We all go through difficult times in life that can really test our faith and trust. Part of having faith means trusting even when you can’t see the way and you can’t figure out what God is doing.
God has been taking care of me for a long time. Particularly in recent years, as I learned to line up my prayers and my faith with His Word, I usually do receive the answers I am praying for. Of course, there have been times when things were not answered EXACTLY when and the WAY I wanted and believed but this has still always resulted in the Lord blessing me with something better. But you’ve got to hang in there. At those times, when it seems like it’s not going well, you need to know God well enough to just trust Him in the situation, knowing that He will work things out for good. Like Joseph who was betrayed by his jealous brothers and sold into slavery (Genesis 37:18-36). Like Abraham who took his beloved Isaac up on Mount Moriah to sacrifice him (Genesis 22).
The Scriptures say Abraham believed that even if Isaac had died, he was confident that God could raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). THAT’S TRUST.
There are some things that you may never understand this side of heaven; but that is when you have to hold onto the Word that says that God is for you and not against you (Romans 8:31).
I have found that even when I haven't properly prepared myself with prayer and God's
Word, that God is merciful and He will help you to ride out the storms of life. You may not always enjoy the ride because we can make our way more difficult when we give into stress and fear or when we neglect the Word (because it opens us up for the world and the devil to torment us); but in my experience God always brought me through. I have had times in my life where I felt overwhelmed by circumstances - as in too much pain and heartache – and where I gave in to depression. Even in those times, when I felt all faith had been drained from me and I was numb from the battle, God still took care of me. He still provided for me. He still made a way for me to make it through. He loved me back to
wholeness. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says; “Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ…” That is not because I am special but because HE - GOD - is oh so special and wonderful.
As a born again child of God, I don't believe God for just anything BUT I do believe for anything that God's Word tells me I may have. That is the faith I have developed through His Word, and God has honored me for it as His child. Part of that faith is hanging on and
believing for a good outcome – a victory – even when everything seems to be going downhill.
You have to remember that your enemy – the devil – is going to put up resistance to get you to quit. He tries to wear us down and make us weary (Daniel 7:25). So don’t quit! Don’t give up – your victory may be even closer than you think! God did not birth you forth in this world to be wasted or destroyed. He has a plan and a purpose for your life but you must pursue it. You must fight for it! We learn from His Word how to do that and how to hold on.
No matter how bad things look, how dark it seems to get, or even if you feel like you’re hanging on by your fingernails… hold on. It may feel like your feet are dangling over a pit of nothingness, but there is a safety net under you. It is the arms of God.
When times are dark, God is still there. Reach out for His hand. Remember these Scriptures that the Lord brought to me in some of my most difficult moments:
Deuteronomy 33:26-28
26 “There is no one like the God of Israel, who rides through the skies to
help you, who rides on the clouds in His majesty.
27 The everlasting God is your place of safety, and His arms will hold you up forever.
He will force your enemy out ahead of you, saying, ‘Destroy the enemy!’
28 The people of Israel will lie down in safety. Jacob’s spring is theirs alone.
Theirs is a land full of grain and new wine, where the skies drop their dew.”
Psalm 121
1 I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let you be defeated. He who guards you never sleeps.
4 He who guards Israel never rests or sleeps.
5 The Lord guards you. The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun.
6 The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon cannot hurt you at night.
7 The Lord will protect you from all dangers; he will guard your life.
8 The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever.
God bless you. For everyone who's "going through" right now, hang in there.