James asks, ‘What good is it…if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds…Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says…“Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing…what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds’ (vv.14-18 NIV). A veritable ocean of faith without the appropriate action to follow it up is nothing more than an ocean of dead, useless faith. On the other hand, an ounce of faith that’s acted upon can produce an ocean of results (see Matthew 13:31-32). Action breathes life and power into your faith. The biblical prescription for faith is simple but potent. 1) You decide to believe in God’s promise and His power to make it happen – leaving the ‘how and when’ up to Him. 2) You choose to act in keeping with what you believe before you see any evidence of the results. 3) God responds to your faith by keeping His unbreakable promise. ‘Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’ (Numbers 23:19 KJV). God goes to work exercising His unlimited capacity to perform His Word. Jesus said, ‘Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (Mark 11:24 NIV). Now – it’s up to you to claim and act on His promise.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Thank God, faith isn’t reserved for deeply spiritual people. If that was the case, we would all be in trouble! The fact is that regular people from all walks of life can be faith filled. We’re inclined to think faith belongs exclusively to people like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, David, Daniel, Peter, and Paul. Now, without question, they were all faith heroes, but faith doesn’t belong solely to them. The Bible tells us, ‘God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.’ No one will miss out on heaven because he or she wasn’t given enough faith to ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved’ (see Acts 16:31). God intended that not only should we have faith but that we should live by faith. Three times the New Testament assures us ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Hebrews 10:38 NKJV). You reply, ‘Yes, but those biblical heroes had great faith; my faith is so small!’ Did you know that the apostles felt the same way? They said to Jesus, ‘Increase our faith!’ (Luke 17:5 NIV). And Jesus replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you’ (v. 6 NIV). Like so many of us, the apostles thought they needed more faith. But Jesus corrected this spiritually crippling misperception by telling them you don’t need a lorry load of faith to see amazing outcomes. ‘Faith as small as a mustard seed’ can bring about awesome results. When you put the faith you already have been given into action, Jesus said it will produce results!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Faith has little to do with religion or what church you attend. The Greek definition of the word ‘faith’ is pistis, which means a firm persuasion, a conviction based on hearing and learning. Some other words that help to define faith are trust, confidence, and believing. And for good measure, here are a few scriptural descriptions of faith: ‘The confident assurance that something we want is going to happen…the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.’ The Bible tells us, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’ (v. 6 NIV). It also tells us, ‘Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ’ (Romans 10:17 NIV). And the apostle James writes, ‘Faith…not accompanied by action, is dead’ (James 2:17 NIV). Faith, though it may be felt, isn’t a feeling at all. The fact is, you can have faith and feel nothing, and you can feel nothing and still have faith. Nor is it related to intellectual or theological knowledge. Your IQ and level of education have nothing to do with your capacity to exercise faith. Effective faith calls for an act of your will. It’s a choice you make to fully embrace what God says in His Word. When that happens, it creates a heart climate that motivates you to act in keeping with what you choose to believe. That’s faith in a nutshell!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

In order to overcome your fear of investing, you must do these three things: 1) Get savvy. Before you start investing, you need to learn the language and nuances of the stock market, housing market, mutual funds, and other transactions. There is a wealth of information available on the internet. Yes, your savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts are great ways to protect your money while earning a modicum of interest. But, if you want to make a higher return, you have to take some risk. And the higher the risk, the higher the return. 2) Get counsel. ‘Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed’ (v. 22 NIV). A good financial consultant will help you plan based on your age, risk tolerance, and investment objectives. Talk to friends and relatives who have made investments; learn from their experiences. And be sure to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is called ‘counsellor’ because He can guide you in every area of your life (see John 14:26 AMPC). 3) Get moving. Time is money. You can go broke trying to save for big things like your kids’ university education or your retirement if you don’t take advantage of the high returns offered by the stock market and other investments over an extended period. And be sure to stand on God’s Word and trust Him: ‘Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV). As long as your motive is to do God’s will and bless others, you can pray for God to bless you with success, and He will.