The Bible is brimming with stories of God’s people who went through hard times. That is part of the richness of God’s Word — it’s so relatable. Have you ever heard a church service and think the pastor is speaking directly to you? Me, too!
God knows us like no one else can. He knows our thoughts, He knows our deepest secrets, and there is nothing under the sun that we can hide from Him. He even knows the things we’ve forgotten — or tried to.
God tells us not to fear. I read that it is stated 365 times to not be afraid, but I’ve not had the chance to count and confirm that! It’s clear, though, He wants to calm our hearts and not allow our emotions to dictate decisions we make.
He wants us to trust Him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
We are to remain steadfast in prayer. When we keep the communication open with God, we are more likely to know His will. He communicates by clearing a path … or shutting a door. I’ve also had Him speak form the Word. When I’m looking for an answer, sometimes scripture just reveals itself. Be intent on what He had for you.
He wants us to steer clear of sin. We are human and sometimes emotions get the best of us. We must be on guard to not fall into sin when we are under stress. It’s easy to do. Satan is always seeking our vulnerabilities. Ephesians 6.
God wants us to know He loves us. No matter how hard things get, we must never lose sight of how precious God considers us. Better than fine jewels. We are His own and He is a just, merciful and loving Father.
God wants us to lean on each other. We are here for each other. We pray for one another, we listen to each other’s heartaches and we provide comfort to any of our brothers and sisters in need.
You may have noticed that the edicts I’ve brought to study here are ones we should live by every day. I started this article by outlining what God’s will is during tough times, but you see, the thing is God’s Will never changes. He wants us to do these things whether we are in good times or bad.
