It seems we hear about bad news constantly. Whether it’s on the news or from our friends and neighbors, we learn about tough times our loved ones or even strangers are going through. This has been a tough day for our community. We have experienced a tragedy of four teens being killed just hours after their high school prom. It really has hit our community very hard and we greatly empathize with every family and friend of those youth. Please keep this situation in your prayers as this week progresses.
For those who have not been directly affected by this tragedy, this situation is not much easier to cope with as this could have happened to any of us or our loved ones. This really puts it into perspective for us all. My pastor said today, “Do not take tomorrow for granted.” This is such a true statement that we need to bring to remembrance in both good and bad times.
I said that to say that no matter what situation you find yourself going through, God is there with you every step of the way. He is in the situation I just described; he is in every tough trial and tribulation you will ever face. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” He also says, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen,” ( Matthew 28:20b).
Many of us truly know that God is ever-present with us. We trust He is in control and that His Will is right for our lives. However, there are many of us who haven’t realized that God will never leave us or forsake us as the Bible says in Hebrews 13:5. He truly is always there. Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” In Psalm 145:18, David said, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.”
Let’s seek His face in troublesome times; let’s seek His face in joyful times. The Bible says, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord,” ( Jeremiah 23:24). He does not hide; He is here with us, every day of our lives. Again, let’s seek Him: Acts 17:27 – “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.”
As God is with us throughout our easy, tough and especially everyday situations, we need to keep up our end of the bargain. We owe Him our lives. As such, we need to remember to always give thanks to Him for his love and ever presence. Let these verses touch your heart:
• “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth,” (Psalm 34:1).
• “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand,” (Psalm 73:23).
• “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Ephesians 5:20).
Similarly, never forget to praise His name.
• “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice,” (Philippians 4:4).
• “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more,” (Psalm 71:14).
Also, continue in prayer , multiple times every single day. Your personal relationship with God will only be made stronger through prayer.
• “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).
By remembering to do each of these things – giving thanks, praising God’s name, and continually praying to Him, our faith is greatly increased and our lives are strengthened only through and by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”