The Always GodПримерок

THE FAITHFUL GOD Do you feel at times that God has forgotten you? We read in the Bible about miracles God performed and wonder if maybe God coming through for people like that is relegated to the past. Life seems to prove he doesn’t work in the same way now. We read promises God made, like “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), and we don’t want to admit that it just doesn’t feel that way at times. But I have good news: you are not alone. We’ve all felt this way at one time or another. But it’s important not to be led astray by our feelings. Instead, we should focus on the truth of God’s word. And this truth is, there is good news. The good news is you can go from wondering if God is there to knowing he is always there. If you’re struggling with doubt, I believe you need two things. First, you need to be reassured that God is still God—that he is always God. You need to be reassured that you can stand firm in your faith, fully trusting him, knowing that he will carry you through and not drop you. Your trust in him will not be in vain. Second, you need to be invited to push through your questions to a deeper faith. Peter tells us that we go through the painful fire of these trials so that our faith can be tested, proven, and refined (1 Peter 1:6–9), which will lead us into “an inexpressible and glorious joy” (verse 8). I’ve noticed that just about all the heroes in the Bible—as well as the people I personally know whose spiritual maturity I admire and long to emulate—had their faith galvanized through a crucible of unwanted trials and uncomfortable doubts. If we walk that same path, we can end up spiritually mature with a deeper faith, just as the heroes of the Bible did. Can you have an unwavering confidence that God is always here and always working? My prayer is that you will discover in a very personal and powerful way just how faithful the always God really is. Why does acknowledging our questions and doubts push us toward a deeper faith? When have you seen a trial lead you or someone else to “an inexpressible and glorious joy”? What does it tell us about God that great pain can lead to great joy?