Unbelief

One of the books of the Bible I came to really love this past year was Deuteronomy. Isn’t it funny how depending on the season of your life, certain books of the Bible takes on different meaning in our lives? One of the most repeated words in the book of Deuteronomy is “remember.” Moses knew all to well the reality of our human forgetfulness.

Deuteronomy is so full of words of wisdom, I think I have highlighted almost every verse in my Bible, for fear I will miss one of the great truths.

Starting in chapter 1, verse 29-31 “Then I said to you, Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you… There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son…”

On in chapter 3, verse 23, we read “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” Sweet friends how many times in your life can you look back and see that our Father God was fighting for you. I know in my own life, I would not be able to count that high.

One or my favorite verses this past year has been Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV)

Oh and I love how The Message version reads. "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

Maybe it is my southern nature but I tend to hear the voices in my head, as southern voices. Ha. So, I just love that I can hear in a southern voice “child don’t you give them a second thought because God, YOUR GOD, is right here with you.” Wow. Let that truth sink in for a moment.

For this fearful gal, these verses mean so stinkin much to me. The devil knows that fear is my greatest weakness and that is where he can attack me the hardest every time. As I read these words, it was as if my Father God was whispering in my ear “beloved child, I told you all this time, not to be afraid, but you have not listened to me.” Oh how I must disappoint my Father God. I don’t know about y’all but I don’t want to get to heaven and have God ask me “child why did you not believe me?” Oh how that makes my heart hurt just to think of it. My Father God is so worthy and He is telling me confidently over and over again “Do no be afraid.”

How I would love to tell y’all that ALL.OF.THE.TIME. I say, “Okay God said it and I believe it and that is that.” Yes, I know God said it. Yes, I know God is worthy. Yes, I know that since God said it, I can believe it. However, in the dark of night, when fear creeps in and I feel its heaviness on my chest, sitting like an elephant and even sometimes struggle to breathe because that fear is so strong and the weight so heavy, sweet friends, I won’t lie to you. During those times, I want to put God to the test and say “but God are you sure I don’t have to be afraid? Maybe you meant that verse for my neighbor and not for little old me.”

I guess what I am trying to say is, while I want to believe with all my heart and I do. I still have days of doubt and unbelief and I know that must make my Father so sad. I can only imagine, how my own mother would feel, if she told me something and I didn’t believe her. Never does she tell me something and I doubt it. So why do I doubt my heavenly Father? Thankfully, He knows us and our humanness. He knows our fears and concerns and He loves us even through our unbelief.

What a comfort it is to know that whatever God sends into our lives has first passed through his filter. NOTHING comes into the life of a Christian that God doesn’t know about. Believing that, we can relax and know that God will be with us during the trials ahead. What a comfort that is my sweet friends.

I have to say this last year was the hardest year of my life but it brought me closer to my Father God than I have ever been and for that reason, I would not change a thing. God is a good God. He is faithful. He is in control of every last thing going on in all our lives and we can believe Him when he tells us “child don’t you give them a second thought because I am your Father God, and I am right here with you.” Believe Him.