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible teaches two things about getting ahead financially. 1) You must be wise when you invest. When someone offers you a return on your money that’s too good to be true – it usually is! 2) Don’t just work for money; make your money work for you. ‘There is desirable treasure…in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it’ (v. 20 NKJV). And there is more than one way to squander your money. If inflation is running at 3 per cent annually, but the interest on your savings is only earning 1 per cent, you’re losing 2 per cent of your purchasing power. So, your fear of investing can actually cause the very loss you dread. Job said, ‘What I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes’ (Job 3:25-26 NKJV). If that’s how you feel about investing, read this: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths…Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of…trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught’ (Proverbs 3:5-6, 23-26 NKJV). Not only does God want to meet your needs, He wants to meet the needs of others through you. And for that to happen, you must have wise investment strategies.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Jesus said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man travelling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability…Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents…And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one…dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them’ (vv. 14-19 NKJV). How does this story turn out? Well, the two men who doubled their money received their master’s highest commendation: ‘Well done’ (vv. 21, 23 NKJV). But the one who was risk averse was called ‘wicked and lazy’ (v. 26 NKJV). His master told him: ‘You ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away’ (vv. 27-29 NKJV). Practically speaking, here is what this parable teaches us: when the cost of living increases an average of 2.5 per cent yearly, your savings must earn at least 2.5 per cent yearly, or you will lose money rather than earn it. And one more thought. Since the Bible tells us to invest wisely, you can pray and be confident God will give you sound investment strategies.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Every one of us needs encouragement (support that inspires confidence and a will to continue). The words we speak can either build up or tear down the people around us. Author Rebecca Barlow Jordan writes: ‘One of the first questions I like to ask Jesus when I wake up each morning is, “How can I encourage someone today? And who?” He’s always faithful to answer, often through His Word. One morning after asking that question, I read Isaiah 35:3-4 (NLT) and found a practical answer. First, “strengthen those who have tired hands”. That might include teachers, hair stylists, moms, writers…missionaries, pastors, and parents…Next, the passage mentions encouraging those who have “weak knees”. I envisioned grandparents and senior citizens, veterans, and even athletes with wear and tear on their bodies. But the last category, the “fearful”, could probably include everyone. These needed to hear the words, “be strong, and do not fear”…For me, finding people to encourage is not a problem. Remembering to listen and follow through with Jesus’s answers is where I need work. And the amazing thing is, when I try to lift up someone else, I’m the one who ends up encouraged. Ask Jesus to help you encourage someone today. Invite Him to speak through you, and be prepared for His answers.’ Paul said, ‘Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith’ (Galatians 6:10 AMPC). As you fill your mind thinking of ways to strengthen the faith of others, you will be amazed by how much you get energised and blessed in the process.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

There is an old story where a chief executive officer and his wife are travelling, and they stop to get petrol. The CEO goes inside, and when he comes out, he notices his wife talking to the petrol station attendant. He asks her why; it turns out that she knew the attendant and used to date him. Feeling smug, he says, ‘I’ll bet you’re thinking you’re glad you married me, a CEO, and not a service station attendant.’ She said, ‘No, I’m thinking if I’d married him, he would be a CEO and you would be a petrol station attendant.’ Before God created Eve and brought her to Adam, He said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him’ (Genesis 2:18 NLT). Stop and think about the many ways in which your wife complements, completes, helps, and is just right for you. You say, ‘My wife already knows that I love her.’ Perhaps, but she loves to hear you say it, and you could never say it too often. Say it with flowers from time to time. Pay attention to the little things she does to make your life better and compliment her. When she talks, give her 100 per cent of your attention, and let her know that her thoughts and feelings matter to you. Have a weekly date. As the years add wrinkles and extra pounds, treasure her and the life you have built together. Paul sets the standard for husbands, and it’s a high standard: ‘Husbands…love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her’ (Ephesians 5:25 NLT).