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From everlasting to everlasting
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.—Psalm 100:5 NIV
I remember when I formed you, before the foundations of the world. With great care and special attention, I poured into you. I handpicked each talent, each gift, each characteristic, each fiber of your being, until the combination was exactly right—each specification perfectly in sync to accomplish My will and My purpose in your life, and in the lives of all those you were to touch on the great journey of life.
I remember the moment when I breathed into you the very breath of life! I knew the joy you would bring, not only to Me, but to those who would cross your path along the road of life.
I remember the first time I laid eyes on you, what joy you brought Me! So much so, that I numbered each hair of your head and marked you as My own. From the beginning I chose you, sanctified you in truth, and poured upon your head My holy calling. You were destined from the beginning of time, ordained by the great “I Am” to fulfill a role and a purpose that could be for no other. I have worked through your life and blessed you, and will yet use you in a mighty way, as you stay close by My side, following step by step.
I knew it would take time, even years, to reach the goals I set before you. Yet this too has been part of My infinite plan, to mold you, make you, and shape your heart into pure gold.
It was with great love and tender care that I have nurtured and watered and brought you along these many years. Even the testings and the trials of your faith have been My purpose to make you white. For I love you from everlasting to everlasting, and in you I am well pleased. Through thick and thin, through tests and trials, you have held on! You have stood test after test, and yet you continue loving Me and loving My Word. In this I am well pleased.
Hold on
Do not give up! Do not let go! Hold on to Me, for I love you so much! Hold on to Me and to My words, which give courage and strength and faith and hope and life and power, even where there is none. I have so much more to give you, to show you, and to work through your life. There’s so much ahead of you! Don’t let go of all that I have in store for you just because you can’t yet see it. There is more. This is not the end; it’s just a bend in the road. I know the way looks very dark and bleak and dreary, but around the corner there will be glorious sunlight and much happiness and fulfillment.
Put your hand in Mine, like a child who utterly trusts her loving father and is willing to go into the fierce and raging storm clinging desperately to his hand, though to her it looks so great and fearful. Even though she is afraid, yet she trusts her father more. As she puts her hand in his and steps into the dark and stormy night, little by little, step by step, her fear is replaced by faith as she sees her father leading her safely through the storm unharmed.
Reach out and take My hand, and I will not fail you. Not only reach out and take My hand, but throw your arms tightly about Me and cling to Me with all your heart. I will put My arms around you and I will carry you through the storm, close to My bosom, and nothing shall by any means harm you.1
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How glorious are the crowns of those who struggle through hardship, through desperation, through dismay, through fear, and yet carry on. These are like the widow who cast in her last mite, and feel as if they have no more to give. 2 But they do not know the great honor that I will bestow upon them for their sacrifice and for their willingness to hold on and to trust Me, despite the hardships.
Though they feel that I have failed them, yet they trust Me! What honor I will bestow upon them, for great is their faith! I know and I feel the hardship of these who give even down to their last widow’s mite. But I say unto you, great is their reward in heaven! Great is the honor that I bestow upon them for their love for Me, and great is My love for them.
Why the battles?
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.—1 Peter 1:7 NLT
You ask why—why the battles, why the trials? Through these trials, you have become a new creature. Many old things have passed away and many things have become new, because you did battle. You fought for victory, and now you’re being made stronger. You battled, and now you understand. You cried, and you understand what it means to cry, to hurt, to feel lonely, to feel pain.
Have faith in My love. Have faith that I will work these trials to your good.3 Because when they’ve done their work, you’ll be as fine gold—gold that is pure.4 Be thankful for the trials. Be thankful for the hard times, because they help you to better appreciate the joy and the beauty of My salvation, the joy and beauty of My Spirit. They help you to appreciate and understand true joy, the contrast of sadness and joy, of hate and love. They help you comfort others with the comfort you have found in Me.
A place of refuge
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.—Proverbs 18:10 NIV
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and there shall His children find that place of refuge.5 This place of refuge is promised to all My children, yet so few venture therein. Come under My wings, into My place of refuge, that you may experience My love and My peace that passes all understanding of your own.6
When the storms blow about you and you are tossed and buffeted and carried to and fro with the winds of tribulation and adversity and difficulty, then I would say unto you, come into My place of refuge until these calamities are overpassed. Rest your head upon My shoulder and see how I will care for you.
This is the refuge that I have promised you—the solace in My love, the peace that flows from My heart to yours, that fills you and envelops you and transports your spirit to the heavenly realm, where you see things with new eyes. You experience new thoughts and new understanding that you never had before.
In those quiet moments when we commune together, I can change your perspective. I can give you new ideas and new thoughts. I can plant little seeds in your heart and mind, which over time and with careful watering of My Word can grow into strong trees that bear much fruit and benefit many, that shall be a source of comfort and encouragement, and of restoration.
The shepherd must first be strengthened before he can strengthen his flock. In that time when you commune with Me, I will restore you. Then when you go back out to the field, you will find that I have been working and preparing the way for you, so that you can continue to walk down the road with comfort and with peace in your heart, and renewed faith.
The shadow of His wings
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.—Psalm 36:7 KJV
I love you from the depths of My heart. I know that you face pain and suffering, hardship and sorrow, but you can face these things in great faith, trusting Me and trusting My Word and all that I have promised, for I will not fail you.
Trust Me for that which is ahead, even if you must endure the sorrow and the pain and the loss and the hurt and the forsaking that come into every life. But know that I will never leave nor forsake you.7 Cry out to Me and seek Me and My Word, and you will find Me as you seek Me with all your heart.8 If you will hold fast to that which you have, the crown that I have placed upon your head, if you will carry its weight, even through this Jordan, I shall reward you with great peace, great love, great understanding. I will say to you, “Well done, My good and faithful servant; enter into My joy.”9
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:35–39 NLT
Originally published 1997. Updated and republished May 2013. Read by Jon Marc.
1 Luke 10:19.
2 Luke 21:2–4.
3 Romans 8:28.
4 1 Peter 1:7.
5 Proverbs 14:26.
6 Philippians 4:7.
7 Hebrews 13:5.
8 Jeremiah 29:13.
9 Matthew 25:21.
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