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God’s purpose in every trial

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JEFF TURNER

The world is filled with suffering. People face natural disasters. Others deal with sickness, pain, and loss. These hardships affect people everywhere, including those who follow Christ. That statement may not match what some have preached, but I choose to stick with what the Bible says. Faith in God does not remove every trouble from a believer’s life. From reality comes an important question: If God cares for His people, why are they not always protected from suffering?

The Bible gives us guidance in Romans 8:28. The verse teaches that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The phrase “all things” means exactly what it says. It includes every part of life. Good experiences are part of it, but so are painful and confusing moments. Even events that seem neutral or unimportant are included. Nothing is outside the reach of God’s work in the life of a believer.

This doesn’t mean that every event is good by itself. Some situations bring grief, loss, or fear. At times, there may be no clear benefit that can be seen right away. However, the promise is that God brings these different parts together to achieve His plan. I heard a preacher once describe this as threads being woven into a tapestry. A single thread may not show the full design. Some threads may even appear dark or out of place when viewed alone. Yet when all the threads are brought together, they form a complete picture. In a similar way, God uses every detail of a believer’s life to accomplish His purpose.

For those who belong to Christ, their future with God is already secure. Their eternal destiny has been settled through Him. Because of this, nothing in life can work against that final outcome. Hardships may come, but they cannot remove salvation or destroy true faith.

There may be seasons when we can’t see any good coming from a painful situation. Still, the promise of Scripture remains. God continues to guide every circumstance according to His will. What seems confusing or harmful in the moment will one day be seen as part of His greater plan.

Why did Jesus pray If He is God?

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

One of the most puzzling questions Christians encounter is this: if Jesus is God, why did he need to pray? It seems contradictory at first. Why would God pray to God? The answer reveals something beautiful about who Jesus is and how God works.

To understand Jesus’ prayer life, we need to start with who he has always been. Jesus is the eternal Son of God, existing in a loving relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit from before time began. He is described as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is what Christians call the Trinity. Jesus didn’t become the Son of God when he was born in Bethlehem. He has always been the Son, sharing the same divine nature as the Father. His prayers don’t reflect inferiority or suggest he’s somehow less than God. Rather, they reveal the beautiful communication and fellowship that has always existed within the Trinity.

When Jesus came to earth, something remarkable happened. The eternal Son of God became fully human while remaining fully God. He didn’t stop being God, but he took on human nature completely, except for sin. By becoming the God-man, Jesus lived in a way that was appropriate to his humanity. He experienced hunger, tiredness, joy, and sorrow. And like any human being, he related to the Father through prayer. This is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith: Jesus demonstrated his perfect humanity and dependence on God through prayer. Although he is fully God, in his incarnation he embraced every aspect of what it means to be human. As the perfect man, he lived in complete reliance on the Father’s will, using prayer as the primary way to express this dependence. This is in sharp contrast to Adam, who failed by seeking independence from God.

Yet Jesus was no less God when he prayed. His prayers didn’t deny his divinity. They showed us what perfect fellowship with God looks like from a human perspective.

Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus depended on the Father for power and wisdom. He prayed to receive divine guidance in carrying out his work. Before he raised Lazarus from the dead, he prayed aloud, thanking the Father. He regularly withdrew to lonely places to pray, especially early in the morning or late at night. This wasn’t because his divine nature was somehow depleted, but because in his humanity, he relied completely on the Father for strength and direction.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group In The Garden · Alan Jackson Precious Memories ℗ 2005 ACR Records, LLC, under exclusive license to EMI Records Nashville

Prayer is how he submitted himself to the Father’s will, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane when he faced the horror of the cross. There, he prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” This prayer demonstrated his willing submission to the Father’s redemptive plan, even though it meant unimaginable suffering.

Jesus’ continual prayer life kept him perfectly aligned with the Father’s purpose to redeem humanity. Prayer gave him focus and empowerment for his mission. Before making significant decisions, he sought divine guidance rather than relying on human wisdom alone. When he chose the twelve apostles, he spent the entire night in prayer. This modeled for us that important decisions, especially those related to God’s kingdom, should be made through prayer and divine guidance.

Perhaps most importantly for us, Jesus prayed to provide a model and example for believers. He prioritized prayer, often rising early or withdrawing to solitary places, to show his followers that communion with God is central to the life of faith. Christ’s prayers teach us that strength, wisdom, obedience, and faithfulness all flow from ongoing communion with God.

So when we ask why Jesus prayed if he was God, we discover that his prayers reveal the heart of the gospel itself.

A Path Guided by the Good Shepherd

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CHERYL QUIGG

Life can feel uncertain. We move forward with plans and hopes, yet much lies outside our control. Circumstances shift, fears rise, and the actions of others affect our days in ways we never expected. In the middle of this, faith points to a steady guide who knows every need long before we recognize it ourselves.

A shepherd guiding his sheep. IRS Images, 2025.

Scripture describes this guide as a shepherd who is both personal and powerful. He is not distant or detached. He understands human weakness because He has walked among us. He knows our doubts, our temptations, and the difference between what we want and what we need. His care is intentional. He leads toward hope, toward rest, and toward life that does not end.

