It’s not easy to “Be still and know that God is God.” God calls upon us to trust that He’s in control, but it’s difficult, at best, when life is raging out of control. When we’re “being still,” we assume that means doing nothing. But nothing could be farther from the Truth. Though waiting patiently for God, in stillness, is probably the most difficult thing about our walk of faith, it is also the most critical part of it.

We can’t be tempted to panic when God isn’t showing up when we think He should. And we can’t allow ourselves to despair when He doesn’t do what we thought He would. God’s ways are higher, and they’re also better (see Isaiah 55:8-8). Yet, it takes a journey of faith with God to even begin to believe that Truth. These times of uncertainty are opportunities for God to reveal himself to you to a greater degree and grow your faith in ways that you can’t imagine. God is continually searching the earth for people who will trust Him through every crisis and cling to Him alone in every hopeless situation. Though it’s hard for us to come to grips with, God himself is often the One who leads us into, or allows us to face situations that are beyond our control. The situations are often frightening and overwhelming, to say the least. But, God does so in order to grow our faith—He leads us into these situations to see if we have a faith that stands and trusts in Him completely. In our moments of despair, it’s through His still small voice that we hear Him shouting through our megaphone of pain:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

God allows the hard places in our life to alert us to our need for Him. Our struggles are tools in the hands of God, as He works to make our heart more like His. Everything He does is to produce faith in us. And through the process, He promises never to abandon us (see Hebrews 13:5).

You may be at a Red Sea in your life. You may be facing the unthinkable: there’s no way of escape, nowhere to run, and no place to hide. You may be up against circumstances that seem insurmountable even for God. But, He’s moved bigger mountains than the ones you’re facing and He’s calmed greater seas than the ones that are threatening to take you under. Nothing is too difficult for God (see Luke 1:37).

God is giving your faith an opportunity to grow. He’s producing a faith in you that stands and will cause you to be ready for anything—lacking in nothing (see James 1:4). He’s brought you into these situations so you can practice your faith, so that you might know where you stand with God. Though you’re tempted to fear, in God’s strength you can stand still and watch His deliverance (see 2 Chronicles 20:17). It is God that will part your Red Sea, it is the Lord that will rescue you from the lion’s den, and it is Him alone that will be with you and protect you in the furnace of affliction. He will be your strength when you’re too weak to carry on. You need only be still:

“In quietness and in trust shall be your strength . . .”
Isaiah 30:15 NASB

We can’t try and figure it all out . . . we must simply take our position of faith in the face of all our fears. We may not know what to do, but God does; if we’ll keep our eyes upon Him, He’ll save us while we rest, as we stand in faith upon His Promises.

As you struggle with doubt in the midst of your faith, God urges you to stand still in your crisis, lean on Him in faith, and trust Him to see you through. Be determined, against all odds to be found in the end with “faith that stands.” Trust God—be still—no matter what.

It’s a New Year. It’s a time of new beginnings. Just like the dawn reminds us that God’s mercy, loving-kindness, and compassions never fail and are fresh every morning . . . a New Year prompts our spirit to “begin” again. It’s a time of renewal—letting go of the past, cherishing the present, and grasping hold of the future, as God reveals it.

Long ago, “In the beginning,” Adam and Eve had a “fresh” start, and although we all are thoroughly familiar with the story, the most important part of their “beginning” is that they “walked with God.”

“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden . . .”

(Genesis 3:8 NASB)

They were in the garden and so was God. They heard His voice and He was with them because they had to hide from His presence. They were in perfect harmony with God.  The question is, “Are we?” As we start the “beginning” of a New Year, the most vital step we can take in “beginning” anew is to make sure we are walking with God. In order to do so, we must follow these 3 steps:

1. Surrender our sin. We cannot begin something “new” until we gain repentance for the old. We need to come before God’s throne of grace and repent of any and all sins that keep us from moving forward into all that God has for us. There may be sins that we are readily aware of, and there may be sins that God must reveal to us. We can pray as the Psalmist did, “Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 AMP)
2. Get to know God. In order know someone, you must spend time (quality time) with them. You can’t get to know God “on the run.” We must “acquaint ourselves with His attributes and His promises. “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; then things will go well for you.”(Job 22:21) Be determined to seek out a “Word from God” each day. Be diligent in immersing yourself in God’s presence and seeking after His heart. If you’re staking every step of your life on God’s Promises, you’re assured that God is with you. And if He is with you, who or what can be against you? (Romans 8:31) Make time to concern yourself with God and He will make time to concern Himself with you.
3. Be patient and persistent. Walking with God is NOT an easy journey. There are MANY valleys, but there are also unforgettable mountaintops. We must keep searching after God . . . our faith walk is a journey, not a destination.“Search for the Lord and His strength; continually seek Him.” (Psalm 105:4 NLT) Along the way, we must walk in HIS strength, not our own. We can’t walk with God without God.“I will go in the strength of the Lord.” (Psalm 71:16 KJV) In His strength, you can do all things. In Him you will run and not grow weary, walk and no faint. (Isaiah 40:31) God knows our difficulties, He knows the flesh is weak, so He’s told us to “walk with Him,” to enter into His presence in prayer, and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cherie Hill is the author of “Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms,” and “Beginning at the End.” She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC. Cherie is the founder of Scripture Now Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world every day.

There seems to be a begging question throughout history, “When will God show up?” As time passes, and God seems nowhere to be found, a second question trumps the first, “Will God show up?”

Chances are . . . you’re asking these same questions in your own life. You’re struggling between faith and doubt and doubt seems to be winning out. You have justifying faith—you’ve accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior. You have sanctifying faith—you’re a new creation in Christ through your continual surrender and God is at work in your life. Ahhhh, but then there’s living faith . . . and that is the kind of faith that doesn’t require any faith at all . . . it is the blessed assurance that God has already shown up . . . that His Promises are prophecy in your life. It’s when faith transforms into sight and faith is no longer needed. It’s the inner conviction that God’s Promises are true, He is faithful, and He is with you always. (Matthew 28:20) Rarely do we walk in a living faith; we depend upon what we see far too much. And our sight keeps us stuck, right where we are, until we choose to step forward into the unknown . . . trusting God in the face of impossibilities.

We’re waiting for God to show up, yet He’s always there . . . waiting for our faith to acknowledge His presence. The problem is we fail to recognize Him, so we keep looking, keep waiting, keep watching, and keep doubting. We walk by sight.

Did God suddenly show up at the Red Sea?
Or was He already there waiting as He’d promised Moses?

Did God, in a moment’s notice, decide to help David defeat Goliath?
Or did He have a plan for David to become King?

Did Jesus surprisingly show up in a manger?
Or had God foretold of His coming through the prophets?

Was it simple injustice that crucified Jesus on a Cross?
Or was it God’s grace at work providing a way for man’s redemption?

One thing about God—He appears to be full of surprises. But, we might be shocked to realize that He’s actually quite predictable. If we are His sheep and He says that we hear His voice, then quite possibly, we’re not listening. (John 10:27; Matthew 11:15)

All those years ago, before Jesus was born into the world, His own people, the Jews, were told He’d be coming. God’s voice spoke through the Old Testament, telling of the Messiah’s coming. It was told that God would come to earth and be born as a male (Isaiah 9:6-7), He’d be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), He would come from the root of Judah (Isaiah 11:1-10), He’d be from the house of David (Isaiah 16:5), He’d be born in Bethlehem and be from Nazareth (Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:1-2), His birth would trigger a massacre of boys (Hosea 11:1), His mission would include the Gentiles (Isaiah 42: 1-4,6; Isaiah 49:6), His ministry would include miraculous healings (Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 35:5-6), He would be despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3), He would be hated without cause, rejected by rulers, and rejected by his own brothers (Isaiah 49:7, Psalm 118:22, Psalm 69:8), He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), and His disciples would scatter (Zechariah 13:17, Matthew 26:31). And let us not forget Jesus’ foretelling of His crucifixion, death, and resurrection (Matthew 20:17-19).

