WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 01, 2022
TOPIC: IF PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE GETTING WORSE
BY T. O. BANSO
“My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!” (Psalm 25:17 New Living Translation).
Sometimes in life, people, including the children of God, could find themselves in situations where their problems appear to be getting worse. It is usually a frustrating period for them. They could have prayed, fasted, and done all they’ve been taught in the church to do, yet things seem to get worse. Both the children of God in such a situation and their pastors are usually in pain.
In this condition, other people will suggest all manners of solutions, including those contrary to the Word of God. Job’s condition worsened from losing his property to losing his children and then losing his health (Job 1:13-19; 2:7-8). That was devastating for a man God had testified that there was none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:8). In Job 2:3, God also testified that there was none like Job on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who feared God and shunned evil. Despite God’s testimony about Job, his situation worsened.
His wife was so concerned about the tragedy that befell him and told him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). She must have felt disappointed at God for the evil that came upon Job and, indeed, his family despite Job living to please God. Her suggestion seems to be an expression of her disappointment at God despite Job’s integrity. Instead of encouraging Job to persevere, she told him to give up – there was nothing worth living for again. But Job answered her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10a New King James Version). Satan must have used Job’s wife to tempt him but the Bible says that in all this, Job did not sin with his lips (verse 10b).
In Psalm 25:17, David said, “My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!” (Psalm 25:17 New Living Translation). The New King James Version renders the verse thus: “The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses!”
Maybe this describes your condition or that of someone close to you. What should one do if one’s condition or the condition of someone one knows is going from bad to worse? It could be because of a sin committed or it may not be as was the case of Job. Job had not sinned as his three friends who came to comfort him assumed and told him.
If someone’s worsening condition is because of known sins, the first thing he should do is to genuinely repent and confess his sins to God. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 New King James Version). If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
The next thing is to ask for the mercy of God, as David did in Psalm 25:16. Whether your worsening condition is because of sin or not, cry to God for His mercy if you have done all you know to do and the situation is getting worse. What else can you do but cry to God for mercy if the positive change you desire is elusive but things are getting worse? When someone is at his wit’s end, God’s mercy is what he needs more than ever before.
David cried to God, “Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted” (Psalm 25:16 New King James Version). In verse 18, he cried further to God to look on his affliction and pain and forgive all his sins.
If someone’s problems appear to be getting worse, he shouldn’t curse God and die. He shouldn’t hate God and say that He has failed him. That won’t help. Instead, he should cry to God for His mercy; cry to Him to save him in His mercy. David cried in Psalm 41:4, “LORD, be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You” (New King James Version). In Psalms 41:10, 56:1, and 86:3, David also asked God to be merciful to him.
Maybe you have been asking God for mercy. Continue to do so. Blind Bartimaeus didn’t cry for mercy one time. He continued crying for Jesus to have mercy on him even when many people warned him to be quiet. He cried out all the more until Jesus sent for him and He restored his sight (Mark 10:46-52). Cry to God for mercy and keep at it.
David lamented in Psalm 40:12: “For innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me” (New King James Version). But he didn’t stop at that. He pleaded with God in the next verse to deliver him and make haste to help him (verse 13).
Cry to God for mercy in your trouble and He will deliver you out of your distresses (Psalm 107:6). Don’t be like King Asa of Judah who even when he became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe, did not seek the LORD, but the physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12). He ignored God but trusted in man. However, man couldn’t help him; he died of his disease.
In Genesis 42:36, Jacob said, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me” (New King James Version). He had been made to believe that Joseph was dead. Simeon had been detained in Egypt and Benjamin, his youngest son, was to be taken to Egypt as demanded by Joseph, who, unknown to his father and brothers, was still alive but yet to disclose his identity to them. When Jacob said everything was against him, he didn’t know that God was working everything together for his good. He was later reunited with Joseph. His mourning turned into dancing. The Lord will do the same for you.
With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). Don’t quit on God. Cry to Him for mercy and continue to do so. After Peter had been walking on the sea, he began to sink when he looked at the wind. But he cried to Jesus to save him (Matthew 14:40). Jesus did. Peter didn’t drown. God knows what He will do in His mercy to help you in your situation. He could tell you what to do, send someone to you, or do something beyond your understanding.
Your worsening condition will not drown you in Jesus’ name. The Lord shall rescue you. The storm that is blowing contrary will stop in Jesus’ name. Whatever has been working against you will begin to work in your favour. Whatever condition seems to be going worse is arrested and the tide is turned in your favour henceforth. You will obtain mercy from the Lord.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and was raised on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, forgive me my sins and have mercy on me. By your mercy, let every problem that is going or has gone from bad to worse be arrested now; change my story from sorrow to joy. Let everything no longer work against me; let everything work in my favour. Turn my lamentation into celebration. Give me a new song. I pray that you will take away the clothes of mourning of everyone who is grieving because of life’s challenges, and clothe them with joy.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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