Wednesday Words of Encouragement

Romans 8:28-39 (NIV) ~

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? 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 will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

I have a very dear friend who is shining example of grace under fire.  One terrible night, her mother and 7 year old granddaughter were killed in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver.  Her daughter and other granddaughter were terribly injured in that same accident.  A month later, her father passed away suddenly.  About a year later, her husband was falsely accused of a crime and spent 7 years in prison.  While he was later exonerated from that crime, seven years of his life were taken from him.

 

Yet, she never waivered in her faith.  She never took her eyes off the Lord.  She trusted God.  She never doubted his love for her.  Many people would have turned bitter and angry, and yet she believed with all her heart that God allowed these things in her life to teach her something.  She is a beautiful example of what it means to walk the Christian walk.

 

I'm wondering if we can say the same of ourselves?  Do we trust in the Lord, even when the times are tough?  Can we say without a doubt that God is good and He has our good in mind?  I know I struggle with this at times.

 

God loves us so much more than we can ever really imagine.  When we trust Him and keep our eyes on Him in the midst of our trials, we will come out of the fire stronger than we started out. 

 

I know how easy it is to feel alone in our circumstances.  We can wonder if God even cares at all.  But I want to encourage you today to trust Him. You are not alone.  Take it one step at a time and one day at a time, keeping your eyes on Him.  He will see you through.  Allow Him to work good out of the bad in your life and you will be a conqueror.