THEME: “TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, TOUGH PEOPLE DO”
Read Malachi 3:6
GOD IS THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER
“Key Verse: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
Uncertainty and tough times do not affect God. God is above all and ahead of any situation, we experience here on the earth. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). God is never caught off-guard by any situation on this earth. He always has his contingency plans no matter what the difficulties may be.
The best or worst plans of man can never take God unawares. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. His thoughts and ways are always ahead of that of man in every way. Like prophet Isaiah says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says 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.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV). The consciousness of God’s omnipotence gives us confidence and makes us not to fret when we face challenges and trials.
Writing about God’s wisdom, John Piper has this to say, “His voice is not only true; it is perfectly wise for every situation. “He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29). “His understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5). When he gives counsel about the coronavirus, it is firm, unshakable, lasting. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Psalm 33:11). “His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31).”
God is unchanging in his character and his ways. What is uncertain or tough to us is normal to Him. He knows the way out of every situation. Times and seasons do not make him change. He predetermines the times and seasons and his rule extends to every time and season.
God’s question to Abraham amid an impossible situation was, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Gen.18:14). God expected Abraham to trust him at this time. God’s timeless word to us all through Isaiah in times of challenges is, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’” (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV). Get rid of fear from your heart.
God reveals his immutable nature, that is, his changeless character during tough times. He said to the children of Israel, “For I am the LORD, ‘I do not change, therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” No matter what you are going through now, be assured of this fact: God does not change; he remains faithful.
PRAYER: LORD, may I always be conscious of your power and control over situations during tough times.
