The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV
Everything changes. Our lives are short, but in that shortness there is much that is launched at us. We are subject daily to the attacks of the enemy, attacks of the flesh, and the never ending chaos of this world. The good news is, we have one that is constant: He who never changes – He whose love for us is real, and everlasting – the one who is faithful, just and kind.
He does not need us, but desires to fellowship with us. He not only wants to know us and of our burdens, He also wants to bear them out himself.
He is everlasting life.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3 NIV
He never ceases to cry out to us through his word, saying
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
He never stops thinking of us, or working in us. He is the one constant, the one we all need. He never lets us down. There is no one alive of which that can be said, save our Lord and God.
He goes on to say,
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into captivity.” Jeremiah 29:12-14 NIV
This is a pattern he has established from the very beginning. When we call on him, he is there. He desires only that we call on him, seek him, and walk with him.
This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV
His promises are always kept, his word is always true, and his ways are always perfect – as is his timing.
What must we turn over to him, for us to feel this love and to have this mercy?
The Psalmist says:
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 NIV
We will never find the love, joy, peace or hope we desire -without him. Our friends won’t be enough, our jobs won’t be enough, our church won’t be enough. Our own families won’t be enough to measure up to what our Lord and God desires for us -in his love and in his presence.
It is written:
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 NIV
While we will be under the attacks aforementioned, and seemingly at times alone in this world, we must remember that He is the only one that we can forever count on to be there. He is the only one we need. Everything else is his pleasure to provide. When we feel we are alone, let us remember the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one whom he sent. They never change, and are always there- only a prayer away.
Jesus reminded us of this, on the night that he was arrested.
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. John 16:31-32 NIV
We are never alone, as He is always there.
He never changes…..
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV
Praise our Lord, and love one another.
Barnabas
Special thanks for this guest submission by Barnabas.