COMFORT, CLARITY AND COURAGE IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT AND CONFUSION
May 9, 2024“FOREIGNERS” AND CHRIST FOLLOWERS
May 11, 2024Whom we trust, or, in whom we have faith, during our storms speaks about our mental state. When faced with struggles and storms, one of the first thing to get affected, is our ability to think clearly, and act decisively. We are hit by fear and confusion, because of which we think, speak and act crazily.
As Christians, we too can get affected and lose our bearings. Peter is a very fine example – when Peter walked on the waters; when Peter was questioned by the little girl, during the arrest of Jesus. The two examples from the life of Peter is sufficient to prove, how one can get confused. Remember, Peter saw with his own eyes, and heard with his own ears, all that Jesus did and spoke.
During all times of testing and trials, it is good to go back to the written Word of God, to remind ourselves of all that our LORD had spoken. The words of our LORD will surely help us navigate safely out of all our struggles and storms.
Prophet Isaiah records for us, some very precise words of our LORD in Isaiah 43:1-3 – “1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Saviour….”
Verse one should be reassuring to us. The LORD is reminding us about who we are, in His eyes – “created by the LORD” “formed by God” “we are redeemed by the Almighty” “we are called by our names, by our Creator” and “we are God’s possession” – upon this, the LORD says, in verse two, “I WILL BE WITH YOU” and the list of struggles and storms is obvious and clear – do we need anything more to remind ourselves of who God is, and what He thinks about us?
Let us place our trust in the LORD, who calls us His own. Let us have faith in the LORD God Almighty, who has done marvellous things. The LORD asks us to have faith in Him, and walk in obedience to His words. May the LORD help us to trust God, and walk in obedience.
