How to Hang onto God (John 15:5)
By: Anne Peterson
Today's Bible Verse: I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
So often in life when things get tough, we hear the words, “Just hang in there.” Words meant to reassure you, but they fall short. I believe we need to hold onto the truth of God’s Word. And when things get difficult, we are to meditate on what we know to be true, no matter how things feel. We cannot trust our feelings. They are fickle. Feelings change and if we trusted how we felt, well, we’d be all over the place. Believe me, I used to do that. I was a double-minded person (James 1:8).
The moment we accept Jesus as our Savior we are born into God’s family. Sometimes we forget this truth and we think we need to keep doing things to be one of God’s children. Yet, we are told that just as we received Jesus, we are to walk in him (Colossians 2:6).
When we made the decision to accept Jesus, we were kept by God’s power. My Bible teacher illustrated this vividly. “If I were to put a fork into a power outlet,” she said, “I would have made the contact, but it would be the power source that kept me there.” When we accepted Jesus, we were in Christ, kept by God.
There have been times in my life the circumstances consumed me. Maybe it was hearing my sister disappeared. Day in and day out, I prayed. I didn’t have the strength to hold onto anything, and God knew that. I knew God’s Word was true and that God is sovereign. He is Almighty. There’s nothing that God doesn’t know. He doesn’t guess. So, I saturated myself in God’s Word.
I read the verses over and over till I had them in my mind and tucked away in my heart. I sang hymns and prayed. And all the while, God held onto me when I had no strength.
When we discovered my sister was dead, the same God who sustained me kept sustaining me. I felt powerless but knew that wasn’t true about God. God continually gave me strength when I had none. Every time I have needed God, he has been there.
I’m so glad God is immutable. That means God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). We can count on this truth no matter how dire our circumstances. And when we feel shaky, we can call on God who is always available (Job 27:10). God promises us that he will rescue us in the day of trouble (Psalm 50:15).
When we feel afraid, we can let God’s Spirit remind us of what God says in his Word. Believe the truth. God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19). Hold onto God’s truth. And when you feel as if you can’t hold on any longer. Remember that God is holding onto you. And his hands are strong and mighty.
No Matter What
Lord, sometimes I will hesitate
unsure of what to do.
I try to figure out my life
although I have no clue.
I ask you for your wisdom,
I pray you help me see.
No matter what I choose to do,
You won’t let go of me.
Anne Peterson © 2020
Reflect on today’s verse with us. Share your thoughts in the Your Daily Bible Verse discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Roman Donar / EyeEm
Related Resource: Praying Through Psalms 60: Victory in Hopeless Ground
What do you do when the battlefield stretches in every direction, and it looks like God Himself brought the defeat?
Join Jaime on the Praying Christian Women Podcast for a devotional on Psalm 60 — a raw, honest lament born out of being surrounded on all sides, where David dares to say You did this, God — and still picks up the banner and calls Him Lord.
Jaime unpacks the historical backdrop of David fighting enemies to the north, east, and south all at once, and shares a breathtaking story from her years near Death Valley — where barren, salt-crusted flats that look permanently dead suddenly erupted into a once-in-a-century bloom of purple wildflowers. Sometimes the victory is already buried right beneath the most hopeless-looking ground, waiting for God's rain to bring it to life. If this episode helps you navigate life with prayer and intention, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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