Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

God’s Unsearchable Understanding {No Matter What Monday}

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Do you remember the days before Siri, Google, and Alexa? To be honest, I’ve forgotten what it was like to have a question and not have the internet to turn to for answers. Now if I want to know “How many tablespoons are in a cup?” or “What time is sunset tomorrow?” or “What’s the weather today in Timbuktu?” – I just ask the nearest device and get the answer in seconds. 

I think because I have the answers to all of these questions at my fingertips, I’ve forgotten how to not know things. The abundance of information I usually enjoy increases the frustration I feel when my questions go unanswered. We all experienced this tension last week as our questions lingered long after we thought we’d have answers. 

Sitting in the tension of the not-knowing feels unsettling and even scary sometimes. But there’s peace that comes from acknowledging that there is One who knows the answer to every question: 

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40:28) 

Isaiah is speaking to people who face many unknowns, and he reminds them of four truths about God that give them peace in their uncertainty. First, God is everlasting. This means He doesn’t have the limits we have. Our understanding is finite because we are finite. His understanding is infinite, because He is infinite. 

Second, God is our Creator. He knows everything about everything because He made everything. 

Third, God doesn’t grow weary. I can’t think of a more accurate word to describe most of us right now than weary. But God never gets tired or needs to rest. His strength never fails. 

Fourth, God’s understanding is unsearchable. You could consume every bit of information this world has to offer, but you wouldn’t even come close to reaching the end of His understanding. 

The unknowns that frighten us are not unknown to the Lord. He is not surprised, confused, or worried by the circumstances that we face. He knows how He will use each one for good according to His perfect purpose (Rom. 8:28). 

No matter what you face this week, you can trust the One who has unsearchable understanding. 

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Trust in the Name of the Lord {No Matter What Monday}

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How do you respond when your heart is anxious? I don’t know about you, but I often start searching for a reason to feel better. My eyes scan the landscape of this world for some reassurance. Maybe I’ll check my bank account balance. Maybe I’ll google “covid vaccine” to see if there’s any new developments there. Maybe I’ll read articles that will bring me some comfort regarding our nation’s political situation. 

There’s nothing wrong with pursuing financial stability, praying for life-saving medical developments, and advocating for our preferred political candidate. But none of these worldly reassurances bring lasting security. There is only One who can calm our anxious hearts with His perfect peace. 

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

When King David wrote this psalm, his source of worldly reassurance would be his military might. Even though God gave him great success and peace for the nation of Israel during his reign, David knew that his strongest army would mean nothing without the Lord. 

Notice how David doesn’t just say he trusts in the Lord – he says he trusts in the name of the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament, the name of the Lord is associated with the Lord’s covenant promises and presence with His people (see Deuteronomy 12:11, Proverbs 18:10, Joel 2:32). His name is tied to His faithfulness to keep all His promises. His name was how He revealed His character. David trusts in the Lord, the perfect promise-keeper. 

And notice those two important words at the end of the verse: “our God.” The Lord isn’t just the God, He’s our God. David was a descendent of Abraham and part of the nation of Israel who were chosen to be God’s people. And because of Christ’s sacrifice for us, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. We are His, and He is ours. In Christ, we can cry out to the Lord of the universe and call Him our God and Father. 

No matter what you face this week, you can trust in the name of the Lord your God. 

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Never Separated from God’s Love {No Matter What Monday}

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My daughter asked me recently, “What’s been the worst day of your life?” There have been more than one “worst day ever” – those days when we’ve lost a loved one certainly come to mind. Life in this world can be heartbreaking. 

Ten years ago today I was living some of those worst days. I woke up on my 34th birthday filled with sadness, stress, and dread. The day before, I’d been diagnosed with a rare cancer called angiosarcoma. We didn’t know yet what the road ahead would look like, and I’m glad I didn’t know everything that was to come. But I did know this good news: 

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

These words brought me so much comfort as I walked through the valley of the shadow of death that year. I didn’t know if I’d live to see 35, if my daughter would remember me, if I’d see my sons grow into young men, if my husband would be left to raise our kids alone. But I knew from Romans 8:38-39 that nothing – not even cancer, not even death – could separate us from God’s love. 

In these verses, Paul gives us a comprehensive list of all the circumstances and powers that can’t separate us from God’s love. And in case he missed anything, he adds these powerful words: “nor anything else in all creation.” That pretty much covers it, wouldn’t you say? 

Notice that Paul doesn’t say “Nothing will separate us,” as if he’s making a prediction about something that could happen but won’t. He says none of these things “will be able to separate us.” God loves us with a rock-solid, certain, steadfast love in Christ Jesus. Something separating God’s children from that love is a complete impossibility. It won’t happen because it can’t happen. 

Christ Jesus died and rose again to guarantee this promise: Even on the worst day of your life, nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from God’s love. 

No matter what you face this week, nothing will be able to separate you from God’s love. 

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Cast Your Worries on the Lord {No Matter What Monday}

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Have you ever felt like the weight of suffering or sorrow might crush you? I remember an especially difficult day in the midst of my cancer battle ten years ago. We had just learned that I would need to start spending most of my time in Houston, receiving treatment through a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

As I sat in the Houston airport waiting to return home for a few days, the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. I was weighed down by grief and the stress of the challenges we faced. But over and over again during that time, the Lord brought this verse to mind: 

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22, NIV)

What does it look like to cast your cares on the Lord? The word cast means to throw, hurl, or fling. Imagine standing at the edge of a cliff, reaching your arm behind you, and throwing your worries as far as they will go. When our burdens are too much for our own strength, we can cast them on the Lord. He will carry them for us. 

As we cast our burdens on Him, God says He will sustain us. We don’t need to stand on our own strength or skill. He doesn’t look at our pain and say with a shrug, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” He sees our weakness and asks us to throw the burden on Him. He has all the strength we need. He holds us tight and will never let us go. 

As I walked through the difficult months of that clinical trial, the Lord often showed me that He was with me in my suffering. He never asked me to carry the burden alone. He’s not asking you to suffer alone, either. Cast those burdens on Him, and let Him sustain you today.  

No matter what you face this week, the Lord will sustain you. 

** This weekend I will celebrate 1 0  Y e A r S ! since my cancer diagnosis in October 2010. I can’t celebrate with a big party or a fantastic trip (thanks a lot, covid!), but I can celebrate with God’s Word. Each Monday this month, I’m sharing a verse that was precious to me during my cancer battle. I hope it encourages you in whatever struggle you’re facing today. **

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