Safe in His Arms

Our reflection verse this week at Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies couldn't have come at a better time and I thank God for it.

First, I saw the commands: "Don't be afraid" and "don't be discouraged". Merriam-Webster defines discourage as, "to deprive of courage or confidence. DISHEARTEN." How often have I been discouraged lately? Either lacking confidence where God has called me, or afraid because I don't know what the future holds. Here lately, that seems to be the norm. However, God in all of His love and mercy, follows these commands up with four promises:

1. We don't need to be afraid because "I am with you". God is WITH us. The I AM is with us. Immanuel--God with us. His precious Spirit lives inside of us. We are always with Him.
2. We don't need to be discouraged: "for I am your God." There is no reason to be disheartened. God, again, is with us and for us. He is near to us.
3. "I will strengthen you and help you." Who? Do we have to do this 'in our own power'? NO! God promises to strengthen us and help us. See Isaiah 40:28-31. HE gives power to the weak. HE renews our strength. Philippians 4:13 assures us that it is CHRIST who strengthens us. 
4. "I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." HE will hold us up. John 10:27-30 assures us that NO ONE can snatch us out of His hand. NO ONE. Including ourselves. Even when we get discouraged, overwhelmed, anxious or stuck in a comparison trap, we are safe in HIS hands. Always.

We just lost my beloved grandmother two weeks ago today. We spoke daily. She loved Jesus, so much. It was so unexpected and happened so suddenly; I was still reeling from it. ONE hour after I finished up studying the verses for the week, I got a phone call from my cousin in Indiana. My aunt who had been sick for some time with cancer was not doing well. At all. Matter of fact, they weren't sure if she would make it through the day. I was troubled and heartbroken. She hadn't reached out for Jesus....she felt unworthy of His forgiveness and wouldn't ask for it. However, I felt a strange sense of peace. The peace that passes all understanding, as expressed in Philippians 4:6-7. 

We soon found out later that she cried out to Jesus in that hospital bed. She lovingly opened her heart to Him. She finally accepted forgiveness and began seeking to make amends with those she hurt throughout her life. As I write this, she is still hanging on. However, she is totally dependent upon the oxygen that the hospital is providing her. She is spending precious time surrounded with family. Though I cannot be there right now, and am 500 miles away, I have spoken to her by phone- which is difficult as she has an electronic voice box and has to be translated at times. 

She is in my heart, my dreams and my thoughts. We await her homecoming with Jesus with heavy hearts for the loss of a life so young and as a family member. 

She will pass on from this life fulfilling another verse we were studying:

2 Samuel 22:7~ In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God. He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears. (NKJV)

Never hesitate for a moment and think that God doesn't hear your prayers. Maybe they are in a way you wouldn't expect; or maybe don't like. But please don't ever doubt for a moment that He does not hear the cries of His saints; His beloved ones. Don't be afraid or discouraged. Those words are scattered all throughout our Bibles.

• Deuteronomy 1:29-30~ He goes before us.
• Jeremiah 1:8~ He is here to deliver us
• Deuteronomy 31:6~ He will not leave nor forsake you.
• Joshua 1:9~He is with us WHEREVER we go.

(Remember: you will be safe in His arms~listen to this song:)

Praying the peace of God that passes all understanding guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus~today and always,

Jennifer Newsom

OBS Teaching/Executive Team