So, why are there still those who doubt? Why are there unbelievers? Is it because God has not fulfilled His Word? Or is it that people choose to ignore what is readily before them? What about in our own lives, has God spoken to us personally? Have we sought out His Word and will for our life? Are we standing on His Promises, believing them, and living our lives as if we do? If He’s assured us that He is with us always, why are we looking for Him to make His presence known? (John 10:25) Why do we doubt, and wait for God to show up . . . when the Truth is . . . He already has. Jesus is all you’ll ever need.

Have you ever felt like you were trusting God with everything you are . . . only to find yourself consumed with overwhelming circumstances in life that seem to point to the idea that God just simply can’t be trusted? He seems to be able to keep the universe in motion. He appears to be able to handle the “big stuff.” But He must be too busy to deal with the “details” of your life. You’ve declared your faith in Him, you’ve poured out your soul in surrender to Him as Lord of your life, you’re committed to following in His footsteps, yet you find yourself in the middle of Red Seas, encroaching enemies, and desert conditions where it’s unlikely that anyone could survive. Where is God then? Where is He when your world is crumbling down around you . . . when despair is pulling you under, and impossibilities surround you? In times like these, God is right where He has been all along . . . with you ALWAYS. You might not hear it over the crashing waves, the shouts of fear within your soul, or the sounding alarms of your pain, but God is speaking to you in the midst of it all, and His words could not be more clear, “Just don’t move.”

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

“Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you.” 

(1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

On the surface, our troubles seem like nothing more than God’s failure to uphold His Promises to us. Our faith quickly loses its luster when it is tarnished by the circumstances of our lives. We begin to question whether or not God cares, only to find ourselves deeply considering the possibility that He’s not even there. Troubles do that to us . . . they shake our faith like nothing can. But troubles accomplish many other things as well. And that’s why God allows them. His ways are so much higher . . . and His vision is reflected through His Promises. He gives us glimpses of what it looks like to look through His eyes. All we must do is to seek Him and we will find Him. And when we find Him, He pulls us close, embraces us with His grace, and reveals the “truth about our troubles.”

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT)

Our troubles may not seem small at all. And they actually may last for a very, very, very long time. But in the midst of them . . . something is happening. God is at work. Here’s the truth about troubles: They are tools in the hands of God. He wastes nothing. Remember His promise: He “works ALL things for good.” (Romans 8:28—God NEVER breaks a promise.) If God never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:4), He’s got a lot of time on His hands to work, and if He uses all things for good, you can be sure He is using your troubles. Let Him work, trust Him even when there is no evidence that you should, and grab hold of these simply truths to sustain you through your troubles:

1. Although your life may seem radically out of control, God never is. He knows EXACTLY what you’re going through. He knows the reasons He’s allowing it in your life and you can trust Him. He sets the perimeters of each trial you face (God set the boundaries on the trials Job faced) and He will never allow you to face anything in which He does not have all power to sustain you and to provide you with the endurance and strength to be more than a conqueror. (And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13; No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37)
2. God has a very specific purpose for your troubles. You may not understand it all, and He may not give you any answers as you’re pouring your heart of despair out to Him, but He knows what He’s doing and He’s giving you the chance to exercise your faith. He’s providing you the opportunity to test your faith and see if it is genuine. (2 Corinthians 13:5) And this exercise is not for Him, it’s for you. Your troubles are opportunities to learn to trust that not only are His ways higher, but they are also better! (Isaiah 55:9)
3. God will walk with you through your troubles, and at times, He will even carry you when the journey leaves you too weak to carry on. There is one promise you should cling to when your faith is wavering and doubt creeps in:  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) NEVER is a big word. God used it for a reason. Look it up. Never means: not ever, at no time, not under any condition. If the one and only all powerful God that created the universe is with you at ALL times, what is there to fear? Why should you worry? When you’re consumed with His presence, there is unexplainable peace in the midst of unthinkable circumstances. Hold on to the truth that God is with you . . .  always. (Matthew 28:20)

These truths being said, let me fill you in on one other small truth: God is with you because He loves you . . . unconditionally. Accept your troubles for what they are: tools in the hands of God. Seek Him and pour out your heart to Him . . . continually. Your heart is what He’s after, your faith is what He’s perfecting, and He does it all through your troubles.

You may be spending a little more time with God these days than you ever expected you’d have to. Desperation seems to do that . . . draw you near to God. When we’re down, with nowhere to look but up, we find God’s Word to be true: “all things work together for good for those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28) We come to grasp that “ALL things” includes those things that contribute to our temporary despair.

In His presence, you may find peace, but more often you’ll feel desolate in an endless desert of unanswered questions. At times, your burdens will seem to only get heavier at His throne, not lighter. You will find yourself feeling severely dehydrated, when you’re sure that God promised you would never thirst. (John 4:14) And while you’re drowning in despair, God’s only reply to you after pouring out your heart and soul in anguish may be, “Trust me, My grace is sufficient for you . . . it is enough.” When we’ve had it with life and we’re shouting at the heavens, “Enough is enough!” . . . God’s voice pierces our soul: “Exactly! I give you My grace which is “enough” . . . it’s all you need. Enough IS Enough!” (Frustrated, we realize that we’re obviously having a communication problem with heaven . . the clouds must be getting in the way!)

Our prayers can seem trivial in times of pain, suffering, and overwhelming uncertainty. And when God isn’t giving us the answers we seek, our faith tends to waiver, or all out fail. We came to God for a life changing “Yes” and “I’ll do it right now.” But, what we leave with is a “Not yet” or even an all out “No.” He sends us away with “grace” . . . which hardly seems “sufficient.” Grace doesn’t pay the bills, heal the sick, or rescue us out of an abusive situation. (or so we think) Quite frankly, we’re convinced that if grace was worth anything in the first place we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in. But our ways are not His. His ways are so much higher. (Isaiah 55:9) We ask to be rescued, but God wants us to experience what it’s like to have Him take our hand and walk with Him through the deepest, darkest, and most desolate valleys in life. He wants us to experience the fullness of who He is in our emptiness. He’s giving us something so much more valuable than what we want . . He’s bringing us to a place of receiving all that He gives.

When we come seeking God’s face, He embraces us with His grace. And grace may not eliminate your pain and suffering, but it will consume it with a power far greater than anything in this world. Grace takes a sorrowful soul and fills it with a joy that cannot be taken away. In the depths of your pain, you will find pleasure in the smallest pieces of life. In the midst of your brokenness, God’s grace will never make you feel more whole. Although you will face ongoing moments of weakness, it is grace that fills you with strength that surpasses anyone’s understanding. Though your soul is dying, grace renews your spirit and you become more alive. When you understand God’s grace, you realize that those things you once viewed as mutually exclusive—sorrow and joy, pain and pleasure, death and life, fear and security, abandonment and comfort—are parts of a greater whole. It’s your soul that is being stretched and it’s grace that is causing your flesh to die and your spirit to soar.

