Message from Pastor Leo

August 15, 2009

God Is With You

Have you ever felt stuck – as if you have nowhere to go and the life is being squeezed out of you?  Have you ever had to choose between two equally unsatisfactory options?  You are not alone!  It happens often, God will box you in and you will have no human solution out of the problem.  The human contacts you have, the human resources you have, the human clout that you have can not get you out of the situation.

All through the Bible there are stories of God’s intervention.  Taking what seems like horrible life events and turning them into wonderful endings. These are written for our encouragement so that we can trust God even in the worse of times, knowing He is faithful to us in everyway. 

One thing that stands out in the tragedies of Joseph’s life is “the Lord was with Him…”  Life’s difficult decisions and Catch-22 situations can leave us feeling forgotten or overlooked by God.  Problems can show up in our health, finances, and relationships — in any area.  Yet, when God allows such moments, He is often working out His very special plan for our lives. God allows these Catch-22’s for one overarching purpose, to experience Him at a deeper, higher, greater level.

We can get into a routine way of experiencing Him.  God wants to escalate and elevate that experience.  Therefore He puts us in situations only He can resolve.  To see some examples, just look at the Bible. There are particular people in the Bible who illustrate this point, from Moses and the children of Israel getting boxed in with the Red Sea on one side and Pharaoh’s army on the other – to Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son – to God letting Lazarus die when He promised he wouldn’t die.  All of these are contradictions.  When you face such a contradiction, God usually calls you to do something that often doesn’t make sense.  It doesn’t fit the problem.  It may even seem totally opposite to the problem.  Yet it is God calling you to an act of faith which releases Him to show you His miraculous power.

As you read your Bible, zero in when you see people face crises and the various ways God intervenes and is with them.  It will show you that while God’s promises are constant, His methods vary.  You will be able to see that God is not limited to any one way of addressing any one situation and it will expand your view of Him.  He wants you to know that He is with you.

There are thee things God says in His word that you can rely on during these times when life events seem impossible to you.

1.      Know That God Is With You.  God is with you in every place of your life! Take a moment and read His thoughts to you in Psalm 139.  Jesus said, “I will never leave or forsake you.” Heb. 13:5.

2.      Know That God Is Faithful.  In some mysterious way God is showing His faithfulness to you.  Deut.7:9 Know therefore, that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.  Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be moved, yet  My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed.  Because God’s Love is unfailing that means He is going to not fail you but be faithful to you.

3.      Know That God will Deliver.  Nothing you face is too hard for God.  Jer. 32:17, Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.  Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.  Let go of fear, doubt and worry and cling to God’s peace and protection.  Know that you are in His plan.  As God was with Joseph so He will be with you!  Jesus said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5).  Isaiah 41:10…So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

In conclusion, just look at the outcome of Joseph’s life.  What was meant for evil God used it for good. (Gen. 50:20)  So, Remember God is with you, God is faithful and God will deliver.  May God bless you as you trust Him with your whole heart! 

May the Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!

Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti