I feel like lately I’ve been in this state of knowing the truths of God but not actually believing them for my life. I believe them for everyone else but I wasn’t sure if it was all true for me. Why? It has just been a struggle for me lately. I never want to just go through the motions, but for about a month, I have.
I literally hated writing the sentence above, but somewhere between struggling at my job, struggling with the place I’m in right now, and with a recent health diagnosis, I just forgot to trust God for myself too.
For the past few weeks, I have been making it a point to get back into the word of God daily. I pray and I worship each and every day but reading the bible everyday? That was a different story. The word of God is alive and active and for the past two weeks of reading, I have felt the Lord’s closeness more than ever.
On the way home from a hard work week, I was listening to “Come thou Fount of Every Blessing.” In it the lyrics say “Here I raise my Ebenezer.”
And I started singing it but paused wondering what I am singing about. I know the bible pretty well but I don’t remember it talking about the scrooge! (Not me showing my age here)
In 1 Samuel 7, there is a battle with Israel and the Philistines. As the Philistines attacked, Samuel heard the Lord.
“The Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them” (1 Samuel 7:10–11).
God heard the cries of His people and came for help.
Samuel, wanting to show everyone how the Lord had helped them, put up a stone named Ebenezer.
“Till now the Lord has helped us.” So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. (1 Samuel 7:12–13)
Until now the Lord has helped us.
Until now.
Not, the Lord has not helped us. Up until this very point in time, the Lord has been present and active, helping each one of us.
When I think about the truth and apply it to my own life, it is true.
Until now, the Lord has helped me.
Until now, the Lord has redeemed me.
Until now, the Lord has loved me.
Until now, the Lord has carried me through.
Until now, the Lord has healed me.
Until now, the Lord has gone before me.
Until now, and forever, He will not change.
So here I am, raising my own Ebenezer, saying that until now, the Lord has helped me. And I know He will not stop at now. The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He will not and cannot change.
Through hard times, He is still here. Through sickness and pain, He is still here. Through good times and joy, He is here. Through the mountains and valleys, He is here.
Until we are called home, He will always help us.