Through your most trying circumstances, something marvelous is happening: you are becoming more aware of the power of God’s grace and your need for it. He’s working a miracle within you . . . He’s allowing you to be emptied out, so that He can fill you with Himself. And He does it all by His grace alone.

“. . . whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his (grace) special favor on me . . .” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT)

One thing you’ll learn about God: He says what He means and He means what He says. And in those moments when you feel like throwing in the towel, when you feel as though God has forgotten you and you’re too weak to carry on, all you must do is come upon your knees to His throne of grace. It is there that you’ll find that when He says His grace is enough . .. . it is not just enough . . . it is MORE than enough.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 KJV

Did you hear that even the devil has felt the reality of our economic crisis and decided to have a garage sale? They say that Demons came from the deepest pits to bid on the tools of hell. At one table anger was selling cheap – so common, so plain, and so effective. Greed brought a big price and pride drove bids to unheard of levels. Multiple copies of the jealousy tool were hot items. Lust, as always, was bargain basement.

The shrewdest demon in hell took Satan aside and said, “Tell me, your lowness, what is your best tool?” Satan nodded to a steel box in the corner, “it’s over there, but it’s not for sale.” The demon tried every crafty dodge in hell to get Satan to sell, but he wouldn’t budge. The shrewd demon wandered over to the box that held Satan’s prime weapon. Carefully, he slipped the latches and raised to top… not a very impressive tool; small really, but the demon did not doubt its potency. He turned the cold little instrument over to read the label, and then he understood. The label simply read: Discouragement. (originally authored by William R. Rathvon)

Quite possibly you’ve been feeling discouraged lately. That’s no surprise to the devil. His tool of discouragement works wonders in our fallen world. We try our hardest to walk by faith, only to find ourselves clinging to our sight. We face disappointments and suddenly darkness closes in on us without warning or explanation. It doesn’t take long before we’re smothered by fear and overcome with despair. The darkness of discouragement does that, and as a result, hope quickly fades.

The enemy wants us to think that life is only what we find on the surface, but Truth tells us there’s much more going on beneath it all and infinitely more at stake.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)

When disappointment happens . . . and it will, you’ll need to have your faith on a firm foundation, so that you’re not defeated by discouragement. (“in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11) Realize that there are parts of your life you’re not privy to. (God sees your life from beginning to end: Isaiah 46:10)Be open minded to believe there may be a “slight” chance that God knows more than you do, and He may just have a better viewpoint from where He is.

When we’re faced with circumstances beyond our control, it’s our opportunity to learn to trust that God is fully in control, even when life isn’t. It’s only when we come to His throne of grace that we’ll find much more than we ever hoped for: peace, strength, mercy, and hope to continue the journey of faith. Disappointments happen, but discouragement becomes a choice. The enemy will use discouragement to cast doubt on your faith, but it gives you the opportunity to flex your spiritual muscles and show your faith in God.

Even through the pain, suffering, and emptiness, you can choose to trust God. You don’t have to understand it all. You don’t even have to “feel” like trusting God. You just have to do it. And you have to keep walking forward with your eyes upon God instead of your circumstances. Whatever you’re going through . . . know that God has allowed it. He sees SOMETHING good that can come from it. (Romans 8:28) If you were never allowed to face overwhelming circumstances, you’d never know you needed God. If you were never cast into situations of desperation, you’d never know your faith was genuine. This life is a test. You’re being prepared to live with a Holy God. Sometimes God gets the glory by how He delivers us, more often He gets the glory by how we persevere through seemingly insurmountable circumstances.

Faith isn’t easy. There will be many, many, many times when you will want to throw in the towel. But the Cross calls you forward. When you don’t know what to do, keep your eyes upon Jesus and keep walking forward in faith. (2 Chronicles 20:12) When you’re trusting in God, and your flesh grows weak, know that the spirit within you is willing. (Matthew 26:41) It’s by faith that you will see hope rise when you trust in God and stand strong against the enemy. And it’s the spirit within you that will cry out in the midst of the battle, “I’m down, but not out!”

It’s been said that “Worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” Worry can get the best of us. It consumes our lives and leaves us continually desperate and hopeless. But, here’s the truth about worry (according to Psychology research):

40% of our worries are about events that will never happen
30% of our worries are about event that have already happened
22% of our worries are about trivial events
4% of our worries are about events we cannot change
4% of our worries are about real events on which we can act.

So, the bottom line is that 96% of what we worry about . . . we have no control over. That’s equates to “wasted” time. And we simply don’t have time to waste in this life. With that in mind, we need to remind ourselves the truth about worry—worry has NEVER solved a problem.

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:27 NLT)

It’s a question that begs an answer. And the question is obviously rhetorical. What we must realize is that Jesus isn’t trying to insult us by asking such a ridiculous question. He asked the question to convict our hearts and turn us toward God. He did so because our worrying is taking us in the wrong direction . . . in the sight of God, worry is a sin. The root of our worrying is unbelief. And as hard as that is to accept, it is Truth. Just take a look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25 (NIV):

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

This command is no different than those in the Ten Commandments. “Do not” are strong words. There’s no need for interpretation. There’s no chance of misinterpretation. And if God tells us not to do something . . . it is with good reason. Our worrying is clear evidence of our lack of faith in Him. If we’re trusting in God completely . . . there should never be a need to worry.  We hear Jesus’ words pierce through our sin once more in Matthew 6:28-30 (NLT):

“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, . . . And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

Those words can seem condemning . . . but in reality they are freeing.  Through those words, Jesus is telling us some things that are profound and powerful to our lives:

1.  We need to confess our worries as sin. Jesus commands us not to worry three times in verses 25, 31, and 34, so that means worry is disobedience to God. So, what He’s telling us is that we don’t have to worry. We must take responsibility for our worrying AND we can turn away from it. (Philippians 4:6-7):

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

2.  We must trust God instead of living like He doesn’t exist. Worry is not our problem . . . our lack of faith is. Our worry is a denial of God’s love, power, and wisdom. If God has brought you into the desert of your life, if you’re suffering beyond comprehension, know that He has permitted in His wisdom what He could easily prevent in His power. As hard as that might be to accept in our lives, it is truth. There is no such thing as God being “almost” sovereign. In times of doubt and despair, when worry gets the best of us, we can cling to God’s Promises that will not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) God has given us incredible Promises by which to build the foundation of our life upon, yet we do “lean unto our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all of our hearts.”

3.  We must pray and offer praise and then enter into God’s rest. If we’re truly trusting God in our circumstances, then we can rest. We no longer have to worry. Matthew 11:28 (AMP)assures us that:

“Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]’”

I don’t know about you, but that’s one promise I can’t live without! We all need rest . . . ease and relief and refreshment for our souls! We can trust God. He keeps the universe in motion . . . surely He can handle our worries!

Corrie Ten Boom said it best,

“Look around and be distressed.
Look inside and be depressed.
Look at Jesus and be at rest.”

I know, it’s easier said than done. Replace your worries by seeking out God’s Promises for you—make the decision to trust Him above all else. Then, turn all your worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway. (Psalm 121:4- Mary C. Crowley) When you’re consumed with worry and grasping onto what little faith you have left. Trust in God’s Promises through Psalm 121:

1 (A Song of Ascents.)
I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

There’s power in these promises. Cling to them. Trust in them. Rest in them. Don’t allow worry to get the best of you. You can only win over worry if you’re trusting in God. Continually choose to trust God, even when there appears to be no evidence that you should. That’s faith.

