If it matters to you, It matters to Him

 

Have you ever felt like you’re bothering God by asking him for some little thing? Have you ever felt that your little request is beneath him? Do you sometimes feel that the small things don’t need to be brought before the Lord, because he’s too busy with the big things in life?

Can I encourage you that the little things matter? Nothing is too small for God. You are not bothering him when you come to him with the small stuff.

Let me remind you of a story in the Bible that records a little thing, and the story is sandwiched in between a lot of big things, and ALL of them mattered to God.

In 2 Kings chapter 6, we read an interesting story of a man and an axe head.

2 Kings 6:1-7 KJV - And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

The prophets needed a larger dwelling place and decided to do some renovations. As one of the men was felling a tree, his axe head flew off and landed in the water. He was very upset, not only because it kept him from doing his job, but also because the axe was borrowed and he didn’t want to return to the owner of the axe empty-handed.

Now, the interesting thing about this little story, is it comes right before the story of the King of Syria wanting Elisha’s head. Now this is a ‘big’ story. Something worthy of a miracle. Exciting, larger than life and God opens a servant’s eyes in order for him to see the hand of the Lord deliver God’s messenger miraculously.

And in the chapters previous to our little axe head story, we find the story of the Shunamite woman and the miracle of her son being raised back to life.

We read an amazing story of a widow whose pot of oil doesn’t run out until it has filled each and every pot she has borrowed and enabled her to sell the oil and live with her 2 sons without fear of slavery.

We also read of Naaman’s dipping in the Jordan river 7 times, for God to cure him of his leprosy.

And then, right in the middle of all these amazing, miraculous, big stories, we come to a story of an axe head.

Why? Why did God choose to put something so small and seemingly insignificant, in the Bible?

I think that it’s because he wanted to remind us that small things matter to him. He wanted to be sure that we knew, that it’s not just the big things in life that are important, but those little things that matter so much to us, matter to him.

Whether it’s a piece of treasured jewellery you can’t seem to find, or locking your keys in your car, or you’ve misplaced your phone and it’s on silent, or needing a parking space when you’re late for an appointment, or maybe a document you were working on just crashed before you could save it.

It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant it may seem, it matters to God. He knows that little things can be huge in our eyes. Those little things can matter so much to us, and if they matter to you, they matter to Him.

Sometimes, we think that God is too busy with the world’s ‘big’ problems. Poverty, wars, drought, floods, corrupt politics, persecution of Christians in foreign lands and the list goes on. Now, don’t get me wrong, those things are important, but God is never to busy to listen to your prayers for help in the little things.

And just in case you’re beginning to think that this is just my opinion, let me back it up by drawing your attention to some verses.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Philippians 4:6 KJV - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Psalm 55:22 KJV - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Did you see it in those verses? Do you get the picture that everything matters to God? The Bible tells us to cast ALL our care on him. We’re to let him know all our requests. Not just the big things, but the little things as well.

Luke 12:7 KJV - But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Isaiah 40:15 KJV - Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

In these verses we read that he even knows how many hairs we have on our heads! If that’s not small, I don’t know what is! And the sparrows. He cares about them too.

And to God, the nations are like a drop in a bucket. They’re like the little bit of dust left in the scales after something has been weighed, and with one little puff of air, it is gone.

So, in truth, nothing is too big or too small for God.

Jeremiah 32:27 KJV - Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God can find those lost keys, that missing phone, that much needed parking space, we have only to cry out to him in faith, with a heart of thanksgiving and trust that he will hear our prayers whether large or small. And he can and will answer.

I am so glad that we can bring God the small stuff. As a child of God, I can bring anything to him. He has time for me. He is not too busy with the world’s problems to stoop down and listen to my request for something that matters to me and although I may feel like I shouldn’t bother him with it, if it concerns me, then it matters to him. I am his child after all. And what loving father doesn’t care about what concerns his children.

Bring him those little things. Don’t be afraid to ask for his help in the small matters. God doesn’t just answer big requests. He longs for his children to bring everything to him. Every. Little. Thing.