Psalm 23 paints a picture of this care. It shows people as sheep because we are dependent, vulnerable, and unable to find safe ground without help. The words remind us that the comfort described in the psalm is not automatic. It comes only when we allow ourselves to be led. The promise of green pastures, quiet waters, protection in dark valleys, and a home with God is for those who choose to follow.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

Trust is at the heart of this picture. The shepherd goes ahead to prepare what is needed. Places of rest do not appear by chance. Peace is not earned through effort. These gifts come from the shepherd who provides freely and fully. When the psalm says, “I shall not want,” it is not boasting. It is confidence that the shepherd’s care is enough.

This care continues even when we wander. Like sheep that settle into unsafe places, people often rest in things that do not help. We chase comfort that leaves us stuck or exhausted. The shepherd restores, not by improving what is broken, but by giving new life. He lifts those who have fallen, steadies those who panic, and brings back those who drift.

Guidance is another part of His work. Sheep cannot find safe paths on their own. They need direction to avoid empty ground and to reach places where they can grow. In the same way, people need help to walk in what is right. Sometimes the path is straight; other times it curves in ways we do not expect. Yet the shepherd leads with purpose, shaping character through both the easy moments and the difficult ones.

Safety is also promised. The psalm speaks of the valley of the shadow of death—a place where danger is real. Still, the shepherd is present. His rod protects from harm, and His staff guides with steady care. These tools show both His authority and His closeness. Even in fear, the follower is not abandoned.

IRS Images, 2025

The psalm then shifts from the journey to the destination. The shepherd prepares a place of honour and healing. Every need is met. Oil soothes what is wounded. A full cup answers every thirst. Goodness and mercy do not fade but stay close through every season. The path does not lead into emptiness; it leads home. The promise is not just help for this life but a place with God forever.

The question remains: are we willing to be led? To trust the one who knows the way? To rest in His care, accept His correction, and walk where He directs? The psalm invites us to answer with openness and to follow with confidence that we will be carried, restored, guided, protected, and welcomed home.

My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

John 10:27

Jesus Our Eternal High Priest

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JOHN COPIC

Old lithograph (1894) depicting the high priest offering incense on the altar.
The High Priest in Jerusalem
By Henry Davenport Northrop.
License: Public domain

In the Old Testament, the high priest held a very serious and dangerous role. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, he entered the most holy place in the temple to offer sacrifices for his own sins, the sins of his family, and the sins of the people. This task could cost him his life if he failed to follow the exact instructions. The high priest had to be a man, capable of understanding human weakness, and he could not take the position on his own, he had to be appointed by God. His work showed the need for forgiveness and pointed to the larger plan of salvation.

Jesus Christ is now described as our great high priest. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, He does not offer repeated sacrifices. His one sacrifice on the cross was enough to atone for the sins of all who trust Him. Because of this, Christians can now come boldly to God’s throne, knowing they will find mercy and grace in times of need. Our offerings to God, praise, worship, acts of kindness, and giving, are considered spiritual sacrifices, made acceptable through Christ.

Christ’s priesthood is unique because He was fully human and yet without sin. He experienced temptation and human struggles but remained perfect. This allows Him to understand our weaknesses and to intercede for us. He is both compassionate and powerful, able to save completely those who come to God through Him.

Copyright 2009 Kirk Ward Music Words: Isaac Watts Additional Chorus: Kirk Ward Music: Kirk Ward

The Old Testament high priest had to deal with his own sin before he could serve the people. Jesus, being sinless, perfectly fulfills all the requirements of a priest. He was appointed by God, not by human decision, and His priesthood is eternal, following the order of Melchizedek. This distinguishes Him from any human priest and ensures that His work will never need to be repeated.

Jesus’ earthly life showed His obedience, His suffering, and His compassion. He faced real struggles and sorrow, especially in Gethsemane, where He experienced deep anguish while carrying the sins of humanity. Even in suffering, He obeyed God fully. This experience qualifies Him to be a merciful and faithful high priest, able to intercede for those who trust Him.

Because of Jesus, believers have direct access to God. The veil of the temple, which once separated the people from God, is now removed. Christians no longer need a human mediator, because Christ is the eternal high priest who represents us before God. By trusting in Him, we can experience mercy, grace, and the hope of eternal life.

Through Jesus, the new covenant is complete. He has secured salvation, reconciled humanity to God, and provided a way for us to approach God freely. His priesthood, sacrifice, and intercession give believers confidence and hope for both this life and the life to come.

Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

A call to pursue holiness in the new year

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JEFF TURNER

When a new year begins, people take time off work to celebrate. They gather with loved ones for meals and write down goals that most will forget about later. For Christians wanting to focus their hearts on what matters most in the coming year, there is an important question to consider. What does God want for His people?

I believe God desires holiness for those who follow Him. He wants His people to grow in purity and become more like Christ. This is not just one priority among many. It is the central reason God gave believers the Holy Spirit.

Church leaders are given their role to feed and nurture God’s people toward this same goal. The apostle Paul wrote with deep emotion about his longing to see believers mature in their faith. He told one church he wanted to present them to Christ as a pure bride. He told another group that he felt like he was in labor pains, waiting for Christ to be fully formed in them. These were not casual wishes. They came from the core of his spiritual concern.

Shouldn’t every Christian pray for holiness in their own life and in the lives of other believers?