Early one morning Grace awoke suddenly, her heart racing and her palms sweaty. Fear welled up inside her. After a few deep breaths, she said, “I know You’re with me, God. Help.” Her breathing steadied and her heartbeat slowed. The fear disappeared.
God was with Grace that morning. He’s with her every morning. He’s with you too.
In the Bible, God assures us that He’ll never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). He promises to walk with us through the “valley of the shadow of death,” through the “deep waters” and the “fire” (Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 43:2 NKJV). He’s our “ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). He’s the “God of all comfort,” who says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (2 Corinthians 1:3; Jeremiah 31:3).
We can count on Him. Always.
So why does it seem like God’s far away when our life crumbles around us? Why do fear and doubt attack us like they attacked Grace?
An Unknown Journey, A Well-Known Guide
God doesn’t always do what we expect. Following Him on an unknown journey is frightening, especially after an emotional earthquake, and the God who permitted that upheaval now whispers, “Let Me hold you, let Me lead you.”
It’s difficult to balance the truth of God’s unchanging, unconditional love with pain that wreaks havoc in our lives, the kind that leaves us on our knees gasping for breath.
When my father left our family to become Becky, I was devastated. Beneath all my fear and questions about my dad, though, I heard Jesus’s quiet, calm voice: “Trust Me with all your heart. Look up toward heaven even though the ground under your feet is trembling.” At the point, I had to choose. Would I stay stuck in my pain, questions, and disappointment, or would I move forward with God by trusting Him despite unanswered questions and unhealed wounds?
I chose to move forward, and as I took one step, God gave me the courage to take the next one and the one after that.
As you seek answers from God, cultivate a mindset of trust and obedience. You’ll be less fearful about decisions when you’re confident God has your best interest in mind. Before you were ever born, He established “plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). He also ordained good plans for your LGBT loved one.
Ask God if the decision or situation causing your fear involves a moral area or non-moral area. Discerning His will in moral areas is usually easier because His Word often provides clear direction. If God has already revealed His will about a situation in Scripture, you have one
decision to make: Will I obey or deny what His Word says? Submission to God’s written Word is essential. When your will is humbly and fully submitted to Him, He will illuminate your next step.
An Unfamiliar Path, A Trustworthy Companion
Seeking God for answers takes time and a deep desire to hear His voice. Confident faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), so ask Him to reveal His will clearly and wait for His response.
God’s peace provides a refuge for us as we deal with challenges. But peace is often elusive because we tend to focus on everything else going on and forget God’s working on our behalf every minute of every day. As you place more and more trust in Him, anxiety will decrease and peace will increase. Above all, follow Grace’s example and say, “I know You are with me, God” and ask for help.