Panting for breath. Exhausted. In fear of his life. A man ran from his persecutors. They were gaining on him. He couldn’t run anymore and saw a cave. He ran into it and fell down, desperately pleading for God to help him.
The persecutors stopped at the cave opening and he held his breath. Then one said, “He can’t have gone in here. There’s a spider web over it yet.”
God directed a spider to quickly weave a web, and the man was safe.
I read this story many years ago, and it stuck with me. As I surfed the web for it, I found different versions of it. So whether it’s truth or legend, I don’t know.
What I do know is that with God anything is possible. He can protect us in whichever way He chooses. Even weak little creatures are in His hands. Even a spider web can become a wall of protection.
But what about the times when God doesn’t put up a wall to protect His beloved? Does that mean He doesn’t hear our desperate cries? Does that mean He doesn’t care about our plight?
These questions and others have haunted me at times. Why does God protect some from harm and not others? Why does He allow evil to hurt the weak? Abuse of power to hurt the vulnerable?
When I get myself into such a quandary of questions, I spin my wheels and go nowhere. I make myself dizzy as I go round and round analyzing situations this way and that way. Sometimes my wanting to know the why of everything that happens makes my head spin.
The only way I can calm down is to focus on God’s truth and His character of love and faithfulness.
Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to or the way we expect it to. Longings are unmet. Seeking God doesn’t always mean we “feel” His presence. Cries for relief or refuge sometimes seem to go unanswered.
Here are some of the truths that have given me hope, and I pray they will do the same for you:
♥ God is God. We are not. We don’t need to make sense out of everything. Someday we will fully understand the bigger picture of all this.
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now
what I am doing, but someday you will.”
John 13:7 NLT
♥ The events and circumstances that perplex us can lead us into a deeper faith in God. They help us to rely more heavily on God and His promises. They refine us to be more like Jesus.
“But He knows the way that I take
[and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth
as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].
Job 23:10 AMP
♥ Bad things happen when people who are given choices choose evil. That doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us or doesn’t care. No evil will separate us from His love.
“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory
is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing
can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from
the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39
♥ God has the power to protect us from evil, but sometimes He chooses to allow us to break, so we can be led deeper into the brokenness He suffered for us. The more we connect with His brokenness, the more He can use our brokenness to help others who are broken.
“As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good,
to bring it about that many people
should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Genesis 50:20
♥ No matter what happens, God’s plans and thoughts are for our good, not for evil. He gives us a future and a hope in Him.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’
says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not
for disaster to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 AMP
♥ The sufferings we go through here are nothing compared to the glory hereafter.
“For I consider [from the standpoint of faith]
that the sufferings of the present life
are not worthy to be compared with the glory
that is about to be revealed to us and in us!”
Romans 8:18 AMP
God protected the man in the cave with a spider web. Nothing is impossible with God. But sometimes our cries for help aren’t always answered in the way we want them to.
Do you ever get yourself in a quandary of questions? Which truth here helps you calm down? What are some other truths about God, His love, and His faithful character that help you to trust Him?
“God Is God”
by Steven Curtis Chapman
“And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know
And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move…”
Freed to Fly 
I find myself always hearkening back to the thought you expressed here, Trudy: God is God, and I am not. We don’t always get what we think we want or need, but that doesn’t mean for one moment that God doesn’t love us. I’ve discovered over this lifetime that when God says, “No,” it only means a greater and better “Yes” is on the way, one I could never have imagined.
Blessings!
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Thank you, Martha. “God is God” is a truth that has often given me hope these last months, especially concerning the turmoil in our country. I love your discovery that “no” only means a greater and better “yes” is on the way. That’s so comforting. May we hold onto the Truth that God always gives us far beyond what we ask for!
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My verse for the year is how God restores us “beyond measure.” That is a hope I hold on to on tough days too. I understand sometimes restoration comes when we are with Him, past from this part of our journey, yet always brings comfort. Thank you for sharing all of these today Trudy!
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That’s a beautiful hope to hang onto, Lynn. As I read your comment, I thought of the Biblical meaning of restoration someone once wrote about. Then I checked back at your site to reread about your verse for the year, and I found out you are the one that told us about that meaning. 🙂 Ever since I read that, “restore” has taken on a much deeper meaning to me. “To receive back more than has been lost to the point where the final state is greater than the original condition.” So thank you again! 🙂 May God renew and restore our inner selves day by day!
