Pastor's Ponderings, December 5, 2016

With God, Nothing Shall Defeat Us

Recently I attended a fascinating lecture on “Obesity and Diabetes” that totally debunked various myths and folk wisdom about diabetes and how one can effectively deal with it.  One of the most powerful comments the lecturer made was that the pancreas, which produces insulin, will already be 50 to 80% damaged before the doctor finally diagnoses the patient with diabetes. As a result, there are many who are walking around assuming that their health is fine.  Sadly the disease is wreaking havoc and suddenly they will find out they have been transformed from health into dealing with a potentially deadly chronic disease.  What you don’t know can hurt you.

Thank God He is still protecting us from dangers seen and unseen.  There was the traffic accident that did not happen because He protected us, the thief that passed by our house and went to another neighborhood, or the drug dealer that decided our children were not a good target and moved on elsewhere.  Our God is a very present help when we are in trouble (Psalm 46:1, 2).  The Bible says that no weapon that is formed against us shall reach its objective (Isaiah 54:17). 

Although many will have accidents, break-ins, or drug addictions, God promised that we could call on Him and He will answer us (Psalm 91:15). He will be with us in our afflictions and comfort us so much in our distresses that we can comfort others in theirs (2 Corinthians 1:4). He does not want us to suffer and wants us to be in good health (3 John 2).  But even though many of us will end up with horrible challenges in our lives, we can rest assured that He will not leave us when things get tough and we are suddenly blindsided by a lurking foe.

As we come to the end of this year, we may have failed in our resolutions, stumbled in our goals, or felt like giving up.  We may feel that things that we should have prepared for snuck upon us and sent us into a tailspin. But thank God we serve a risen Saviour and all of the challenging things that we are going through will work together for our good (Romans 8:28). We can rest assured that although things may be sneaking upon us, our God is carefully, continually, and completely watching over our lives.

Psalm 46:1, 2
New International Version (NIV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Isaiah 54:17
New International Version (NIV)

17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

Psalm 91:15
New International Version (NIV)

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him

2 Corinthians 1:4

New International Version (NIV)

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

3 John 2
New International Version (NIV)

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Romans 8:28
New International Version (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.