Life is full of challenges. Without a doubt, we're going to fail some of them; we might even fail spectacularly.
When we find ourselves flat on our faces, it's not hard to get discouraged and sometimes we need reminders that we are not in this alone. Friends are always important to have, but even more important is the knowledge that God will always be with us (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). So let's reflect on a few of God's promises to us, to encourage and inspire us.
God promises to supply our needs. "For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:32-34).
If we put God and His Kingdom above everything else, God promises to supply us with what we need. It does not mean that we should just sit back and do nothing, but it does mean we don't have to worry about things we can't change. It's not a promise of a tribulation-free life, but it is a promise that things will work out in the long run.
God promises to protect us. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
The world gives us plenty of reason to be afraid, but God gives us even more reason to feel safe. We can walk through even "the valley of the shadow of death." Why? Nothing can happen to us unless God allows it—and even if He does allow it, we know that it's because He loves us. As Christ told us, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 3:19). God is fashioning us into better sons and daughters, not trying to scare us.
God promises to guide us. "The LORD will guide you continually" (Isaiah 58:11). We have to trust God to let Him guide us. If we're willing to be shaped and molded, He will "instruct you and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8).
God promises to love us. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 John 3:16, New International Version).
During the sermon on Pentecost, Peter told his audience, "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). The Lord of the entire universe came in the flesh and died an agonizing death for us, because that's how much we mean to Him.
God promises to always be with us. "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
God promises to supply our needs, protect us, guide us and love us—and something else difficult to understand from a human viewpoint. He promises to do it unfailingly. Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Next time we find ourselves staring at the ground we've fallen upon, let's remember these promises. All we need to do is take a leap of faith and trust Him. UN
