Leaning on the word

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.    Psalm 119:50

 Lehman Strauss had preached the Word for many years when his wife was felled by a stroke. Elsie was an athlete and had never faced anything more than an occasional cold or a round of flu.

The doctors told Lehman that he needed to tell Elsie that they are going to be moving her. With sadness in his heart, he held her hand and relayed what the doctors said. Finally, he finished, adding, “But Elsie, God is in control!” Then, overcome with emotion, tears filled his eyes and he voiced the deep concern of his heart as he asked, “Is God really in control?”

What deeply troubles me today is that most people have neither studied God’s Word for themselves nor memorized it, storing it in their hearts. Then when trouble or difficulty strikes, they have nothing to serve as a bulwark, and the waves of doubt shatter the fragile house of their faith.

Lehman Strauss would tell you it’s hard enough to face struggles when you know what’s on the other side and who is in control, but for those who lack this great strength, it’s near impossible.

A 19th century hymn with words written by Lidie H. Edmunds puts it so well: “My heart is leaning on the Word, the written Word of God,/ Salvation by my Savior’s name, Salvation through His blood./I need no other argument, I need no other plea;/It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.”

If you have never made a serious study of this Book that tells us how to connect with God, better get started. It can help you when the dark winter of trouble comes.

Jesus said: “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:31-35