What Causes Most Of My Misery And How I Can Prevent It

As I have been reading through the book of Judges in the Old Testament, what strikes me most is the perpetual cycle of misery suffered by the Israelites when they chose to worship the gods of their enemies instead of the Lord God. It made me think about whether my misery was also caused by the worship of the gods of my enemy. Repeatedly, the Israelites were oppressed and harassed by their enemies and yet, they continued to worship the gods of their oppressors. For example, Judges 10 records the children of Israel serving the “Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines.” 

The result?

They harassed and oppressed the children of Israel for eighteen years—so that Israel was severely distressed. 

And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, 

We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!

So the Lord said to the children of Israel, 

Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines? Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. 

Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. 

Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.

And the children of Israel said to the Lord, 

We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.

So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. 

And His (God’s) soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. 

Judges‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬-‭16

‭‭‬That last sentence is a remarkable commentary on the heart of God!!!

It is crucial to acknowledge that our suffering does not bring pleasure to God. However, when we prioritize other gods in our lives, it becomes unreasonable to expect God to rescue us from our misery. These “other gods” can take the form of anything or anyone that consumes the majority of our thoughts, time, resources, and love. For instance, if our pursuit of money becomes all-consuming, money becomes our object of worship and our source of hope. If we prioritize a human relationship above all else, we may find ourselves disappointed when that person fails to support us in times of need. Similarly, if we live solely to fulfill our selfish desires, we must rely on ourselves to find joy amidst challenging circumstances. 

The truth is that anything we desire more than God has the potential to enslave us. Just as Israel was enslaved by their enemies, our own sinful choices WILL become our masters. And—such cruel masters they are!

But the heart of God desires for us to live in freedom.

Freedom becomes slavery when we forget God. If we want to live a life of joy—despite tough—circumstances, we must make God the center of our life. He is the only one Who is capable of defeating our three enemies and giving us victory. 

When I sense misery sucking me into the quicksand, I ask God to reveal where I’ve focused the most passionate love of my heart. If I’m miserable, it’s a good sign that my heart is NOT focused on Him. When I return to loving Him with all my heart, soul, and mind, then I know He will make a way through the storm. My born again soul has experienced His heart. As long as we’re on this earth, we will have trouble. But even in trouble, God gives peace. 

God is always bigger than the storm; but to have the awareness of this truth—He must be the center of our life!

By prioritizing our relationship with God and aligning our thoughts, actions, and priorities with His will, we will consistently acknowledge His sovereignty and power. When God occupies the central place in our life, we gain a perspective that transcends the challenges we face. We find strength, peace, and unwavering confidence in His presence. 

Regardless of the storms we confront, when we’re close to God, we KNOW that HE is always greater and will provide the guidance, comfort, and strength we need to navigate them.

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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