For He Who Promised is Faithful - Hebrews 10:23

“Your words feel meaningless” - those thoughts along with so many others I brought before the Lord the night before seeing this rainbow one summer evening in 2022. The struggle was real and probably one of the hardest nights I’ve had wrestling with the Lord. This “walk by the Spirit” thing (Gal 5:16) felt like a harsh joke. I was hurt, angry, and knew the Lord was “just sitting there watching it unfold.” Have you been there? Have you searched with all of your heart and come up empty handed? Have you struggled with thoughts you wish didn’t exist? Have you experienced those moments you wish you could just will yourself to believe things about the Lord you didn’t feel? Have you begged to believe, hear, and see? 

The next morning the patient Father reminded me He was still with me. The next page in my devotional was everything I’d been leaning on and walking in in the days before. It was all packaged up in a couple of paragraphs written in black and white by an author who had written decades earlier having no idea the Lord would bring those scriptures to MY mind together. The description God uses of himself in the Bible came to mind. “Slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” - Ex 34: "Hesed" in the Hebrew text. 

Sometimes all we need to continue in steps of faith during a struggle is knowing He’s with us. But in other times knowing He’s with us and just watching us struggle makes Him feel incredibly harsh and distant. I can’t explain it. I can only say I’ve experienced it. I know of others who have experienced the same. If you experience harsh feelings in a diligent search, tell Him. He can handle it. He loves His children. It says in His word to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who works in you. - Philippians 2:12&13. Come to Him. Bring it to Him. Before Him. In His presence. He’s a good Father. He will comfort you with His love. "God is love" - 1 John 4:8. And "perfect love drives out fear" - 1 John 4:18. For me, the answer was found in my daily habit of reading. He left me humbled and in awe. I’d encourage you to be persistent in your search through scriptures and in your conversations with Him. 

The Lord also pursues our hearts. As the sun was setting and in the quiet moments of reflecting on the battle the night before along with the humbling words read that morning, I looked out of my upstairs window and gasped. The most beautiful sunset rainbow was glowing. I grabbed my camera and ran outside. ”slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”… Rainbows are one of my absolute favorite things to see in the sky. 

The Lord set the rainbow in the sky as a promise to never destroy the earth again with a flood. Isaiah 54:9 also references this sign and Him holding back his anger. I knew the Lord owed me no explanation. I knew I was wrong. This sunset rainbow wasn’t a one time thing either. In less than two weeks we would see 6 different rainbows. The last 3 each brought revelations because of their divine timing. He is faithful in His promises. He is the God who sees. He is so intimate and personal. He surrounds us with other Christ followers. 

“He Who Promised is Faithful”. Hold on to that. He’s got you. He sees you. He has chosen you and desires a relationship with you. He is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.” I pray you see Him today in the ways that speak to YOUR heart. I pray you feel His love. And if it’s been a minute since you’ve seen Him or you realize you are not following Him, I pray you call out to Him today. "Put your hope in God alone. Take courage in His power to save" - Shane and Shane (I Will Wait for You) Beautiful song. Click the link to listen.