment with Jesus and it makes all the difference in the world.

If you want to renew your faith and hope all you have to do is draw close to God. The Bible promises that whoever draws near to Him, He will draw near to them. (James 4:8)

Pray

Lord, I want to encounter You right now. Forgive me of my sins and refresh my faith and hope. I turn to You for everything I need.

Are You Questioning God?

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:1

Knowing God and His love is much more important than knowing why God is allowing something to happen in our life. Something amazing happens when we are faced with a difficult situation that challenges our faith. Sometimes God does not reveal the “why” but He does reveal Himself and His love.

The life of Job is a great example. Throughout Job’s suffering and questioning, God never revealed why He allowed Job to be tested but He did reveal His love to Job. Would you rather know the “why” or would you rather experience more of God’s love?

There are many times in our life that we tend to question God. “Why is this happening?”  “Why me, God?”  “Why us?” It’s a very natural question for for us to ask. Questioning God is not a sin. Doubting God is a sin, but asking God, “why?”, helps us to better understand the suffering or difficult situations we encounter. But is asking “why?”, the best response?

God allows us to endure hardships and trials for us to grow closer in our relationship with Him. God wants us to know Him and understand what He can do for us. When we better understand who God is, the better response we have to our sufferings. When we realize how much God loves us, there is no need to question Him.

If you are questioning God today, you should stop asking “why” and start asking “what”. “Lord, what is it that you are teaching me? What can I learn from this situation? What do you have in store for me?” This will change our perspective of what we are facing.

Pray

Lord, what do you need to teach me today? I want to know you more everyday. Help me to understand your ways and your thoughts.

God Is Up To Something Big

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.””
‭‭John‬ ‭11:32‬

There are great blessings for those who patiently wait on the Lord. Wonderful things happen in His timing and according to His will. Sometimes we just don’t understand why things are happening but we must remember that God is up to something big.

Lazarus had been dead 4 days when Jesus arrives to Bethany and He performs His last public miracle.  Mary and Martha came to Jesus and they were both an emotional wreck.  A messenger had been sent to tell Jesus to come quickly so He could heal their brother but He delayed and Lazarus died.  

As Mary and Martha were mourning the death of their brother, Jesus finally showed up. They were sad, angry and blaming Jesus for not healing their brother.  Little did they know something wonderful was about to happen.  

Jesus walked over to the tomb and cried out with a loud voice for Lazarus to come forth and instantly he came walking out of the tomb. Everyone who witnessed this miracle was amazed and Mary and Martha rejoiced.

Jesus is never too late. He is always right on time. He knows what is happening in your life but the timing is all part of His master plan.  Sometimes we rush the things of the Lord.  We think we know what is best and we don’t wait for the Lord to do His wondrous work. This is when we mess up and take matters into our own hands.  

Abraham made a similar mistake with Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and forced the birth of a son (Ishmael) before having Isaac ?  It caused many years of serious havoc.

Always wait upon the Lord because He is going to show up at the perfect moment and will always prove Himself to be true through His blessings.

Pray

Lord, give me a spiritual mindset to understand Your master plan. Help me to patiently wait for all things to come together in perfect timing.