GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE ARE FOREVER!
GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE ARE FOREVER!
This morning, I had to drop my son off at school. The journey going from my home is about twenty-five minutes because we have to go make a U-turn up front. The journey back is usually much shorter. It is less than fifteen minutes.
As I dropped him off and started heading to work, I felt an overwhelming urge of gratitude to ABBA. Why? You may ask. You see, I suddenly remembered sometime last year, when for an extended period of time, due to some ongoing roadworks around the area, we were being held up in traffic on the return journey for up to two or three hours. There were days I had to make the trip twice – drop off and pick up. Those were days of trauma, if you ask me. There was stress and tension everywhere.
Doing that journey in a dash this morning , I felt God saying to me, trouble, trials and tribulations do not last forever. But His mercy does. “For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalms 100:5 NLT Whatever it is will surely come to pass.
How many times do we get into a frantic frenzy when things are not going as we plan? We are beside ourselves with all kinds of negative emotions and reactions: Fear and anxiety topping the list. All of these will never help. They actually make things worse because all they do is make the problem seem larger than it actually is.
In those days when we were stuck in that traffic, it was as if the world was coming to an end. How can one explain spending half of a day’s productive hours sitting in a traffic jam? We did not see an end in sight then. Social media was awash with people comparing the time spent in traffic to the flight time from Lagos to London: about six hours. It was a terribly trying time. But alas, one day, it all came to an end. Though there is still traffic on that route now it is mostly at peak period. How did I survive that trial? I found myself singing hymns most of the time to keep me calm. While singing, I was always able to take my mind of the nightmarish traffic and that kept me sane.
Dear friend, we have come a long way in 2023. From the cashless policy that crippled a lot of things, to the increase in the pump price of fuel, to untold hardship all around. Prices of goods and services seem to be rising daily. But please let me plead with us, as the year draws to a close, let us NOT focus on all the things that are not going as planned. Rather let us focus on God and trust in His word, which is the truth.
Psalms 30:5 has this to say: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms 30:5 NLT
It does not matter how dark a night 2023 has been for some of us, morning will still come and it will bring joy.
It is the things of God that last forever, not hardship and pain. Let us therefore not spend time lamenting any current unpleasant situation that we find ourselves in. Trust me…. That too shall pass.
Psalms 23:4 also says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4 NIV
We are not expected to park or camp in any dark valley situation. We must walk through them. This is possible if we remind ourselves that God is with us and remains as a source of comfort throughout the trial.
Please be encouraged today, knowing that a new day will definitely dawn. And it will bring joy.
Let us hang in there.
Let us stay strong.
Let the Strength of Israel be our strength too.
PROBLEMS DO NOT LAST BUT HIS MERCY LASTS FOREVER!
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS©