Fasting Encouragement Day 3: Romans 5

The last time I wrote a fast encouragement I received a text from Doug Bratton, thanking me for the word that I shared about God’s presence being in us and all around us. So today, this is for you, Doug. I can imagine you’re enjoying a golf game and an apple fritter in Heaven with Jesus and all your buddies. The Baptist guys too!

Hello my dear friends. As I think of each of you during this fast, I pray that you would know God’s nearness today. As you turn your heart to Him, that He would make Himself known to you.

On Saturday in my time with the Lord, I found myself asking the question, “Where are you, Jesus?” Maybe you’ve felt that question in your soul after this past year too. For many of us, it has carried loss, suffering, and questions. There have been trials that we could never have imagined. In response to this, I bring one verse to you today:

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Romans 5:3-5

It all comes back to salvation and the deep love of God. The greatest gift we could ever receive. This is the hope that will not disappoint. Do you have disappointments? Bring them to God and let His love heal those areas and renew your hope. The hope that comes from knowing how much God truly loves you and always will. This hope of salvation is confirmed to us through the Holy Spirit deposited in us. As we draw near to God and our spirits come alive, we are made more aware of the spiritual realm and the manifest presence and love of God. All our trials and sufferings draw us deeper into Him.

In our Soul Care book, Rob Reimer quotes the verse from Romans 8:28 about how God works all things together for our good. Reimer says, “God can take everything, even the most tragic and painful things in our lives, to make us more like Jesus.” This is called redemptive suffering.

When I paused to ask Jesus, “Where are you?”, it was in that same moment that I heard, “My child, my child, I’m here. I promise. Can you feel my loving presence? I’m right here. Be still and know, I have been with you all along. I brought you all this way. I’ve sustained you when you would have given up. I’ve healed you. I’ve brought you to my grace to know it for yourself.”

I encourage you to choose endurance today. Don’t give up. Don’t lose sight of the value of the One you are pursuing. When we draw near to God, he promises to draw near to us. What on earth could be better?

And in the words of our friend, Doug, “Bless you, bless you, bless you”.

With deepest love in Christ,
Pastor Amy