Trust God…

Scripture: Judges 6:12-14 – The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Gideon) and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has cast us off and given us into the hand of Midian.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.”

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Reflection: I really want you to go back and read this whole story in Judges; I love this story. The Lord raised up Gideon, as a “mighty man of valor” to use him to deliver His beloved Israel from those who were oppressing them. Gideon wasn’t expecting this visit! Just like many others called before him, he had concerns – because of the current situation they were in, he didn’t really think the Lord was with them.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he was a little confused. He said if the Lord is with us then why are we suffering? Why are we being oppressed by the Midianites? He said where is the truth of our ancestors’ words? They told us that God provides. They told us that God will take care of us. He said, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?”

Do you feel that way sometimes?

You’ve heard stories about how good God is. But here you are thinking if the Lord is with me then why am I always struggling? If the Lord is with me why can’t I find a good job? If the Lord is with me, why have I been dealt this hand? If the Lord is really with me, then why (please tell me) is this cross I bear so heavy? Where is this God who is good all the time?

But just like Gideon, there is a plan – and the word WILL come when you are least expecting it. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress, to hide from the Midianites, when the Angel of the Lord appeared. This lets me know that God doesn’t care about where we are, or what we’re doing; the Lord comes to us in His time, not our own.

Even though Gideon had concerns, and he didn’t see how this was going to work, he trusted the word of God. His physical situation didn’t change, his trust did. The Israelites were still being oppressed by the Midianites, but Gideon now believed he was the warrior God told him he was!

When all else seems lost, will you still trust God? When nothing seems to be going your way, will you still trust God? When God shows up in your situation, to let you know that you are more than a conqueror, will you trust Him?

Spoiler alert!!! If you trust Him, you will win!

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Prayer: God of my life – Commissioner of my soul – I am in awe of Your love for me. I know my situation is a little messy right now, but I trust in You. I believe You will do exactly as You promised in Your word. I am more than a conqueror, because You said so! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.