GOD’S PROMISES

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  –Romans 8:28  (NLT)

Does that verse sound familiar? It might, if you were paying close attention to last week’s reflection as it was a verse I shared. I recently watched a short video, which I find so powerful, that mentioned this verse. Truth be told, I keep listening to the video because it inspires and encourages me. I want to live this out daily in my life.

 

When we are going through difficult things in life, isn’t it so easy to get side-tracked thinking God is not with us?

Don’t we lose sight of God working?

Isn’t it natural to want to avoid suffering and heart-ache?

 

We know on this earth we cannot avoid suffering and difficult times. It is a part of life and none of us escape it. What we can do is to try to check our perspective.

 

Are we relying on God’s strength?

Are we allowing God’s Word to speak to our hearts?

Are we reminding ourselves of God’s promises?

 

Photo courtesy of Sharon Tate Soberon under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

What are some of God’s promises to us?

*I am with you always.

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  –Joshua 1:5  (NIV)

 

*I will give you rest.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  –Matthew 11:28  (NLT)

 

*I will take care of your needs.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  —Philippians 4:19  (ESV)

 

*I will give you strength and help.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  –Isaiah 41:10  (NLT)

 

*I will work out everything for your good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  –Romans 8:28  (NLT)

 

Let’s explore that last verse, my favorite Bible verse, in more depth as it is a great promise and can help bring us comfort in our trials.

 

What is God’s purpose for us?

~To glorify God with our life.

~To know God’s presence intimately.

~To know that God is always with us.

 

How can God use everything, even the bad, for our good?

~It might be in our poverty or pain that we meet the face of God in the one who provides.

~In our time of deepest despair, we might encounter the true presence of God.

~At a time of a health crisis of our own or a loved one, we may experience the voice of God leading us.

 

Consider these truths from Romans 8:28:

~No matter how dire our circumstances, God is still sovereign.

~No matter what happens to us, we are still in God’s providential care.

~We can have joy even in hardship because we know God is with us.

~Our hope is built on trust in God.

 

Photo courtesy of Phil and Jo Schiffbauer under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)

 

I was reminded of the truth of God using something unpleasant for His good recently in my life. I was experiencing some dental inflammation that had gotten quite painful as I waited longer than I should have to get it checked out.  Before picking up a prescription, I had another store to stop at. As I was looking for a particular item, I had to backtrack and happened to see a person I had met back in December while assisting at a Christmas dinner. We had lengthy conversations back then on two different occasions. Something made me stop and wait for the person to come back my way in order to say hello. We conversed a bit and decided it would be beneficial to get together weekly to talk and study the Bible. Two days later we met for the first time and enjoyed a spirit-filled conversation. God used the health issue I was experiencing to orchestrate His perfect timing to strike up another blessed encounter for His glory.

Isn’t it powerful to consider how God showed the power of working everything out for good, even in Jesus’ life? Jesus, God’s only Son, an innocent man, suffered a brutal death, death on a cross in order to set us free from our sin! God’s purpose prevailed in the suffering that Jesus endured for you and me!

 

Take a few moments to ponder each of the following thoughts:

~Our hardest times often lead to our greatest moments.

~Things don’t happen TO us; things happen FOR us.

~God is stretching and growing us through our struggles and trials.

~God is always up to something.

~We are a work in progress, growing, and improving each day.

 

Photo courtesy of KaCey97078 under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

How much peace do you experience in the trials of life? I think it is often a struggle, especially at first.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  –John 20:19-22  (NIV)  

It encourages me to think that the first thing Jesus said to His disciples after His resurrection is “Peace!” He even repeats it a second time. The disciples were afraid and fearful, yet Jesus is reassuring them that everything will be okay. Jesus is sending them off to continue to share the Good News knowing the Holy Spirit would be with them always.

 

I found this statement in the video to be a powerful thought.

“The amount of peace you have in life is equal to the amount of trust you have in God.”

 

Isn’t that great truth? If we truly believe that God is working everything out for our good and His purpose prevails in our life, shouldn’t we have that true peace in our life? It is the peace that surpasses all understanding! Don’t we then trust God completely with our lives and everything that happens?

 

Photo courtesy of Sharon Tate Soberon under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

Are you, like me, ready for a challenge this week?

I challenge us to work on having peace and trust in God as we go through the hardships of life.

 

~Stay connected with God.

~Abiding in Christ more and more brings us to that place of peace.

~Be reminded that God is always working all the circumstances out in our lives for our good because of His great love for us!

 

Here is the link to the six-minute video I mentioned at the beginning of this reflection. Take a few moments to be encouraged in your faith journey~

 

God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  –1 Corinthians 1:9  (NLT)