His Mercy Endures Forever
Generally, when I get up in the morning, the first thing I do (after downing my vitamins and collecting the coffee my husband’s brewed for me) is sit down with my Bible. For reasons I can’t name, today was different. I woke with anxiety in my heart and said a prayer for our country before my eyes were even open. Then, instead of heading for my Bible, I opened my email. A friend had sent a blog post by Joel C. Rosenberg titled Mother Jones Article: “Oh Magog! Why End Times Buffs Are Freaking Out About Syria” After skimming the article, my anxiety level increased.
I don’t fear the end of the world, per se. I know where I’m going, so death doesn’t worry me. But after studying the book of Revelation three times, I’m not too keen on living through the tribulation. Just writing that last sentence, I’m sure, is going to open the door for the controversy between Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation and Post-tribulation. Every theological commentator has an opinion—backed up by scripture—but nobody knows for sure.
Gregory Koukl shared his opinion on his radio show, which my husband listens to on a regular basis. Koukl claims scripture points to a Post-tribulation viewpoint. His concern is that believers rest in the misconception that they’ll be raptured before the tribulation begins and, when they’re not, they’ll be unprepared to face it. David Pawson, author of Unlocking the Bible claims that if we lose our courage during the tribulation, we lose our salvation. I’ve even heard Francis Chan claim that he fears a loss of courage will result in a loss of salvation. Again, this is controversial, and I can’t go into their Biblical evidence in this brief post.
But, when I read that article this morning, all these theological opinions weighed heavy on my heart. How could I stand strong in the face of persecution that’s sure to come with the tribulation? I’m no Jack Bauer. With my Bible in hand, I sat and tried to pray. But all that came out was, I’m so afraid, Lord, that I’ll fail You. I don’t want to fail You with my lack of courage. The prayer became a mantra as I launched into the Bible study I’ve been working on. Much to my surprise, today’s study was titled: Truth and Security = Hope. Coincidence? I think not.
I was instructed to write out Proverbs 3:26—For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. I meditated on that for a moment, my anxiety lessening a little. That was followed by a passage by Oswald Chambers. In part, it said: You are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ. You are eternal, like an angel. You have a crown that will last forever. You are a holy priest, and a treasured possession. But more than any of the above—more significant than any title or position—is the simple fact that You are God’s child. By the time I finished reading this, the anxiety was gone. I am God’s child. He loves me and will protect me more abundantly than I could my own children—and I would die for them.
But lest I still feel as if God wasn’t speaking into my fear and anxiety, I was instructed to read Psalm 136 out loud—then write out the repeated theme of this psalm: His mercy endures forever. Some versions say, His love endures forever, but it’s the same either way. How could I have forgotten how much God loves me and loves you? Fearing something that may or may not take place is a waste of precious time. God will hold us in the palm of His hand—and His mercy endures forever!
So, whatever comes to pass—whether the End Times are a month away, a decade away or a century away, we can rest in the fact that we belong to the One True Living God. He will see us through any trial or tribulation—even the Tribulation.
Romans 8:31—What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Comments 4
Jennie, This is a comforting reminder. Thank you.
What do I Fear? The title grabbed me. The message squeezed that inner knot of anxiety. Living in a constant blur of not enough time in the day to do all that screams out in our new business, to the inner disappointment of not getting to do what I love…well this message brought it home. I did not like confronting my deepest angst. Then…the combination of Scriptures and well-appointed quotes brought it to the heart of the matter. TRUST! I MUST TRUST this God of love. Thank you Jennifer, your words inspired my day.
Hang in there, my friend. You are an amazing child of God and are such an inspiration to so many around you. I know you’ve been through recent trials that make it difficult to trust, but I know God’s using your life in ways that we can only imagine!
I’ve always found it best to be prepared for the worst of circumstances, just in case. It appears, for the sake of my little soul, that it wouldn’t be bad in the case of the world’s end, either, just to make sure my faith remains strong. No matter when God plans to take us believers home, it is comforting to know that He does plan to take us home.