The Love of God

Life’s crises are a journey of personal and spiritual growth that can turn our life into an amazing adventure - if we look to God for strength, guidance and faith that His will be done.  For I know the plans I have for you – this is the Lord’s declaration – plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

God loves us and He will never leave us nor forsake us even when we think He has.  Our lives are all planned out from beginning to end.  We might not like what is happening now or has happened in the past or still could happen in the future but that doesn’t matter.  When Jesus was in the garden “he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."  Matthew 26:39  He didn’t want to go through the pain and torture of crucifixion that was ahead of Him but He was faithful and trusted God unto death.

Not our will but His will be done is sometimes easier said than done when your life or the life of a child or spouse is spiraling out of control.  You see the damage that this can do to your life and lives of the people you love.  There have been times in my life when I have lost control and was unsure how or even if I wanted to go on.  The pit of despair is a dark and lonely place and when tragedy strikes this is exactly where Satan wants us to be - Alone, lost, out of control and in the dark. 

Satan wants us to feel that there is no way out.  That life is not worth living and God doesn’t care about us - but I am here to tell you that God does care and life is worth living.  All we have to do is open our bibles to see that God is all about love, grace and mercy.  When our load is heavy we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother – God.  Proverbs 18:24 

My life is full of stories of God’s grace and mercy.  There are many things in my past that I would never even tell my best friend.  I’ve experienced pain and suffering that could have led me right back to the pit that I came out of but instead it led me closer to God.  When my heart was shattered by death and then again by tragedy, God was there holding me gently in His arms reminding me of His promise that everything was going to be alright.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:  for when I am weak then am I strong.  2 Corinthians 10:12

We are trophies of God’s grace.  We are forgiven and made righteous before Him because of the blood of Christ.  We all have problems, hardships, dilemmas and yes sometimes even tragedies in our lives but these things do not hinder nor stop the love of God – it reinforces His love by drawing us near to Him and Him to us. Come near to God and he will come near to you.  James 4:8      

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Hebrews 10:22

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.    Psalm 52:8                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

No matter what we are facing the love of God will see us through.  This, my friend - you can count on!!

03-08