Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
One of the things about being human is that I am so .... so ..... human. I know God answers prayer. I know He either provides deliverance or endurance for me. I have gotten through everything so far - yet, when new symptoms rear their heads my first response (and sometimes second and third) is fear.
Why is that?
I know the accepted responses are “lack of faith” on my part, fear, doubt, etc. But I am wondering why. Why do I not always hold on to what I know is true? Why is it so easy to go spinning off into the land of imagining the worst?
Some folks think that because I write devotionals, I no longer struggle with fear and doubts. I wonder if they realize that many a time I am writing for myself as well as for others.
I often view this journey in life as a process. I wish it were a once and for all event for me that the fears are all gone, the doubts are completely erased - that nothing will every creep in again, even for a moment. But, I am not there yet.
That is when I am so grateful that my Shepherd is a compassionate one who understands. He knows He needs to tell me to cast those burdens on Him. He knows I need daily, sometimes hourly time with His word. He knows I need to be upheld in His “righteous right hand.”
I am so glad I do not have to travel this road alone. Sometimes the way looks impossible. I sit at the foot of the mountain in front of me today and wonder, “How in the world am I gonna make it up THIS mountain?” I get tired. Weary.
Yet, He always lifts me back up. He never gives up on me. He is always there, His hand outstretched, waiting - willing to help me back to my feet. He is always there to comfort me. Yes, He is always there.
It amazes me. It truly does. Yet, it is not as though God is a “gimme box.” He is not there to serve me. I am here to serve Him. One way I can serve Him, is by giving Him all the credit, all glory, all the praise for seeing me through these times. I have to honestly say that I do not know how people make it through this world without Him. I would not even want to try.
Sometimes, I wonder though, if folks do not believe in Him because He does not always heal. He does not always grant deliverance. He for whatever reason allows the mountains to loom large in our lives. I have learned - and continue to learn that the mountains don’t just disappear. He teaches us how to overcome them. He shows us the way. He walks with us, along side of us, or in front of us, encouraging and teaching as we go.
Perhaps this is why I write. When I stop and think on His ways, when I focus on all He has done, my fears start to drain away. He has been there in the past. He is here now. He will be there for whatever mountain looms ahead of me.
Praise His name.
Father God, Thank you that you are the faithful one, the consistent one, the forever one. Grant us the feelings of security we need when faced with new problems in life. Help us to hold on to you, knowing you will always be there. Amen and amen.
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