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Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ( Isaiah 41:10)
When I first got out of high school, I went into training to become an x-ray technologist. I did not have a relationship with Christ at that time and I constantly believed the worst about myself. I told myself that I probably would never finish my training and be able to pass the registry. I did not consider the notion that my life had any value and so I consistently sold myself short and made many poor choices. The devil couldn’t tell me anything bad about myself that I didn’t already believe. I set myself up for defeat. I felt alone and worthless. Even after I took my test and passed with high marks, it did little to convince me that my life mattered to anyone – much less to God! After all, I thought, where was he when I was going through so much pain in my life growing up and it seemed like no one protected me.
That is a question many people ask. Where is God when life hurts? The truth is that Christ is on the throne with complete authority over all that believers face in this perishing world. That is the most comforting of all truths and yet so many people still are unable to stand in faith in times of trouble and strife.
Without a doubt, we are living in perilous times. The increase of evil puts us all within the range of attack. We are trying to survive in a time when truth of God has been thrown to the ground and trampled. The hearts of most people have grown cold. It seems that everyday brings more heartache and pain as the forces of darkness have increased their effort to destroy lives. Yet, in spite of all this, Christ is still our hope.
For believers, the fact remains that we are not alone in our battles. We may be attacked from all sides but the outcome of assured victory was determined before the battle began. It was the price Jesus paid for us to defeat all of our enemies; we have been made more than conquerors. Our pain and our struggles are working out our transformation into the image of Christ. In the midst of darkness, God’s power is near enough to help us overcome every single weapon of warfare. The enemy has been rendered powerless and ineffective to destroy those who put their trust in the cross. Through it all, the presence of Christ is right by your side in every single storm you face. His angels have been commanded to guard your life. He loves you unconditionally just as you are! It is not dependent on what you do or how well you do it. The everlasting mercy of Christ is enough for all your needs.
Your painful trial is temporary. The enemy wants you to believe that things will never change but that is a lie. The truth is that he sees your struggle and is using it for your good. For that reason, you must never let your faith be nearsighted. Trust in God’s long-range plan for your future. You cannot fall so far that the grace of God is not able to restore your life and complete the purpose he began in you.
Sometimes it feels like I am always up against mountains in my life. That might be so but each time God takes me through my troubles, I realize that those mountains never had the power to block my path. My struggles have only served to reveal to me more of the love and power of Christ. I knew without a doubt that I never was alone. All of my battles are being led by the army of God. I am a conqueror because greater is He that is with me than any force that the enemy can ever use against me.
I know that so many of you are also facing problems of every kind. It may feel like you are losing the battle but that will never happen. In the center of each storm is the magnificent power of God who is working all things out for good. He has a divine purpose charted out for everything that touches your life. We read in God’s word in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose hearts are fully committed to him”. He is looking for those who can trust him in the bad times as well as the good times. That is what defines a true believer.
God’s power is not limited by the impossibility of your situation. He knows how to allow your pain to work out the purpose for which he planned. That is why we never give up and never surrender. We are a royal army who are being trained to rule in a kingdom that will never end. Be mindful that your struggles won’t endure, but through Christ, your eternal future will!
Dear Lord,
I am lifting up those who are facing serious problems and feel that they have no hope. They are dealing with problems that are out of their control and some may wonder if you are even with them in their struggles. I pray that you will touch each and everyone who need your help and counsel. I pray that you will bring them peace and comfort as you draw them near to you. May you touch their hearts with the truth of your love. I pray that they will know that you will help them. I pray for healing from illness and disease. I pray for a restoration of broken marriages and relationships. I pray for those struggling with financial problems and have nowhere to turn. I plead for those who have addiction problems or have family with addictions and need your help. Lord, please show them that your strength is all that they need.
I pray for those in persecuted nations who are suffering for their faith. May you rescue them and give them hope. Protect them and their families. May your light shine through them to those who are lost.
I pray for the protection of Israel and the Jewish people. May you show them mercy and keep them from harm. I pray for their leaders to have wisdom, discernment and your favor against those who come against them for evil. And may you open their eyes to know the truth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
For anyone who is not saved or who has doubts regarding their eternal salvation, I pray that you will open their eyes and hearts to know that Jesus is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved.
To those who belong to you, dear Jesus, I pray that you bring them peace and hope during these dark times. Amen
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Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
As this new year begins, I am praying for all who visit this site. I don’t have to know you to understand that God has a purpose in leading you here. I have learned in my life one important fact and that is that God hears our prayers and answers. For whatever reason he brought you here, I welcome you with love. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your need is, God’s strength is powerful enough to cover it all. Your pain, your struggles and your broken heart cannot stop the perfect plan God has for those who seek him. At some time in our lives, we all make bad choices and fall; but to those who take hold of the hand of Christ, there can be no failures. The truth is that there is no limit to what God can do through you and for you if you are willing to surrender your brokenness to him.
I want to share something that happened to me a few years ago that impacted my life. My elderly father had been living with me and my husband in our home. Almost four years to the month, my father got ill and I had to take him into the emergency room. I felt weary and alone sitting in dad’s room waiting for tests to be done when I heard the nurse talking to a man on the other side of the curtain. Apparently the young man tried to commit suicide when he found out his wife and kids were moving out. He sounded sad as he told the nurse that he felt like foolish for attempting something like that. After talking to him a bit, the nurse left to get his discharge papers. I had some of my faith articles with me and I felt strongly led to go over and give them to this stranger. I hesitated and decided to think it over before letting this man know I overheard his story. What if he got angry that I listened in? What do I even say to him? I panicked! After a few seconds, I just got up and went over. I turned back the curtain a little and quietly said to him, “Hi, I am so sorry but I overheard what happened and I want you to know that I care. More importantly, God cares, and he has a future for you even if your marriage ends. He can give you hope and healing no matter what you are feeling. I will be praying for you and I have some articles I wrote that I think may help you, if that is okay with you.” The young man simply looked me in the eyes with tears and said, “Thank you!” I went over and hugged him and he told me his name and I told him mine. We talked for a little and I tried to encourage him. Then he said something that truly humbled me to my soul. He said, “I know you don’t realize it, but you just saved my life today!” Amazing. Even though I was dealing with my seriously ill father, God still wanted to use me to bring his love and hope to someone who was ready to give up.
