Take courage...

    Slow down, take time
    Breathe in He said
    He'd reveal what's to come
    The thoughts in His mind
    Always higher than mine
    He'll reveal all to come
    "Take Courage" by Kristene DiMarco
    Anxiety is real. Impatience is real. Frustration is real. When you’re waiting for God to move, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to trust Him. I think we can all relate, especially when you are in those tough seasons that you desperately need to come to an end. Yet, God is never late…even if it may feel like it.
    I like to think that God knows what is going to happen even before it does and He will not allow anything that He has not equipped us to handle. The problem is, we don’t and can’t see around the corner like God. That means that we have to trust Him, the One who can see around the corner, and trust that He will take care of us no matter what lies ahead. 
    When God anointed David to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:11-13), David had no idea the trials and challenges that lay ahead. But, as he went through each one, he had to trust that God would still bring to pass the purpose for which He had anointed him. He didn’t know he would have to face a Goliath and so prove himself to his king and the people (1 Samuel 17); he didn’t know that that same king would pursue him relentlessly trying to kill him (1 Samuel 23:7 to 24:1-22); he did not know that he would find himself having to hide in enemy territory just to save his life (1 Samuel 27). 
    Sometimes, God gives us a promise, a Word, but we have no clue what lies between the promise and the fulfilment of that Word. That’s where trust comes in, that if God gives us a promise, all the trials and challenges in between, cannot and will not cancel out His Word to us. 
    Take courage my heart
    Stay steadfast my soul
    He's in the waiting 
    Hold onto your hope
    As your triumph unfolds
    He's never failing 
The chorus of the above song encourages us to trust God and His promise to us because while we are waiting, He is right there. We are not alone while we wait for the fulfilment of His promise to us. While David waited, he kept his eyes fixed on his God. He trusted him through every trial and test and expected Him to come through for him. 
    However, there were times when David became distracted and God stepped in and put him back on track. In the story of his meeting with a rich man, Nabal, and his wife Abigail, David becomes angry because of Nabal’s unfair and cruel treatment of him and his men when they attempt to help him out. He vows to destroy him along with every male in his household. But, Nabal’s wife, in her wisdom, goes to David and discourages him from his mission. She reminds him of the Lord’s promise to him and that it would be unwise of him to avenge himself on her husband and his household. David listens and relents of his intent to take revenge (1 Samuel 25: 28-31). 
    Sometimes, we may become so discouraged by the negatives we are facing while we wait, that we may be tempted to make foolish decisions. Yet, God has a way of sending the right encouragement needed to get us back on track.
    And You who hold the stars
    Who call them each by name
    Will surely keep Your promise to me
    That I will rise in Your victory
The final bit of encouragement, reminds us that if God can keep the stars suspended in the sky and knows each of their names, that same God will keep His promise to you. And if He has promised to deliver you, to bring you out of that situation victoriously, then He will do exactly that. God is still watching over His Word to perform it. He does not make idle promises. He keeps His promises. Period.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. When you choose to serve God, you are choosing to serve a God who keeps His Word. He does not forget, He does not change His mind but makes a choice to fulfil His promise. We can trust Him to keep us while we wait for the fulfilment of His Word. We can trust Him, especially when challenges come to prevent His Word from coming to pass. He is watching over His Word to perform it and will ensure that what He says will come to pass. So, be encouraged.

---