Further Thoughts About Worry:

• Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. ~Author Unknown
• If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I’d have fewer imaginary ones. ~Don Herold
• If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today. ~E. Joseph Cossman
• People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross. ~Author Unknown
• For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe.  ~Author Unknown
• Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~Swedish Proverb
• Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is to small to be made into a burden. ~Corrie ten Boom
• I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. ~Mark Twain
• Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.  ~William Ralph Inge
• Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there. ~Author Unknown

Cherie Hill is the author of “Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms,” and “Beginning at the End.” She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world every day.

Within an instant, suddenly, without notice, life can take a dramatic turn for the worse. Just when you’re certain you’re standing on solid ground, you feel yourself begin to sink, and in utter helplessness, all you can do is cry out to God. After all, you’ve experienced despair before, called out to Him, and He showed up. But, this time, with each passing, sinking moment, He doesn’t answer. As your situation becomes more and more dire, the distress of a seemingly silent God trumps the burden that’s pulling you under. God’s silence in desperate times is difficult at best; it can be frustrating and excruciating. There was a time when God was directing you, leading you, and blessing you, but now it appears He has simply walked away. In such trying times, when you’re unable sense God’s presence and hear His voice, you will feel abandoned, confused, and terribly alone . . . but you are not. In those times where your voice seems to be rebounding off heaven’s floor, when you’re hoping God will hear you, but you feel “unheard,” remember these things:

God’s Silence is not His Absence—All of our Christian life, we’re prepared to hear God speak to us, but nothing prepares us for His silence. When our emotions are flooding our soul and we “feel” the absence of His presence, we can convince our frightened hearts with the truth of Psalm 139: 7,9-12 (NIV):

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? . . . If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you.”

God’s silence becomes an opportunity for us to enter into the silence with Him. It is our invitation to shift our relationship from one that demands words to an intimate relationship where no words are necessary.

God’s Silence Tests Our Faith—It doesn’t take much faith to trust in a Savior who is walking beside you and constantly performing miracles. But, what happens when He’s crucified on a cross? We’re no different than the Disciples in times of despair, when God is nowhere to be found . . . they ran, they hid, they forgot all that Jesus had told them. God calls us to trust Him each and every day, in each and every moment, whether we’re high upon a mountaintop or in the deepest valley. His silence puts our faith to the test. Edith Hamilton once said, “Faith is not faith until it’s all you’re holding onto.” God’s silence is proving our faith. It’s like a parent teaching their child to ride a bike. In the beginning, they walk or run beside them; holding on to them, talking them through the process, and preventing them from falling. They’re working to build their confidence. But, at some point, the parent lets go. It’s not that the parent doesn’t care or isn’t there, it’s that they know they’ve shown their child how it’s done and in their wisdom, they know it’s time for the child to practice what they’ve been taught. So, God’s silence, at times, is preparing us for the road ahead. He’s building our commitment and perseverance. And through the test, those things that we’re trusting more than Him will be revealed. He knows that if we’re going on a journey with Him, we’re in for the ride of our life, and we will need to have the faith that “doesn’t believe without proof, but trusts without reservation.” (D. Elton Trueblood)

God’s Silence Doesn’t Mean Nothing’s Happening—Know this: Breakthrough can come as a result of God’s silence. How? Have you ever tried to watch a seed grow? The truth is you can’t. Everything that happens to a seed is underground . . . in the dark soil. Sometimes, there are things in our lives that need to be brought to the surface. What you’ll find is that it’s in God’s silence that His Spirit is working within you to reveal those things that must be dealt with to move you forward in your faith walk. He’s growing deep roots that will not only nourish you, but make you strong to withstand the rest of the growth process. Most of the work that’s done revolves around surrender. We want to grow up to be a tulip . . . He’s growing a rose. To be grown by God, things must be surrendered . . . mainly our fleshly desires. We must come to a place in our faith where we let go of our will and fully embrace His. God’s silence must do its work and His silence will continue for as long as it takes to accomplish His purposes. But, just as we trust that the dawn always brings light that breaks the night, so too, we can trust that our darkness will come to an end.

God’s silence will accomplish more in you than you ever imagined if you will continue to seek Him. Through His silence you will develop a deeper intimacy with Him, you’ll find that He’s worth trusting, and you’ll discover strength in Him that defies all understanding. In those moments when God’s silence is deafening, remind yourself of the truth that the Disciples forgot when they felt He had abandoned them, (Jesus said:) “Be sure of this: I am with you ALWAYS, until the end of time.

Cherie Hill is the author of “Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms,” and “Beginning at the End.” She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world every day.

There are many factors that affect our faith. But, none as powerful as the “NOW” factor. Whether you realize it or not, the “NOW” factor is affecting your faith in seen and unseen ways. The “NOW” factor is nothing more than claiming faith in Jeremiah 29:11 NLT (“I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”), yet demanding one stipulation . . . we want the “good” part “NOW”—not in the future.

The “NOW” factor disrupts, and can ultimately destroy, our faith because our preoccupation with what lies ahead deludes our desire to control what cannot be controlled. We want the security of knowing the future, rather than risking everything to trust God. We want to trust God, but at the same time, we want a light cast down that will show us our future, so that we might ultimately spare ourselves the trials that come with trusting God. To our demise, we betray ourselves by claiming our trust in Jeremiah 29:11, but demand to know so much about the future that we don’t need to trust God anymore.

We must grasp the reality that the future is not ours to know. If we knew it, we certainly wouldn’t need to trust God. If God revealed our future which might contain painful suffering, we would retreat and cave into fear and despair. If, on the other hand, we learned that our future was filled with nothing but great bliss, we would become complacent and lack the capacity to enjoy each present moment. So, in order to avoid the detrimental effects of the “NOW” factor, we have to realize that trusting God for the unknown is part of growing our faith. It’s vital that God takes us step by step, so that we do not become too overwhelmed about the journey. He wants you to find contentment in His presence and strength through His Promises. When the future seems to be unraveling, you can be certain that God is stretching your faith . . . asking you to take a step of faith into the great unknown, so that you can experience an intimate relationship with Him that you never thought possible.

In order for us to eliminate the “NOW” factor, we must understand that God is doing “something.” He never slumbers. (Psalm 121:4) As the saying goes, “When you’re down to nothing, God is up to something.” Trust that He is. He is with you always . . . even when you can’t tell that He is. When you’re waiting on God to reveal the next step in your journey of faith, trusting Him with your future, you must do three things:

1) Wait “Well.” We spend a lot of time waiting in life because life requires change and change is a process. One thing is for sure: we are going to have to wait until our change comes. (Job 14:14 NASB “All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes.”) It’s HOW we wait that makes all the difference. “Waiting” is the opportunity, given to us by God, to grow our patience. He knows we need patience for the rest of our journey, so that we “lack nothing.” (James 1:4) It’s through the development of our patience that we feel content and satisfied. If we never had to wait, if God answered our prayers immediately, we’d never grow in our faith. He’s teaching us to trust Him.

2) Accept God’s Timing. God has a watch and it’s nothing like ours. (2 Peter 3:8 NLT “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”) Although it’s extremely frustrating not knowing God’s timing for His plans in our lives, we’re to completely trust that He knows what’s best. When we accept God’s timing, we free ourselves to live in hope and enjoy our lives while God is working out the details. When we entrust ourselves to Him, we can experience total peace and happiness. We’ll never add a single hour to our life by worrying! (Matthew 6:27) By learning to trust God’s timing, we’re learning to do what He wants us to do WHEN He wants us to do it . . . without questioning or trying to figure it all out.

