Psalm 16:8-11 "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
Do you believe in the promises of God? The Bible is full of His promises that are never failing, trustworthy, everlasting, indestructible, and infallible. Do you stand firm on those promises no matter the circumstances you find yourself in or are you a fair-weather fan of God in the good times of life?
What about the promise in Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Also in Philippians 1:5-6, "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Are you assured and confident of these promises on your worst day, as much as on your best day? 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." I believe wholeheartedly that God has purposes beyond our understanding on this side of heaven, but I still get frustrated and tired with the pains of this world. Reassurance of Who is in control comes from Isaiah 40:28 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
Where do we turn when we feel at the end of our rope? Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Our rope is self-reliance but when we let go and let God work, then we can have peace beyond our circumstances and understanding.
As for myself, I've been struggling with God's purpose in my circumstances lately but yet I trust in Him to finish the good work He started in me. The formula working in me is: Frustrated + Trust= Trustrated. I know it sounds silly, but it's a good word for the tug-of-war going on inside me right now. I find hope in Isaiah 40:29 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak", because I am currently both weak and weary. The verse above, Psalm 16:8, is in my window by my bed and encourages me daily that God is with me, that God is my focus and that God is fighting for me. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
In our helplessness, we discover His almighty power to sustain us.
In our despair, God invites us to experience His peace and promises.
In our pain, He becomes our comforter and protector.
In our hopelessness, He lifts our eyes to see His sovereignty and goodness.
Every adversity God allows in our life is designed to bring us to spiritual maturity, not to devastate us. When we yield to Him in the midst of a crisis, He enables us to trust and wait on Him with patience and hope. [intouch.org]
