in all circumstances part 1: trust in God's character
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Why is it, that we most often seek the Lord during the valleys of life? We know from His Word that He wants us to seek Him in every season. During the peaks, with moments of great joy and celebration; during the valleys, in times of worry and uncertainty. Not only does He desire His children to seek Him out, but He calls us to be faithful in all circumstances.
The heart of Antique Candle Co.® is Christ, so this month our team invites you to join us over the next four weeks in a short, weekly study of God's Word. As we reflect on what God calls us to do in all circumstances, we pray that you, too, find the love, hope, and encouragement that only Christ can provide.
In all Circumstances: Trust in God's Character
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding..." Proverbs 3:5
Trusting in the Lord's character allows us to find hope in every situation. It's not just about trusting God to get us through the difficult moments, but fully trusting in who He is, which extends to every moment of life.
So what is God's character?
Many things. God cannot be compared to anything else in all creation. He created all things. Therefore, there are some attributes of Christ we can and cannot understand. We can't understand being 'unchanging' or 'all-knowing' ourselves because, as we are finite beings, we are neither. However, His Word tells us these truths about Him so that we may trust the characteristics that are unique to God alone. We can see and acknowledge the truth of His character in the Word and in our own lives.
He who is incomprehensible has revealed Himself to us so that we may know Him. There are so many incredible attributes of our God, but we chose just a few to reflect on for our study.
God is Unchanging
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Change is a constant in our lives. We can experience joy and surprise in the changing circumstances we face, but change can also lead to an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty or fear.
If there is anything we can find comfort in, regardless of the circumstances, it is the certainty that God is unchanging. A peace amidst chaos. A constant, familiar love. Our Father is eternal, and we can trust in his unwavering character: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
God is Faithful
"...if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13
No matter if we are in a season of joy, doubt, or unbelief, God is faithful. He shows us this through His unrelenting love and by keeping all His promises.
In Isaiah 55:11, we see proof of God's faithfulness through the fulfillment of His Word. "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Even in the waiting, He is faithful and we can know He will accomplish His will in our lives. Even when we turn our backs on Him, we can trust in His steadfast love. "The Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:5
God is All-Knowing
"He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge—the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath." Psalm 94:9
In the beginning, God created the world and everything in the universe. Even before those first days of creation, He knew the past, present, and future of every one of His children.
He has always known every moment of your life. Every detail of those moments has a purpose that He understands in His infinite wisdom. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." While we may experience suffering in this life, we can be sure that the Lord will never lead us astray from His purpose for us. Even when we don't understand the 'why' or the 'how' of a situation, He always does.
We can also see God's all-knowing and wise character through the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ. Even before creation, He knew He would send Jesus to die for our sins in order to bring us salvation. It was for our sake that He made this known so that we may trust in Him. (1 Peter 1:20)
God is Sovereign
"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36
We can trust God as King over all things.
He is sovereign over the universe. Christ has the power to rule over all of His creation under no obligation other than His own will.
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." Colossians 1:16-16
He is sovereign over salvation. Jesus died to offer salvation to the world and bring His people to Himself.
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." Ephesians 1:7-8
He is sovereign over suffering. God uses every circumstance in our lives, including suffering, for our ultimate good and to show the greatness of His glory and grace to all people.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
He is sovereign over His mission. This mission is for God to be glorified with a kingdom from every tribe, nation, and tongue. Resistance to God's mission on earth is either allowed for His purposes, or overcome for His purposes.
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14
Place your trust in a God who is unchanging, faithful, all-knowing, sovereign, and so much more. In all circumstances, His character is something that will never fail.
Ask yourself:
How have I seen God's character revealed in my life?