It is well...

          I am continuing from my post last week where I highlighted the song, “Be Alright” sung by Evan Craft, Danny Gokey and Redimi2. That song continues to play regularly in my mind over and over and I know that God wants me to know that no matter the situation, He’s got it under control and it’s going to be alright.
         I just want to focus on the verses a bit today, specifically the second verse. It seems to me like a battle is going on between what the singer knows His God can do, what people say His God can do and what he actually believes based on what he is experiencing in the natural: “Father, you say everything is gonna be alright, but my circumstances say I won’t last through the night...” Isn’t that pretty much like all of us? Even though God may assure us that we are going to make it, what we see with our natural eyes causes us to become fearful and to wonder if God will really pull through for us after all. Let’s be real, faith may only be five letters long but it’s a pretty difficult thing to actually live out. It is hard to trust when all we see is hopelessness and despair. It is hard to trust when everything around us seems to be saying it’s over, just give up. The pain we feel is real, the fear we feel is real - more real than the Word God may have spoken to us.
         The singer’s battle continues as he focuses on his world falling apart and the difficulty he faces to see and believe how God could possibly work things out. I think this verse aptly describes the battle we all face when we go through trials and tests. There is fear, there is doubt, and yet there is hope. We cling to our God and to His Word because sometimes we realize that that is all we have to hold on to. I think that when we have reached the end of ourselves, when we realize we can’t go on or can’t go further, this is where God can finally step in and help us. It can be so easy to try to fight it out on our own, to battle it out on our own as we struggle to make it happen ourselves, as we struggle, in fear, to force the end result that we want. We can’t even see God at this point because our vision is so blinded by the reality of what we are going through. Let’s face it, pain is real, the doctor’s report is real, sickness is real, a marriage and family falling apart is real, losing a job is real, not having enough money to meet needs is real, rejection is real, betrayal is real ... and the list can go on and on. But, as real as all of these things are, God is even more real. He may not prevent the problem from coming our way, but He will give us the grace and strength we need to go through and to finally make it through.
         I love the ending lines of this verse: “Let the past remind me You never fail, tell my soul ‘it is well.’” God has been teaching me to remember what He has done for me in the past. He keeps reminding me that if He did it for me before, He will certainly do it for me again and I extend the same encouragement to you. God does not change. What He has done for you in the past He will do for you now in the present and in the future. God is consistent. He does not shift and change like we do, He remains the same. It is this confidence that He speaks into our souls. It is well not because of our ability. It is well because of His ability!!!
       I once again look at king David’s life. His life was fraught with challenges, failings, distresses, temptations and discouragement. While being pursued by king Saul, the odds many times seemed stacked against him. Saul would come out against him with an experienced army while David had a band of disgruntled men at his disposal. For years, he was on the run and battled fear, discouragement and pain. It seemed never-ending. It seemed as if he would never become king. But, God finally worked things out for him and God will do the same for you (1 Samuel 19-24, 26, 31). Just as David trusted his God completely and placed his life into His hands, we need to do the same and allow God to work in His way and timing. 
         So, my encouragement to you today is to know what God has said to you, trust His Word and trust that what He has done for you in the past, He will do for you again in the present and in the future. Our God never changes and He never fails. 
         If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Savior, I encourage you to make that step now. Life is filled with challenges coming against us. We all need a Savior, we all need Someone who can and who will fight for us. And, because our God never fails, our soul can indeed say, “It is well!”

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