Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1
It has been said that the peace of God rests where the peace of God reigns. If you are living a life of wavering faith in the power of Christ to help you, you are selling out your joy to the lie of the enemy. You are believing that your problem is bigger than your God.
The question remains that if Christ just saved us from the flames of hell, then where is the abundant life that he promises to those who put their trust in him?
The truth is that all things in the life of a believer have been ordained and purposed long before the foundation of the world. God is not surprised by the battles that we may face. Christ who calmed the raging sea with just a word can certainly speak peace into your troubled life. He is the Maker of all things new. He is the Restorer of life and the Giver of all things good. He knows what you need and when you need it and for that reason, you can have rest in times of trial. When you surrender all of your fears to God, you are allowing him to take over and work things out according to his perfect plan. Your weakness is overcome by his strength.
Too often we want to have total control of our situation and have it done our way. We want to be assured that the outcome will happen the way we want and in our timing. That, however, is not how God works.
In Judges, Chapter 7 of the Old Testament, we read that Gideon was to lead the Israelites in battle against the Midianites. But God wanted his people to trust that he alone was the one who would give them the victory. He allowed only 300 men to go with Gideon and fight the large army of the Midianites. Even though the enemy was bigger, Gideon’s men carried no weapons! He put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars with torches insides the jars. Imagine having to trust that God could give them the victory with only a few men who had no weapons. Yet God was with them. When Gideon gave the order, the men, stationed on all sides of the camp, blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. They cried out, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” And with that, the enemy fled in great fear. That is the power of God who can use your faith to destroy all that comes against you.
I don’t know what you are dealing with in your life, I only know that our God is bigger. It may seem like your situation is impossible and that you have no way out, but God is not constrained by any limits or boundaries. He sees the beginning and end of your life at this moment and all things have been worked out. He allows you to endure trials so that he can reveal more of himself to you. As painful as it may be at the time, you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.( 1 Peter 4:13)
This life is just a vapor. Keep your focus on the prize for which you were called. Don’t give up when all the strength you need to stay in the race is yours in Christ. He isn’t going to fail you. You can’t lose.
My dear friends, you would have no fears in life if you only understood how much God loves you. He created you for a purpose and your weakness does not stop his plan. He knows how to get you from where you are to where he is. He understands your trouble. His eyes are always on you. If you are struggling to believe that he cares for you in the situation that you are in, I pray you will seek Christ out in Scripture. He will strengthen you and give you hope as he speaks to you through his word. Whatever you are going through now can’t destroy you despite how bad it seems. Even the sting of death has been destroyed. Take joy and remember that Christ has overcome the world. He will help you.
If you are here reading this now, please know that I am praying for you. This message was given by God for you. You are not alone.
24 comments
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April 6, 2017 at 3:15 am
Mathew Morais
Hi,
Your message is meaningful, powerful and useful.
Thank you
Mathew
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April 6, 2017 at 7:43 am
Anonymous
Exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you for this inspirational website. I appreciate what you are doing to help others. Thank you for helping me restore my faith and to trust in the Lord.
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April 6, 2017 at 7:56 am
Myra L. Porter
Thank you so much for this word. I am going through one of the toughest battles in my life. Well at least it seems like it is. I moved from Indiana to Florida and it’s been a struggle to find a job. These words are very comforting and encouraging to me and is helping me to stay focused on God. Thank you and may God bless you if you have blessed me. I am going to keep my faith and believe that God will work all of this out.
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April 6, 2017 at 8:17 am
Anonymous
Once again a very timely article. I so look forward to these posts.
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April 6, 2017 at 8:24 am
Marianne Bernard
Thank you, Mathew, I pray that God has given you HIS assurance that in all things, he is with you. I appreciate you stopping by. Stay in peace, my brother.
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April 6, 2017 at 8:26 am
Marianne Bernard
Anonymous, God’s power and strength are always with you helping you to restore your faith and to stay focused even when it seem like your problems will never end. He is there with you and he cares. Continue to trust in the Lord for he will never fail you. God bless you, my friend.
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April 6, 2017 at 8:31 am
Marianne Bernard
Hi Myra, I am so glad God led you to this site so that he could encouarge you in your faith. He gives me the words to write and usually they are a message for me also. My friend, no matter how tough it is now, keep in mind that if Christ has allowed you to go through testing, he has a divine, eternal purpose in it. He won’t let you down and he will be with you through it all. It is his plan that will succeed. Please read your bible daily to get his strength when you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. He will speak to your heart and give you hope. Take peace knowing that he loved you even before the foundation of the world. He is not going to let you struggle without help. I am praying for you, Myra. There is always hope because Christ intercedes for you every day to the Father. He knows you need a job I pray he will get you the right one and one that will provide for what you need. His eyes never leave you. He cares so much for every aspect of your life. Stay focused on the truth and stay in peace. I will be praying for you!
