Who is your God and how big and trustworthy is He? We all must have big trust in a bigger God. Why? Because that’s what leads to perseverance! We live in a fallen world. We all experience pain and suffering. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NASB). Do you trust God regardless of your circumstances?
We must begin with who God is. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). We can’t fully understand God. He is infinite. We are not. The Lord is holy, holy, holy (Isa. 6:1-3, Rev. 4:8)! God is omniscient (all-knowing). How else could He so accurately foretell the events of Jesus’ life and death literally hundreds of years in advance (Isa. 53), as well as many other historical events? He knows all our days (Psa. 139). God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnipresent (everywhere at all times). God is holy, loving, righteous, and just in all He does. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Loving kindness and truth go before You” (Psa. 89:14). God cannot violate His own character. This is the God of the Bible. Belief is easy when life is going well.
A God we can fully understand is not the true God.
The question is, “Who is your God?” Is He holy, loving, and just regardless of your circumstances? If our belief, faith, and trust aren’t big enough to overcome bad circumstances, we’re on shaky ground! In this world, we have tribulation. We like to understand and control people, things, circumstances, and even God because understanding and control give us a sense of security. A God we can fully understand is not the true God. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
We are tremendously blessed to be born again, but without diminishing His love at all, God’s plan is much bigger than any of us as individuals. Consider Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” In the original Greek, this verse is in the plural tense, not singular! It’s not all about us as individuals. As with Jesus, sometimes God uses an individual’s pain and suffering to do a work in other people’s lives. Usually, it benefits both, but not always. In a temporal sense, how did it benefit the prophets to be murdered? Or, the martyrs throughout history? God’s thoughts and ways are above ours! We must have big trust in a bigger God!
My desire is to encourage us to trust this infinite God so that we will persevere in the faith! Scripture makes clear that perseverance is of utmost importance: “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jam. 1:12). Jesus said, “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved (Matt. 24:13). Most importantly, the Lord is glorified when His saints endure. Jesus endured the cross by focusing on the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:2). Let us walk in unity, love, and service, focused on Jesus and the prize that He victoriously won through His death and resurrection! Remember Paul’s words, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). To God be the glory!
Photo credit: Jenell Shrock
