Love That Never Fails

42. The Lord Is With You

Have you ever felt like you were in an impossible situation and wondered when things would change? Perhaps the cost of living crisis has pushed you to the limits of your capacity to cope. The Israelites were in a very difficult time too, brought about by their own refusal to follow God's way. He had given them over to the Midianites who were great in number and were making it impossible for them to thrive in the land.

"Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, 'I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me.""
‭‭Judges‬ ‭6:6-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes it takes difficult situations to come upon us in order for us to turn our eyes back to God. We might not be worshipping idols in the way the Israelites did but we can easily let things become idols in our lives and neglect spending time with God. The thing I have discovered over the years, is that whenever I turn my eyes back to God and seek Him, He always responds with love and grace!

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Likewise, God responded straight away, sending an angel to a man called Gideon. I love the honesty of this conversation:

"The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."

The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

"Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.""
‭‭Judges‬ ‭6:11-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a surprise for Gideon! Notice that the angel came to a man who still had doubts and built him up, reminding him that the Lord was with him. So often we have doubts about whether God is really working in a situation when all we see is trouble and hardship! We also can have doubts that we could be used by God in our weakened position.

This encounter gives us all hope that God sees our potential and just requires us to go in the strength that we have, remembering that He is with us. It can come as a shock to be called to serve God in new ways, especially when we see ourselves as weak or the least equipped for the job. All we have to remember is that God will be with us, just as He promised to be with Gideon!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

This year has brought so many challenges for people all over the world. It's been such a testing time and yet, despite everything, You tenderly come and hear our prayers. Thank You for not abandoning us but instead showing me Your ongoing love.

Lord I admit that I often feel weak and under equipped for what You have chosen me to do in life. I am so encouraged by the way You chose Gideon even though he had doubts and felt he was the least of his family. Thank You for reminding me that You use all sorts of people to do Your work, even the ones who feel weak!

Today I will remember that whatever You have for me to do, I can do it because You will be with me!

Amen.