I have been overwhelmed with discouragement at all the hatred against people who are different than we are, division even between Christians, and violence against other people and establishments. We can so easily get caught up in all the chaos and find ourselves being more judgmental than prayerful. Where is all the love and compassion Jesus gives us and desires for us to do likewise?
Are we forgetting our mission? To know Jesus and make Him known? To grow and act more like Jesus? To love like Jesus?
I forget this mission, too. My heart gets so consumed with fretting about what will further happen in the coming days and years. All those “what-ifs” clog up my mind and distort my focus.
But this morning, God used a blogging friend’s post to reorient my perspective and calm my heart:
“What if God were not on my side?”
“It probably won’t alter your situation, but there’s a very good chance that those eight words will calm your heart and reorient your perspective, right then and there. In these uncertain times, that can make all the difference in the world.”
Lois Flowers – How to Calm the Anxious What-ifs
“What if the LORD
had not been on our side?
Answer, O Israel!”
Psalm 124:1 (GNT)
As that Psalm continues, we have the answer that without Him we would be swallowed up alive. My faltering heart gained strength as I remembered that God is always on our side, holding our hand when we’re afraid, girding us up with hope and giving us courage to take the next step forward, helping us to trust Him no matter what happens in the future on this earth.
The Lord is with me;
I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 118:6
With this truth in our hearts and minds, we can step forward more like Jesus would. With healing words instead of hurting words. With love instead of hate. With compassion instead of judgment.
“We can’t heal the world today.
But we can begin with
a voice of compassion,
a heart of love,
and an act of kindness.”
Mary Davis
“There’s no other name so sweet as Jesus.
No one ever cared so much for me.
As to shed His precious blood to save me
No one ever cared so much for me
When I see Him face to face up in glory
I will marvel at His nail scarred feet.
And I’ll thank Him for the pain He suffered
Because, He cared so much for me.
There’s no one who cares like Jesus
There’s no friend so precious to me
Who would carry, carry your cross to Calvary
No one ever cared so much for me
There’s no one who cares like Jesus
There’s no friend so precious to me
Who would carry, carry your cross, to Calvary
No one ever cared so much for me
No one ever cared so much for me”
Freed to Fly 
Dear Trudy,
Oh, yes, such a precious reminder! I feel like we need more reminders and encouragement than ever before. This touched my heart so much: “My faltering heart gained strength as I remembered that God is always on our side, holding our hand when we’re afraid, girding us up with hope and giving us courage to take the next step forward, helping us to trust Him no matter what happens in the future on this earth.” … Oh may I allow Him to gird me up with hope. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us during this season. Blessings, love and prayers for you dear friend.
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I’m so glad it touched your heart, Bettie. You have been through and are still going through so much. My heart aches for you. Yes, may we “allow” God to gird us up with hope! May we fix our eyes on Him, our Refuge and Strength! Blessings, love, and prayers for you, too, my friend!
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Yes, thank you for sharing these thoughts, Trudy! God is on our side. I can feel very alone. The news is full of a hurting world. We so need to fill the world with His message of hope that can and DOES heal creating change.
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Yes, the world is hurting so much, Lynn. I’m sorry you feel so alone. I know that is a cross for you. Sending hugs across cyberspace to you, my friend. Yes, His message of hope can and DOES heal. May we pass on His hope and love to all around us!
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Oh, Trudy, the song you shared with us here brought me to tears. No, there is no one in this world that cares as much for us as Jesus did and does! And if God is for us, than who can be against us? We derive our strength in our belief and faith that Jesus is God’ Son and has given His all that we might be saved. In these troubled and divisive times, that should be the one thing that brings us together, uniting us all in His unfailing love.
Blessings, my friend!
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It truly is a touching song, isn’t it, Martha? A message we so need to focus on. May we focus our hearts on what He has sacrificed for us and be united in His unfailing love! Blessings to you, too, my friend!
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Dear Trudy, I love the reminder to put our hand into the hand of God because it will act as a light for us, pushing back the fearful darkness. The world seems to be in a permanent state of worry these days, and anxiety is rampant as dark and darker still events unfold. It’s so hard to not fear, isn’t it? And yet God’s Word tells us to trust God when we feel afraid, and trust His character and grace above our feelings and pain. Oh may we all be given the means to raise our eyes above every calamity and seek the face of Christ instead of dwelling so much on what has gone wrong as we witness the chaos and storms. Thank you for this timely and encouraging post. It’s a lightning ray (bolt?) of hope to help us move forward. Blessings, love and hugs. xo ❤️
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That quote was comforting to me, too, Joy. Yes, it’s hard not to fear. It does help to keep our hearts fixed on God’s faithful character and grace. May we together open our hearts to His unshakeable hope in the midst of all the chaos and storms! Blessings, love, and hugs to you, too, my friend!
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My struggle tends more toward being cynical, but the cure is the same. The hope we have in Jesus should spark compassion in all of us. Whether things will get better or worse in the days ahead, two things are sure, God is in control and Jesus saves! Such a hopeful reminder, Trudy! Thank you for sharing Lois’ words and adding our own. Blessings!
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Yes, I find it hard not to feel cynical, too, June. Knowing God is always in control and Jesus saves are truths that are unshakeable gives such hope. Blessings to you, too, my friend! May we open our hearts to the hope of Jesus and share His love and compassion with others!
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Lois’s post was a definite wake up call – to remember what He’s done and the difference it’s made in our lives! Trusting our Dad has us in the palm of His hand – and is writing a story for each of us that will take our breath away! Thank you for sharing No One Cares like Jesus – it was so beautifully sung! Praying God’s Shalom in this season for both of us! ~ Maryleigh
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Welcome, Maryleigh. There is no link here to you. I looked up your name. Are you an author and a photographer? Thank you for including me in your prayer! May we remember God has us in the palm of His hand and He will never abandon us!
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I loved the reminder in Lois’s post too, and also how you expanded on it here. It makes such a difference to remember that God is on our side. Love and blessings to you!
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Those what-ifs surely can clog up our perspective, can’t they? Yes, it definitely makes a difference to remember God is on our side, Lesley. Love and blessings to you, too! May our hearts remember God is always with us, even when we can’t understand!
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Aw, Trudy … I’m so glad my post was encouraging to you. I actually had it all ready to go LAST week, but changed my mind at the last minute and posted something else. I guess it was meant for this week instead. 🙂 I love the song you picked to go with your thoughts … such a beautiful message. Love and hugs to you, my friend!
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Isn’t it something how God directs our hearts even when we don’t realize it? Your post was so timely for me, Lois. I love the beautiful message of that song, too. Love and hugs to you, too, my friend! May our hearts remember God is on our side and He will never abandon us, no matter what the future brings!
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Trudy, I found great reassurance in Lois’ post too. Knowing God is always on our side strengthens us to do the hard things, comforts us when life overwhelms, and reassures us when we are discouraged. I’m beyond thankful He is on my side!
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Strengthens to do the hard, comforts when life overwhelms, and reassures when we’re discouraged. I love how you word that, Jeanne. So true. I’m thankful, too. I can’t imagine life without Him. May our hearts, not just our heads, always remember He is on our side!
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