The next day, my daughter and I were with my father at the hospital when he passed away. It was a crushing ordeal for me, but somehow in all of my pain I remembered how Christ had used me to show his love to a stranger. God’s power was with me even as my father was dying. His peace just filled me as I understood without a doubt that God was now taking care of my father in heaven! His perfect plan did not fail me.
Life here on earth is not easy. We are still on the battle ground of a perishing world awaiting the final call of Christ. Our momentary problems are working out eternal ramifications. They are preparing us for royalty in a kingdom that will never end. We are always going to have struggles and pain, but we must never lose our focus for God’s is always with us on the path that he has prepared for our lives.
My hope for every believer is that you understand that the storms in your life have no power to destroy you because God will always be bigger. No matter how devastating it may seem, there is a purpose and plan for all that you must endure and he knows how to work it out for your good. I am praying for you now.
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God’s love is with you at all times!
It is easier to trust God in the good times. It takes much more faith to keep that trust during painful trials. Tough times happen to everyone. It is sometimes difficult to believe that God is willing to take you through the impossible situations in your life. But faith is the most important thing that you must have in this age of crisis and turmoil The peace of God that transcends all understanding is predicated on believing that God’s word is true. Without faith it is impossible to please God because faith is the key to all the strength and power that God has to give us. It simply means that you believe that God is bigger than your problems.
Scripture records the miracles that Jesus performed while on this earth. In Matthew 9:29, two blind men asked Jesus to heal them. Jesus replied, “According to your faith will it be done to you”, and their sight was restored. A ruler came and asked Jesus to put his hand on his daughter that she might live. Because of the ruler’s faith, Jesus brought his daughter back to life. The Apostles also worked by faith. In Acts 14, Paul looked directly at a crippled man and saw that he had the faith to be healed. He called for the man to stand and he was healed. Many people were saved and their bodies healed as they took that first step to trust that Jesus was truly the Savior of the world.
True faith always honors God. It is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. It is unbridled belief in the Son of God who gave his life for us. There is nothing that God won’t do for those who put their trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. It was Jesus who called us to lay our burdens at his feet. Perfect peace is given to all who are willing to trust him with everything. Though it may be difficult to stay strong when your world is crumbling all around you, the name of Jesus will always be your shield.
In Mark 9:24, a man with a son possessed by a spirit asked Jesus for his help. When Jesus asked the man if he believed that he could heal his son, the man answered, “I do believe Lord; help me overcome my unbelief!”. Jesus is so merciful to remember that we are weak. He will never hold it against us if we ask for his help to believe him through our struggles.
Striving to work out impossible situations will never succeed. It is only the power of God that can rescue us from the storm. You may have a serious health issue, financial problems, drug or alcohol addictions or even a broken heart but nothing is too hard for our God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. We are told by God in Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”. That is a promise that Jesus bought for us at Calvary.
Whatever trial or pain you are in, remember that God’s love will never leave your side. Call on him right now to strengthen you to overcome your unbelief. He will help you take that first step in trust so that you will know that God is big enough to conquer all of your problems.
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Christ is with you in your pain
We are told in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy but that Jesus came to give us life that is abundant and overflowing. That means that believers do not have to live an unfulfilled, mundane life. Those who put their trust in Jesus are now a new creation with the ability to live in complete victory despite the circumstances that they face. The shadow of death will bring no fear to those who know that their debt was paid for on the cross at Calvary.
The hand of God will supply you with the strength and power that you need to stand against the forces of evil that try to destroy your family, your health and your finances. You cannot be defeated because God has a perfect plan for your life to give you a future with hope. The destructive lies of the enemy cannot harm you because the force of God is mightier than any weapon that is formed against you. In Isaiah 40 we are told that God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who trust in the enduring love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, will never be disappointed.
Jesus tells us in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. Jesus came to bring light to a dark world. He came to bring life to a world that was perishing. He came to show us the way to eternal life. Jesus is all these things. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only way to the Father. He has given us life by his death and resurrection. And by his power, we are now set free from the bondages of sin and destruction.
There is not a force in the heavens or earth that is more powerful than the power of Christ who dwells in a believer. There is now no sin, no pain and no addiction that can hold you in chains when the truth has set you free. The knowledge that God is your protector and your vindicator should fill you with the peace that Jesus won at the cross. His sacrifice not only bought us eternal life but also the right to reign with him in heaven. That is a promise that is worth the momentary trials and pain of this world. You should live your life with the knowledge that the love of God will see you through the battles of this world and bring you safely to the glory that awaits you in heaven.
If you are feeling weary and troubled at this moment, please understand that you may be trying to carry your own burdens. Scripture says to cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you (Psalm 55:22). In order to do that, you must trust that Jesus has the power to lift the pain that you have and to give you the peace that he will work all things out for your good.
It is my prayer that all who read this will be set free by a revelation of the truth of God’s enduring love.
Dear Lord, I pray for those who are weary from the battle, who feel defeated and overwhelmed. I pray that you will lift them by your power and give them the strength to continue on knowing that you will fight the battles that come against them. I pray that they will feel your peace as you help to stand in faith and trust that you are all that they need.
God's Promises Are Real 