Our Rescuer: God Is For Us And Not Against Us

Seasons not of our choosing wax long, Amen? It is often hard to continually bear up under them even for one more second. Like Job’s wife, we can find ourselves wanting to call it quits, abort mission, flee the trial. We often kick and scream wasting away the present by being discontent in our circumstances and the length of them as they languish on and on in the here and now. We fail to realize that God is working in us through every circumstance He allows - even this one - something for our far greater good - though presently it may - and often does - totally eludes us. Like a child refusing to take a shot to save his life because it hurts or a healing medication because it tastes bad, we scream and pout and beg for deliverance or for even a brief moment of pleasant. We do ourselves a great disservice by failing to realize that there is always purpose in His plans and in the pain allowed. These purposes are to give us a hope and a future. What He permits is always for our best even in the most painful of circumstances. His thoughts and intentions towards us are fixed – His sure and steady promise is one of restoration – one of making all things new. Does not that sound delightful. It will not always be this way. His desire is to conform us into the image of Jesus and He goes to great lengths to bring forth this amazing work. And while we often kick and scream against it, we want this as well.
In times of our distress He desires for us to call upon Him. Indeed, He tells us in Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV): “This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you in ways that are unearthly in their nature.
Peace in a life is made possible through Jesus by my own choice not by what someone else may do or not do to me. It is not also in the absence of my problems rather in the presence of my Jesus. He is perfect peace. Indeed the Prophet Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 26:3 (NIV): “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Apostle Paul adds in Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”