But it is not as though the word of God has failed. - Romans 9:8
How we face difficulty speaks deeply of our faith life. Difficult people, hard circumstances, seemingly unfulfilled promises; each of these are character testers… character revealers… character builders.
Our tendency is often to whine and complain. Ultimately these responses arise out of our insecurity, self-centeredness and fear. In other words, our lack of faith.
Hope you are uplifted, and happy Sunday! Kidding, I wouldn't leave it there.
In difficult times, our focus makes all the difference. And it is our choice. Will we focus on ourselves? Our circumstances? Or will we choose to focus on the One who is at work in the midst of every circumstance to produce in us what he desires? The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, "…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…" (Hebrews 12:1-2).
We need to know a few things: (And not just know with our heads; but unshakably hold in our hearts also.)
1) God is at work in our lives:
Paul writes "…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…" (Philippians 1:6). God does not grow tired. His patience is incredible. He is invested in us. (Just look at a cross - that invested).
2) God always fulfills his promises:
"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him…" (Deuteronomy 7:9). Not sometimes. Not when he remembers. But not in our timing either. (We'll come to that.)
3) God's word is alive and powerful:
"For the word of God is alive and active…" (Hebrews 4:12). Isaiah writes, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it," (Isaiah 55:10-11).
4) God's timing and our timing are based on different perspectives:
In short, he sees all. He knows all. We don't. He is infinite. We are not. Through the prophet Isaiah God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts," (Isaiah 55:8-9).
In the midst of trial, God is at work.
When the promise seems so long ago and so hopeless, God hasn't forgotten.
When the circumstances are overwhelming, the One who calmed the storm can do the same IN you.
God has not forgotten us. His word has never failed. He is intimately at work, forming our hearts to be more like Jesus.
Easy? No. Comfortable? Nope.
But good!
God, you have never failed me (and I know you never will)!
For now...
D
