God Is For You

God Is for You

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

I was talking with a friend just the other day about our perceptions of God. If they are off, even just by a degree or two, over time that will very much skew what we believe about him and what we believe about how he feels about us, others, and the world at large. My friend made the point that it is so important to seek out Scriptures that tell us who God is and about his heart toward each one of us, and I wholeheartedly agreed.

If we struggle to believe that God loves us, then we need to look for Scriptures about his love. If we struggle to believe he is good, then we need to look for Scriptures that tell us he is good. If we don’t know if he will protect us, stick with us, or be consistent—we can find Scriptures that will tell us the truth of who he is in all circumstances. He does not hide from us, but too often we believe lies about his character and don’t try to combat them when they arise. They may seem so small, but over time, even what seem to be little lies can grow into deep caverns that create distance between us and God.

This is not at all what I believe God desires for us. I believe that God wants to be our very best friend. He wants us to turn to him when we are lonely or afraid or angry. He longs for us to know how much he loves us. Isaiah reminds us that we don’t have to be discouraged, because he is with us. He will strengthen us and hold us up, and we don’t have to be afraid. We can confidently know and believe that God is for us.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Combat an untrue perception you’ve held about God as your friend with the truth found in Scripture.