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Wonderful! I love Romans 8! Great verses you picked out.
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Thank you, Sherry. I love Romans 8, too! It is one of my favorite chapters. God so often speaks to me through it. May we rest in the Truth that nothing has the power to separate us from God’s deep, faithful love!
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I always turn to the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 when life gets difficult or confusing. God does have a plan, and it IS a good plan….even when I don’t understand His ways!
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Thank you for sharing that, Sarah. I often have to turn to that verse as well. Yes, His IS a good plan even when we don’t understand. May we cling to the Truth that He always has our well-being in mind!
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P.S. I’m looking forward to unlocking the promises in Psalm 119. 🙂
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Trudy, your cave spider story reminded me of the tale of Robert the Bruce, a Scottish king who was forced to hide away in a cave for three months. As legend has it, he observed a spider patiently spinning her web and trying repeatedly to gain leverage on the wall of the cave. Finally, the spider succeeded and inspired him to go into battle once again, also giving birth to the familiar expression: “If at first you don’t succeed, try try and try again”. How much is fact and how much is fiction I wouldn’t like to say!
Anyway, I thought that might interest you, just as your reassuring words have greatly encouraged me today. Thank you so much for always pointing us back to the faithfulness of God and the wonderful Hope we have in Christ. May you find solace in those things as you rest your questions at His feet. Blessings and love to you, dear friend! xo 💜
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I thought of that story too, Joy! I couldn’t quite remember the detail of it so I had to look it up.
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That’s cool that you and Joy thought of the same story, Lesley. 🙂 Do you actually live in Scotland, or do you live in the US?
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I live in Scotland, and have all my life apart from a few years in England!
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Cool! I thought so. I knew you are Scottish and remember your very Scottish accent on a video. 🙂 But I always wanted to ask you if you actually live there. 🙂
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Me too, Lesley! It rang a bell and the details were in my head but I checked it out just to be sure. 🙂 x
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Oh, I love that story, Joy. I never heard of it before. I will never think of that expression the same again. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing it! I’m so glad you were encouraged here today. May we in the midst of all our struggles rest in the immovable faithfulness of God and the precious hope we have in Christ!
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the older I get, the less I understand.
but God’s faithfulness is something I hold on to tight. and therein lies some measure of peace …
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I find the same with myself, Linda. “The older I get, the less I understand.” But yes, let’s hold on tight to God’s faithfulness. May He help us to daily rest in His love, wisdom, and faithfulness!
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These are amazing truths you share here, Trudy! I also have times when I tie myself in knots trying to understand it all, but in the end I’m glad God is God and I don’t have to hold it all together! I love that verse from Genesis which reminds us he can take even things meant for evil and work them into his plan for good.
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Thank you, Lesley. Isn’t it something how we can tie ourselves in knots? But again and again, we have to surrender to God who does hold it all together. Even though we can’t understand it all, He’s got us, right? That verse from Genesis really comforts me, too. Yes, He can evil towards us and turn it for good. He turns brokenness to beauty to His glory and for the benefit of other hurting souls, doesn’t He? May He help us to daily lay all our questions at His feet and trust He is always out for our good!
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Dear Trudy, Your post is just what I needed to hear today, dear friend! This verse: “Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” John 13:7 NLT” is one that the Lord emphasized to me several years ago, but I needed to be reminded of it again today. And the Steven Curtis Chapman song is so good, I’m going to share it with a friend who is in a deep trial right now. Thank you so much for sharing your heart of encouragement! Blessings and Hugs and Love to you!
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I’m so glad God gave you what you needed to hear today, Bettie. That’s a truth that comes to me more often, especially when I wind myself up trying to understand. God is so gentle with us, isn’t He? It’s like He quietly feels all our deepest struggles and cries with us and gently reminds us that someday we will know why. The big picture will be so glorious. I’m so sorry for your friend. Is this the same one you mentioned before? I pray the song will bring her great comfort and peace! Blessings and hugs back to you! May we daily lean on the God who knows and cares!
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Dear Trudy, Thank you for remembering about my friend who was struggling! But no, this is another friend. It seems that God is bringing connections with many dear ones who are facing deep trials in their daily walk. Truly, we comfort each other with the comfort we ourselves have been given, don’t we? Thank you so much for your open heart of sharing! You are a Blessing!