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Thomas Edison conducted thousands of experiments with various kinds of materials in his search for a filament he could use in carbon incandescent lamps. As each fibre failed, he would throw it out the window until, eventually, his pile of failures stretched all the way up to the second storey of his house. Then about thirteen months after his first failure, he succeeded in finding a filament that could stand the stress of electric current. And here is how it happened: he nonchalantly picked up a tad of lampblack, mixed it with tar, rolled it into a delicate thread, and wondered, ‘Why not try a carbonised filter?’ He worked for five hours straight to craft a fibre, but it broke into two pieces before he detached the mould. He used up two spools of cotton thread before developing a perfect strand, only to damage it when he attempted to put it inside the glass tube. He stayed awake for two days and nights before he succeeded in slipping one of the carbonised threads into a vacuum-sealed bulb. Then, turning on the current, he observed the glow of electric light that we now take for granted. A failure doesn’t need to suggest the end; it can mean you’re one step closer to the triumph you desire. If something you have attempted has failed, try again. Consider a new perspective. Allow time for an idea to sit and simmer. Take notes. Never give up the goals and dreams you believe in. God is with you through the detours and delays (see Hebrews 13:5-6). When you make determination your friend, patience your servant, and God your partner – you will succeed!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Solomon writes: ‘The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.’ ‘The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty’ (Proverbs 22:3 NIV). ‘The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty’ (Proverbs 21:5 NIV). What you are today was determined by decisions you made in the past. If you want to change your future, learn to make better decisions. Let these ten principles guide you: 1) Never make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. If you do, when things change, you may regret it. 2) Don’t let your emotions blind you to reason. Pray, weigh things carefully, and base your decisions on mature judgement. 3) Surround yourself with sharp people, then draw on their gifts without being intimidated by their expertise. 4) Take time to consider all your options. What looks good to you today may not look so good tomorrow. 5) You can’t fight successfully on every front, so choose your battles carefully. Some things are not worth fighting for. 6) Take time to get all the facts; otherwise, you can end up in trouble. 7) Consider the consequences of each action. Ask yourself, ‘Am I ready to handle this right now?’ 8) Make sure your expectations don’t exceed your potential and your resources. Focus on what God has gifted you to do, for that’s where you will succeed. 9) Time is your most valuable resource; use it wisely. 10) Never give up. Be willing to make mistakes, learn from them, and start over as often as necessary in order to succeed.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you’re inclined to gossip, read this carefully: ‘I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious, and I gather strength with age. The more I’m quoted, the more I’m believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless; they can’t protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become. I’m nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it’s never the same. I topple governments, wreck marriages, and make innocent people cry. Who am I? My name is gossip!’ Solomon said, ‘Rumours are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart’ (Proverbs 18:8 NLT). When it comes to the sin of gossip, note carefully what Jesus said: ‘Every idle word…men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned’ (Matthew 12:36-37 KJV). One day we will stand before God to be evaluated and rewarded. Revelation 20:12 says, ‘And the books were opened.’ The word ‘books’ indicates there will be several. So might there be a ‘book of words’? If you believe there could be, you won’t break someone’s heart by spreading their secrets, betraying their confidence, ruining their good name, and undermining their self-esteem with ridicule and innuendo. You simply won’t do it! David prayed, ‘Control…what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.’ And that’s a prayer each of us needs to pray on a regular basis.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

A pastor writes: ‘The great preacher Dr Donald Grey Barnhouse, whose first wife died, was driving his kids from the funeral. One of the kids said, “Daddy…where did Mommy go? I don’t understand what it means that she died.”…Just then, a truck passed by and cast a shadow over the car. He…said, “Kids, would you have rather been hit by the truck or hit by the shadow?”…Then he said, “Kids, when you die without Christ, you are hit by the truck. When you die with Christ, you are only hit by the shadow.”’ Paul writes: ‘We want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: we who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

To fulfil God’s plan for your life, you need relationships with the right people, those who stick by you come what may. Remember Jonathan, who loved David even at the cost of his own life? And Ruth, who loved her mother-in-law Naomi and gave her a reason to live again? God can introduce you to such people and help you build a relationship with them. Think about it: He wouldn’t say, ‘It is not good that man should be alone,’ then ask you to live in isolation (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). Sometimes when you’re by yourself, you’re in the worst possible company! But you may need to be healed within before you can build healthy relationships and make healthy choices. That means learning to differentiate between ‘using’ relationships and ‘heart ties’. Blood ties don’t wear as well as heart ties. Allow God to work on you and when you’re ready, He will facilitate the necessary introductions. In the meantime, get to know Him better because He’s the source of true self-esteem. If your last relationship stripped you of self-worth and drained you spiritually, use this time to get back on your feet. You may never have this opportunity again! Begin to love like God loves. He sees our imperfections, handles our rejection, and loves us regardless. Knowing that will help you not to discard a good person because they did a bad thing. Would you throw your car away because of a faulty part? If God forgave you the way you forgive others, could you stand? (see Psalm 130:3). Ask Him today to show you how to build healthy, fulfilling relationships. He will do it!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Dr D. James Kennedy wrote: ‘A proper epitaph for most people…today would be “Hurried, worried, buried”…Many times we wish we could wash our hands of all our responsibilities and worries. The executive of one small company decided he would. Even though his company was headed for bankruptcy, he decided to quit worrying about it. So [he] called in his first vice-president and said, “I have had it with worrying about this company. If you’ll take over and handle all my worrying for me, I’ll add $50,000 to your salary.” Startled and perplexed by this generous offer (and knowing the financial condition of the company), the vice-president asked, “But where are you going to get an extra $50,000?” The boss replied, “That’s your first worry!” William Gladstone, [one of the UK’s] greatest prime minister[s], was a fine Christian man who served the Lord. On the wall of his bedroom hung a plaque embroidered with this text: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” It was the first thing Gladstone saw when he awoke in the morning and the last thing he saw before retiring at night. There is the secret of peace! We can have this peace because we know that the One upon whom we’ve stayed our minds is the One who works all things together for our good. Is the frantic pace of modern life robbing you of peace today? If so, slow down and refocus on the Lord. Realise He’s with you and He’s in control no matter what comes your way. Stay your mind on Him and let Him grant you, His peace.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

One Christian author writes: ‘I once went through a period…when I was plagued by anxiety. I was filled with fear and dread for no particular reason. I kept feeling something terrible was going to happen. Finally I went to the Lord and asked Him what was troubling me. He told me it was “evil forebodings”. At the time I didn’t even know what that phrase meant or where it came from. Sometime later I came across Proverbs 15:15: “All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]” (AMPC)…I was like so many other people. I was looking for some “monster problem” that was keeping me from enjoying life. I was so intense about everything; I was creating problems for myself where none really existed. Once in a meeting, the Lord told me to speak out something. Apparently, someone needed to hear this: “Stop making a big deal out of nothing.” I used to be the type of person who needed to hear directions like that. I could make mountains out of molehills. I had to learn to just let some things go – forget them and go on. Some of us become upset over things that are just not worth becoming upset over – those “little foxes, that spoil the vines” (Song of Songs 2:15 KJV). If our lives consist of becoming upset over one little thing after another…we won’t have much peace or joy.’ So, the word for today is – cultivate a happy heart and start enjoying the life God has given you!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the nation. That was never part of God’s plan. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who are…burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ (NIV). When oxen work side by side in the fields, they are yoked together and share the workload. That’s what Jesus wants you to do: work in harness with Him. Can you think of anyone better to share your load? It makes you wonder why we wait so long to take Him up on His offer! He then goes on to say, ‘Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried…your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you’ (Luke 12:29, 30-31 ESV). Jesus gives us the perfect perspective on life. You can’t add one day to your life span by worrying, but you can certainly shorten it through stress and anxiety. Think about it: the birds don’t sit around in the trees and worry about what they will eat tomorrow. No, they sing without a care in the world. And the lilies don’t sweat about how they will grow or if they will get enough rain to survive. All of God’s creation except man does not have a care in the world. And since your heavenly Father cares even more for His people, you can be sure He will take care of you.