"Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." (I Samuel 7:12)

The future always seems unknown and uncertain, because it is. We know from past experience that both good and bad can happen in our world, and that we have no guarantee of what the future will hold.

We also know, as Samuel did, that in all the events of our lives thus far, God has helped us: through financial difficulties, major decisions, job and location changes, broken hearts, disappointments, illness, and so on. We may have had pain, both physical and otherwise. We may have struggled in many different ways. But God provided what we needed and He brought us through, usually as stronger individuals than we were before.

As we face the future we can hold on to this fact that God has never let us down. We may have doubted at times that He was really there for us, or wondered why He took so long. But hindsight shows His presence through it all. Taking time to recall His faithfulness gives us confidence to move forward without fear.

Not only do we have proof from the past that He will be with us to help us, we also have His promise for the future:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

© 2009 Fern Horst

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TO REPRINT this devotional on the internet, all that we require is that you reprint it in its entirety, include the author's name, the copyright information, and a link to www.singleness.org.

FOR HARD COPY REPRINTS of more than 50 copies, please write to contact us for permission.

Thanks!

Visit the Devotional Archives

We appreciate your feedback, which is an inspiration, encouragement, and blessing to us! Please use our Contact Us page to send us your response. Thanks!