future Archives - Marissa Henley

Our Light and Salvation {No Matter What Monday}

November 26, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

I’m not a fan of scary movies—in fact, my tolerance for suspense is probably at about the 2^nd grade level. At the slightest bit of suspense, my hands fly to my face to cover my eyes, and I make the person next to me to narrate what’s happening. (I don’t want to watch, but I also don’t want to miss anything!) I remember my friends making fun of me in high school because I got scared watching “Kindergarten Cop.” I don’t remember the movie well, but I’m positive it was more intense than it sounds. 😉

And if I think Kindergarten Cop is scary, the real world is much, much worse. We face days, months, and years filled with uncertainty, suffering, and trouble, and it seems to be getting worse every day.

So how can we possibly follow the Bible’s exhortation to live without fear? Psalm 27:1 offers an answer to that question:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

The Lord is our light. When all feels dark, His light shines even brighter. Micah 7:8 says, “When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” Isaiah 60:20 refers to the everlasting light of the Lord. Our Heavenly Father promises to always shine His unfailing light into our darkest places.

The Lord is our salvation. Colossians 1:13-14 tells us He’s delivered us from the dominion of darkness, brought us into the kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ, and given us redemption and forgiveness. Our future is secure in Christ, and nothing can snatch us from His hand.

I doubt I will ever completely conquer the temptation to fear in this life—whether watching movies or facing reality. But remembering that the Lord is my light and salvation helps me to face a frightening world with less fear and more confidence in the Lord’s promises.

No matter what you face this week, don’t be afraid—the Lord is your light and salvation.

God Knows What He’s Doing {No Matter What Monday}

June 18, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

I hopped on a plane last week to go to a conference, and I’m thankful for the ease and efficiency of air travel (at least most of the time!). But for a control-freak like me, it’s a little unsettling to place my life in the hands of someone I’ve never met. I wish I could interview the pilot before each flight: How long have you been doing this? Did you get good sleep last night? Any distracting personal problems you’d like to talk through before we take off?

And yet, the truth is that no matter how sleep-deprived or distracted the pilot may be, I can count on the pilot to do a better job flying the plane than I would. None of the other passengers are wishing I was in the cockpit! It’s a good idea for us to acknowledge that we don’t know as much about flying a plane as the one behind the wheel.

When I feel nervous about the wheels lifting off the ground, it helps to remember that there is One who has even more control over that plane than the pilot. Psalm 139 tell us that our heavenly Father has written every single one of our days in His book:

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

There’s no need for us to interview God about His qualifications to hold our days in His hands. He is all-knowing and all-wise, and His understanding is unsearchable. He’s perfectly holy, good, faithful. He has the power to bring about all His plans for us, and nothing can thwart His purposes.

Sometimes life feels out of control and I don’t know what’s coming next. But nothing will touch my life that isn’t known and planned by my loving Heavenly Father. He knows where this plane is headed, He knows how we will get there, and He promises to be with me through the journey.

No matter what you face this week, your faithful Father knows what He’s doing in your life.

Unsearchable Understanding {No Matter What Monday}

June 11, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

Do you remember the days before Google? You might wonder, “What other movies has that actor been in?” or “What’s the weather today in Timbuktu?” or “How much did bread cost in 1976?” You’d stare off into space, pondering possible answers, and then move on with your life, content to not know the answers to all your questions.

But now we have the answers to all of these questions at our fingertips. We have Google and Siri and Alexa, and we’ve forgotten how to not know things. I’ve noticed that this abundance of information increases the frustration I feel when my questions go unanswered.

I admitted in last week’s devotional how much I dislike not knowing the future. I want to be like God; I want to know it all. 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)

“Haven’t you heard the great news?!” Isaiah asks. There’s no need to worry! God is everlasting—He doesn’t have the limits you have. He knows it all because He made it all! You won’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).

The One who has unsearchable wisdom is also the One who guides us by His Spirit and comforts us with His presence. He doesn’t leave us to suffer through the uncertain times on our own. He will never leave our side (Heb. 13:5).

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

A Future of Everlasting Joy {No Matter What Monday}

June 4, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

Last week, I was listening to a friend wrestle with a big decision when she said something that really resonated with me: “I wish I could see into the future.”

One of my greatest frustrations in life is not knowing what’s ahead. Honestly, I struggle to trust God’s wisdom in not sharing this knowledge with us. Some days, I feel like I’m standing with my face scrunched up against the glass of time, desperate for a glimpse of what’s to come. It feels like it would be so much easier to navigate the hardships and choices of today if I had a clue about what tomorrow holds.

But God, in His perfect wisdom and faithfulness, tells us in His Word exactly what we need to know about our future—no less and no more. We know that for those who are in Christ, there will be a glorious end to our suffering, an imperishable inheritance, and eternal life in heaven. And in this verse from Isaiah, we learn that our future is filled with joy:

“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11)

Glorious singing. Joy that lasts forever. Not striving for happiness and abiding joy, but owning it always. No more sorrow, no more burdened sighs. Because of our Savior, we have been ransomed from this broken world, and this is the future that awaits us. Isn’t it beautiful?

When we wrestle with the hardships and choices of today, let’s cling to the promise of our glorious future. When we can’t see what’s ahead, let’s hold tightly to the One who holds all our tomorrows in His hands. When life overwhelms us, let’s remember the promises of our heavenly Father, who will carry us through the cares of this life and bring us into our joy-filled eternity.

No matter what you face this week, the Lord promises a future of everlasting joy.