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Anxiety is the curse of the modern era, but it’s not a new trend. Throughout Scripture, Jesus talked a lot about anxiety, stress, and fear. In fact, He mentioned them repeatedly in His teachings. In Matthew 6:25-27, He said, ‘Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or…what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’ (NIV). Now, Jesus didn’t say these words just to relieve our fears and worries. What He was doing was commanding us not to be anxious because it demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s faithfulness to us. Paul writes: ‘Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition…with thanksgiving…make your wants known to God. And God’s peace…which transcends all understanding shall garrison…your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7 AMPC). Instead of letting fear and anxiety control you, you can have peace by bringing your worries to God in prayer, thanking Him by faith for the answer, and trusting Him to work things out as only He can. So, what are you going to do? Worry and fret, or pray and have peace? The choice is yours.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The largest bulldozer in the world is the Komatsu D575A. It’s 16 feet long, 25 feet wide, 41 feet high, and weighs 225,000 pounds. It was once used in a country where there was a surplus of rubbish that was polluting the environment. The bulldozer was brought in to dig a hole big enough to gather all that rubbish, bury it, and remove it from the lives of the residents. At the cross, God dug a hole so big that He could gather the sins of the entire world, in the past, present, and future. He gathered and placed them upon His Son. Now He takes all of His Son’s sinless perfection and righteousness and places it on you the moment you put your trust in Him. ‘For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV). You say, ‘But I have failed so badly.’ A dirty diamond is still a diamond; it just requires cleaning. And that’s what the blood of Jesus does for us (see 1 John 1:7). The wonderful thing about an electronic calculator is that if you press a wrong button, everything isn’t lost. You don’t have to untangle or figure out the problem. Simply pressing ‘clear’ restarts the calculation. ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV). God is ready to pardon, restore, and give you a fresh start.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

C.S. Lewis said, ‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’ It was in the furnace of affliction that the psalmist David said, ‘Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good’ (Psalm 119:66-68 NIV). But you don’t get to that place of submission easily or overnight. It takes time, some kicking and screaming, and a few skid marks on the pavement where you dug in your heels and resisted! God told Isaiah to prophesy, ‘I have refined you…I have tested you in the furnace of affliction…for my own sake’ (Isaiah 48:10-11 NIV). Suffering is a lonely experience; it’s not something you would choose. The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox reminds us, ‘There is room in the halls of pleasure for a large and lordly train, but one by one we must all file on through the narrow aisles of pain.’ Nevertheless, the Bible says, ‘To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps’ (1 Peter 2:21 NIV). There is no easy way to become like Jesus; it involves discomfort and pain. But the good news is, you’re not in the fire alone. God’s hand is controlling the thermostat. And He knows exactly how much heat it will take to bring you to the place where you can say, ‘You are good, and what you do is good.’ You may not be there yet, but you’re getting closer.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The psalmist wrote, ‘Your path led through…mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen’ (v. 19 NIV). When you can’t see God’s ‘footprints’, He is calling you to walk by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). Joni Eareckson Tada wrote: ‘A few months from now, I’ll mark an anniversary that is a heart-breaking story of loss and an incomparable testimony of God’s faithfulness…I will have been in a wheelchair for 47 years…barely a heartbeat in history, and as nothing compared with eternity. But for a flesh-and-blood, earth-dwelling human being, 47 years is a long time. Anyone who suffers…[wants] assurance that somehow, someway, things will work out in the end. We want to know that God is at the centre of our suffering. In Romans 8 we have…that assurance: “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (v. 28 ESV) …[God] is so supremely in charge of the world that everything touching our lives…is ordered in such a way that it serves our good. This is true whether we face cancer, broken relationships, job loss, bankruptcy…or even a broken neck at age 17. The strong hope of the believer is not that we will escape “bad things”…but that God will transform our hardships into an instrument of his mercy to do us good…Romans 8:29 reveals [our] sufferings are small and short…compared with the weight of glory they are accruing for [us] in heaven. So bear with heartbreak and hardship a bit longer. These things are expanding your soul’s capacity for joy, worship, and service in heaven.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.