He's with you!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings15;%202%20Chronicles%2013-16&version=NIV

There a simple, yet foundational truth to be share in 2 Chronicles 15:2:

"The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you."

Does the idea of being foresaken by God shake you to the core. It should. But how, you might ask, does this line up with the promise, "Never will I leave you, never will I foresake you" in Joshua 1:5? Friends - God, like us, desires to be loved because we choose to love him. He desires to be known because we choose to know him. He desires to be pursued because we choose to pursue him. He will not force himself into your life. When we choose to do things our own way, or decide we don't need God is any area of our lives, he will removed himself.

But, here's the beautiful thing about God that makes him unlike a human relationship. The minute we turn back to God, he returns to us. The minute we call out, he answers. The minute we open the door, he comes in. He isn't like man - he doesn't hold a grudge. He doesn't cautiously allow himself back into our lives just a little, watching and waiting to see if we really are serious, nor does he watch for signs of whether we'll walk away again. Instead, he offers his abundant mercy and grace and brings himself - his whole self - into our lives. He will not leave us or forsakes us as long as we want and allow him to be part of our lives. The choice is our, the mercy is His.

If you feel forsaken, I would encourage you to ask yourself several questions. First, could it be that you have forsaken God in this area of your life? Perhaps without being willing to admit it or without fully realizing it, you are going your own way. If the answer is yes to this question - simply return to him and he will return to you. Invite him back into this area of your life.

Second, could it be that you feel forsaken because God hasn't moved in the way or time that you wanted or expected? In that case, look around and I imagine you'll find he's still there. Ask him to give you eyes to see that he is with you. Remember - just because we can't see him working doesn't mean that he isn't. And perhaps the answer you wanted wasn't for your good. God has a picture of your life from beginning to end and knows you better than you know yourself. God is not forsaking you or holding out on you - he is holding out FOR you!

Lastly, could it be that he has you in a trial that is a refining fire for you? If so, then I suggest you look next to you and you'll see that he's there walking beside you. Ask him to wrap you in his loving arms, so that even though you struggle, you feel his peace and his presence. Let God write the truth of Psalm 66:10 on your heart: "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. you brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went trhough fire and water, but you have brought us to a place of abundance." Hold on, my friend who is in the fire, for God has not forsaken you - press on until he brings you to the place of abundance. Press on - you will have rest. He promises that he will, and he is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made.

They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side. - 2 Chronicles 15:15

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels