Peace during suffering
The Sixth Day of Christmas
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the Lord above is mightier than these! ~ Psalm 93:4 (NLT)
I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world. ~ John 16:33b (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord defeats suffering -- commandeering it to accomplish his goals.
PRAYER:
Powerful Lord, even the suffering of life has to back down when you attack it. Thank you for being our defender. Help me to stop whining when suffering comes. Help me to embrace the peace that you give us -- especially during the difficult times. I'm going to live at peace because of you. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
