~By: Jeanne Litke~
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 NIV
I recently went to Tallahassee to stay at a friend’s house with my sister and mom for our regular three-day retreat where we gather together, dive into Scripture, catch up on each others’ lives, (and enjoy some really good food). During that time, I was reminded of those two powerful verses referenced above.
The truths and promises found in the Bible assure me that it is precisely when I am afraid, weak, and in need of Him that He will NEVER leave me. When we come together and pray with a posture of repentance, praise, and thanksgiving, He is ALWAYS there. Think about that for a minute, and let that resonate in your soul.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 NLT
We can get caught up in Satan’s snare of lies and believe we are isolated, alone, forgotten, and that our prayers go unheard. This is absolutely not true! We all are going to go through seasons of trials. Everything this side of Heaven is broken, but we are to recognize and know that in and through the Holy Spirit’s power in us, we are overcomers.
“You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4-5 TPT
Whether it’s the loss of a beloved family member, a pet, a job, or other earthly possession, make no mistake, we will go through these times. It is what we do in the storms of this life that reveals our faith and brings glory to God in a watching world.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:1-4 NIV
So I encourage you to rest and take refuge in His promises. Be still and know that He is God. He gives us just enough light for the step that we are on today.
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