Scripture: "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease." (Lamentations 3:22)
The Worst Feeling
Do you know the feeling of being about to run out of gas? It’s awful. You’re there, heart pounding, looking down at your gas gauge, certain that every weird sound is your car sputtering down to empty and stranding you in the worst possible location. Because typically you only run out of gas at the worst possible time.
Almost Empty
Do you ever feel that way with God? Like the tank of His love is on the verge of empty, just when you need it the most? One more press down on the pedal—one more sin or hard time—and boom, out of gas, stranded. I know how you feel. I remember when I was at my lowest point a couple years ago: disillusioned with life and people. I no longer had the dreams I used to, and everything seemed bleak. I was sure that God’s love tank for me was sputtering to empty.
Unexpected Loyalty
Naomi felt the same way. She had left her famine-struck country with her husband and sons in search of food. But not long after, her husband and sons died, leaving her with just her daughters-in-law. She dismissed them to go and start over, but Ruth refused, saying:
"Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" (Ruth 1:16-17)
Ruth stayed with Naomi at her lowest, gathering food for her, and bringing a new grandson into life. Ruth brought new joy into Naomi’s life when she was at her worst.
A Picture of God
Ruth is just a small picture of how incredibly loyal God is to you. He is the most faithful, loyal friend in the universe. In Exodus 34:6, God said, “I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” What He is saying is that you’re never going to run out of the gas tank of His love. He will never leave you on empty, stranded. He knows all your sins (including the ones you’ll do in the future!), the hard and lonely times you’ll go through, and He has still promised you:
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
What Happened with Me
So what did God do with me when I was at my lowest, when I thought my love tank was on empty? He really surprised me. Instead of leaving me stranded, He actually changed my fuel source. I had been running on the gasoline of my own good deeds that were always running dry; but He wanted me to run on the solar power of His never-ending love which renews every morning. Lamentations 3:22 says, “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Change Your Fuel Source
In fact, God said the renewing of the sun is proof of His faithful love to you: “I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.” (Jeremiah 33:25)—meaning, the day that the sun doesn’t come up is the day you can start worrying that God doesn’t love you anymore. But if you’ve been like me, and worried that you’re going to run out of gas, He wants you to switch over to the solar power fuel of His never-ending love.
We love you!
Your Friends at GodLife
Featured Article
I have really struggled with depression in my life, so I know its power. But I also know the power of God to heal and set free—and I know He can do that in your life. Read this inspiring series on how to break free of depression and experience God’s goodness!
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário