Being a Christian doesn’t automatically give us a comfortable, problem-free life. God isn’t a good-luck charm who gives us a perfect journey through life the minute we choose to accept Him. You’ve probably already realised this though, right? We have just as many (and just as serious) problems as those who don’t believe. Jesus even warns us to expect them: ‘In this world you will have trouble’ (John 16:33 NIV). God doesn’t promise us a comfortable life. But what He does promise is that He’ll be there to guide and strengthen us whenever we face challenges. Psalm 91:4 reminds us that ‘His faithful promises are your armour and protection’ (NLT). If we were never going to come up against problems, we wouldn’t need armour. So, God isn’t always going to remove us from challenging situations, but He will give us exactly what we need to face them. This is what Jesus said just before He was arrested: ‘I am not alone, for my Father is with me’ (John 16:32 NIV). Jesus was facing death – it couldn’t get more uncomfortable than that – but He could say with absolute certainty that God was by His side, holding Him through the terrible ordeal that lay ahead. And God’s right there with us too, whenever we’re in trouble. It doesn’t always mean we’ll come out unscathed, but we can have confidence that He’ll help us face everything with courage, knowing that His promises are true.
What now?
Whenever you come across a verse in the Bible that reminds you about God’s protection, write it down. Put your collection of verses by your mirror, so you can read them every morning as you’re getting ready.