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when we are distracted by the world around us —
or when we see loved ones suffer, or we face personal obstacles that might
shake us — we need to remember the many plain statements in God’s word, and
have confidence that as long as we do our part, our circumstances will turn out
just as God wants them to, even if right now we cannot imagine how this will be
possible
J. Davy Crockett III
The sound of the cicadas was deafening as I walked along the
path on a summer Sabbath morning, enjoying the breeze and collecting my
thoughts after a busy and eventful week.
There was so much to think about, and to make sense of from a
biblical point of view. Yet those cicadas were humming away so noisily that it
was hard to concentrate!
As I walked along, though, it dawned on me that the sounds of
summer are an affirmation of a promise God made long ago — a promise that can
help us keep our bearings, even when circumstances seem to go awry in ways that
leave us doubting and confused.
God knew that we would need to get our bearing from time to
time.
And soon after the Great Flood — the greatest
catastrophe the world had ever seen — He made a promise: “While the earth
remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and
night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).
God assures us that there will come a new season.
Although difficulties may come and obstacles may arise, His plan
is ever unfolding.
The Psalmist understood this when he wrote: “The
counsel of the Lord stands
forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).
In a similar vein, the prophet Isaiah recounts
these powerful words given by God: “Remember the former things of old, for I
am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet
done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9–10).
Yes, God has a plan, and He is working to bring about the best
He can in our lives.
We also read of this in the New Testament.
Paul wrote these words that can be very
reassuring in times of trouble: “We know that all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose” (Romans 8:28).
So, when we are distracted by the world around us — or when we
see loved ones suffer, or we face personal obstacles that might shake us — we
need to remember the many plain statements in God’s word, and have confidence
that as long as we do our part, our circumstances will turn out just as God
wants them to, even if right now we cannot imagine how this will be possible.
As Paul so eloquently wrote: “For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses
38–39).
With these wonderful promises in mind, we can be prepared for
the unexpected, the unthinkable, the upheavals and disruptions that we would
prefer never to face, yet which can happen when we least expect.
Through it all, God will provide the strength,
the guidance and the answers that we need. We can follow in the footsteps of
Paul, who reassured us: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me” (Philippians 4:13).
When you hear the sounds of summer — or of fall, winter or
spring — be encouraged and remember the promises of our loving God.
With His help and guidance, we can and will make it through the
difficult seasons that are sure to be ahead of us.
So, take a walk. Meditate on the things of God (verse 8).
And know that a time is soon coming when the whole world will be
under His firm and benevolent, loving rule.
Tomorrow’s World proclaims to the world the good news of Jesus
Christ’s coming Kingdom (Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15),
and blows a bold “warning trumpet” of God’s impending judgment, calling for
repentance and spiritual change (Matthew 24:21; Isaiah 58:1;
Ezekiel 33). We teach and practice original Christianity as taught and
practiced by Jesus Christ and the original Apostles. Tomorrow’s
World makes plain the Bible’s answers to the most important questions:
Does God exist and how can we worship Him? Why were you born? What happens
after death? What does the future hold? Tomorrow’s World provides
real insight into the underlying causes behind today’s news headlines, but
explains what will happen in the future, based on Bible prophecy.
https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2014/july-august/the-sounds-of-summer
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