Happy New Year!
I know what most of y'all are probably thinking "Hallelujah the year of 2020 is over!" To be honest I'm looking forward to this coming year! but then the thought may occur "what's going to happen bad in this year?”, especially considering how this past year has ended with so many bad potentials that have been set up for this coming year!"
I know it may make some anxious and cause a bit of worry, however I would like to encourage you all this morning that no matter what may happen this coming year God will be faithful! He has been and He always will be! He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
I have some friends that are going through a trial right now and one of them messaged me on my phone what the Lord has been dealing with his heart about, between a message he heard and his devotions. I thought it was a good thought! It will be great to share in a time like this.
"Loud But Little"
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the
SAME AFFLICTIONS are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered A WHILE, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:8-10
1. The problems in your life are little compared to God.
God’s Word says that your adversary the devil is AS a lion. That means that while he may be LIKE a lion, he’s NOT a lion. The devil can roar problems at your life all he wants, trying to get you to fear his roar. Yet, while Satan can roar all he wants, he doesn’t have the power to overtake or defeat us - Jesus has already won the battle for us!
2. It’s just a little while.
Our life is a very small amount of time compared to eternity. The sufferings we go through here are just a little while of testing, and they won’t compare to the JOY that’s coming!
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” - Romans 8:18
God controls the time! It’s so easy to forget that God sees outside of time. He’s on His timetable, not ours.
“A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.” - John 16:16
A little while?!? Dude, it’s been over 2000 years! We, as broken humanity, long for the perfection and wholeness with God that Christ will bring and restore when He returns. We pine and say “How long?!?”
God says “a little while”. He knows what He’s doing! We can trust His plan because he’s never failed!
It’s just a little while. Our faith journey will most often be strengthened in the darkness; while we learn to trust God in the “little while”.
3. You’re not the only one.
1 Peter 5:9 says (talking about the devil)
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the SAME AFFLICTIONS are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
I know it feels like we’re the only ones struggling sometimes, but we’re not!
Our brothers and sisters all around the world are struggling with the same afflictions and hardships we are! Jesus, who feels our pain, knows exactly what we’re struggling with.
Let me remind you today, that the devil is a counterfeiter. He tries to imitate God.
So while you may be hearing the roar of the devil who is LIKE a lion but is NOT a lion, you have a KING and LEADER with you who IS the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. He’s never failed you, never forsaken you! And HE PROMISES that He NEVER WILL.
1. The devil’s LOUD, but HE’S LITTLE
2. It’s just a little while
3. You’re not the only one!
Ignore the roar, and stay faithful my friends! Keep holding on to Jesus. It’s just a little while, and the best is truly yet to come!
- Josiah Wilhite
Thank you all for your time! Hope this was encouraging to you as it was to my friend and myself.
have a Happy New Year and may GOD bless!
- Joshua Danford