Moving Forward After Deception

"And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me." — Genesis 31:7

Jacob did not minimize what happened. He acknowledged the painful reality of deception. It was not a single misunderstanding or isolated disappointment. His wages were changed ten times—a repeated pattern of broken trust, uncertainty, and injustice.

Deception carries weight. It can consume years, alter plans, strain relationships, and leave deep emotional and spiritual wounds. It often raises difficult questions:

How did I not see it?
Could I have done something differently?

Scripture does not pretend these experiences are light or insignificant.

Yet Jacob's testimony does not end with "ten times." It ends with "but God."

"...but God suffered him not to hurt me."

This is the heart of someone who has been previously deceived yet continues to praise the Lord. Such a person does not become defined by the untoward experience, nor remain imprisoned by bitterness or regret. Instead, he recognizes that God's sovereign hand was present even during the season of deception.

The scars may remain, and the lessons may be costly, but God's preserving grace proves greater than the deception itself. What others intended for harm did not ultimately prevent God's purpose from being fulfilled.

Rather than endlessly reliving the interruption, he moves forward to what the Lord had already prepared before that intermission. The enemy may delay, distract, or deceive, but he cannot overturn God's purposes for those who trust in Him.

This does not mean ignoring the lessons of the past. Scripture repeatedly calls believers to test every spirit, examine every teaching, and grow in discernment. But biblical discernment is meant to lead us closer to Christ, not into lifelong suspicion, fear, or despair.

A grateful heart says:

"I was deceived, but the Lord did not abandon me."

A humble heart says:

"I have learned to depend more fully on God's Word."

A hopeful heart says:

"The Lord's purposes for my life are still before me."

Our testimony, then, is not merely that deception existed, but that the Lord Jesus Christ remained faithful through it all. He preserves His people, matures them through trials, and leads them onward in His perfect time.

Like Jacob, we can honestly acknowledge the pain of being deceived—even ten times—while joyfully declaring:

"But God suffered him not to hurt me."

The final word belongs not to deception, but to the faithfulness of God.

CT: 2 Corin 12:9 Praise God! His Grace does not just cover our sin. His Grace is the very Gift of His Present Power, in His Redemptive work that allows us to live in a manner that brings praise glory and honor to Him. Titus 2:11-15, Heb 4:16
Deborah Vargas \O/

Praise is our weapon. And there's no enemy that can withstand the power of praise...

We don’t need a reason to praise—we just need a moment. And this was it!

#SundayService #PraiseAndWorship #ChurchFamily #Sermon #TheWord #GospelPower #GodIsGood #GospelPower

You Will Praise Him Again

“Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” — Psalm 42:11

Notice the words: “I will yet praise Him.”

The psalmist was still hurting, but he believed his present suffering would not have the final word.

Whatever you're walking through today, hold onto God.

The tears won't last forever.
The darkness won't have the final word.
God has not stopped being faithful.

Put your hope in God. You will praise Him again.

#Psalm42 #HopeInGod #GodIsFaithful #TrustTheLord #BibleStudy #ChristianEncouragement #FaithInGod
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The Story Behind the Hymns.
THE STORY BEHIND "ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING"

“All Creatures of Our God and King” traces its roots to one of the most beautiful expressions of praise in Christian history: the Canticle of the Sun, written by St. Francis of Assisi around 1224.

St. Francis composed the canticle near the end of his life, during a period of physical suffering. Rather than allowing his circumstances to silence his faith, he looked at creation and saw it as a reflection of God’s glory. The sun, moon, wind, water, fire and earth became, in his poetic prayer, fellow worshippers joining humanity in praising their Creator.

Centuries later, the English clergyman William Henry Draper brought this ancient prayer into the world of congregational hymn singing. Draper translated and adapted portions of St. Francis’ canticle into English, creating the hymn now known as “All Creatures of Our God and King.”

Draper prepared the hymn for a children’s Whitsuntide celebration in Leeds, England. His version was subsequently published in the early 20th century and became widely used in churches, particularly in Britain and other English-speaking Christian communities.

The familiar melody adds another layer of history. The tune, commonly known as “Lasst uns erfreuen,” originated in Germany and appeared in a Catholic hymnal in 1623. Centuries later, it was arranged and popularised in the English-speaking church, notably through the work of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and the English Hymnal.

The hymn’s message is simple yet profound: all creation belongs to God and is called to praise Him. Its repeated invitation to “O praise Him” turns the song into a celebration of worship that reaches beyond humanity to the entire created world.

From a prayer written by a 13th-century saint to an English adaptation sung in churches centuries later, “All Creatures of Our God and King” has endured because of its timeless reminder that creation itself points toward the greatness, goodness and glory of its Creator.

Brenda Walsh Ministries
Reasons to Praise God.

There’s a verse in the Bible that has some people scratching their heads and wondering what in the world did God mean? It’s found in James 1:2, where it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Now, one might say, “Just wait one minute! Does God actually want me to enjoy my heartache?” Well, of course not! Keep on reading verse 3, “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” And verse 4, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” God is perfecting our characters, to prepare us for heaven, and we must persevere to stay strong, fight the good fight, and finish the race! There’s a reason God allows us to experience trials, although it doesn’t mean every time we go through heartache, that it’s God’s fault - sometimes life just happens as the result of sin! But how we respond to our hard times is what’s important! Instead of blaming God, lean on Him! Ask for strength, courage, and comfort, and you’ll find that working through each trial grows perseverance that is faith-building, and even in the midst of the trial, you’ll find reasons to praise God! Text: Romans 5:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Hebrews 12:1, 1 Peter 1:6-7