3) Rely on God. The journey of faith takes us down many paths that just don’t make sense, and we’re just going to have to realize that we’re not always going to understand everything. If we try and reason everything out, we’ll end up even more frustrated.  The fact that we cannot control everything is a tool God uses to humble us into reliance upon Him. He was clear in John 15:5 (AMP) “apart from Me you can do nothing.” We need to realize we can’t do it alone and God never intended for us to. When we come to a place of relying on God, He says that in “due time” He will exalt us. (1 Peter 5:6) “Due Time” is “God’s time” . . . and sometimes we’re not ready for the future, even though we think we are. Know this: God knows what He’s doing . . . the sooner you trust Him completely in every area of your life, the quicker He can get to work on your circumstances.

Through the growing pains of our faith walk, we’ll find a God who has everything under control with great purposes in mind. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.” Whatever it is you want to know about your future, trust that God has a certain time in which He’ll reveal it . . . the perfect time. He will not be a single minute late. Our job is not to demand the future or try to figure it all out, but to let God be God in our lives. We worship a “third day” God. Yet, we get too caught up in “Saturday” . . . the day where uncertainty and pain reign. If we’re trusting in God, then we’re rising up in faith, assured that one way or another, “Sunday” is going to dawn.

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!
(Habakkuk 2:3 TLB)

Cherie Hill is the author of “Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms,” and “Beginning at the End.” She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world every day.

Here’s an easy question, “Do you love God?” Seems simple enough at first, I’m guessing you probably didn’t even hesitate in your answer. But, when you dig a little deeper, you find that it’s really a loaded question; one that can’t be answered so easily. Here’s what that question is really asking: “When someone offends you, do you overlook the offense?” “When you’ve just lost your job, do you trust God to provide all that you will need?” “When your spouse lashes out at you, is your response through a gentle and quiet spirit?” “Do you set God’s desires for your life above your own?” “When your world seems to be falling apart at the seams, do you praise God in the midst of the pain and suffering?” Now, those questions aren’t so easy, yet they are equivalent to the question, “Do you love God?”

Too often, we see life’s circumstances just for what they are on the surface. But, if we look underneath it all, we find that there’s much more to it. God is using all things to search hearts and find someone who will make their heart completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9) God created us for Himself, and until we pursue His heart, we will never experience the desires of our own.

One of the most exciting Promises of God that many cling to is Psalm 37:4 (NIV), “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Sounds like a promise worth meditating on and clinging to, doesn’t it? But, we tend to leave out the verse before it:

“Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; . . .Psalm 37:3(AMP)

If you love God, then you trust God; you’re confident in Him. When Jesus returned to the Disciples after his resurrection, He asked Peter who had denied Him three times, “Do you love Me?” And He had to ask it three times. (How many times in a day does He have to ask us that same question?) After each time that Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love you,” Jesus gave him a command to obey, in order to prove His love. Our actions always reflect what’s in our heart (Luke 6:45). So, the simple question, “Do you love Me?” brings with it a burden of proof. When God asks us if we want the desires of our heart, He tells us to trust Him; when we do, when we trust Him . . . it’s proof that we love Him and that our heart is His.  A heart that trusts Him pursues His heart relentlessly.

You see, the heart of the matter is the heart. And God has a heart that is waiting to be grasped. If your heart is His, if you love Him, then you are deeply sensitive to all that concerns Him. It means that there is nothing in your life that is off limits to His correction and guiding direction. What is important to Him is important to you. What burdens Him burdens you. When He says wait, you wait. When He says move, you move. When you’ve done wrong, you submit to His correction. All the trials you face are part of His plan, to develop your character, to capture your heart. And God is not deceived. He knows the motivations behind your thoughts and actions.

“For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)

God sees your heart when no one’s looking. And the heart is deceitful. (Jeremiah 17:9) To pursue the heart of God, to acquire the desires of your heart, you must start by asking God to search you.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalm 139:23 (NLT)

You might be surprised at what He finds and what He reveals. Once He has shown you what lies within your heart, cry out to Him, “Create in me a clean heart O God.” (Psalm 51:10) And then watch Him go to work. As you pursue His heart, and as He begins to “clean house,” what happens next is best described in a parable by George MacDonald:

“Imagine yourself living in a house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making court–yards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

What you’ll find is that as you seek God’s heart, you’ll discover your own. And as you struggle to find hope when all hope in your life seems gone, you’ll finally get to the heart of the matter: You’ll discover a God who simply loves you and is using every obstacle as an opportunity to draw you nearer to Him. His only desire is that your heart is His. It’s ALL about your heart.

Cherie Hill is the author of “Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms,” and “Beginning at the End.” She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world every day.

Life gets overwhelming in a hurry. Even when you diligently try to simplify life, somehow it finds a way to complicate things on its own. Without much effort, we can find ourselves disillusioned with the reality that faces us. If we’re facing financial struggles, we diligently seek job opportunities with better pay. If we’re struggling with relationship issues, we seek out an “expert” that seems to know how to handle the situation. If we’re desperate to see a loved one who is chained to addictions set free, in fear, we decide that it’s time to take matters into our own hands. Each and every burden we face brings with it an opportunity to live out our faith, or become overwhelmed and reap the consequences of acting as if we’re more sovereign than God. If Jesus couldn’t do anything without God’s help, how can we expect to? If Jesus depended upon God to make the decisions in His life, why don’t we? Our lives should reflect a sign into heaven that simply reads, “Help Wanted!”

God doesn’t intend for us to live this life in our own strength and in our own resources. Jesus spoke plainly on this issue:

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself.” (John 5:19 NLT)

“For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NLT)

Jesus He made it clear that he did NOTHING on His own. Jesus lived His life around this truth. And we should, too. If we will come to a place of realizing that we are to completely depend upon God for everything, we will find God in everything. He tells us if we will seek HIM, we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7) We’ll find Him speaking to us, leading us, opening doors and closing others, working in hardened hearts, tearing down walls, bringing light into darkness, and pouring out His amazing grace that flows like a roaring river. We can’t live out God’s will for our lives without depending upon Him for every breath we take and every step we make. (We can, but it doesn’t yield the results we desire.) At any given moment, we will face the unthinkable; a set of impossible circumstances that threaten to destroy our faith. We will all face moments of reality, so overwhelming, they take our breath away and we’re certain we can’t carry on. In those times, we can thank Jesus for the secret that He shared with the world. His secret when He was overwhelmed was: prayer.

At a time when Jesus had been doing countless miraculous healings, endless teachings, and traveling continuously, He knew He could not do it all in His own strength. We learn that before the day had even begun, He found a quiet place where He could pray.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

In times of despair, when you’re crying out to God and it appears that He either doesn’t care or He simply isn’t there, it is in that moment of sweet surrender where God’s grace will flood your soul with the truth: He is there and He does care. We’ve been given the promise of His presence. (Matthew 28:20) And it is through prayer that we can be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10) You see, there’s no such thing as God being “almost” sovereign. If you feel that God is out of touch and distant in your life . . . who moved? His promises say that He is a very PRESENT HELP in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1) . . . believe what is true, trust in the promises God has made to you. Seek Him, lean on Him; depend upon Him for everything and in everything. Don’t take one more step without being still before God . . . pour out your heart to Him . . . believe that He can do all things . . . trust in Him completely . . . and then wait patiently for His help.

