Whether we realize it now or later, there will soon be a time where we will have to make an extremely important decision. We must choose to either love the Lord and be totally committed to Him or love the world and all that it represents. The times are pressing, and it’s a now or never kind of urgency. The choice has always been ours, and the Lord will not force us, but it would be to our extreme advantage to walk through the door our Heavenly Father has opened. We must do it before the door is shut, then it will be too late. Times will continue to become more and more perilous; we should want every assurance that we are covered under God’s safety and that we can take refuge in Him.
The psalmist paints a picture for us of how we must lean on our Heavenly Father and trust in what He will do for us when we remain committed to Him. Psalm 143:7-10 (NLT) says, “7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. 8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I run to you to hide me. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.” The troubles we experience in life can seem overwhelming. Some of us suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally. We know the devil uses traps and tricks against us, and when we’re overwhelmed, we are sometimes overcome with doubt. This can make us feel like going in the opposite direction of God’s love and protection, but we must resist, because doubting God should be the very last thing we should ever do.
If you’ve been on this Christian journey for a while, you’ve learned that tribulation presses you to draw closer to God. Tribulations and troubles can reveal that we have been walking in the opposite direction of where God desires. We must pray as the psalmist did, that God will show us where to walk, because the path He has laid before us is filled with His blessings. Our tribulations and troubles can teach us that we have been holding back, and we need to give ourselves totally and completely over to God through our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
For many of us, it’s takes the endurance of struggle before we will see the unwavering, unconditional quality of God’s love. Many of us have had elders that have encouraged us during tough times. They’ve told us, “With God on your side, you will never fail.” They tell us this because they’ve experienced His faithfulness for themselves. They’ve walked and talked with God through tremendous obstacles and adversity, and they know firsthand that He cannot fail. They’ve tried Him for themselves, and they know that with Him all things are possible, and He will never disappoint.
When we don’t trust God through our tough times, we separate ourselves from Him because of our lack of faith in His love for us. Hebrews 11:6(NLT) tells us, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Our faith is required to please God. It’s how we show Him that we love Him. So, we must understand that doubt is an enemy of God.
Heavenly Father wants us to know that as the psalmist teaches in Psalm 143, God is our Refuge. He hears our cries and answers our call, but we have a responsibility too. God will keep us as we show ourselves wanting to be kept. We must fill our minds and hearts with His Word, pray continually, and spend time with God. We must follow His guidance and go only where He leads. He wants us to walk in the power and authority of Christ. He did not design life to beat us down. He designed it to give us the privilege and enjoyment of walking with Him every day. When we are committed to Him in the way He commands, we don’t ever have to worry, because He is always with us, and He will never leave or forsake us. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“He Is Always With Us”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.