FOREVER

“True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade, but our God’s Word stands firm and forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Everything on our calendars has been crossed off. The appointments. The trips. The meetings. The dinners with friends. Canceled or postponed until…???

We want to know when this uncertainty is going to end. We listen to experts, we check on other countries a little bit ahead of us, and we stare at too many graphs to count.

This virus, this panic, this battle. How long is it going to last?

We really have no idea.

It seems like FOREVER when there is no sure end date. We are legitimately feeling despondent, anxious, and vulnerable.

But it isn’t going to last forever. And God isn’t surprised or scared right now. He wants to help us. He has been preparing us, giving us his words for times like this.

And here in Deuteronomy 4 are some of truths we can hold on to:

Verse 29 “But even there  (in the hospital, the quarantine, the closed-down city*), if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul.”

He is here. His presence will become more and more clear to us as we seek him with hopeful, sincere hearts.

Verse 30  “When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you (all the things we are terrified of right now*), in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says.”

He knows exactly what we need. He will give us direction, comfort, wisdom, and help.

Verse 31  “God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won’t bring you to ruin, he won’t forget the covenant…”

He is devoted to us with all his heart. He hasn’t left us and he never will.

Verse 39  “…Take it to heart right now: God is in Heaven above; God is on Earth below. He’s the only God there is.”

He is in control. He is in Heaven–far above all of this chaos, yet he is on Earth–here in the middle of it with us. All power and wisdom and authority belongs to him.

Stand firm:  God’s words are true and relevant for us in the peaceful times and in the stressful times. The way he loves us is real, and he is closer than we can even imagine right this minute. Let’s turn our eyes and hearts to him and let him lead us through this. He is the only one we can truly count on. Forever.

*italics mine