“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God” – Deuteronomy 10:17
Psalms 68:20
Often times when performing a funeral I see within the sunken eyes of the bereaved or the broken words of those left behind the wonder if God is really God. It’s times like funerals or other stressful events that cause people to either deny God or believe Him, to trust Him or to renounce Him, to blame Him or accept His divine purpose and plan for His creation.
Our faith to believe is in itself a gift from God. We can choose to believe despite the circumstances around us. Faith is not just for those times when everything goes our way. We must make a decision that we will hold to our faith in the face of all opposition and apparent contradiction. Scripture teaches us that the power of hell can never prevail against the soul that takes its stand on God and on His Word.
Our faith can overcome the world’s pressures, imperfections, stress, and sin because we serve the God of all creation. In Genesis 15 we read how Abram’s (later Abraham) faith was developed. “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid”, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward…Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
The world would have us hang on to the things that either deny or comfort our pain during times of loss. Letting go of our fears, concerns, hurt, and guilt is surrendering to the Lord and our insurance of fulfillment. Christ had the faith to surrender everything to God. His safety and security was in the bosom of the Father. Being fully surrendered to a loving Father takes great courage and trust. It requires us to hand the situation over to our Lord despite the apparent disappointments, frustrations, and negative emotions we might feel.
When considering loss whether because of death or a relationship that has gone south you can find three comforting thought from John 14:1-6:
The Peace Jesus Provides: “Let not your heart be troubled.” By firm trust and faith in God we can feel relief and comfort in our souls what whatever our tests, wherever our pain, whatever our fears – the God of all creation is with us and will help bring peace to our lives.
The Place Jesus Prepares: “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Our earthly existence is measured by time (clocks, computers, Ipads, etc.). The Bible says God is eternal. “From everlasting to everlasting thou are God.” – Psalm 90:2
The Path Jesus Prescribes: The Apostle Peter summed it up this way, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts. 4:12
Have faith my friend. God is still on the throne.
Personal Application:
What are the things that build your faith? How is God directing you to share your belief with someone who is struggling?
Blessings,
Dr. Jim Grassi