God in the clashing
Key Bible Passages: Isaiah 41:10, John 16:33 & Romans 8 35, 37-39
There’s times when small things go wrong in all our lives, like getting locked out of your house and having to wait until someone else arrives home to let you in! Or your flight has been delayed leaving meaning that you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow to hit the beach as the sun will have gone down by the time you arrive at the hotel or that time when you were about seven and you tripped over the bottom step, knocking your two front teeth out! Hands up! Anyone, no just me then!
Or there are times in our lives when big things go wrong like not getting the grades you wanted meaning you’re not able to go to your first choice college/university or not getting the job you really wanted or not passing your driving test 1st or 2nd time around!
Or there are somethings that go wrong in our lives that are just completely out of our control like these past few months of dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the feeling of grief that many have suffered, be it through the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or even a loss of a way of living.
Friends in life we will all face times of trouble and it can feel like you're clashing from one disaster to the next and if we are not careful we can let it get on top of us becoming all we think about.
So today I want to give you some encouragement and let you know that when you’re having one of those days, weeks or even months that you’re not on your own.
Isaiah 41:10 say’s “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
God promises to be with us, He wants to encourage and strengthen us, He calls us not to be afraid when things are going wrong in our lives. Now this all might sound very good on paper, but when it’s actually happening is God the first person we call or the last person? God wants to be the first person in our lives that we turn to, after all He’s probably the one who can help the most.
You see there is a difference in just knowing the words of God when things go wrong and knowing who He is and that He honestly cares about us. Knowing the words of God can be comforting at the time for some but they can fade. The true wealth of the words are when you know the person who actually spoke them.
When you actually know someone then you’re in some sort of relationship with them and if it's a healthy relationship, where you feel safe, then you're more likely to go to that person and share with them the things that are going wrong and seek help!
Friends spending time developing your relationship with God is the most important thing you will ever do. So when everything is going wrong, trusting in him will feel like one of the most natural things to do in those moments.
When Jesus was here on earth He warned us that life won’t always be easy.
“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
But He also told us not to be afraid, to be ready to face the trials we might face in life, you see Jesus knew His Father in heaven, He knew what trials He was going to face in dying on the cross and he still chose to trust in God’s ultimate plan to save us.
If we need anymore convincing then let’s read the words of Paul in Romans 8 35, 37-39
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Friends life won’t always be easy, things will go wrong but when everything is clashing around us, take heart and know that you are loved by God in those moments and He is right there with you, Lean on him in prayer, talk to him about the situations you are facing, ask his guidance for your next steps and take comfort in his word.
Questions
To help with further reflection, thought or application.
1: What’s the first thing you normally do when things go wrong?
2: How could you make more time to spend with God each day?
Prayer
“Father God thank you that you care about us, help us look to you first when things go wrong in our lives. Amen”
We’ve created an audio version of this devotional that can be listened to as a Podcast.