There have been and still are times in my life when I have had no doubt of God’s goodness and His control, but when, at the same time, my “feelings” wrestle with the truth on which I stand.

It is that paradox of Him being so very good and yet there being evil, injustice, and pain in this world – sometimes of our own making, sometimes stemming from the actions of others, sometimes simply the result of a world and bodies broken by the Fall, when, in actual time and space, man and woman first rebelled against the Creator who made them and established them on earth.

Thankfully, I am reminded in Jeremiah 17:9 that those feelings are from a heart that can deceive me into believing they are supreme.

I can never trust them above the heart of the One who created me and who knows what is true and right; who understands my needs and desires even better than I know them myself. Nor can I elevate my emotions above His very Word – the Bible.

Indeed, I must never trust my “feelings” over what God’s Word says is true!

Unquestionably, I can’t always see the goodness of my God in the moment as He will not be put in a box nor neatly tidy up every situation in my specified time frame or according to my “will.”

For that, I give thanks because, if I could bind the God of the universe and understand every action He takes or allows, He would not be a God worthy of my all; He would be finite like me. 

As it is, He is not limited and He is more than worthy of my surrender.

And, yet, this infinite God is also so personal and loves His children so deeply that, while He calls for our obedience and our submission, He also understands our frailties and tenderly comforts us in those moments of life that create fear, feel stifling, or leave us unsteady. 

But He is not angered by honest questions that come from a yielded heart.

In Mark 9, when the father of the demon possessed son asked Jesus to heal him, he said, “I believe; help my unbelief.”

What a beautiful picture of simple faith!

He was acknowledging that he believed Jesus was able but also admitting his own fearful and deceitful heart that was found lacking.

He meekly laid out his wavering spirit before Jesus and boldly made his request.

It is the way I am continually learning to pray. 

While I have no doubt about who my God is and what He who created me and redeemed me is able to do, I sometimes hesitate to be bold. 

I know that, at times, He will desire and be willing to do that which I bring before Him but, if He chooses not, I must choose to lay my will down and humbly submit to an answer I would rather not receive.

And so I ask, believing yet confessing my unbelief, and I finish with “…but, Lord, if you have better in mind for me and mine and, if in that better, you are most glorified, help me to be faithful in the waiting as well as in the answer.”

Sometimes the situation changes, but I know that, ultimately, the best answer is when He changes my heart before He changes my circumstances.

God loves the fervent and heartfelt cries of a humble heart bent towards Him.

Our surrender becomes the open door for Him to surprise us with joy!

Not for A Moment by Meredith Andrews

You were reaching through the storm
Walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake me
Not for a moment did You forsake me

Chorus:

After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

You were singing in the dark
Whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me

Chorus:

After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me

And every step every breath you are there
Every tear every cry every prayer
In my heart at my worst
When my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Even in the dark
Even when it’s hard
You will never leave me
After all

Chorus:

After all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Not for a moment will You forsake me