Counting on God

1 Peter5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

A well known, oft quoted, much loved Scripture.  Cares, concerns, worries...all of this we are to bring to the Lord, casting them into His hands and letting Him carry the burdens we are laden with.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28 "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  So we know God wants us to come.  We know God wants to handle our problems, directing us, comforting us and leading us in His ways of wisdom and overcoming.  We know He is able.  We are told in Luke 18:27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”  And again in Matthew 19:26 and Mark 10:27, Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

So do we believe this?  Do we believe that God wants and can handle our deepest valleys and biggest mountains?  I would say yes.  Yes I do believe.  But then I doubt His ways.  I doubt when He doesn't work in my timing.  I doubt when He doesn't follow my plan.  I doubt His love.  There is part of the equation I have been leaving out that causes the doubts to rise in my heart.  And that is God's love.  His eternal, everlasting, all consuming, love.  I forget to rely on His love.  

This is something God has shown me lately.  I wait on Him to answer my prayers and when it doesn't happen when I want it to, or how I want it to I get angry.  I get frustrated.  I accuse Him of not caring.  I go into the "I'm not worthy and God is mad at me." cycle, putting myself above God's love.  I know He is all wise.  I know He is all powerful.  I know He can do anything.  But I forget that everything He does or doesn't do is based first and foremost on His love.  I leave trusting His love out of the asking and believing.  

And this is my God visit lately.  God has let me know He wants me to count on His love.  I saw a meme lately that stated, "DON'T WORRY.  GOD IS NEVER BLIND TO YOUR TEARS, NEVER DEAF TO YOUR PRAYERS AND NEVER SILENT TO YOUR PAINS.  HE SEES, HE HEARS, AND HE WILL DELIVER."  God loves me, and you, so He is not ignoring us, He is not turning away from us, He is doing what is best for us out of a heart filled with love.  Even in His discipline He is loving us.  Deuteronomy 8:5  Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.  Hebrews 12:6  For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

From Stormie Omartain, "God loves us, so our times of waiting on Him must be ultimately beneficial to our emotional and spiritual growth."  

So now I say,  "I remember Your love Lord."  That is my New Year's "resolution."  Remembering God's love.  Psalm 147:11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Lord, thank You so much for this word in due season.  You are an awesome God who loves His children.  Everything in our lives is designed with Your love in mind, to work out for our good and for Your glory and the blessing of others.  Lord, let us not forget how much You love us.  When things go wrong, don't go our way, when life hurts and feels impossible...help us to remember Your love.  It never changes, never leaves us.  Lord, let us not lose faith, but just remember that You love us.  It's in Jesus Name I pray these things.  Amen.

Look up verses on God's love.  Count on them.