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August 31, 2021

Encountering God’s Faithfulness One Day at a Time

August 31, 2021 by CARISSA JOY STRUM FAITHFULNESS Dependence Reliance
Encountering God’s Faithfulness One Day at a Time
  • by CARISSA JOY STRUM
  • Comment
“During that night the LORD said to Gideon, ‘Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.’ So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.”
Judges 7:9-11a

I can’t stand getting shots. I have been known to faint during multiple attempts to get my blood drawn, and the sight of a needle can put me into a star-seeing blackout mode that isn’t enjoyable for anyone. So when I found out I needed a flu shot for my school, I freaked out just a bit. I wanted to be strong and confident–I’m an adult and these things should not scare me, right?–but I felt all jittery and stressed. My housemates knew this, so they generously came with me as I got my shot. The actual experience ended up being very quick and easy, and having my housemates with me gave me peace and a sense of assurance. 


Later that day as I read from Judges 7, the presence and care of God stood out to me. God knew Gideon would win this battle. God knew He would rescue His people. However, He still provided assurance for Gideon in the meantime. God is not only the God of the end result; He is the God of the middle, too. In allowing Gideon to be encouraged before the battle, God revealed His care for His children in each stage of life. It would have been easy for God to tell Gideon to strap on his boots and just trust that it was going to turn out okay. It would have been easy for God to chide Gideon for his lack of faith. But God doesn’t do that. 


God chooses to care for His children in the process even though He already knows the outcome and that they’ll all ultimately be safe. This reminds me of Christ’s response to his friend’s death: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus was about to raise His friend from the dead, but that didn’t stop Him from weeping at his death. God loves us so much that He chooses to be with us. How often do we call Him Immanuel but then forget He wants to be with us even in those waiting-to-get-a-scary-shot moments? God doesn’t only care about the result; He cares about being with us in the process. He chooses to be with us, and we can choose to be with Him every day. 


God provided for me through my housemates even though He knew that the experience I was afraid of would turn out well. I didn’t need people to go with me, but it helped me to feel more at peace. What a good blessing from God! Our God is faithful in the process. He is with us in the middle and in the mundane. What process can you invite Jesus into today?

Closing Prayer
Father God, Thank You for being present in every moment of our lives. Thank you for helping and loving on us through Your comfort in the present even when you know the outcome. We love and praise You for who You are! Please grow our trust and faith as we begin to see Your faithfulness more each day. Amen.
Resources
Article: Faithful to the End by Amanda Seibel This article provides encouraging insight into our walks with Christ and into the faithfulness of God. Reading this article felt like a big weight was taken off my shoulders as I was reminded of God’s faithfulness and encouraged to place my trust in Him.
Song: Goodness of God by Bethel Music
Question for Reflection

Are you ever embarrassed or afraid to ask God to be with you in the present because you don’t fully understand your present feelings, or because you know He already knows the future? What’s one way you can choose to be more open with God about the present realities you’re facing?

Comments
Carissa Joy Strum
August 31, 2021

It’s easy for me to focus so much on asking God to have His will in my future that I forget to enjoy His presence throughout the day. I want to be more open with God about how I’m feeling throughout the day, whether that be as simple as letting God know I’m tired, thanking God for the beautiful sunshine, or letting God know I feel hungry. Instead of trying to always focus on the future and understand all of my emotions, I want to focus on God’s presence and invite Him into whatever emotions I’m processing each day.