“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
Living the Christian life amid the turbulence of worldwide traumas probably unknown in our lifetime, reveals just how strong and fearless our faith in God has to be if we are to overcome the tests that obviously loom before us. Every test will not necessarily be financial, but in our extremely materialistic society they will be real. Other tests can be very personal, such as the sudden loss of a loved one which can produce a pain far greater than bankruptcy and unemployment. “Loss” in any part of life is the one plan we hope insurance companies will take care of, but when hearts are broken, no policy outside of “peace with God” can ever suffice.
If you haven’t walked a valley like this before, allow me to share two simple truths that I pray will lift and encourage you as we view the clouds around the world beginning to rise on the horizon right before our eyes. Firstly, if you haven’t yet realized that “Faith is a Fight”, then know it is real now! In this “great southland of the Holy Spirit”, or is it, “the long weekend”? Or, is it “The next party with our mates”? For far too long Australian Christians have had it too easy when compared to others in developing lands that have experienced hardship and persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ. I truly believe, when the going is tough, we are to dig deeper into our personal walk with God where our “faith” becomes substantial (Heb: 11:1).
Secondly, our faith has to be “fearless” as is often said “we fear nothing but fear itself”! No matter how deep, sad, lonely and painful your valley might, your victory is sealed when you walk through it without “fear”! David said it plainly “I will fear no evil”; John Wesley’s covenant saying was, “The best of all God is with us”. So, if God is for us, who can be against us? Know this then, nothing, and no one, can drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us! So with the Holy Spirit in us and with the world seemingly against us, I am absolutely sure that nothing can get between us and God (Romans 8:31 – 39).
Please comfort one another with these words.
In His Grip
Harry