“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed,
for I am your God;
I will strengthen you,
I will help you, . . .”
(Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and Beginning at the End. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world every day.

As the lights line the Christmas tree and the ornaments adorn its branches, no one can deny what lies beneath its mighty splendor. But when the gifts have all been opened and it seems that Christmas has come and gone, we’ll find that underneath it all is not the “presents,” but the glory of God’s “Presence.” It is the gift that is given to us every moment of every day . . . each day of the year. It is never packed away in a box . . . His “Presence” is always present.
He is with us always. (Matthew 28:20)

God’s gift to us was One that would be with us for all eternity.
Although it did not come wrapped in pretty paper or topped with a glistening bow,
He wrapped it in His everlasting mercy and grace.
The unique part about God’s gift to us is that we can give it to others, yet still keep it for our own.
We can bestow His love and mercy and bring others into His “Presence.”
It’s the gift that keeps on giving, if we will simply pass it on.

God’s “Presence” sees us through our greatest difficulties, comforts us in our deepest sorrows, and leads us into Victory, when we acknowledge Him in all our ways. His “Presence” breaks down all boundaries, overcomes all obstacles, and brings hope to those who are consumed with despair. But it is only when we receive Him and the gift He has given to us that we will come to know its true value. Knowing that “God is with us” is the greatest gift He could have ever given. His love is without question defined in the birth of Christ and the Sacrifice of His life that conquered death. There is no greater love than this.

So as we gather together this Christmas, absorbing all its wonder, let us reflect on God’s love as we gaze at glistening lights that do not compare to the “Light of the World.” Let our hearts open wide and praise our Almighty loving God,
as we open the pretty presents that could never parallel the joy and peace that God has given us with His “Presence.”

_______________
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday (reaching over 100,000 people every year).

Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.

Have you ever wondered if maybe God miscalculated the number of hours needed in a day? Have you ever questioned His understanding of what it takes to live this life? We can submerge ourselves into His Word, but at the end of the day, we can’t understand how that time spent will get the bills paid, the house cleaned, the grocery shopping done, the yard work finished, the family fed, or the kids ready for bed. Maybe God just didn’t think far enough ahead into our fast paced, schedule driven, technology powered world. Maybe He’s not being reasonable by allowing us to spend a little less time with Him, so that we could get things done. And what about when the holidays come around? Did He not anticipate the decorations that have to be put up, the parties that need thrown, or the extra jobs that must be worked to pay for it all? Maybe God missed it.

Or maybe we have.

The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Am I a Mary or a Martha?” (Maybe we have multiple personalities that include the two. LOL) In Luke 10: 38-42, we find two women named Martha and Mary entertaining Jesus, only to end up at the brunt of one of His many unorthodox teachings. In those days, the women were to prepare the meals etc. The men were to be at the feet of a rabbi or teacher of the torah. There was no exception. So, Martha took her place in this world. And obviously, Martha was feeling as though she had more to do than she could handle on her own. (We can relate!) But, Mary recognized that her Lord was in the next room and there was nothing that was going to keep her from sitting at His feet.

The bottom line is, we all have a Mary heart . . . but we’re living in a Martha world. There’s things to be done. So, we can’t help but live our lives in the footsteps of Martha. But, in this account in Luke, Jesus beckons the “Mary heart” in all of us. As Martha politely, yet forcefully, demands that Jesus tell Mary to help her with the preparations, Jesus shocks us all with His response:

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke:10:38-42 (NIV)

Don’t you care? It’s a question we ask God a lot . . . if we’re honest. His answers sometimes come in the form of questions, but this answer was straight to the point. In essence, He says, “Stop worrying. Quit being upset. Just come into My presence. Just spend time with Me. I’ll give you peace and rest from your burdens.” But, Martha, like so many of us, had gotten “distracted by all the preparations.” We can’t fault Martha. After all, she was the one who invited Jesus into her home in the first place. She had opened her life up to Him— she just “missed it.” And Jesus sees us “missing it.”  Jesus is helping us keep things in perspective. The things of this life that cause us so much worry and confusion suddenly become irrelevant when we’re in the presence of the Lord. You see, what Martha was doing was “essential” . . . what Mary was doing was “eternal.” That time Mary would spend with Jesus could never be taken from her. Martha’s efforts would be consumed and forgotten within hours.

Jesus wasn’t scolding Martha and He isn’t scolding us over this issue . . . He’s simply saying, “I don’t need you to do anything for Me, but simply let Me be here for you.” He’s saying, “Only one thing matters . . . and that’s being here, at My feet, in My presence.” The message is loud and clear. We can’t allow ourselves to be weighed down and distracted by many things

If you’re finding yourself stressed out; if you’re finding yourself angry with others for not doing their share; when you wake up in the middle of the night to despair about whether “things” will ever get done . . . don’t continue to neglect yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Stop and sit in the presence of God. Take a moment to re-examine why you’re doing what you’re doing. Remember that there is simplicity in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Ask yourself if you’re spending your time on the things that will last? . . . the things that “cannot be taken away from you?” If you’re consumed with serving the Lord . . . don’t forget who it is you’re serving. Keep your eyes on Him. Keep Him first in all that you do. It doesn’t matter to Jesus if you prepare a seven course meal or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What matters to Him is that you take the time to simply enjoy His presence. When daily life is frantic and out of control, when worry consumes you and you’re struggling just to make it through, Jesus says, “There’s only one thing that matters . . .

and I’m right here in front of you.”

About the Author:
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday. (reaching over 100,000 people every year)
Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.

If you’re feeling like you’re “at the end of your rope,” then you’re right where God wants you. The problem is that we tend to hold onto the rope . . . when we should be grabbing hold of our faith in God. So, holding onto God, trusting Him, means “letting go.” Don’t believe me? Here’s an example:

There was a mountain climber who desperately wanted to conquer the Aconcagua and began climbing it after years of preparation. But, he wanted the glory to himself, so he went up alone. He started climbing and it became later and later. He didn’t prepare for camping, so he decided to keep going. Soon it grew very dark . . .

Night fell with heaviness at a very high altitude. Visibility was zero. Everything was black. There was no moon, and the stars were covered by clouds. As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, he slipped and fell. Falling rapidly, he could only see blotches of darkness that passed. He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity.

He kept falling . . . and in those anguishing moments, good and bad memories passed through his mind. He thought certainly he would die. But then he felt a jolt that almost tore him in half. YES!! Like any good mountain climber he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist.

In those moments of stillness, suspended in the air, he had no other choice but to shout,

“HELP ME GOD! HELP ME”

God replied, “Do you REALLY think that I can save you?”

“OF COURSE, MY GOD!”

“Then let go of the rope that is holding you up,” God said.

There was another moment of silence and stillness. The man gripped the rope even tighter.

The rescue team says that the next day they found, a frozen mountain climber . . .

hanging strongly to a rope . . . TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND. (author unknown)

Chances are, in life, you’re either in a valley and headed to a mountain, or you’re climbing a mountain. We spend very little time on the mountaintops. (God doesn’t want us spending too much time there . . . we could get easily attached and decide to end our journey there.) It’s along our journey that we realize we haven’t prepared for the unexpected circumstances that we find ourselves in. We can find the ground beneath us pulled and the air within us knocked out. We didn’t expect to lose a job. We didn’t expect our home to be foreclosed upon. We didn’t expect our business to go under. We didn’t expect our spouse to leave. We didn’t expect our child to end up in jail. We didn’t expect to be betrayed by a dear friend. We didn’t expect death to take our loved one so early. But, in life, we can expect the unexpected. We can expect, at some point, we’re going to be hanging by a rope . . . and then, one day, find ourselves at the end of it. But, it’s as we’re hanging on for dear life that God is telling us to “let go.”

