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The Ever-Present God
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Hebrews 13:5–6
When Elijah faithfully confronted the evil king Ahab and announced God’s judgment on the land for their idol worship, he placed a large target on his own head. He had to flee and hide himself to avoid being killed by Ahab. During the great drought that came when it did not rain for more than three years, God provided for Elijah’s needs. First, he sent ravens to take food to the prophet by the brook Cherith. When that dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow whose meager food supplies miraculously lasted for the remainder of the drought. Though Elijah did not have everything he could have wanted, he never lacked for anything he needed, because God was always there.
God does not promise us an easy life. He does not promise us that nothing will ever go wrong. In fact He promises that if we do what we should, trouble will follow as a result. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet in the moments of trial and tribulation, we will never find ourselves abandoned by God. No matter who else may stand with us or forsake us, He will be there.
No child of God is ever abandoned. Our loving Father will never turn away from us. Our task is to rest on that promise, believing it in faith, and living in light of this wonderful truth. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14). A Christian has no reason to live in fear, no matter what may come.
Hebrews 13:5–6
When Elijah faithfully confronted the evil king Ahab and announced God’s judgment on the land for their idol worship, he placed a large target on his own head. He had to flee and hide himself to avoid being killed by Ahab. During the great drought that came when it did not rain for more than three years, God provided for Elijah’s needs. First, he sent ravens to take food to the prophet by the brook Cherith. When that dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow whose meager food supplies miraculously lasted for the remainder of the drought. Though Elijah did not have everything he could have wanted, he never lacked for anything he needed, because God was always there.
God does not promise us an easy life. He does not promise us that nothing will ever go wrong. In fact He promises that if we do what we should, trouble will follow as a result. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet in the moments of trial and tribulation, we will never find ourselves abandoned by God. No matter who else may stand with us or forsake us, He will be there.
No child of God is ever abandoned. Our loving Father will never turn away from us. Our task is to rest on that promise, believing it in faith, and living in light of this wonderful truth. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14). A Christian has no reason to live in fear, no matter what may come.
Today’s Growth Principle:
No matter what challenges you face in the coming year, you will never face a single one alone.
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