When We Fail, Trouble is Surely Coming

                                                     When The Door Slams

The LORD your God is with you, The Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."                                                                           Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

        When we fail, and we surely will fail, we may go through a season of the Lord's discipline or rebuke. Perhaps we dread such seasons. Perhaps we even fear being cut off or losing the Lord's favor forever. Could we ever sin so grievously or repeatedly that God would ever turn us away?

        It is understandable as these fears may be, a season of discipline is always intended to lead us to restoration with God. In fact, if God just let us go our own way or spared us the consequences of our disobedience, we could argue that God is not all that concerned about us. What parent would not reach out in discipline to a beloved child with any goal for restoration? God's rebuke is the ultimate sing that He is truly for us, and He is primarily concerned with our comfort. 

        And even if we pass through a season of discipline or distance from God, it is never intended to last forever, God want's to rejoice over us with singing and joy. We are His beloved people, the source of His joy and the focus of His song. However, anything that we trust more than God will not last, especially in a time of trouble that shakes our foundations.

        Think about this: If there exists even one person--alive or dead--against whom you hold bitter feelings, it's time to forgive. Or, if you are embittered against yourself for some past mistake or shortcoming, it's finally time to forgive yourself and move on. Hateful, bitterness, and regret are not part of God's plan for your life. Forgiveness is.        

        Placing our trust completely in God does not guarantee smooth sailing. In fact, the need for God to act as a fortress suggests  that we should expect conflict. Trouble is surely coming, and the question is whether we are truly waiting to pass through a season of failure and discipline only to discover that God will remains with us and never let us go.               

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                    Never Rest Ministries