Nougat 25

What are some expressions used to speak about trials or troubles in your context? How helpful are they when trials come?

One that comes to mind is ‘when trouble ketch man, pikney shut fit him’, which suggests that we become extremely flexible in the face of adversity.

Another is a chorus that invites us to praise God in all our circumstances. It says, ‘when troubles in yuh life, sing praises’. Of course, some may argue that it’s easier said than done. But we have a secret weapon. Today’s Holy Nougat tells us how.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

[18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Don’t Look Now

In high school, I remember a few of us friends would place our pointer finger to the side of our eyes, pretending that if we blocked our view of someone, then they couldn’t see us. We knew differently, but it was fun to pretend that we had the power to be invisible.

Self-Check

Have you ever had moments like that – where you wished you could simply cover your eyes and your problems would disappear? What did/do you do on such moments?

Application

Siblings, if we extended our fingers and minds a bit, we find that the originator of the game was on to something. For, as believers, we know (or ought to know) that ‘Jesus is only a prayer away.’ Whether we’re familiar with the song or not, it directs us to Y’shua as the solution to our problems. That’s not just a cliché. It is backed up by experience of God intervening miraculously in our circumstances.

Our Nougat says, ‘we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen’. I’d argue that the unseen we focus on is truly Y’shua. It is worth remembering that our inability to physically see Y’shua or God’s Spirit doesn’t negate their existence. Rather, the evidence of their presence in our lives is found in the various miracles we experience. That’s what empowers us, like Peter, to zero in on the One Who is able to keep us from faltering.

This isn’t a passive act. We recognize that covering our faces doesn’t really change the situation. But God can. That’s why prayer and praise are important. We remind ourselves of God’s provision and intervention in our lives to bolster us up as we await God’s intervention and direction. Or, as David directs, we say, ‘my soul shall make her boat in the Lord’ (Psalm 34:2), even as we take the situation to God, requesting intervention and direction. Depending on the gravity of the situation, we can share with a prayer partner, or we might fast about it. This then places our focus on God as the solution rather than on the worrisome situation.

Assignment

– As we go through the day, let’s praise our way through our situations.

– Read Psalm 34 or 103 aloud to encourage ourselves in the Lord.

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May all we seek be found in Christ