Feel Like Waving the White Flag of Surrender?

Life is hard. Best friends get cancer, children struggle in school, mental illness is real, and companies lay off people. So how do we handle the tough stuff? Do we shut down, pull the blankets over our heads, and wave the white flag of surrender? That may work for about a minute, but chances are there may be a toddler clinging to your leg as you read this. And shutting down? It just isn’t an option!

I find the best place for encouragement in times like this is to open God’s Word. If I can just breathe in Jesus! and breathe out help me! He is here. The truth is, he has always been here, in my heart. His presence surrounds me; his peace is immediate. It’s days like this I can really appreciate Scripture that is written in my heart. You know, the verses that you’ve memorized. It seems when I need to hear them most, God speaks them into my heart, my mind, and peace settles me.

His Word reminds me that his steadfast love will not depart from me, and his covenant of peace shall not be removed (Isaiah 54:10). That God is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation and my stronghold (Psalms 18:2). I know that he is faithful (I Thessalonians 5:24). I recall that he is everlasting! He does not grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28). And I know, deep in my heart, that he will never leave us nor forsake us. He will not fail you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8).

God’s truths. I need to hear them today. I need to experience his peace when the world around me seems out of control. I need to keep living victoriously, even when the victory to come is still out there waiting to be accomplished. I need to trust God, whose ways are higher than my ways, whose thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

Life IS hard. But God IS good. His faithfulness endures forever!

Dear Lord, remind us today of your goodness. Grant us glimpses into the unseen world. Show us where you are at work in the lives around us. May we see you at work in the seemingly hopeless situations we encounter. Be our hope, strength, deliverer, and peace. In this moment, we trust you for you are worthy of our trust! Lead us, we pray. Thank you for being a good God. Amen.