“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep His commandments.”—Deuteronomy 7:9, NKJV
Have you ever met someone who had questions about God? I have. Too often Christians think that being children of God makes them immune to the attacks of the devil. They assumed that the storms of life would just bypass them.
The exact opposite, however, is true. The enemy of our souls wants us to lose faith in God’s love and doubt His wisdom and care. That’s precisely why he attacks the children of God.
Sadly, I have even seen people turn their backs on God and walk out of the church because God did not stop some life storm from coming against them.
Surely, the storms will come and they will often come when we least expect them. That makes them an even stronger test of our faith. Not one of us wants to experience trouble in life. Yet if we have to go through trials, it would at least be helpful if we could know in advance what to expect. That way, we could plan better for this time of difficulties, right? Unfortunately, that is not how it works. Because if we could foresee the future and make provisions for hard times, we would begin to rely on ourselves instead of relying on God. How would our faith ever grow?
God, in His love and mercy, sometimes allows trials in our lives so that our faith in Him can grow. How will we react to unexpected challenges: in faith and trust, or with doubts and fear? When the enemy comes in like a flood against us, where will we turn?
The indisputable reality of a walk with the Lord is that He never abandons us even when we feel abandoned. The God of the mountaintop experiences in our lives is the same as the God of the low times in our lives. He is with us in good times and in painful times. Whether suffering during the day or at night, we can still trust His promises, especially the one that assures us that nothing is too hard for Him (see Jeremiah 32:27). Thank God for this faithfulness to supply our every need! Thank God for His promise to never leave us! Thank God for His power to heal, bless, forgive, and wash us from our sins! Thank God for His love, mercy, and goodness.
I thank You, Lord, that in all the situations, You remain faithful.
Christiana Ageynim-Boateng
First published in Carolyn Rathbun Sutton, ed., In His Presence (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference Women’s Ministries Department, 2018), 325.
