MAY 12
Psalm 94:19, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
The main theme of Psalm 94 is the justice of God in the face of oppression and evil, and the comfort He gives to His people in times of trouble. The psalmist rebukes those who believe that God does not see or understand what is happening. But the omniscient God hears and sees everything, and in due time, He will come to the aid of the oppressed. In the meantime, He disciplines His children as a loving Father and consoles them amid their suffering.
No one can console us like God. He knows us completely, cares more deeply than anyone else, and can intervene in our lives in powerful and often unexpected ways. This was the experience of Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion. Faced with the deaths of 50 missionaries and numerous Chinese Christians, Taylor turned to God for strength and wisdom.
In response to the tragedy, supporters from around the world offered prayers, compassion, and financial help. Instead of collapsing, the mission effort strengthened, receiving an influx of new workers and resources—something Taylor recognized as God’s way of bringing comfort and reaffirming His purpose. Following the Rebellion, Taylor’s health declined significantly, prompting him to take time in Europe for rest. There, he found deep comfort through Scripture and the care of his wife and fellow believers. God used this season to restore him both spiritually and physically.
Though the Boxer Rebellion brought profound loss, the long-term result was that China showed increased openness to the gospel and missionaries showed renewed zeal. Hudson Taylor lived to witness how God turned tragedy into blessing—faithfully upholding His people and furthering the gospel.
When we feel overwhelmed or uncertain, we can trust that God sees, understands, and will bring comfort and purpose out of pain—just as He did for Hudson Taylor.
“It does not matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies—whether it comes between you and God, or whether it presses you nearer His heart.”—Hudson Taylor
Application Questions: When you face seasons of pressure, grief, or uncertainty, do you allow that pressure to push you closer to God’s heart—or does it come between you and Him? What might it look like for you to lean into God’s consolation, even when you don’t understand His timing or ways?
LookingtoJesus 