Stay close

"Whether you are in a period of battle or a period of blessing... stay close to the Lord.

When storms make us wonder, "Is God still with us...?"

Sometimes, the storm makes us wonder, " Is God still with us?"  We believe, wrongly, that if the Lord is with us we will have no storms, no misunderstandings with our spouse, experience no injustice and lose nothing - ever. 

But the truth is, "the fact that the Lord is with you does not stop you from facing  temptations," setbacks, injustice, hurt, trials and troubles.  Sometimes, the fact that we are His seems to increase the odds that trials will fall upon us. 

He is still God and He is still Emmanuel.

Sure, "your circumstances may not be ideal."   Maybe you're "in prison – literally in prison," confined to a space and a life that seem as bleak as the paint on the block windowless walls.  Maybe your prison isn't four walls, wires and wardens, but you feel "confined like a prisoner in your job, a health issue, a difficult relationship or some other faith shaking circumstances."  In these hard places our sense of Him is jarred and, but we must hold on!  "In the midst of all this," the faithful God, is with you. 

His holy, and sweet presence is "with you, His favour in the sight of others, and His blessing on your life" are with you.  God's plans and promises for our good, salvation and triumph are not quenched, thwarted or defeated .  "Even in the worst circumstances, God" is at work in  our lives and He will see to it that all works out according to His good purposes.  He promised to never leave... He promised to be with us always.  Feelings aside... He is the Promise and the Promise-Keeper and He is still with us.

Remember, no matter how long it takes.... we triumph  —