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Our Sovereign God Always Accomplishes His Plans {No Matter What Monday}

January 15, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

Now that we’re a couple of weeks into a new year, forgive me for asking—how are your new year’s resolutions going? Have you established any new habits or accomplished any of your plans? Or are you taking the “Kramer” approach to your goals?

If you’re a Seinfeld fan, you’ll remember the episode from season 2 when Kramer decides to build wooden levels in his apartment, complete with carpet and pillows, “like ancient Egypt.” He and Jerry make a bet about whether or not Kramer will follow through with his plans. Jerry is confident that Kramer won’t build the levels. By the end of the episode, Kramer abandons the idea but refuses to acknowledge he lost the bet, because he decided he didn’t want the levels. A frustrated Jerry tries to convince Kramer that was the whole point of the bet—that Kramer wouldn’t carry out his plans, whatever the reason.

Whether it’s a ridiculous renovation project or a reasonable exercise goal, our plans often change, falter, or fail. But our sovereign God always accomplishes His plans.

“The LORD of hosts has sworn: ‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.’” (Isaiah 14:24)

If God makes plans, you can bet on it happening.

Because God rules over all, nothing can thwart His plans or purposes (see Job 42:2). Because He is all-powerful, nothing in all creation can prevent Him from accomplishing all that He plans to do. Because He is sovereign, we can have confidence that He will keep all His promises to us, and none of His good purposes for us will fail.

Our plans are often frustrated by our lack of ability, lack of time, or lack of perseverance. But God doesn’t lack anything. He is perfect in power, He is eternal, and He is unchanging. He doesn’t waver or grow weary. We are fickle, but our Father is faithful.

No matter what you face this week, our sovereign God always accomplishes His plans.

(Photo by Ravi Pinisetti on Unsplash)

God Holds You With His Unfailing Strength {No Matter What Monday}

July 17, 2017 by Marissa Leave a Comment

A couple of years ago, my son and I joined his classmates at nearby camp for a day of activities. The schedule included hiking, nature studies, and a visit to one of those bizarre ropes-course contraptions that you only find at camp. This one is called “The Screamer.”

One by one, a kid was harnessed in, and the rest of the classmates pulled on a big rope to hoist the victim to what seemed like an irresponsible height. Then the kids on the ground would let go of the rope and the daredevil would go swinging through the air like a giant pendulum until the laws of physics eventually brought him to a stop.

I thought, It’s a good thing this is only for kids.

And then they asked if any of the moms wanted to try.

I never want to pass up an opportunity to make memories with my kids. So I strapped on that harness and up I went. All I could think in the moment before the kids let go of the rope was, “I really hope this harness holds.”

What are you trusting to hold you today as you fly through life? God’s Word says those who belong to Him are held by His righteous right hand.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

(Isaiah 41:10)

His presence is the antidote for our fear. We don’t have to be dismayed, because He is ours, and we are His. Through all the storms and trials of life, He will keep His promise to strengthen us, help us, and uphold us.

He’s got us. He’s not letting go. His righteous right hand will never fail to hold us.

No matter what you face this week, God holds you with His unfailing strength.

The Light of Christ Shines in the Darkness {No Matter What Monday}

November 28, 2016 by Marissa Leave a Comment

My daughter calls out as I start to leave her room: “Don’t forget the closet light, Mom!” This part of her bedtime routine is just as important as the kiss on the forehead. She hates being alone in her room at night—being alone in the dark would be unbearable.

As adults, we have our own versions of being scared of the dark. What dark struggle, question, doubt, or fear are you facing? Are you searching along the wall for a light switch, for anything that might dispel the darkness? For answers, comfort, resolution, or restoration?

Isaiah 9:2: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

God’s people in the Old Testament walked in darkness for centuries. They awaited the Messiah, a Savior who would rescue them from the darkness of sin and death. They clung to a promise without understanding what it meant or how it would be fulfilled. How could God possibly unravel the mess caused by evil and sin?

In John 1, we see that Jesus Christ is the answer to life’s darkness. He is the light that those walking in darkness so desperately need.

John 1:5, 9: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

The true light is here, breaking through the darkness. In Christ, we have everything we need to battle fear, sin, questions, doubts—even death. The darkness of these struggles cannot overcome His light. The light of Christ guarantees that the darkness will never win. He brings forgiveness for our sin, power for our struggles, and comfort for our troubled hearts.

No matter what you face this week, the light of Christ shines in the darkness.

Perfect Peace is Found in the Rock Eternal {No Matter What Monday}

September 5, 2016 by Marissa Leave a Comment

We were two college freshman, thrown together into a tiny dorm room by the luck of the draw. After a rocky semester of figuring each other out, we were forced to inhabit each other’s space for hours on end with no escape. No classes, no meetings, no parties to separate us. Just one common goal: to pass our first set of semester final exams. Tension ran high in our hearts and in our third-floor dorm room.

One night, my roommate wrote out a verse and taped it to our wall:

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

This verse got us through those sleepless nights of studying, and it has comforted me during many anxious nights since. When the cares of my heart are more burdensome than college exams, my comfort has grown because of the verse that follows:

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:4).

What struggles, relationships or challenges are threatening your peace right now? Do you find it difficult to keep your focus on the Lord? I do.

When my peace is washed away by the waves of life, I can cling to the everlasting rock. My mind is not steadfast, and I struggle to trust Him. But the Lord is steadfast. He strengthens my faith and pours out His perfect peace into my troubled soul.

He is faithful, even when we are not. And as He pours out His peace over and over again, our trust will grow and our minds will be more steadily focused on the source of our hope and peace: the Lord, the Rock eternal.

No matter what you face this week, perfect peace is found in the Lord, the Rock eternal.

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