You see, God knows you’ll fall. But, He knows He’s there to catch you . . . and your faith assures you He will. He wants us to let go of our pride that keeps us from seeking Him. He wants us to let go of the jealousy that keeps us striving for things of this world that only bring disappointment. He wants us to let go of finding our strength in people and things, hopes and desires, so that we might find our strength in Him alone.

When you’re at the end of your rope, ask yourself a few questions:

Do I trust God fully or does my faith waver?

Are His thoughts toward me good thoughts?

Will He reward me for diligently seeking Him?

Is He more willing to give to me than I am to receive?

Did He say He would supply all my needs at all times?

Did he say he would keep me from falling and present me faultless
before the Father’s throne?

Did Jesus say he would never leave me, but would be with me to the
end?

Your faith knows the answers. It’s time to let go of your fears by grabbing hold of your faith. It’s time to hold on . . . by letting go. It’s time to cast yourself completely on the Promises of God. Give God the opportunity to show you His faithfulness, peaceful presence, and unlimited power . . . by letting go of the rope. Loosen your grip on the things of this world and allow God to embrace you with His grace. It’s up to you . . . to just “let go.”

About the Author:
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday. (reaching over 100,000 people every year)
Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.

There are three simple words you should know that will take you places in your faith that you never thought possible. They aren’t complicated and don’t require any “in depth” interpretation. Although frequently manipulated by the circumstances surrounding them, they are precise, pertinent, and powerful when it comes to growing your faith. Are you ready?

Here they are:

“No matter what”

If you’re not exactly sure how those three simple words can transform your faith, let me spell it out for you:

When you’re facing financial stress that brings you face to face with foreclosure and the loss of all your hopes and dreams . . . trust God—“No matter what.”

When your spouse is an addict, won’t get help, and continues to allow the devil to unleash chaos, pain and suffering in your home . . . trust God—“No matter what.”

When your child is battling a terminal illness and the end is eminent . . . trust God—

“No matter what.”

When your entire life is unraveling at the seams and your pain and emptiness continually smother your peace and joy . . . trust God—“No matter what.”

In the unthinkable pain and suffering that Job endured in his life, he summed up his faith like this:

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him . . .” Job 13:15 (KJV)

Now, hear the truth, “Faith doesn’t make things easy . . . but it makes all things possible.” And this is where these three simple words will take your faith farther than you ever imagined. It’s when you make the decision to trust God, regardless of the overwhelming evidence within your circumstances that tell you He’s abandoned you, you’ll find yourself in a place of being able to have a personal encounter with Almighty God. And this encounter, as magnificent and life changing as it is, will cost you “something.” Too often, in our walk of faith, we are asked to simply “endure.”

To endure means “to carry through despite hardships; to suffer patiently without giving up.” It means “holding on,” even if by a thread. Jesus assured us, “But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 AMP) If we are truly living a life of faith in Christ, we are able to endure, knowing that our God is bigger than our problems, the devil (who relentlessly attacks us), and the pain and suffering that threaten to overtake us. Our faith comes in grabbing hold of God’s Promises even when life is pulling us apart. His Promises assure us that our God is boundless, measureless, limitless, and immense.

In the face of your obstacles, no matter how insurmountable they might seem, you have the opportunity to know God in a more intimate way than ever before. He’s drawing you nearer. He wants you to close your eyes, trusting Him through faith and not by what you see around you. God is asking you to walk in this world, yet allowing you to experience joy and peace, as you to step into His. It may “look” as though you are walking through the valley of death . . . you may be facing the “unthinkable,” but God assures you . . .  He is there, He is all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful, and ever-present. (Psalm 23) In the darkness, He’s there to take your hand and lead you . . . not by blind faith, but with a mature, strong, enduring faith that steadily learns to trust Him—“No matter what.”

by Cherie Hill

Do you ever feel like life is nothing but a roller coaster ride and everything within you just wants to get off? Your joy and peace can be stolen, within moments, by discouragement and despair. We find ourselves with fleeting faith, when the troubles of life come crashing in on us like relentless waves in a stormy sea.

Though we claim to trust in a Shepherd who leads us through valleys . . . we find ourselves “wanting” . . . “fearing evil” . . . wondering if He’s really with us. With each step we take, it seems unlikely that there are any “green pastures” . . . much less “still waters.”  We’re not so sure we like His rod or His staff . . . they don’t seem to be so “comforting.” Instead of our “souls being restored,” we’re convinced, with each passing moment, our valley may lead us into a canyon.

It can be difficult to believe that God’s plans are for “good,” when life seems to be unraveling.  Yet, without doubt, there would be no need for faith. (God uses ALL things for good . . . even our doubt and disbelief) And faith is where God draws the line. It’s the place where you must make a decision to step over the line. In the words of missionary Helen Roseveare, God’s voice shouts to us in our pain . . . “Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?” God’s question cuts to the heart of our faith. He calls us out, and His question begs an answer. He asks us to trust Him, even if He never answers our questions. It’s His way of making us completely dependent upon Him. He’s taking us on a journey, and He’s asking us to make a decision to trust Him at every step.

When we find ourselves in difficult and sometimes seemingly insurmountable situations . . . God draws a line. We stand on the side of questioning His ways, giving into doubt, unsure that we can take even one more step. But, there’s Jesus. He stands on the other side of the line and His outreached hand beckons us like a child learning how to walk. There’s the strength in His eyes that assures us He’s there to help us, and He will not let us fall . . . if we will take that step.

You see, the truth is . . . God has blessed you with the very trials you’re in. Though you can’t understand it or make sense of it all, God has trusted you with the tribulations that threaten to overcome you. He is increasing and strengthening your faith by threatening to destroy it. Never forget: there’s no victory without a battle. The Apostle Paul didn’t call it a “fight of faith” for nothing. This life is an intense battle between the spirit and the flesh and God is asking us, in this life, while we are still in our flesh, to step over the line of faith and live through the Spirit that leads us into victory. He’s asking us to step out of this world, and step over the line of faith, into His.

Our difficulties, our troubles, are not the circumstances that we face, but our internal battle . . . it’s our struggle to believe . . . it’s our conflict between what we “see” and the spirit that urges us to trust God in the midst of everything that contradicts our faith. It comes down to an act of the will . . . it comes down to a decision. Everything you’re facing in life comes down to ONE question, “Do you trust God?” In times of greatest doubt, when you struggle to simply “carry on,” will you make the decision to step over the line? Every obstacle you’re facing is an opportunity, given to you by God, in order to increase your faith. By trusting Him, you’re declaring that your God is bigger than anything you face. Without the resistance to your faith . . . your faith would never grow. God knows what He’s doing. He’s always up to something. It’s always something good. And it’s always something worth cherishing hope for.

