He is 100% Solid & Sure
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One of the days this week my gardener was scheduled to work on a list of things I had for him to do. But the weather forecast was for heavy rain, so I canceled. Then I awoke to bright, shining sunshine!
It's not the first time the weather forecast has been wrong. In spite of all the training, all the equipment - the weatherman doesn't always get the predictions accurate.
I started thinking along these lines and thought of businesses, companies that make promises but don't live up to what they say. People sometimes make commitments, and then bail on us. Even written agreements turn out not to be valid because of some technicality. It can be really hard to put your trust in things.
In my quiet time that day, I couldn't help but think of how solid and sure God's word is. That is one thing we can 100% count on! His promises are sure. His word is unchanging. He does what He says. He doesn't come up with excuses to not fulfill what He's said. He doesn't tell us we missed the fine print somewhere. He doesn't change His mind at the last minute. He is rock solid and totally dependable.
In the last few years on our unexpected journey, I often referred to my days being like a roller coaster - up and down, always changing. The one thing that held me on course was the fact that I knew God was unchanging. His promises, His faithfulness would carry me through. That was my security, my strength. And He proved Himself true.
I'm so grateful that when everything around me may be changing, God doesn't change! He is solid and secure. He carries me and keeps me steady.
"God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that he should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?" Numbers 23:19
"For I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:8
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Matthew 24:35
I've received some messages recently asking for help in processing grief. I'm certainly not an expert on this topic, but I've seen God's faithfulness to me in suffering and grief over and over again. He has carried me and helped me day by day. Isaiah 63:9 has become a favorite verse for me. "In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years."
On days when I felt like I could hardly put one foot in front of the other to keep going, I pictured Jesus weeping with me in my sorrow - and picking me up and carrying me in His loving arms. Knowing that His love and mercy was there to redeem me in the situation helped me keep going. He would personally rescue me!
"Trials are, by definition, trying! They reduce us."
But "if God's presence has led us into trying places, is there really any other place we would rather be?" (from Anonymous - Jesus' hidden years and yours by Alicia Britt Chole).
In the midst of the roller coaster, tears, suffering, stress, grief, and a hundred other emotions - I kept remembering that Jesus has faced everything we face. He understands! When He weeps with me, it's from a place of empathy. And then He picks me up and carries me. He has carried me so often!! If He has allowed me to be in this trying place, then I can rest assured that His grace will sufficiently carry me through.
"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." Isaiah 53:4
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
When we hit a rough spot, when we face loss and sorrow and grief - God doesn't abandon us. No! He comes close. He walks beside us and carries us if we're too weak to keep walking. He suffers with us and helps us. He is exceedingly good and faithful.
I lean into Him daily in my weakness. He is there for me - and for you!