When it looks bad...God is with us!

Our scripture reference is taken from Judges 6:12-13 which reads,

¹²And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
¹³And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (Judges 6:12-13, King James Version)

Gideon is human just like we are and in his human reasoning and perception he (as we often do) finds it hard to believe that God is with the people of Israel. Gideon has an intellectual understanding of history and has heard that God did great and mighty things in the life and times of his fore-fathers but Gideon has not yet fully experienced God for himself.

Often times, it is when we are most vunerable, most afraid, most hurt or disappointed that God uses our pain for our gain. God is in control and thus knows the future and so He is able to speak to Gideon in such a manner as He did in verse 12. In verse 14, God further says to Gideon:

¹⁴And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? (Judges 6:14, King James Version)

I praise and thank God for being compassionate and merciful. Despite our unbelief and short-comings, God desires greatness in us all. God spoke to Gideon in verse 14 and told him he (Gideon) would save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Remember, Gideon believed that God desires or at least is allowing the Midianites to devour them.

Do you ever feel that your enemies or circumstances are getting the upper-hand? Have you ever felt that God was not near or seemingly uninterested in helping you? Ever feel that God has forsaken you? If so, and trust me you're not alone, consider the following:

²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, King James Version)

²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
²⁵I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
²⁶He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalm 37:23-26, King James Version)

⁵Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5, King James Version)

²⁹He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
³⁰Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
³¹But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31, King James Version)

Remember, when it looks bad, God is with you! Our God, your God is able to "...do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20, King James Version)

Remember, the power worketh within us. Let us use the power God has given us through His son to overcome the world, be transformed, and live an abundant life full of grace and mercy.