I saw a picture once of a girl standing on a huge rock looking out. The fog had rolled in, so as she is looking forward, she cannot see a thing. The only thing that is really clear is that she is standing upon solid rock.
As she looks out, what’s before her is cloudy and foggy. One day, very soon her scenery may change and she will be able to see clearly, the beautiful picture that is before her.
Maybe it’s time to look up, and trust the one who will unfold that beautiful picture or life before her? But for now, she can stand and wait for that day, standing firm on God’s promises.
How are we doing in this time of standing, yet not really seeing clearly what’s before us? Are we standing firm, or standing in fear? We are promised this: “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24: 13)
As I read further, about the signs of the times, I saw this: “Immediately after the distress…(Matthew 24: 29) So I asked the question, what happens in times of distress? Here’s what I found:
“In their distress, they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him.” (2 Chronicles 15: 4)
- Being in distress will cause us to turn to the Lord, who is our help.
“In my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to God for help. From his temple He heard my voice, my cry came before Him in his ears.” (Psalm 18: 6)
- In our distress, God is hearing us. His ears are attentive to our cries.
“I call on the Lord in my distress and He answers me.” (Psalm 120: 1)
- In my distress, God not only hears us, but He answers us.
Conclusion: Being in distress can lead to a good thing!
We look to God, He hears and answers. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is certainly not. God uses our times of distress to remind us of who He is and how much He cares and loves us. He may use us to pray for those in distress, as we support one another.
The eyes of the Lord are always on us. Are our eyes always on Him? Unfortunately, some only look to Him in times of being troubled or in a crisis. He desires our eyes to constantly be on Him. He tells us, “You are beautiful my darling.” (Song of Songs 6: 4-5) Don’t ever forget that!
- Keep your eyes forever on the Lord. Here’s why: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.” (Psalm 25: 15)
- Keeping our focus on Jesus protects us from seducing spirits. “Israel was seduced by the Moabites to worship and sacrifice to their gods. Israel was joining in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.” (Numbers 25: 3)
God took care of them. He killed the men and the woman who were joining them in idol worship. “Then the plague against the Israelites stopped; but those who died in the plague numbers 24, 000.” (Numbers 25: 8-9)
- It’s important to put to death those idols in our life.
In God’s graciousness, he says, “I am making my covenant of peace with him.” (Numbers 25: 12) It’s time we make a covenant with our eyes, to look and turn to Him, and stand firm in that place of security, and watch what beauty unfolds before us. The fog will lift, the uncertainty will go, and life will return to normal. Personally, I am learning in our times of distress, there are changes that we make, and should continuing making, even after the crisis is over.
Whatever lesson we learn from uncertainty is that God is the one who makes all things new. He is God, and we trust Him as we stand, on our Rock, Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 24: 1-31, Song of Songs 6: 4-8: 4, Numbers 25-27, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
You can find all of the Unbroken Love series posts by clicking the button below.