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April 6, 2017 at 8:33 am
Marianne Bernard
Thank you Anonymous. I am humbled that you look forward to my posts. May you know that God’s hand is in every one of them. He brought you here to give you a message of hope. God knows where you are and how to finish the work he started in you. Be blessed, dear friend. God is with you.
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April 7, 2017 at 12:39 am
Faith
Thank you for all you do…. I am so humbled by your words…I am embarrassed to say that I continue to struggle ….everyone I loved has walked away…I am begging, praying to understand…yet, I still do not. I hide from everyone…this sounds ridiculous I know….thank you though…I truly cherish your wisdom…thank you…
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April 11, 2017 at 6:28 am
nicfkelly
Thank you Marianne, this message means a lot to me, i’m keeping my faith, i am going through struggles, always have from being a child, but i see the bigger picture now. and to Faith who left the last comment, i too hide away, you say everyone you loved has walked away, this seems like a similar situation to me, but God hasn’t walked away, he loves you, and i love you hun xxx
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April 11, 2017 at 9:38 am
Larry Hutto
You are still publishing good thoughts for people who cannot think for themselves. However, surely you know, as I have said to you before, God will eventually tire of all your mistakes, and He will allow the forces of evil to destroy you. I had many chances, but I blew them all with my arrogance and failure to recognize that I was nothing. I really thought I was giving thanks to God and was recognizing Him for my rewards, but I can look back and see you badly I acted in His eyes. I have accepted the fact that I will never be given another chance so I will trudge along until God literally allows me to be beaten to the ground until I finally give in to the obvious. I hope people who are in God’s good standing will heed your words. They need to act now before God turns his back. Yes, God will turn His back to you and allow you to be destroyed. I pray and pray and pray, but He isn’t there. I know He hears me, but I can feel His anger and wrath toward me. I will pray till the end. Not sure why, but I just seem to hope God will not cast me into hell. I do not deserve heaven, but I don’t think I should go to hell. I just want to cease to exist. Maybe there is a place where God casts people like me (who failed Him over and over), but they haven’t done evil things and don’t deserve hell. I know you don’t agree with me, but I can prove my points.
*Larry D. Hutto*
On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 12:31 AM, God’s Promises Are Real wrote:
> Marianne Bernard posted: ” Now faith is the assurance of things hoped > for, the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1 It has been said that > the peace of God rests where the peace of God reigns. If you are living a > life of wavering faith in the power of Christ to help you,” >
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April 11, 2017 at 11:08 am
Marianne Bernard
Hi Faith. I want you to know that we all struggle in our trials. You do not have to be embarrassed about this for it is something that we all deal with. You need to remember that although everyone else has walked away from you, Jesus never will. Every storm you endure is under his authority. The reason you are hiding from everyone is because you don’t know what to do. That happens to me also. What I have learned to do when I am weak is to realize that Christ strength is with me. When I don’t know what to do I seek his wisdom. I am learning everyday how to lean on him. That is something that has been very difficult for me to do but each day I grow stronger in my faith and learn to actually trust him for Christ will never let me down. Please read your Bible each day for God will speak to you through his word. My dear sister I am praying for you even now. I have been where you are but now I am learning that God is enough and that he will not fail to help me. I assure you that he will not fail you either if you can trust him. I pray you understand this truth. You can email me anytime you want to talk privately. I am here for you my friend. God never leaves you alone to fight your battles. He is with you and he is surrounding you with his angels. He will put people in your path to help you. I will keep you in prayer and in my heart. You are never without hope. And you are loved so much more than you know. Be in peace. God is with you.
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April 11, 2017 at 11:12 am
Marianne Bernard
Hi Nicola. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your faith. I am so glad that you can see the bigger picture and know that despite your trials that God is still working in your life. If you belong to Christ he is not going to leave you alone to fight your battles. And he has guaranteed you the victory. I am praying for you dear sister. May you continue to walk in your faith. You can’t lose. God can and he will cause all things to be used for your good and for his glory. Stay in the word and keep the truth in your heart. No matter how hard things get for you, God will always be bigger and stronger and completely able to take you to it. I will keep praying for you. It was a blessing to hear from you.
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April 11, 2017 at 11:37 am
Marianne Bernard
Hi Larry, I am so glad you stopped by. There is not a day that goes by that I do not keep you in prayer. I know you don’t understand that God does not get tired of our mistakes and give up on us. That is a lie from the enemy and I’m so sad that you continue to believe it. If it were not for the mercy and love of God, none of us would survive! We have ALL fallen short. But we have hope through all of our weakness because Christ lives to intercede for us. To those who believe and have repented, he remembers their sin no more. When you say that God will turn his back on you and allow you to be destroyed it is apparent that you truly do not know that God who loves you. You are choosing to believe the devil. Larry, remember that Judas also believed that God could not forgive him and he killed himself. He refused to believe that God was greater than his sin. He chose to believe the lie from hell. The Apostle Peter also betrayed Christ however he repented and wept and understood that Christ did have the power to forgive him. He had faith.
