This Is NOT Dichotomy

"You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips....My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?  Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?"  (Psalm 21:2 & Psalm 22:1)

When one reads Psalm 21 and then Psalm 22, one notices quite a contrast.  Psalm 21 is mostly a Psalm which relates "victory."  Psalm 22 is a Psalm which relates a lot of "defeat."  The question remains:  What do we do with these life experiences?

Now I can pass on some "glory, hallelujah" encouragement, but I can also pass on an equal reality:  This is life, yes, life in Jesus Christ.  Every person in the Bible reveals this truth.  My encouragement to us today is that we live our lives in Jesus Christ as the Hebrews 11 people chose, "But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel"------- no matter what.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Our fathers trusted in You."  So do I.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2