Holding onto God’s Promise

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

─ James 1:12 ESV

Holding onto God’s Promise

Appearing in court, for any reason, is stressful for most people. From someone called to jury duty, to those standing trial or giving their testimony, emotions can run high. A trial can release all kinds of thoughts and emotions – anxiety, fear, grief, anger, despair, guilt or frustration that can become overwhelming and difficult to manage.

When you face challenges to your faith, those same emotions can flood your heart. James 1:12 offers hope and encouragement – by standing firm when your faith is tested, you will be blessed of the Lord.

In Luke 1, a faithful priest named Zechariah prayed and asked God for a child. He and his wife were beyond childbearing age. In their culture, children were a tangible blessing from God, proof that God loved you and you were worthy of His blessings. Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful even though they remained childless, and it broke their hearts. They felt humiliated and hopeless.

The angel, Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him his wife would have a child, and he shared the news with Elizabeth. She said, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people” (Luke 1:25 NIV). God replaced this couple’s shame and embarrassment with expectation and a promise.

Waiting on God can be an extremely difficult trial, especially if the answer doesn’t come right away. It’s easy to let your emotions take over and cause you to lose your way. But if you remain steadfast, God has promised to bless you in His perfect time.

Today’s One Thing

What prayer remains unanswered in your life? Put today’s verse on your phone, your computer or somewhere you’ll see it often and remind yourself you are blessed. Hold on to God’s promise to hear your prayer and respond in reply to your faith.

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