It is common for believers in Christ to expect God's working in their lives through signs and miracles. We expect that God give us a sign either by answering our prayers in a way that we expect or do something to demonstrate His love and care. God does answer us and He does show us signs of His love and care. Yet sometimes we are left with nothing but His word. During times when there is no sign of God's presence or His working in our lives, even the Word of God may seem blank in our lives. Haven't we felt that?
Questions can linger in our minds when there is absence of God's signs. The waiting period can be long and weary. These are times when questions about God's love and intervention can be doubted. A weak soul can easily be wearied and lose hope. But at such times, it wont be unreasonable to ask God to renew or strengthen our faith to believe in His unfailing love towards us.
I didn't ask God to renew my faith. But nevertheless He did it for me. I personally was revived about God's love and intervention in my life when I narrated my life testimony to a friend. I never planned or thought that I will share my testimony to her. It was a casual conversation and I narrated how I met with Jesus, how I came to believe and follow Him and His wonderful blessings in my life. I am not sure whether my testimony influenced her, but I knew it was a powerful reminder to me to the extent that the very reality of me living without health complications is nothing but His pure grace.
My faith was revived. I cannot deny His love, His presence or His interventions in my life. I did not earn any of these but He gave it to me because of His love for me...
Oh! How much more of proof do I need? If for the present time I am allowed to face some lengthy trials, does that mean He no more cares for me or doubt His selection of me? I seldom not do that even if trials are pulling me down day in and out. I got to rely on His faithfulness for He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow...Amen!
Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
He can Never Forget
There can be times where we are left with nothing but pain and hurts and the most common question asked by the people of God is where is God when it hurts? Praying, arguing, complaining and moaning nothing works with God. Every man and woman of God has gone through this phase in life and they have found that God has not answered their prayers or given them an explanation for why they are going through such pain or mental agony. Every Christian understands that God has a reason for why He allows certain things in their lives. But this simple answer doesn't soothe an aching soul. It hurts all the more.
What do one do during such times? People turn to fellow believers for prayer and support. For some it may serve as a temporary relief at least to know they have other believers to pray and say a word of encouragement to them. Yet the deepest hurts of the heart cannot be healed by applying a balm. These agonies of the heart are so interlinked with other aspects of life that sometimes it can seem like as if faith or life seems to be purposeless. It is almost like faith is at the brink of being lost. Yet amidst all these believers are only left with the knowledge of God and His faithfulness. Even the presence of God may seem to be lacking.
During such times, though the Lord may not answer prayers as a believer expects, His Spirit does take them to times of old to remind them of God and His faithfulness in their lives by bringing those memories afresh. A believer is allowed to soar to the past and remember how the Lord helped them or intervened in times of their toughest trials.
I was reminded of this truth with a powerful scripture that speaks of the Lord's love and His faithfulness.
Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Being a mom, I can never imagine a mother who can neglect her nursing baby. I doubt if there can be a mother of that kind. The scripture says even if there a mother who can afford to forget her nursing child, the Lord says He will never do that ...I would rather say "He can never do that".
Faithfulness is a characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ and He very well demonstrated that on the Cross. He died not only for the sinners but even for the faithless. Those who trusted and followed Him; and those who received healing from Him were among the crowd that jeered Him. Yet even for them He died on the Cross faithfully.
If such is the love that Christ demonstrated for us and if He seems silent for the hurts and pain we go through, He is neither indifferent to our pain nor is neglecting it. He knows and He cares. He knows how to get us through it...
What do one do during such times? People turn to fellow believers for prayer and support. For some it may serve as a temporary relief at least to know they have other believers to pray and say a word of encouragement to them. Yet the deepest hurts of the heart cannot be healed by applying a balm. These agonies of the heart are so interlinked with other aspects of life that sometimes it can seem like as if faith or life seems to be purposeless. It is almost like faith is at the brink of being lost. Yet amidst all these believers are only left with the knowledge of God and His faithfulness. Even the presence of God may seem to be lacking.
During such times, though the Lord may not answer prayers as a believer expects, His Spirit does take them to times of old to remind them of God and His faithfulness in their lives by bringing those memories afresh. A believer is allowed to soar to the past and remember how the Lord helped them or intervened in times of their toughest trials.
I was reminded of this truth with a powerful scripture that speaks of the Lord's love and His faithfulness.
Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Being a mom, I can never imagine a mother who can neglect her nursing baby. I doubt if there can be a mother of that kind. The scripture says even if there a mother who can afford to forget her nursing child, the Lord says He will never do that ...I would rather say "He can never do that".
Faithfulness is a characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ and He very well demonstrated that on the Cross. He died not only for the sinners but even for the faithless. Those who trusted and followed Him; and those who received healing from Him were among the crowd that jeered Him. Yet even for them He died on the Cross faithfully.
If such is the love that Christ demonstrated for us and if He seems silent for the hurts and pain we go through, He is neither indifferent to our pain nor is neglecting it. He knows and He cares. He knows how to get us through it...
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