By stepping over the line, you’re looking into the face of fear, the dangers that threaten to destroy you, the giant issues you face, the encroaching walls of affliction, the principalities and powers that are out to destroy you . . . and completely casting yourself into the arms of God. By stepping over the line, you’re refusing to rely on your feelings and walk by sight . . . you’re choosing to be led by faith in God alone. By stepping over the line, you’re declaring to God, “I’m tired of being up and down, tossed about, and questioning Your ways . . . You’ve drawn a line, and I’m stepping over the line, by faith. By stepping over the line, you’re ultimately telling God, “I trust you.” And there’s a promise for those who step over the line:

Those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever. (Psalm 125:1 AMP)

by Cherie Hill

You pray, but God doesn’t seem to be listening. You trust Him, but it appears He’s letting you down. You believe His Word, but His promises are coming up seemingly empty in your life. You seek, but do not find…you knock, but no one answers. If God is doing anything at all in your life…you can’t see it. The fight of faith intensifies, as it appears that not only is God running late…He may not even show up at all. By the looks of things, God’s either too busy in the lives of others or He just simply doesn’t care. With each passing hour, your Spirit grows weary…

in the waiting.

My eyes are straining to see your Promises come true.

When will you comfort me?

(Psalm 119:82 NLT)

I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched.

My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.

(Psalm 69:31 NLT)

It’s been said that the hardest part of faith is the last half hour. You see, there are times of overwhelming confusion that come just before deliverance. In the darkness, we tend to give up just before the Light breaks through. Charles Spurgeon once said, “The wilderness is the way to Canaan. Defeat prepares us for victory. The darkest hour of the night precedes the dawn.” We love God’s grace, but we don’t like His watch. His calendar appears to be astonishingly different than the ones we hang on our walls, and we’re not sure He’s managing time, or our lives, very well at all. Unless we continue to look through God’s eyes in the mundane, seemingly empty, times of our lives, we will grow weary and our faith may fail.

What we don’t realize, in our times of desperation, is that if God is guiding our steps, if He’s directing our lives, then He has allowed us to be brought into the very valley in which we cry out for mercy. The fact is, God has permitted the circumstances that have brought us to our knees, and He has done so, with a plan and a purpose. In our times of waiting for God to show up…we shouldn’t be crying out, “Why is this happening, when will you rescue me, and how will you do it?”…we should be faithfully approaching God’s throne of grace and asking Him, “What? What is it that you want to do in and through me in this?”

You see, there’s a BIG difference between “being still” and “doing nothing.” When God appears to have escorted you into His “waiting room,” you can be certain that He doesn’t want you “doing nothing”…He wants you “being still.” The enemy fills us with the lies that we must take action…take matters into our own hands. The enemy whispers, “God’s Word can’t be relied upon, He can’t be trusted…you have to do something!” But God’s strong, still, small voice replies, “Wait on Me…I will save you…I will deliver you…I hold your life (every detail) in the palms of my hands.” The enemy wants you to “reason” your way through the valleys of your life…God asks you to trust Him and rest in Him.

When you’re trusting God…you should be praying, drawing nearer to Him, and resting in the peace He provides in the midst of the raging storm. As you wait, God strengthens you because you begin to realize that God IS at work…He’s growing your faith. And faith is rarely grown with anything other than overwhelming circumstances. God has brought you to a place of helplessness and hopelessness, so that you will find that when you are in need…He is ALL you need. He brings light into the darkness…He doesn’t have to bring you OUT of the darkness in order for you to experience His light.

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright… (Psalm 112:4)

I’m not sure what you’re waiting for right now. Maybe it’s a job that you desperately need to help support your family, maybe you’re waiting on God to heal you or someone you love, maybe it’s waiting on God to soften the heart of an addict in your family…whatever you’re waiting for, God doesn’t appear to be “at work.” He seems more absent than present in your circumstances. If this is where you are in your faith…God wants you to lay hold of one truth today:

“No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for

those who wait for him.”

(Isaiah 64:4 MSG)

God has not forgotten you…He has not abandoned you in your time of desperation. He often works best in your brokenness…a humble heart is more moldable in His hands. Stop worrying about the details…quit trying to figure it all out—God knows what He’s doing. He’s in control…even if life isn’t. Trust that when your world seems to be falling apart…it’s really just falling into place in the hands of your Almighty loving God.

Trust. Wait. Rest. God’s help is on the way. Wait in faith, and the Spirit of God will fill you with peace and joy, so that you will not grow weary in the waiting.



About the Author:
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday. (reaching over 100,000 people every year)
Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.

by Cherie Hill

Like an uninvited guest, Doubt shows up at the most inopportune times—usually it’s when life is “messy”…we haven’t had time to get things in order and it appears that everything is falling apart at the seams. Just when we begin to grasp onto whatever is left of hope…Doubt comes knocking at the door. But, when we find Doubt knocking…we should be sure and let Faith answer.

Life is difficult at best; although our human instinct is to believe that our faith in God should make life “better”…nothing could be further from the Truth. We’re promised that in this world we will have trouble—we should count on it. (John 16:33) Yet, we should also trust in God’s sovereignty, supernatural power, love, mercy, and grace. But, it’s in our times of despair that Doubt takes over and begins to wreak havoc in our souls. We find ourselves between the walls of the Red Sea…assured that God has rescued us in the past, but filled with doubt, as we see the treacherous waters ready to come crashing in on us and an encroaching army ready to attack. The situation seems “doubtful.” It seems “unlikely” that God will show up “this time.” The anxiety within us builds to such a point that it’s not the waters of the Red Sea that are drowning us…it’s the waves of Doubt that have flooded our soul and our spirit cries out, “Is God with us or isn’t He?”

You might think that you’re the only one who gets regular “unwanted” visits from Doubt, but you can rest assured that Doubt shows up at the door of every believer time and time again. Doubt will walk right in when the door has been left unlocked. When Faith has left, Doubt decides to visit and, at times, we decide to welcome Doubt in to sit down and chat for a while. The result of that time with Doubt leads us deeper into despair…we so easily forget about Faith, as we spend endless hours visiting with Doubt.

What we must remember in our darkest moments of life is that God has often led us to the very place we stand…in the midst of a parted Red Sea. And He has done so to teach us a much needed lesson in our walk of faith—we cannot deliver ourselves from a crisis that God himself has orchestrated. Too often, it is by His design that we are in the midst of our overwhelming situation. We so quickly become focused upon the seemingly insurmountable circumstances, instead of our supernatural God. The outcome of our trial depends upon one thing: Our faith in God. The question is: “Will your faith stand this test…and the next one…and the next one?” God brings you through test after test in order to build a testimony in you that says, “My God is faithful.”

When we’re put to the ultimate test of faith, and we will encounter it at one time or another, we find overwhelming circumstances…giant issues facing us, high seas of affliction, and the evil of principalities and powers seeking to destroy us. It is then that we must totally cast ourselves on God’s Promises and slam the door on Doubt. We must decide to confidently walk forward, as the walls of the Sea seem eager to take us down, and believe that God is bigger than any problem or enemy that might come against us. It’s this kind of faith that brings a calm and rest to our soul, no matter what our situation. When we settle, once and for all, that “God is bigger,” we can find the peace that surpasses all understanding reigning within us.

Whatever you’re going through, God is in it. He has allowed the circumstances that have brought Doubt to your door, and He’s increasing your faith by threatening to destroy it. If you are walking in faith, God has ordered your steps—He has put you where you are. He has good reason for it—you are being tested. When you’re consumed with Doubt…when everything appears hopeless…when there seems no way of escape…when you’re overcome with fear because everything is crumbling down around you…when there’s nowhere to turn and no answers to be found, God says one thing:

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today.” Exodus 14:13 (NLT)

It’s beyond the doubt, as you stand still, holding your peace, and staying focused upon your sovereign God, you will find that God’s deliverance doesn’t come through something you do, say, or pray…but through your Faith.

About the Author:
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday. (reaching over 100,000 people every year)
Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.