April 9, 2019
Jesus Is on Your Side
Lauren Gaskill
Today’s Truth
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail (Luke 22:31-32, NIV).
Friend to Friend
If I made a list of all the things that I want to thank Jesus for, this wonderful display of grace would be at the top. I mean seriously, here Jesus is, about to be abandoned, arrested, persecuted and executed, and what does He do? He prays for Simon Peter’s faith and assures Him that even though the waters are about to get stirred up, he’ll pass through them. The waves will not overwhelm him or obliterate his faith, even if he might feel like he’s going under.
You want to know what just wrecks me? Knowing that Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of God and is interceding for us, has prayed specifically for me, that my faith may not fail. Consider the fact He’s doing the very same thing for you, right here and now in this moment. Amazing, right?
Jesus is on your side. He is with and for you, leading you to move forward through every trial and tribulation. I know there are times where it might not feel like it, but it’s the truth. Even when we feel worn out, tired, hopeless, afraid, abandoned and forgotten, Christ is standing right beside us. We are not alone in this journey and Jesus isn’t going to let our faith fail. As John Piper so eloquently put it in a recent sermon, “God guards his children by preserving and sustaining their faith Himself.”
Our faith may falter and change from season to season, but we can rest in knowing that God is the One guarding and strengthening us. Because He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Hallelujah, Amen. Thank you, Jesus. We don’t have to go it alone.
And so, when the doctor whispers the diagnosis you never wanted to hear. When a close friend or family member says they’ve stopped loving you. When a peaceful vacation turns into a nightmare full of disappointments. When your employer gives the promotion that they promised you to someone else. When you feel like you’ll never be the man or woman you used to be. Remember, you are not alone, and your faith is not going to fail, because Jesus is praying for you. Oh, and I am too.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, this life can be so hard, full of so many disappointments and heartbreaks. Help me find my faith in You and You alone. Increase my faith and help my unbelief, Father. Thank You for never giving up on me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Think of a time when your faith should have crumbled, but somehow you came out of the battle stronger than ever before. What did God show and teach you through this time?
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Lauren Gaskill is the author of Into the Deep: Diving into a Life of Courageous Faith, a national speaker and the president of She Found Joy. Diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), Lauren is passionate about encouraging others to fight for faith and keep hope alive — no matter what. You can order a copy of Lauren’s book on her website.
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