He Is At Work
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The doctor told me this week that Floyd is doing well. I am also doing okay day by day. After a phone consult, my oncologist is pleased with how I'm doing overall.
I shared last week about some memories I had from living through Hurricane Carla when I was growing up. I saw God's faithfulness in the midst of that terrible storm - in simple but profound details of things that happened to me and our family.
Different individuals commented that they hoped they would be able to see that, to say that about God's faithfulness in the pandemic "storm" we're all walking through right now. I don't understand this time. I don't have all the answers. But I know, that I know, that I know that God is WITH US! He is giving us grace and strength to make it
through. His goodness and faithfulness is a strong rock that we can stand on. I hope in our lifetime we can look back and see how the God, who cares for the sparrow, has also cared for us. I trust for an abundant wealth of testimonies to emerge of how God met us during these days.
That phrase WITH US has been echoing over and over in my mind since December when I wrote about Immanuel (God with us) during the Christmas season. Again and again those 2 simple words have come back to me. We aren't alone - He is WITH US. No matter what difficulty - what illness - what financial crisis - what loss - what stress - what anxiety - what fear - any and every problem we are walking through. He is greater than any of these things......and He is WITH US.
He is taking care of us. Every detail of our life is under His loving, faithful control. If we could only see how much He is doing in our lives, we would be astounded.
After I recently wrote about hope, a friend sent me a list of "50 Promises of God to Give You Hope." It's taken from countmyblessings.com. If you're having a hard day, just start reading through this list. The truth of who God is to you and me will wash over your heart and mind!!
1. The Lord is my strength and my song. Exodus 15:2, Psalm 118:14
2. The Lord is a warrior. Exodus 15:
3. The Lord is greater than all other gods. Exodus 18:11
4. The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. Numbers 14:18
5. The Lord is God—there is no other. Deuteronomy 4:35
6. The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth. Deuteronomy 4:39
7. The Lord is your life. Deuteronomy 30:20
8. The Lord is with you. Judges 6:12
9. The Lord is peace. Judges 6:24
10. The Lord is God who knows… 1 Samuel 2:3
11. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior. 2 Samuel 2:22
12. The Lord is good. 2 Kings 20:19, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 129:4, Psalm 135:3, Psalm 145:9, Jeremiah 33:11
13. The Lord is glorious and strong. 1 Chronicles 16:28
14. The Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
15. The Lord is true wisdom. Job 28:28
16. The Lord is a refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9
17. The Lord is King forever and ever. Psalm 10:16
18. The Lord is always with you. Numbers 14:11, Psalm 16:8
19. The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1
20. The Lord is a friend to those who fear Him. Psalm 25:14
21. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1
22. The Lord is my strength and shield. Psalm 28:7
23. The Lord is trustworthy and true. Psalm 33:4
24. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Psalm 34:18
25. The Lord is the King of Glory, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Psalm 24:10
26. The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. Psalm 93:1
27. The Lord is glorious and strong. Psalm 96:7
28. The Lord is compassionate and merciful. Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8
29. The Lord is a Father to His children, tender and compassionate. Psalm 103:13
30. The Lord is righteous, good, and kind in everything He does. Psalm 25:8, Psalm 145:17
31. The Lord is close to all who call on Him. Psalm 145:18
32. The Lord is watching everywhere. Psalm 139:1–6, Proverbs 15:3
33. The Lord is a faithful God. Isaiah 30:18
34. For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. Isaiah 33:22
35. The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. Isaiah 40:28
36. The Lord is the Living God and Everlasting King. Jeremiah 10:10
37. The Lord is my inheritance; I will hope in Him! Lamentations 3:24
38. The Lord is here among us. Micah 3:11
39. The Lord is a jealous God. Nahum 1:2
40. The Lord is slow to anger. Nahum 1:3
41. The Lord is our God. Zechariah 14:1
42. The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Mark 12:29
43. The Lord is risen. Luke 24:34
44. The Lord is the One who judges me. 1 Corinthians 4:4
45. The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
46. The Lord is coming soon. Philippians 4:5, Jude 1:14
47. The Lord is faithful. 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 1:9
48. The Lord is my helper. Hebrews 13:6
49. The Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:1
50. So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. 1 John 4:16
"A man can live about 40 days without food - about 3 days without water - about 8 minutes without air - but not for 1 second without hope!" - Hal Lindsey.
Our hope, our only hope, is in our wonderful God.
He is WITH US every day, every minute, every second!
As I said, I don't understand this time and I don't have all the answers. But, I do know that this isn't wasted time to the Lord. He is at work! He is doing things we can't see. He's very involved in what is happening. He is working to accomplish eternal plans and purposes. And I believe He is at work in each of our lives in individual ways.
Someone sent me a short video clip message by Dr David Jeremiah. It gave me a helpful perspective. It's about what God did during times of sheltering (lockdown, stay-at-home, quarantine, isolation - whatever term your country is using) in the Bible. Different ones of His sons and daughters were in times of sheltering. Some were a few days - others were for many years. The amount of time isn't the issue - the point is God was at work!! He didn't waste one minute of those times of sheltering.
I have to admit that there are days when I find the sheltering hard - days when it's overwhelming. Not just the being alone, but all that's happening along with it in my life, and in the lives of our family and friends. I've cried out to the Lord a lot the last four years for His grace and strength. But it seems like that "crying out" for the Lord's help has been more intense during this time of isolation. I'm beginning to sense that it's because of what is happening in this time that I can't see. I have sensed over and over that God has said to trust Him and keep my focus on Him - not on the trials and circumstances - but on HIM and Him alone. I'm asking for His grace to do that.
Something I feel to share with you is that God is preparing many of you for special things in the future - things you would never have dreamed of. During this sheltering time it is so important to press into Him, to spend time with Him, to read the Word, to worship Him, and to stand against any lies of the enemy towards God.
"How abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you." Psalm 31:19
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
"God has been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm." Isaiah 25:4
"The Lord is near to all who call on Him." Psalm 145:18
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge." Psalm 16:1
I so wish I could see from His perspective. And I wish I could live long enough to see the outcome of all He's doing during this time of sheltering in our world. Neither may happen, but I trust Him. I trust that He is working in my life and in your life during this time. I know He's working, because He's so faithful to do that.