Apples of Gold

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But God was with him

'But God was with him.'

Acts 7:9

There can be times, perhaps many times in the Christian life when God seems to be very far away from us. It may even 'feel' as though He has left us altogether. That my friend will never be the case.

God is not one for breaking promises. He has said, "I will never leave thee or forsake you." He will not go back on His word.

When we have backslidden and eventually come to a realisation of our position, the gulf between ourselves and God may seem insurmountable. In fact the last place where we would want to go with our burden of guilt is to our Holy God! But to whom else can we go? Repentance is turning from our sin and corruption unto God.

God may also seem at a distance from us even in the path of duty and obedience. Faith, in fact, may be so obscured by what we are feeling that we find it impossible to see exactly where God could be in to our situation.

If ever we find ourselves thinking this way, then we must put all such thoughts to the sword. It is a lie from Satan to make us think that we have been forsaken. As a child of God, it will never happen. We must not let feelings get the better of us.

I am an emotional person by nature and I find this very difficult indeed. I love my feelings. I love to 'feel' good. I have come to realise that even in the severest pain there can be unspeakable joy! I am a poor scholar in the school of faith. I count myself the dunce of the class.

But thankfully my Teacher has not given up on me.

I often wonder how Joseph felt when betrayed by his brethren when being the unjust subject of sleaze and false allegations and being forgotten by his fellow prisoners who had promised to speak on his behalf when released.

Joseph suffered much yet we never hear of him murmuring against God. He sought to honour his God in whatever situation he found himself. I am sure that many a day and many a long night Joseph spent in that dungeon wondering where his God was. In his mind he must have said,
"Why have these things fallen out to me? Why must I suffer these things when I have done nothing wrong? Will I ever be free?" Natural fears and natural questions. I have often asked similar questions.

Joseph's greatest test however was to keep believing the Word of God. When things were at there darkest, still he had faith to cling on, hoping against hope.
There may be many days when all we can do is to 'cling on!' Thankfully His hold on us is greater than our hold on Him.

Believing when there is no outward evidence to encourage us in any way. Trusting, trusting, trusting in God's word alone. ("Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross (thy word) I cling"). This can be so difficult. The endless waiting, endlessly looking for something, anything, that could bring hope of better days to come.

We may plan many ways of escape from such trials, however if we do so in our own strength we will find that the storms rage, and the ties that bind only become even tighter.

It is best to leave our situation with God believing that He is with us. Let us have ears to hear this word from God today: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with YOU!"

His method and the timing of our deliverance will be absolutely perfect. Perhaps it will be in a way we had not even thought of and at a time when we least expected.

Joseph was taken from the prison and to the palace in the same day. And God will have some good thing planned and prepared for us. Let Him take over the reins of our life and allow Him to work out our deliverance.

No matter what we may be going through today. Be sure of this one thing. God is with us. "If God be for us, then who can be against us?" When faith lays hold on the truth that God is with us, then we can do all things.

We can cope with everything that comes our way. Why? Because the God who is with us, loves us with an everlasting love. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.