 

 

Friend, do you think the Maker and giver of life
Is far too busy to care about your trouble and strife?
He sees the sparrow that falls to the ground
And He hears the tears that don't make a sound
If you only knew how precious you are in His sight

If it matters to you, it matters to the Master
He wants to share the burdens you bear
Whisper peace when your world gets shattered
If it's your greatest joy or your deepest pain
Or you're really needing an answer
If it matters to you, it matters to the Master

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Comfort One Another

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I was listening to this passage being read aloud on my Bible app the other morning as I was getting ready for work (something I highly recommend doing in order for the Word of God to be soaking into your mind and heart when time doesn’t allow you to sit and study).

As I listened, verse 18 jumped out at me, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” What words? The words of hope. And I thought, am I comforting other believers with these words? Am I encouraging others with the hope found in these verses?

There is so much going on in our world at present that even Christians are finding themselves caught up in a state of fear and anxiety. Despair and discouragement are rife amongst people everywhere and sadly, Christians are not exempt.

Every day it seems, we are bombarded with more and more bad news stories. Frustration abounds, anger is at an all time high, tempers are short and stress overload is a very real thing.

But these verses in 1 Thessalonians tell us to comfort each other. Paul writes to the church of the Thessalonians to help strengthen and encourage and comfort them. But what is it that Paul tells them to comfort each other with? With the hope they have in Christ. The hope they have of the Lord’s return. The blessed assurance that one day their Saviour would come in the clouds to take his people home to meet the Lord.

And that beautiful promise is still a promise for us today. The Bible tells us that the Lord himself will descend from heaven and catch us up with him in the clouds and take us home to be with him forever! PRAISE GOD!

Do you comfort other believers with these words? Do you take the time to encourage those who are struggling with the circumstances they are facing, and remind them of the hope they have of one day being with the Lord? The Bible tells us to.

We, as believers, have the beautiful and blessed assurance that we will be with the Lord one day and our troubles will be over. The struggles we face here on this earth will be finished. The difficult times, the depressing days, the stressful moments, the feelings of despair, the discouragement, the frustration – ALL OF IT! GONE!

Revelation 21:4 KJV - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Why is it we walk around so downcast? Why do we live in despair?

It’s understandable that the world lives in fear, they don’t have the hope that we do. They don’t have the hope of eternal life and a future with the Lord. But, we as Christians should not be fearful and anxious.

Psalm 42:11 KJV - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

I love how the Psalmist talks to himself in this verse. He asks himself why he’s feeling so down, but then he talks to himself again, and gives himself a solution to his problem. Hope in God! Wait on God. Be patient. Live in expectation of the Lord’s return and trust him.

Some of us need to have a stern talking to ourselves. We need to shake ourselves out of our misery and loudly and firmly remind ourselves of the hope we have in God.

And then, we need to lovingly, gently and encouragingly, tell our fellow sisters and brothers in the Lord the same thing.

We need to comfort one another with these words:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

So don’t live in fear. Live in faith.

Have faith that God knows all things and controls all things. Have faith that God holds you in the palm of his hand and there is nothing that will be able to pluck you out of his grasp. Not even the dreaded virus!

Nothing that this world throws at you can take away your eternal destination. You are safe in God’s hands and your future is sure.

Romans 8:38-39 KJV - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Face to face with Christ, my Saviour,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now, I see Him,
With the darkling veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

Face to face! O blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ who loves me so.

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Thankful For Your Cup?

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty,

 my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup”

I’ve been thinking about this little saying for a couple of weeks now, and in the light of our recent lockdown situation here in the NT it has really come to mind.

How thankful are we? Really? We have been abundantly blessed here in the Territory over the past year with very few restrictions and life has been able to go by relatively normal, with the occasional warnings. We have been able to meet and fellowship regularly as a church and with each other in homes and have not suffered the hardship of losing business in the industry we work in.

But on Monday, everything changed. We went into a snap lockdown, and although our business has kept on going, as we are considered essential workers, many have been side-lined for the time being.

It got me thinking about how thankful I am as a person. What does it take for circumstances to steal my joy? Do I depend on what goes on around me for my happiness? Do I crumble when life throws a curve ball? Or do I have a joy and peace that only those who know the Saviour can truly have?

Is your cup half-empty or half-full? Are you an eternal pessimist or an optimist? Or, so much more important, are you just thankful that you have a cup at all?

It’s so easy to slip into a mindset of ungratefulness and a state of misery because of what comes into our lives. We become pessimists and our cups suddenly are half-empty. We look at things upside down.

But, I have come to realise, that I don’t want to be content with being an optimist, seeing things as half-full, I want to live joyously, being thankful that I actually have a cup that can be filled.

God has given us so many blessings and we read daily of those in other countries that do not share the same religious freedoms we have or even have the freedom of travel without fear, and yet we continue to be ungrateful.

One of the most well-known verses in the Bible reminds us of one of the responsibilities we have as Christians.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Notice that the Bible tells us to give thanks IN everything. That means during. While the chaos reigns. While the hurt lingers. While the trial is in process. IN everything.

It is God’s will that we be thankful. And it is our responsibility as Christians to do the will of the Lord. We don’t have to search the scriptures and spend hours praying for God’s will in relation to this, when it is so clearly stated in this verse. Give thanks. It is the will of God.

Ephesians 5:20 KJV - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

The verse in Ephesians tells us to be thanking God FOR all things. So, not only should we thank him IN everything, but FOR everything. That leaves nothing out. Our praise should flow from our lips continually, despite our circumstances.

If you do a quick search for the times that the words “give thanks” are mentioned in the Bible, you’ll come up with numerous verses and they are all to do with praising God.

I know these uncertain times can make us fearful and anxious and we see no end in sight, but as I look around, I realise that I am so very blessed. I am free to worship, whether on my own or with my Christian sisters and brothers in a corporate setting. I am well fed. Clothed. Housed. Surrounded by comforts. Loved. My cup truly is overflowing. It doesn’t matter whether I see it as half-empty or half-full, what matters is that I have a cup!

True gratitude is not something that comes naturally, nor is it something that is given to us at our salvation. No! It’s a choice! In order for you to experience joy, you have to make a choice. A choice to be thankful. A choice to praise. Why do you think that verse in Psalms says thanksgiving is a sacrifice?

Psalm 116:17 KJV - I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Because, oftentimes it is! Often, we find that our emotions are controlling us and we don’t ‘feel’ like being thankful. We don’t want to give God thanks for the situation we find ourselves in, and so we have a choice to make, and it is a sacrifice. We have to set aside what we are feeling in order to open our lips and give praise to God.

The journey to joy is not by getting something that we don’t have, but rather, by appreciating and being thankful for the things we do have.

We daily get better than we deserve because of God’s mercy and love. God’s grace is so abundant, and he never ceases to bless us if we live for him.

One of my favourite authors said this,

“Is the gratitude that flows out of your life as abundant as the grace that flows into your life?” N. DeMoss

So, is it? Is the gratitude as abundant as the grace?  Are we in a continual state of gratitude to the Lord? Do our lips overflow with praise to God as we think about all that he does and gives and forgives, and heals and comforts?

Sometimes it only takes a little hiccup in our daily lives to remind us of the cup that we have to be thankful for. But, more often than not, God has to use a mammoth speed bump to get us to focus our eyes and hearts in the right direction.

Be thankful for your cup and let it overflow with praise to God.

Psalm 150:6 KJV - Let every thing that hath breath 

praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Do You Have In Your Hand?

  "God is not looking for great ability, he's looking for availability" 

I’ve been contemplating this thought for a couple of weeks now, and as I’ve spent time thinking about it over and over, the more impressed I felt to write about it.

What do you have in your hand? What is it that you have that God could use?

I don’t always know who takes the time to read this blog, but I know, that somewhere out there, someone needs to hear this. Someone out there is feeling that their little is not enough.

Do you ever feel this way? Do you ever feel that you don’t have any talents or abilities that God can use?

Do you ever want to do great things for God, but you look at yourself and you just don’t see any potential or talent that God could use? Do you go through your meagre list of abilities and think that they are of no use to God?

Maybe you look around at other people and despair that you can’t sing, or play an instrument, or teach or preach or cook like them.

So often, we feel that we need extraordinary abilities in order to do God’s work. But we don’t! We just need to be available. God can put the EXTRA in the ordinary!

God is not looking for great ability, he just wants us to use what he has already given us. He wants to use what is already in our hand.

Can I draw your attention to a well-known story in the Bible? The story of Moses and the very plain, possibly ugly looking stick that he held in his hand.

Exodus 4:2-4, 12 - And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: ...

All Moses had was a rod. A stick. Does that sound like great ministry material to you? No. But it was what was in his hand and God wanted to show Moses how he could use what Moses thought was nothing, and turn it into something amazing.

What we see as nothing, is something to God. There was nothing significant about the stick Moses was holding. It was just a stick. But it was what Moses had in his hand, and when God got inside that stick, miracles began to happen.

God used Moses in a mighty way because, despite all his excuses at the beginning, he was willing to give God what he had and watch what God would do!

If that doesn’t resonate with you, then how about the story of David and Goliath? What did David have in his hand? A sling and 5 small stones. But when he gave them to God and let God use them, a mighty defeat of the Philistine army occurred.

1 Samuel 17:40, 49 KJV - And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. ...

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

What about the widow of Zarapheth? We read of a widow woman with only a little flour and oil in her hand and God chose to take what she willingly offered and work a miracle.

1 Kings 17:12, 15 KJV - And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. ...

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

And of course, I can’t think about this topic without remembering the little boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish.

John 6:9 KJV - There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Mark 6:41-43 KJV - And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

All that the little boy had in his hand, he gave to the disciples and when they placed the 5 loaves and 2 fish in the Lord’s hands, everything changed! When we are willing to give God what we have in our hand, miracles can happen!

So that brings me to an important question. What are you doing with what you have in your hand? What gift has God given you that you can give back to him to use for his glory?

It’s not your ability, your knowledge, your talent or even the size of your gift, it is your willingness for God to use it. God’s power is so infinitely huge that although our gift may seem small, if we give it to God, he can increase it, enlarge it and blow our minds with what he can do.

We just need to be available. It’s not about our ability. It’s about our availability.

One of our biggest problems as believers, is the tendency we have to underestimate what we have. Now I don’t mean that we need to be proud and boastful of what we have in our hands, but we need to realise that we serve an amazing, miracle-working God and he can make something out of nothing.

What God can do with our 5 little loaves and 2 small fish is beyond our human comprehension.

Ephesians 3:20 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

If you love to write, then give it to God and let him use it for his glory. Write about what God is doing in your life and be an encouragement to those in your sphere of influence. If you have a voice that can sing, then sing praises to God and use your voice to bring glory to him. If you can cook, then use your talent for God. Show God’s love by being hospitable and serve others. If you have an ability to teach, then teach others about Christ and his ability to save the lost, heal the broken-hearted, lift up the fallen.

Give God what you already have in your hand and watch what he will do with it.

Often, we think we don’t possess anything that God can use, but we already have what God needs to do his work, we just need to be willing to give it to him.

If you don’t know what you have in your hand, then just ask. The Lord promises wisdom to those who ask.

James 1:5 -  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

If you take a good look inside your heart and dig up those dreams maybe you’ve pushed down deep inside, thinking they weren’t good enough, then it’s time for you to offer them to God and see what he chooses to do with them.

For years I had a desire to teach, to write and to speak, but I felt I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t have enough experience, I wasn’t old and mature enough, I didn’t have the opportunities offered me. Well, as sure as I am that some of that was true, when I gave my dreams and desires to God, he opened a door and made a way for me to use what was in my hand the whole time. I just hadn’t opened my hand and raised it up to him to see what he would do.

What I needed to serve him was there all along. It just needed God’s touch. His blessing. His approval. And most of all, my willingness to let him use it however he saw fit.

The devil loves to feed you lies about your abilities. He wants you to think that you have nothing to offer. He doesn’t want you to submit to God. He wants you to feel useless for God’s work. Don’t listen to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies.

So, quit making excuses. Open your hand. Give it to God. Whatever it may be. However small it may be. Ask him to show you what he wants you to do.

The world wants us to follow the “You are enough” philosophy. But, SPOILER ALERT! You are NOT enough. I don’t want to discourage you, but only God is enough! Without him, we are nothing! And when we give him our all, then he can work with our little and we can become enough. We can become a vessel that he can use.

Availability is the key!

When you give God what is in your hand, he will surprise you! When we give our little to God, everything changes. He is able to use us like we never imagined he could.

