Text: Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Paul encourages us in Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) that we are a people of HOPE. Listen to God’s Word – “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Emphasis added).
The circumstances around us can be frightening. They can be discouraging. They can be confusing. We may be overwhelmed. However, as Children of God, He wants us to Trust Him. He wants us to have courage, faith, and HOPE.
So, how can we have hope when everything looks hopeless? In the midst of suffering, we can rejoice because these challenges cause us to do three very important things. We should be doing these daily, but we tend to forget.
As we continue to consider how in the midst of the world upheaval we can be bearers of hope to both ourselves and others we said that the first thing we need to do is Rely on God’s Presence. The next thing we must remember is to Rely on God’s Provision. Today we will consider that we must Rely on God’s Power.
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9b, ESV). (Emphasis added)
What is your weakness? Maybe it is a son or a daughter that hasn’t quite turned out the way you thought he or she would. A job situation that has gone awry. A medical diagnosis that has scared you. Maybe, like Paul, it is also insults, hardships, or persecutions. Maybe it is fear, confusion, and lack of courage with the present world chaos. Whatever it is, Paul says he will boast in those things because when we are weak, the power of Christ rests on us.
The greater the enemy comes at you, the greater Jesus is in you. (Say this with me)
Maybe you hear voices telling you to just quit, give up, and let it go. God says, Don’t stop, when you are weak, then he is strong.
Remember the greater the attack against you, the greater Christ is in you, but you have to rely on His Presence, His Provision and His Power. Today, take a moment to write down what you are suffering from or struggling with and place it in an envelope. On the outside, write, “God’s got this, and He is transforming me.” Now when that challenge comes to mind remember to rely on Him. Look at that sealed envelope and say – “God’s Got This!”
You see, the Power to defeat the fear and chaos inside is Jesus.
Do you see the pattern that God gives us to defeat the fear and turmoil in the world? How we can have Hope and deliver that HOPE to the world around us.
Rely on God’s Presence – JESUS. Rely on God’s Provision – JESUS. Rely on God’s Power – JESUS.
We are facing unsure times. We may feel overwhelmed by the World. This chaos didn’t start in a day, nor will the fear and panic stop in a day. As His Ambassadors to this world, we are being called about being the voice of reason, peace, and calmness. We need to be bearers of the Good News that we can Rely on God’s Presence even in the “shadows.” We must remember that we have the provision of God. And, both of these areas are Jesus. How can we be sure? Remember that we determine his love based on the Cross and what He did for us on it.
Grace is not an Abstract idea, it is a person, and that person is Jesus. We are His, and He will take care of His own.
Join me in daily praying for God to intervene in this situation and bring out His purpose and plan for us and mankind. And now share with everyone you see that even in the shadow, we can rely on His Presence – the Light – and God’s full Provision – and God’s Power – Jesus.
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