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I’m so sorry that yet another of your friends is facing a deep trial, Bettie. I’m so grateful she has you to comfort her with the same comfort God has given us! God bless you both with strength and peace!
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Can so relate to this mindset. Thankful for these truths to reflect on when these difficult times arise.
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I’m so glad you can relate, Amber. These truths are like an anchor in a storm, aren’t they? I love the caption you have at your site: Grace To Go – Truths That Move You. May we cling to God’s Truths and His abiding love and grace!
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Important reminders, Trudy. One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes my circumstances aren’t about me at all. God may be doing something in the life of someone I love or someone in my circle of influence. For me, it all boils down to trust. It’s not always easy, but I chose to trust. May you feel His strong and faithful arms around you this week, dear one.
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Thank you, June, for this point that sometimes our circumstances are about God doing something in the life of someone we love or in our circle of influence. So true. Thank you also for your prayer. I pray you may feel His strong and faithful arms around you as well. Trust. No, not always easy, but oh, so important. May we have a childlike trust in our God who is always working for our good!
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Oh my goodness, Trudy. What a powerful post. God truly is bigger than we are. When He allows those things that we just can’t understand we can either choose to trust Him through it, or we can choose to turn away from Him, in our hearts/lives. I don’t understand why He’s allowed certain things to happen. I wish I could make sense of it. Truth is, sometimes I just need to trust Him in spite of the horrible things that happen.
This really spoke to me: “God has the power to protect us from evil, but sometimes He chooses to allow us to break, so we can be led deeper into the brokenness He suffered for us. The more we connect with His brokenness, the more He can use our brokenness to help others who are broken.”
Such beautiful words here today!
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Thank you, Jeanne. I’m so glad God used this to speak to your heart. It’s so amazing how God uses our brokenness to lead us deeper into His. His love for us is indescribable, isn’t it? May He help us to choose to trust Him rather than turn away from Him when horrible things happen!
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So much encouragement here. One of the verses I cling to in hard times is Psalm 27:13 – “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!” This verse reminds me that God is wanting to bless me now with His overwhelming goodness.
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I’m so glad you were encouraged, Barbie. We need His Truth like we need air, don’t we? Thank you for sharing that verse. I need to remember how much God is wanting to bless us with His overwhelming goodness not only the future, but NOW in our present situation. May we daily focus on His goodness and His willingness to give it!
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Every point you make is full of truth and comfort, Trudy. The older I get, the more I realize that some questions simply have no answers this side of heaven. And trusting that God knows what He is doing even when I don’t (and often can’t) is a big part of what it means to have faith, I think. It’s hard, but not as complicated as we might make it sometimes. (Love the song, too … of course!) Hugs, my friend.
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We do make it more complicated, don’t we, Lois? It’s not always easy, but yes, all we can do is trust He knows what He is doing. There’s a comfort in that. I knew you would love the song. 🙂 Hugs back to you! May we rest in God’s plan for us no matter what!
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Hi Trudy! I LOVE that song from SCC. I started singing it in my head from the beginning of your post.
I also wonder about God’s choices of who he seems to support, and who he seems to let things run without him. I say ‘seems’ because how could I ever understand the mind of God? Even when I am in trouble, and feel so lost, I know he’s there. I just can’t feel or touch him.
All those wonderful Scriptures you quoted here, with your reflections is a great study in trust and love. Thank you for sharing your faith with us!
Blessings,
Ceil
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It is an encouraging song, isn’t it, Ceil? I often have to remind myself, especially in these last months, that God is God. Yes, how could we ever understand the mind of God? I’m so glad you enjoyed the song and Scriptures here. May we daily trust He is with us through every situation even when we can’t feel or touch Him!
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Dear Trudy,
What a heartfelt, honest, and God-honoring post… what helps me is to remember I am not God and His ways and thoughts are so much higher than mine (Isa. 55:8-10) and also to remember how He has proved his love for me through Christ and that He lets me come to me with my hurt and my questions and He holds them all with love. Mystery. May God continue to give us both the grace to choose to trust him. love and hugs to you 🙂
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Thank you, Dolly. I love that verse in Isaiah about His ways and thoughts being so much higher than ours. This brings tears to my eyes – “to remember how He has proved his love for me through Christ and that He lets me come to him with my hurt and my questions and He holds them all with love.” I really, really need to remember that more often. He has already proved His love to us! Thank you for sharing these comforting truths! Love and hugs to you, too! Yes, may God continue to give us the grace to choose to trust Him!
