In the Word: His Word Is Sweet in Adversity

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. It is our desire that this series will aid you in getting in the Bible for yourself and discovering the joy that comes from hearing from God through the pages of His Word.

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“Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.”
Psalm 119:98

READ:

We are given reason in Scripture to understand it as sweet. First, Scripture makes us wise in adversity. The Word of God makes us wiser than what is hostile to our souls after loss.

Here are some examples:

• Do you have days of blaming yourself for the earthly loss of your child?
  Then, the Word of God makes you wise to know that “what is crooked cannot be made straight” (Ecclesiastes 1:15)—meaning, death is a sorrowful part of this world. How can it be escaped? Is it not a miracle to even be alive for a moment in this place? Next, while—yes—mankind’s sin ushered death into this world, still, suffering does not necessitate that personal sin is directly to blame. This is what Jesus indicates when asked whose sin was to blame for a man’s blindness. He says, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned […] but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). Some sweet wisdom is to receive His Word as comfort in a fallen world—while watching and praying for the glory of God.
• Do you feel guilt over moving forward with life since the earthly loss of your child?
  Then, the Word of God makes you wise to know that you are not leaving your child behind but only moving day-by-day closer to him or her. The day we lost our babies is the day we have hope. He “spoke” to each and every one of them: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” (Luke 23:43). Sweet is the wisdom of believing this reality of present life for our children, living and moving forward under its Christ-won light—instead of under the shadow of death.
• Do you feel caught in a cycle of wishing you could have died to join your child or thinking of how badly this life has become for you?
  The Word of God helps you to lift your eyes beyond your present circumstances to gain joy in how your life can serve as a testimony to Him. Consider these words from a biblical author who had experienced tremendous earthly suffering: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me” (Philippians 1:21-26). Sweet is the wisdom of God that allows you to look beyond yourself in loss to God’s glory and the good of others.

My list above of Bible verses that bring wisdom greater than what is hostile to the soul after loss is very brief. The true list is endless, for God’s Word is the place of endless treasures for our spirits. Grief feels uncontrollable when extreme sorrow and debilitating fatigue come unexpectedly. Scripture does not promise that if we dwell upon it and learn it, there will be no more moments of this sorrow or fatigue. Yet, it can make us wiser than the threats our souls meet. Scripture is the soothing balm for our souls—sweet even when life is unpalatable.

REFLECT:

• How has Scripture granted you wisdom in the face of what has been hostile to your soul?
• Read through the following verses and take note of how they inform us of the wisdom we receive from God in the midst of adversity: Psalm 25:4-5

JOURNAL:

Make a list of the areas in your grief where your soul is facing adversity. How does Scripture speak into each of these areas? Write out a prayer to God, asking Him to guard your heart through His Word against the hostility you face.

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Lianna (@liannadavis) is wed to Tyler and mom of two dear daughters. She is author of Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss (Hope Mommies, 2019). More of her writing can be found at her website.

We would be honored to share your story as a Hope Mom on our blog. On Saturdays we feature Hope Moms’ stories in order to showcase God’s faithfulness even in the midst of such deep sorrow. If you would like to have your story shared on our blog for this purpose, learn more and submit here.

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