Give thanks to the Lord , for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT
How many times have you felt that your world was caving in and there were no words to face a devastating situation? Fear is gripping our world with war, famine, natural disasters, etc.
Perhaps you are facing the mountain of bankruptcy or a financial disaster due to unexpected medical bills. Your car is back in the shop for the third time this past month and you cannot afford another vehicle. House and the cost of living, inflation keep rising. When will it ever end?
Worry and stress can consume you to the point that you don’t care anymore and are thinking of giving up hope. I remember the day when I was working 3 to 4 jobs a week and I wasn’t even making ends meet. I don’t know how I got through this difficult time in my life and supporting a family, finding the strength to stay focused and positive without complaining (and there were times of complaints just like the Israelites!). I feel I am back in this cycle yet more setbacks only brings me back to my faith and who do I trust as my source.
Everything I learned about my faith in Jesus Christ was tested to the core. I had come to the place to learn how to trust the Lord and His faithfulness through it all. God’s promises are true and His love and faithfulness never ends. One of the greater tests of trusting God was in giving. Giving to the Lord knowing He supplies everything I have or own anyway. To help others in times of need, even when I was borrowing from Peter to pay Paul!
The Lord proves His love and faithfulness through our faith in giving of our stewardship and possessions. When we learn to be grateful for everything in good times and bad, being content, and giving Him our best and not just leftovers we prove His promises over and over again.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs”.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need”. 6:33
Matthew 6:25-26, 30-33 NLT
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” Prov. 11:25
Does Jesus care? Yes. Will He make a way for you? Yes. What am I learning through my struggles? Am I growing in my faith to trust God even when everything is gone? I think of so many who have been devastated in the recent horrendous hurricane Ian in Florida. For many they lost everything. But many survived with their life. Job in the Bible lost everything, yet he knew whom his redeemer was. Even believers face hard times and our walk with God can be challenging, but remember that God is faithful and He sees everything that you and your familyvis going through. God will not fail you because His love gives us purpose in this life.
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
Job 19:25-26 NLT
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13:15 NIV
Have a great weekend my friend. I challenge you to trust and prove God, because He has a purpose in everything you are facing.
The Watering Hole Journey 