“You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” – 1 Corinthians 15:24
Believers are wise to accept what God has planned and persevere in believing the promises He’s given. Unlike the promises from the devil and the world, God’s promises are trustworthy and God’s promises to us are permanent just as the psalmist writes: “Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).
Yet our reason says, “Sure, sounds great, but what I experience is not a caring or involved God but a sleeping, snoring God. Based on what I see, there is no God who cares for me or watches over me.”
Jacob trusted God. Even so, when Joseph’s brothers spited Joseph and sold him to get rid of him, it seemed that God didn’t spare Jacob or Joseph, as if there was no protection at all from God or His holy angels. Joseph’s brothers were angry and jealous, and no one was there to push back against them (Genesis 37:12-28). God was silent. Likewise, it seems as if God allows evil to destroy everything today, especially in the church and among believers. False teaching abounds, false teachers steal and rob in the name of truth, faithful churches are slowly dying away, and many have turned away and are now abiding in the myths and superstitions of apostasy and human wisdom. Where IS God? Why won’t He come and crush the false teachers and snuff out all the lies causing so much division and discord?
But it is in such troubled times that we must continue to trust God, abide in His Word, and believe His promises. It’s easy to compromise; it’s easy to look at what we see right in front of us and assume God is asleep at the wheel and that we must step in with our great programs and ideas and fix things. But no, we must do as Jospeh, as Joshua, as the Psalmist, and we must wait, trust, and believe that God does not fail us. God is faithful and He will NOT, He simply cannot abandon us, and we must keep believing and being faithful to Him. He may allow us to be attacked, mocked, and led to the very precipice of hell, and even killed, but we must remember that God has promised to be our shield and guard, one who never slumbers or sleeps.
Faithful Father, keep me from growing afraid or doubtful when things seem grim, but keep me forever steadfast in Your Word and promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.
