Aug 4

Written by: Mike Smith
8/4/2008 2:16 PM

When you go through difficulties it is important to hold on to what you know to be true rather than attempt to grasp what you do not know, and often will never know. I say “when” you go through difficulties rather than “if” because Jesus himself reminded his disciples “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Peace is to be found in Jesus and not in the world which has its system of values spun independently from God. Trouble will come. We live in a fallen world and the value system of the world is not built on God’s values.
Hold on to what you know is true about God in your difficulties. David says this well in the 23rd Psalm. He acknowledges The LORD as his Shepherd and therefore he will not be in want. David acknowledges God leading him, guiding him and restoring him. Then he confesses even when he is called to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” he will not fear evil because God is with him! The truths we must hold on to in challenging times come from God’s word. Knowing that God is with us and for us is critical to remember. Paul reminds the church in Rome of this same thing: “What, then, shall we say in response to all this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:31-35). God promises his children his presence in times of difficulty. He promises to give us himself along with his Son and Spirit! The “all things” he promises to give us is himself! Hold on to that when you are tempted to believe God does not care or is not powerful enough to do anything about a particular situation. He has acted, continues to act and will act!

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