If He did it before...

Beloved,

I am still so full from our Sunday gathering. Two wonderful years with Zion has been more than I had hoped and prayed for. And, according to Reverend Konnie Robinson, we have at least forty more years ahead of us. I am grateful and thankful to God for you and I truly feel appreciated by you in our season of life together at this great and growing church, Zion Memorial Missionary Baptist Church. Everything has not been easy; but, God is good and whatever we have done for Him and the cause of Christ has been worth it.

But, again, it has not been easy.

As we reflect on life, life is not always easy and the uneasiness of life that creeps into our health, wealth, and relationships should make us realize we need someone greater than ourselves to deal with what we face.

We need God. I put emphasis on need because we should not just want God. No, we need God.

When we are going through life's ups and downs, we need God.

When we are going through life's highs and lows, we need God.

When we are on the mountaintop or valley low, we need God.

And, God has never failed us.

We should remember that every time the new challenge comes upon us.

In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, the Apostle Paul gave a testimony and a reminder, "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again."

Beloved, I want to encourage you and to challenge you to think about the goodness of God throughout your life.

What has God done for you, brought you through, taken you out of, covered you, protected you, provided for you, and kept you in such a way that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was God?

Has He run out of power to do it again? NO!!!

If He did it before, He can do it again.

The real question is not "Can He?" The real question is "Will you?"

Will you remember to thank Him and give Him praise, honor and glory for what He has done?

Will you remember to call on Him when you face your next storm in life with a trust, faith, and hope that if He did it before, He will do it again?

Will you remember that every testimony begins with a test and, as surely as seasons change, your season of testing, prayerfully, can and will shift to a season of testimony when God brings you through again?

Every one of us is going through something right now. Nobody, except for the dead, are immune from life. Our deliverance and our peace come from the source of all life on this side and on the other side of glory, God.

Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep praying. Stay faithful over all He gives you to do. When you are weak, ask Him for more faith and strength. When you see a brother or sister wavering, talk to them and encourage them. Remind them of the goodness of the Lord. And, when you speak those words of encouragement, believe it or not, you will also be encouraging yourself by bringing back to your own remembrance the goodness of the Lord.

And, always remember, if He did it before, in His will, He will do it again.

Come out tonight to HOPE Wednesday as we continue to learn about how to reach out to our God in prayer. And, bring someone with you. We have room for all.

Also, remember that God loves you and I love you too.

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain