PSALM 138:8 – The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
Theme: GOD FINISHES WHAT HE STARTED. The doctrine of God’s complete sovereignty over all things, yes, even our lives is a great comfort for His children. Charles Spurgeon once called it “the soft pillow we lie our heads on at night.” To know that God is all-wise, all-powerful, and always all-good bring our anxious hearts and minds to a state of rest and peace. However, it is easy to acknowledge such truth when life is relatively easy and problem free. What about when the “seas of tough circumstances” are tossing us around like a ship in a storm? Maybe not so easy.
In today’s scripture there are two truths to bring stability to us in trying and uncertain times. First, God is at work in all things, always, and can do no wrong – the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. God isn’t like us. What He starts, He finishes. If God owned a basement, garage or shop, we would find no unfinished projects lying around. And should God have a dresser by His bed or a table in a den, there would be no unfinished books piling up. Remember what He has told us in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians in the opening chapter – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Trust what we know of Him not what we feel in ourselves.
The second truth to hold to in challenging circumstances as fear and doubt seek strongholds on our hearts and minds is all the work God does in His children flows from His steadfast love. Right after the Psalmist declares the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me, he states His steadfast love endures forever. To endure forever is simply that – forever. God’s love for us does not change, and even when our love for Him is so fickle! Our Lord has said, and will not go back on what He says, “I have loved you with a steadfast love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Let this hold your head above the flood of life’s many difficulties. And as we see everything through God’s good purposes and love, we will be able not only to endure hard times, but rejoice in hard times; Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (James 1:2-3).
Yes, child of God, life gets hard but if we remember and rely upon God’s goodness, purposes, and love, we will see Him at work in us; a work that is part of His purpose for us and that to make us like Jesus.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see Your Hand at work in all things, all the time in my life.”
QUOTE: “Committed to make us like Jesus. Let’s be just as committed to that work as well.”