Give God what is in your hand. Don’t hold back. 

Even if it’s small, give him your all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyday Thanksgiving

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the
alarm rings each morning,
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
There are those who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed tightly against
the morning light, as long as possible.
Thank you, Lord, that I can see.
There are those who are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the physical
effort of rising,
Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic,
When socks are lost, toast is burned, and tempers are short,
Thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures
in the magazines, and the menu is sometimes unbalanced,
Thank you, Lord, for the food we have,
There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work,
There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day,
and wish my modest circumstances were not quite so modest
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life.

Author Unknown

                      

                

This past week has been difficult. Not only has it been a little busier than usual, due to a public holiday, which, in our line of business sees us scrambling to accomplish 2 days deliveries into 1, but it’s also been difficult because of physical pain.

I hurt my back on Tuesday, and then after suffering for a couple days with pain, I had it adjusted and then that very afternoon, I hurt it worse than the first time. I know, stupid right?

Well, all that to say that God is still good. Even when trials come, God is still good.

We read in the Psalms, over and over, of King David’s trials and his responses to them. I love how David chose to dwell on what he knew, rather than the things he didn’t know.

David focused on what he knew of God and his character.

In Psalm 27 we see him focusing on what he knew.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

King David knew, that no matter how dark his days became, the Lord was his light. The Lord would light his way. He also knew that God was his strength. He didn’t need to fear, though men would rise against him, he was confident in the power of God and his almighty hand.

Psalm 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

When we face difficult times, instead of dwelling on all the things we don’t know, our fears, our uncertainties, we can stand on the truth we DO know.

God is good.  God is faithful.  God is with us.

God is good.

Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

Psalm 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Verse after verse in scripture tells of the goodness of God. If you are a Christian and you are walking in his light, obeying him, submitting yourself to him, you will know of his goodness. You will have experienced God’s amazing goodness to you. God is good. You know it to be true.

God is faithful.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do you really believe that God is faithful? Then focus on that. Dwell on what you DO know. He is a faithful God. He can be relied upon. He is altogether trustworthy. He will never fail you.

God is with us.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Isaiah 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

What a blessed promise we find in the Word of God. God is with us. His very name, Emmanuel, means ‘God with us’. We are reminded countless times of God’s presence. The Bible gives so many examples of times when God made his presence known to his people and miraculously showed his power and that power is still available to us today. God is still with us. He is still Emmanuel.

Can I ask you not to just casually gloss over these scriptures, but to really read them and meditate on them? If you will take time to read over the precious promises in the Bible, dig into the stories of the past that we find in the treasure of God’s Word, you will find that during your times of trial, you will have something to hold on to. You don’t need to be floating in a sea of trouble without a lifeboat. You can hold onto what you know about God and let it keep you afloat.

I have only mentioned 3 precious truths. God is good. God is faithful. God is with us. There are so many more.

The point is, that when everything around you is falling apart you need to focus on what you know rather then what you don’t! There are so many what ifs in this world. There are so many uncertainties and questions and things we just don’t know, but oh the amazing, marvellous, beautiful, abundant truths we can know about God!

And oh, the joy and peace we can experience when we choose to dwell on what we know. If you make a conscious choice to think on the right things, your trials won’t loom so large ahead of you. You’ll be so busy focusing on what you know of God and his mercy and goodness, that you will overflow with praise and thanksgiving to him. Yes, the trial may still be there, and the storm may still be raging, but you will have peace in the midst of it all.

My back pain is still there, and I feel it with every movement, but despite not understanding the why of the suffering, I can be content with the who. The one who chose to let me go through this. I can have peace knowing that God has a plan and a purpose. And I can choose to think on what is true about him.

Just as Daniel was able to sleep peacefully in a dark, smelly den of hungry lions because of his faith in God, we too can rest in safety.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Daniel was able to rest contentedly because of focusing on what he knew of God. He knew God was good. He knew God was faithful. And he knew God would be with him.

Will you choose today to fill your mind with what you know of God? Let the truths of God’s abundant love seep into your soul and flood your heart with peace and joy. Don’t let what you don’t know fill you with anxiety. Set your heart on the things of God.

Philippians 4:7-8 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.