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Love
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So much in a 4-letter-word. 🙂 I’m glad you loved it, Heather. Thank you for stopping by! May we cling to God’s faithful love for us and the truth that He will never abandon us!
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I ask a lot of questions at times in moments of heartache. I stand back and wait for answers forgetting that there is a place of truth I can always revisit. You shared such beautiful truths above. As I was reading through them I couldn’t stop nodding my head. Your truths bring me hope and I pray they bring others hope too. Love and hugs friend!
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I’m so glad these truths brought you hope, Mary. I, too, forget there is always a place of truth to go to. Love and hugs to you, too! May we daily cling to God and His Truth in the midst of heartache and questions!
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Hi Trudy- This is great- thank you- I struggle so hard with this question and it always gets me stuck and has given me such trouble. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this- Very very helpful to me. Hope you are having a good week! sending hugs xox
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I’m so glad these truths are helpful, Susie. Yes, the questions can get us so stuck sometimes, can’t they? Someday we will know the why of all the troubles. I know you have a lot to deal with. I always worry when I don’t see a Wednesday post from you, but I’m learning to entrust you into God’s hands, knowing He knows all your needs. Hugs back to you! May we let go of all our worries and fears and trust our lives and hearts and that of our loved ones into His hands!
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How many times have i held on to His promises even when I was not in the position for it anymore? Countless. How many times has he failed me? Never! 🙂
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Thank you for your thoughts, Lux. It’s such a good thing to remember that He never fails us. Sometimes when we are in a depression or a desperate situation, it’s hard to trust He’s got us, but in hindsight we can sometimes see that He is the one who got us through it. May we keep holding onto His promises!
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Wishing we could ponder this over coffee. I was actually thinking about this last night. Listened to a great sermon by Alistair Begg on prayer and praise. Hmmmm….made me think. I think I rely on God, but the praise part is difficult. I’m really struggling with physical issues…unanswered prayer? But friends are visiting for lunch. That is a praise even in the storm. And maybe that is how my prayer for healing is answered today.
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That would be wonderful to ponder this over coffee, Anita. 🙂 I would love that! I know what you mean that the praise part is difficult. And the unanswered prayer for healing. I’m so sorry you are struggling so much with physical issues. It must be so very trying and disheartening. I’m so glad friends are visiting you today. “A praise even in the storm.” Supportive and understanding friends can be a balm for our weary spirits, can’t they? I hope you have a Spirit-filled time together! May God continue to give us His sufficient grace for each day even when He doesn’t give healing to our bodies!
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Yep, I often struggle with those same questions, too. Why does God seem to protect some people and not others? Why this and not that? On and on. We just have to trust even when we don’t understand. Thanks for sharing these scriptures and truth. Love this: “He can protect us in whichever way He chooses.”
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It’s so hard to understand, isn’t it, Lisa? Yes, trust is what we need. May we trust God has an all-wise plan to work all things for our good!
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Hi Trudy,
I so love that song and it has spoken to my spinning mind and ministered to my heart. He is God and I am not. I have to find peace in the not knowing or understanding but embracing and relentlessly claiming the truth He gives us in His word. He is good. He is faithful. His love endures forever.
I read this a few days ago, but didn’t have time to stop back by to leave a comment. So glad I am here today doing this because I have missed connecting with you here! You are a blessing … (and as I always say about you …) a treasure!
Much love,
Lori
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Thank you so much for your loving words, Lori. You are a blessing and treasure to me, too! It’s hard sometimes, isn’t it? I’m so glad the song spoken to your spinning mind and ministered to your heart. I have to remind myself often that He is God and I am not. Yes! His love endures forever! May we daily embrace and relentlessly claim His Truth!
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LOVE!!!
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Thank you, Yamina. I’m so glad you enjoyed these truths. It can be so hard to understand God’s ways sometimes, but He always has our good in mind. I’m so glad He is in control of this messed-up world! May we cling to Him and daily embrace His truth and His plan!
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YES!
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👍🏼 ❤️
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