Thanks to all who have joined me on this journey to become more connected to God and one another. This is a hard season for our country, the church, and for many who are reading this today.

God does not promise that everything will be perfect. Far from it. You and I are pretty much guaranteed to have some degree of suffering; none of us gets out of this life unscathed.

Here is what God does promise.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

The idea of suffering for Christ does not get people to buy prayer cloths, miracle water, and books. However, God’s promise to shower me with comfort should give me confidence that I can make it through trials. I have had the opportunity to test this supernatural comfort after the death of our daughter, Katie, from a terminal birth condition, and during the cancer battle Joni fought and won. I can attest that His comfort is real and remarkable.

God’s greatest promise of all is salvation to all who believe in His Son.

I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (Romans 1:16-17)

God promised that I am secure forever when I placed my trust in the finished work of Christ. This was a big one for a recovering legalist who had been taught otherwise early in my faith journey.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No
one can snatch them away from me. John 10:28 (emphasis added)

God promises to meet our needs. This is a tough one for us. We are culturally conditioned to pray for wants, bombarded by messages that tell us this car or that product or that promotion will make us happy. God promises only that He will give us all we need.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 (emphasis added)

This may be one of the most common places where I stub my toe on something sacred without even knowing it, because I am looking for some glorious blessing. A common provision of grace is at my feet, and I walk right over it. Part of the challenge for me going forward will be reorienting my thinking about what really matters.

After His resurrection, Jesus gave final instructions to His followers, telling them to make disciples and to baptize those new believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And then He says,

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the
end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (emphasis added)

We often talk about the importance of last words and the weight they carry. These last recorded words of Jesus are so encouraging. Christ wanted us to be sure that He was going to be present with us for every earthly breath we take.

I don’t live as if I believe that promise. I feel alone so often, struggling with doubts. Part of this 21 Day journey has been to learn to trust the truth that He is always with me. I choose to plant my flag of belief on that hill as we wrap up our time. And I choose to believe this truth that our Lord proclaimed in the Gospel of John.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
John 15:9

These are scary times. But here is what I know today. Jesus loves me and is with me always. With that knowledge I know one other thing. It will be okay.

Excerpts from Waking Up Slowly Book