Proverbs 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
French philosopher Michel de Montaigne said, “My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.”
What a life of worry and anxiety so many of us fret about and wring our hands over. We worry about stuff that has never happened and in most cases will never happen to us. We take possession of anxiety and bring it right into our very being to the point of affecting our health and peace of mind.
We strive and try to forecast our lives as if it were possible to live without unpleasant incidents or problems. How foolish we can be to express so much bitterness of heart about the things that went wrong in the past and at the same time exert so much anxiety toward what might happen in our future. We often forget that we live today and not in the past or future. Jesus warned us about this irrational behavior and asks us to focus and live for today. Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Sometimes in the heat of the problem or terrible event we find ourselves to be in, we often say. “Where are you God in all of this?” As time goes by we see that God was right there helping us through the tragedy or difficulty that seemed smothering at the time. Isa. 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
What would we change in our hearts, lives, and attitudes if we knew that we knew the Lord was there, right alongside us? What changes in our thoughts would take place in our mind if we could count on the fact that God was right there besides us day in and day out? Would we live more in the present day without fear or anxiousness?
The word of God says that we have that gift of God right now. Deut. 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. As a matter of fact, the name of God tells us this very thing is true. Jehovah-Shammah is a name of God and it means “The Lord is there.” Eze. 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
This is why God admonishes us to take pleasure in the day we are in and to live it to its fullest because God is there with us. God might encourage us this way and say, “Seize the day. It is the only one you’ve got.” Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
I know that we are continually being bombarded with thousands of messages of fear on a daily basis from every possible direction and device. We are being inundated with warnings of catastrophic doom if we do not sign up for the latest life-helping gizmo. This stream of fearful promotion does not seem to end. Yes, we are to be responsible in life but not overwhelmed with yesterday’s missed opportunities and tomorrow’s unattainable whims.
Foolishness abounds around us on every side. Let us who are in Christ and know that God is right there beside us lead the way to rest and sanity by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be the ones who live in the day of our salvation and have the joy for the gift of life that God gave us to live today. 2 Cor. 6:2 For He says: “In the acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; behold, now is the day of salvation.
As I take a step back from the bitterness of the past and the fears of the future, I can say with a full heart “Thank you Lord that you have been there all along. I am so blessed that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Truly you are a good God and Father to me.” Matt. 28:20b And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Yes, He has always been there right besides us.
Blessings Di.
He is near to the broken hearted.
Always here—so true Norm –so true
Love you ❤️ Di