Keep on trusting…

When Yeshua said, “Let not your heart be troubled… I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2), he was assuring us that he had matters well under his control, and therefore we need not worry, since his passion rendered our salvation completely secure… The future is a “prepared place” for you, even if life in this world is often marked by testing and various refining fires. God has not promised to rescue us according to our own schedule, however, so if it appears that your prayers are not immediately answered, keep waiting in faith: “Rejoice, even if you have been grieved by various trials, because the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah” (1 Pet. 1:6-7). God works “all things together for good,” and since the exercise of faith is your good, he engineers all things to build your faith. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD” (Isa. 55:8).

 

Recall the words: “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God” (Isa. 50:10). Trusting in God (i.e., bittachon – בִּטָּחוֹן) doesn’t mean that we are obligated to say this is “the best of all possible worlds,” though it does mean we believe that eventually God will wipe away every tear and make all things right… Bittachon is a word for this world, which says, “Though he slay me, I will trust in him…” Those who call upon the LORD can trust not only in concealed good behind ambiguous appearances (“all things work together for good”) but also in a future, real, substantive good that will one day be clearly manifest for us all… We fight the “good fight” of faith, which is a worthy struggle that eventually is realized for blessing. Meanwhile, may the LORD our God keep us from such depth of sorrow that leads to sickness, darkness and despair.

 

The last promise of Scripture is “I come quickly” (אֲנִי בָא מַהֵר) and the last prayer is, “Amen, come, Lord Yeshua” (אָמֵן בּאָה־נָּא הָאָדוֹן יֵשׁוּעַ) [Rev. 22:20]. Meanwhile we “inwardly groan” for the fulfillment of our redemption, since presently we are suspended between worlds, walking in hope yet subject to the vanities that befall all flesh… And though God may tarry, He declares, “I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it” (Isa. 60:22). So we are made captives to hope, clinging to the promise of our ultimate healing and redemption. Our hearts therefore affirm that God is faithful “to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24). Amen. God will help us before He will help us, and may He come speedily, and in our day….