The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
Fact, Not Feeling
When Jesus Christ promised “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” in Matthew 28:20b, He didn’t qualify it with various circumstances under which He would not fulfill the promise. Likewise in Hebrews 13:5b, “for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you”, there is no mitigating circumstance under which the promise will not be kept.
John 14:27 also gives us an unconditional promise: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you.” The promises of peace in Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6-7, on the other hand, are conditional:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).
Whether or not there are conditions attached to the biblical promises of God makes no difference in the reliability of God’s fulfillment of those promises. Our faith in the promises in the Word of God cannot depend on how we feel about them. Feelings vary according to circumstances and emotions. An easy to remember saying from my childhood, “God said it; I believe it; that settles it”, still holds true today. We safely believe by faith what God has promised based on two facts: first, that God said it, and second, that we and others can testify of God’s promises fulfilled in our own lives.
Regarding Scripture, including the promises of God, I remind you today to read it, meditate on it, believe it, and remember it knowing that your belief has nothing to do with your feelings. Your belief has everything to do with the fact of God’s Word.
Update/Prayer Request: Although Dan had his PETscan yesterday, we will not have the results until next week. Please continue to pray for consistent sleep with his continued coughing and digestive side-effect issues. Also pray for strength as he cares for me during my recovery from hand surgery.
