Wednesday, June 4, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Thessalonians 5
Looking head-on into the final years of life, I can honestly say the God I was taught about as a child and a teenager is the same God who often shows up in my life in unexpected places and unexpected spaces. And I’m so grateful for his presence.
Years ago, circumstances and events often left me spinning in my thoughts, mixed with questions, and self-made misery. I believed in God but lacked a genuine relationship with him. This kept me in the spin cycle – much like a washing machine that needs a reset.
But … God.
When I reached one point of misery, I began to really consider the God I had heard about as a child. Having reached the end of my strength (and a difficult marriage), I desperately cried out to God. In that moment, he gave me an undeniable sense of his presence and peace. The spinning didn’t completely stop, but it slowed down as I chose to lean into him.
My spiritual growth process didn’t take off like a rocket, but at least it had begun. Forty-plus years later, I can wholeheartedly say God has been faithful beyond words. Beyond understanding. Beyond measure.
It’s more than belief in him. God invites us to fully trust his promises and remember the times we’ve experienced him personally in our lives.
John 14:26-27
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative - that is, the Holy Spirit - he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us. He is our guide, teaching and reminding us of everything God has said. This doesn’t mean that the uncertainty of life or the pain of severed relationships will disappear. However, the certainty of God and how he keeps his promises empowers us, through the Holy Spirit, to face life squarely head-on.
We can trust that God will carry us through whatever life throws our way. His promises of comfort and peace don’t expire. They have a lifetime warranty, even in the midst of life’s storms!
Questions:
Do you simply believe in God, or do you have a relationship with him? Are you able to define the difference?
Next Steps:
Read about the difference between believing in God and having a relationship with him. If you have been spinning around, consider the lyrics of the 1989 DC Talk song, “Spinnin’ Round.”
Listen to the powerful words of “You are God Alone” by Philips, Craig, and Dean, and be reminded of who God is.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for wanting to have a relationship with me. I know I don’t deserve it. Thank you for being God, in the good times and the bad times. You always keep your promises. I’m grateful I can trust you with my life and with every trouble that life presents. Thank you for going with me when I face difficulties – both mine and others. You have never left me. Your majesty and your power are beyond human comprehension. When I get too big in my own eyes, please remind me that you are God and I am not. I do not deserve the comfort and peace you offer daily. Your generosity and great love remains a mystery to me. May those lost in their sin come to accept you as Savior and Lord. May they also experience the comfort and peace you give freely. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
2 Corinthians 1:20
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
This post was written by Karen Peck, a Perrysburg attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.