Just Keep Going

Do you sometimes wonder where God is at when you are in great need, and he doesn’t seem to be showing up? So did Job: “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.” Yet Job trusted God to be working on his behalf, and he knew what to do even if he couldn’t find God at the moment: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:8-10). He knew to do what was right and shun what was wrong, and he knew things would be alright after a while. David faced this same dilemma also: “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psm. 10:1). And David knew, as did Job, what to do when he couldn’t find God: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed… Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him… And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psm. 37:3,5-7). Like Job, David knew that the only remedy to not being able to find God in time of trouble is to continue to do what is good and right in God’s sight, and wait on him. And like Job, David had the confidence that God would reward him for doing well, even if it took a while to come about; and even if he did not understand why God was not seeming to come to his rescue. Not giving up and not accepting defeat is something that really pleases God. And make no mistake, accepting defeat means to give in to the “what’s the use” spirit and be turned aside to sin. 

We have a glorious promise my friend, as children of God, and we must not overlook, disesteem, or forget it; because it is from God who cannot lie: “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5,6). God is faithful, and those who are faithful to him will remember this promise and act upon it, by refusing to accept the devil’s lie that would have us believe to the contrary of this powerful promise of faithful love. Our faith will be tried, but the trials we face are not for our hurt, but for our good; and these trials of our faith are designed to prepare us to obtain that ultimate good, which is the salvation of our souls (I Pet. 1:3-9). The apostle Paul explained this in short order, referring to the faithfulness of Abraham, the father of the faithful: “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Heb. 6:12-15). To come full circle here, the apostle Paul was in agreement with Job and David about what we can and must always do, regardless of what is going on in our lives, and even if it seems that we can’t find God: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9). I believe that says it. God bless.

Original Post at By One Spirit Ministries Facebook page February 28, 2014.