Thursday, August 6, 2015
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33
When the Bible says that God will keep us, it doesn’t mean that He will always keep us from trouble. But it does mean that He will keep us while we’re in the midst of trouble.
When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army closing in on them at the Red Sea, God had allowed them to get into that situation. Why? It was so they would pray and see His glory on display. And then, when He answered them by opening up the Red Sea so they could walk through on dry ground, they saw that God walked with them through their difficulties.
God could have kept Daniel from the lion’s den. Instead, God kept Daniel in the lion’s den. God could have kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Instead, God walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Jesus could have kept the disciples from all the storms on the Sea of Galilee. Instead, He was with them as they went through the storms.
Maybe you are in trouble right now. Maybe you are frightened and unsure about your future. You don’t know what is going to happen next. Know that you’re not alone. God is with you in the midst of your troubles.
Sometimes I think we believe that we have the right to live easy, tranquil lives, and then one day we will die in our sleep. Everything will be nice, cozy, and comfortable. But the Bible doesn’t promise that. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). But He also said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Sometimes God will keep us from a problem. And sometimes He will let us go through the problem and will be with us in the midst of it.
Radio Program: “What Jesus Taught about Prayer, Part 2 — II”
TV Program: “Jesus and You, Part 1”
Bible Reading: Habakkuk 1-3, John 8
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Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.