I cannot give you faith but I can keep praying for you and I am. I promise you that I do care about you and what you are going through. I know you are in great pain in your struggle. My friend I am with you. I have been praying for you and I’m here if you ever need to talk. If only you understood that Christ who gave his life for you is willing to meet you wherever you are no matter how low and unworthy you feel. He is so much greater than anything you face. Only the devil would want you to think that you could do something that God in his mercy would not forgive. That is not true. You have no idea how valuable you are to him. I am praying that you will see that. Please email me anytime. You are not alone, Larry. You are NOT without hope.
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April 15, 2017 at 3:52 pm
Armie
Hi Marianne, i am so happy to have stumbled on your blog. I know this is not by chance it is the work of the Holy Spirit.
I have been trying to conceive in my marriage for almost 5 yrs now to no avail. i keep hearing voices that tell me it is impossible and sometimes i just cannot fight back. I forget scripture such that i cannot quote it back to the enemy when he attacks my thoughts. I am beginning to feel sorry for my mind as there is too many battles going on in there. i talk to myself, i argue sometimes with the voices that tell me i am never going to have kids and sometimes i feel like screaming because this not the life i ever wanted. I am always so depressed and hardly focus on God for more than two days. Once i have the voice attack in my mind, i completely forget what Jesus told me in the scripture and start fighting back with empty words. I need this to stop, i need the mind i had before i started desiring to have kids, my sanity needs to be restored. I know it is a journey of many miles and i will surely overcome through Jesus’ love for me.
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April 15, 2017 at 9:54 pm
Marianne Bernard
Hi Armie, So glad that God brought you to my site. I know you understand that when you hear tauntings of failure that it is always from the enemy. If you cannot remember verses to speak out, get your bible out and start reading. The quickest way to drive away the attacks of the enemy is by God’s word. That is what Jesus used against Satan while he was tempted in the desert. God has given you a sound mind so don’t listen to anything that contradicts the truth of Christ. Read your bible daily to put on the armor against the slings and arrows that the devil uses against you. We are all attacked, my friend. The devil may be powerful but he is NOT more powerful than the Spirit of God who lives in the heart of every believer.
Daily reading of the bible is so important to keep you grounded in truth. It is your strength to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ! Only when we do that are we victorious in our lives. Be strong and keep the truth close in your heart. Read your bible daily and seek God’s direction and guidance. Put on the full armor of God and then you can’t lose when the enemy attacks.
I am praying for you, dear friend. If you are a true believer, you are already an overcomer and declared to be a conqueror. There is nothing that can stop God’s plan for your life. If you are to have children, no force can stop what he has purposed in your life. Be in peace. God still has the plan.
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April 26, 2017 at 10:15 am
THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR | The Olive Branch Report
[…] Written by Marianne Bernard […]
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April 27, 2017 at 8:57 pm
THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR – Inspirational Christian Blogs
[…] Written by Marianne Bernard […]
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May 11, 2017 at 8:47 am
Evang. Engr Igbaofo Linus
Thanks Bernard. Your God-inspired messages have been too encouraging to my spirit & soul; I just have d strong conviction 2 keep moving any time I read ur piece. Am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that: “It’s d spirit who quickenth for d flesh profiteth not”. May God continue 2 meet u @ d point of ur needs. More grace 2 ur spirit, Sister in Christ. Well-done for constantly affecting ur world. Linus- Nigeria.
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May 15, 2017 at 10:50 pm
Marianne Bernard
Thank you for your comment, Linus.
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September 5, 2017 at 12:07 am
Kristi
Amen-Amein Sister in Christ Jesus-Yeshua!! I love this Christian Video!! God Bless you Sister in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and Your Family and Friends!!
God Bless all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and Your Families and Friends!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💜💕 is ETERNAL THROUGH HIS SON Jesus-Yeshua Christ for Today and Everyday Forevermore!!
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
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September 5, 2017 at 6:13 pm
Marianne Bernard
God bless you, also, my sister Kristi. We know love because Christ first loved us. There is nothing on this earth or heaven that stop the perfect plan God has for us. Stay strong and be in hope. Christ will be returning soon to make all things new.
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July 12, 2020 at 6:08 pm
Anonymous
Finding hidden realities of who Christ is in this posts, may God increase your ministry and the knowledge to make all this happen. In Jesus name. Totally sold out in Christ. Thank you Marianne Bernard.
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July 12, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Marianne Bernard
Anonymous, God bless you, dear friend. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am praying for you now that you will continue your walk in Christ and never forget that He is with you no matter what struggle you go through. This world is growing darker but that just shines a greater light of the hope that we have in Jesus. He is with you right now and it is His plan that is unfolding in your life. Don’t let the storms and trials take your focus from the truth that God is working everything out for your good as you are called according to His purpose.
Be in peace, my friend. Stay focused on the truth no matter what happens. You cannot be destroyed. God’s power is more than enough to take you where He wants you to be. I will keep you in prayer.
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