Happy Thursday! I hope today you’ve experienced the love of God in your heart. If not, I encourage you to pause now and read my devotion, Loved, No Matter What.
God’s love is true and reliable. There’s only one problem. Sometimes you and I don’t feel worthy to be loved by God. Usually because of something that happened in our past we tend to think the Lord could never love us. Or we let our affections for God grow dim when we experience unexpected troubles or sorrows. These types of experiences can also make us feel as if God has turned His back on us and withheld His love.
This is the way I had felt after my husband’s death. I was trapped in Satan’s lie that God didn’t care.
It wasn’t long before my feelings toward God gave way to pure anger. With fear and trembling, I nervously wondered, “Has God taken His hands off the wheel of my life? Has He left me to spin helplessly out of control?”
Most days were a blur after I returned home from Porter’s funeral. I couldn’t focus on cleaning. I couldn’t even concentrate on my son. Sadness was my only garment. I couldn’t seem to toss if off or exchange it for something lighter and easier to wear. No, the heaviness of my pain and fear were more than I could bare at times. All I kept thinking was, “God, where are you? Don’t you care?” Perhaps you’ve felt the same way. We tend to think that once we belong to God we are placed inside a spiritual bubble that protects us from all adversity, worry, and fear. It’ doesn’t make sense to us if we assume that peace and happiness show we have a caring Father but trouble does not. Yet, the bible tells us even as children of God, we are not free from troubles. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:32).
No. God had not taken His hands off the wheel of my life or yours. He is aware of our circumstances and is in complete control of them. Still, when life suddenly turns stormy and unexpected events occur, we doubt God’s love. Trials and troubles in our lives don’t mean that God doesn’t care. During these times that make us feel alone and betrayed, we must not give an ear to Satan’s lies. Instead, we must trust that God is acting in love on our behalf even in dire circumstances. Even though our fears and emotions my lead us to believe otherwise, God, and what He allows into our lives, is always motivated by one thing—love. (Taken from, An Untroubled Heart, page 181-182)
I have a saying that goes like this… God loves you and there’s not a thing you can do about it.
I believe someone needed to read that today. I believe that some of you will need to remember it tomorrow. I encourage you to write it down and tape it on your mirror or put in your car or take it to work with you. Read it often and thank God for His love, no matter what.
- Also, if you’d like to enter to when my message “Piecing It All Together,” simply leave a comment. I’ll announce the winner Monday morning.
- One more thing, if you long for a faith stronger than all your fears, don’t miss signing up for Melissa Taylor’s on-line study of An Untroubled Heart. Join thousands around the world as they learn to replace their fear with faith. sign up at Melissa’s blog
- For more encouragement on the love of God, watch this video of me sharing Zep 3:17 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_1Xtxw2kBw
Love, and lot’s of it…