God Knows and He Is There!

Throughout our lives, we face a variety of challenges and trials. Early in life, some small challenges seemed like mountains. As life progressed, we realize that those things were more like mole-hills, especially compared to other things we have faced along the way. Hopefully, as we have grown, our responses to crises have developed as well. Now, I’m not saying that facing a crisis, however small, is ever easy. It’s not … crises may vary in degree, but they are never easy.

One of Dictionary.com’s definitions of a crisis is, “a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life.” Many of us have been through times like these. In the moment, it may seem like our life is crashing in on us. However, once we are through the crisis, we realize that our life hasn’t crashed in on us … but it has probably changed one way or another. The question is, how will we deal with it (the change and/or the crisis)?

I could go into the various stages of grief, or typical responses to crises (in my chaplain training, they called these “normal responses to abnormal situations”), but I won’t. Instead, I’ll give you one statement that I have seen make a big difference:

“God knows, and He is there.”

It’s simple, but oh so profound. Now, this statement doesn’t usually stand by itself. It usually comes after reading Psalm 46:1-7, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble …” and Psalm 23, both of which speak of God’s presence and care for us. The phrase, “God knows, and He is there” also stands on a person’s walk with God throughout the years. In six simple words, it reminds us of how God has been faithful throughout our lives and His promise that He will never leave or forsake us.

So, what ever you may be going through today, remember, “God knows, and He is there!”

In His grip,
Pastor Decker