Testing Times

We’re living in testing times; testing of our patience and testing our faith. We’re living through a period of uncertainty, and in times like these we need to be sure of what we’re sure of. God is sovereign, of that we’re sure. And with all that’s happening around us, nothing is out of control. God is well able to handle every situation. ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8:28). He has our best interests at heart.

Philippians 4:6 tells us to be anxious for nothing, but to bring everything before Him in prayer with thanksgiving, and know His peace. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart,’ and, as we acknowledge Him in all things, He will guide our path. Our love for the Lord and total dependence on Him swallows up all anxiety. We can look to Him with confidence and know that because of His love He is constantly with us and will never let us down.

These are promises of Scripture and may all be very familiar. But now is the time to live in the power of the words as they speak to us, and receive them into our spirit. The Spirit gives life and the flesh counts for nothing. All our anxieties have been crucified with Him. It’s not we who live but Christ who lives within us (Galatians 2:20).

How might we react in testing circumstances? We may not know, and perhaps we’ll never know, until it happens. We can hope, and believe, but we don’t know. It’s not for us to look into the future and wonder. God is not in the ‘wondering’. God works in the ‘now’, and as such gives us strength, wisdom and courage in, and during, situations as they happen.

What if …? What if this happens or that happens, or if something doesn’t happen that we were hoping might happen? Where is God in all this?

God will do what God will do. ‘I make known the end from the beginning. My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’ (Isaiah 46:10). Only He knows what will happen, and it’s not dependent on ‘if.’

We all have a free choice to do whatever we want. Things don’t just happen by themselves. Something or someone causes them, and we make choices accordingly. But they have to be the right choices, guided by the Holy Spirit. ‘You ... were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.’ As believers this is where we’ve been placed - in Him. ‘Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance’ (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Our security is in Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit - guaranteed.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You never leave me. Even through the darkest valley You are there. Help me to be aware of this, constantly. You are my confidence and my strength; an ever present help at all times, reliable and dependable. In Jesus, my future is secure. Thank You, Lord. Amen.