Promises of God

We all need trusted friends. These friends will stay with us in the good times and the bad. We know that they will honor their word and do what is necessary to help us. Even the best of friends will inevitably fail us at times. They are human, like us, and sometimes not strong enough to show us support.

Judges 15:18-29 says, “and he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, ‘You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned and revived.” God’s promises remain true, even in our darkest and most disastrous times. God provided for and revived Samson, even after Samson had rebelled against God with substantial bouts of anger and lust.

Why Is This Happening?

When we suffer, we tend to ask, “Why is this happening?” Perhaps then, we blame God for our troubles. Then again, maybe we seek revenge against someone that we believe who did evil against us. Perhaps the trouble is really in our eyes. We really can’t see far ahead most of the time. Things get in our way and we can’t see past them. The same is true with our circumstances. We can’t see much past the current problem to know for sure how it will turn out. Can some good come out of the suffering that we are currently experiencing?

Even after he was brutally betrayed by his brothers, Joseph was able to tell them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). Sometimes, circumstances or people may cause trouble for us, but we need to be aware that God may be using this time to create a greater good. Opening our hearts to this greater good, helps us to endure and to see both God and good in these hard times.

A Raging World

It’s not very often that we can sail through life without going through raging storms. Economic uncertainty, relationship issues, health concerns, and political/social upheaval raise our fears. And those are just the storms outside of us. What about the fears and worries that come against us from within ourselves?

The wind and sea were raging against their small boat. The disciples feared for their lives, but Jesus was resting comfortably. “And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.” (Luke 8:24). When the world’s troubles rage against us, we can go to Jesus to find the peace, comfort, and calm that we desire.

Faint Heart

Where can we go when our hearts grow faint? What or who can lift us up when we are weary? Who can we trust to provide the safety and support that we need?

Psalm 61:1-3 says, “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” When the troubles of life surround us and overwhelm us, we can find refuge in Jesus. He is the rock on whom we can wholeheartedly believe and draw strength from when our hearts grow weary.

New Things

The world is constantly changing and the changes often affect us. We often resist the new, as we are comfortable in the ways that we do things. New can mean completely different or just some small change. New things are designed to make things better, so resisting this type of change can only make things harder for us.

Isaiah 42:8-9 says, “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” There is only one true God and He is worthy of all glory. When we trust in Him, He makes all things new. We are called to forsake our old ways and walk in the new ways that He gives us.