Prayer to know that God is with you
Written by Vivian Bricker
Bible reading:
“Then Haggai the messenger of the Lord spoke these words of the Lord to the people: ‘I am with you,’ says the Lord” (Haggai 1:13).
Listen or read below:
Events in this world can cause us to lose hope. Lately, I’ve been battling feelings of hopelessness. Home life is difficult, my friends don’t keep in touch, and I always doubt myself. All these things can rob our hearts of hope and make us feel alone.
As I was talking to God the other day, I told Him how alone I feel. No one understood my pain and I felt like my heart was breaking. I suppressed my emotions for too long and acted like it was okay. Breaks can come in the form of impatience, anger, frustration, or distancing from others.
We will all go through difficult times in this life, but in difficult times we must turn to God. People we know and see on social media may try to portray their lives as if they are perfect, but they are not. There is no need to compare your life to a false reality. Sadly, many Christians believe that in order to demonstrate obedience to God, they must present a “perfect” life to others. That’s because many in the Christian community believe that if others see them struggling, they will think they are not following God.
But God doesn’t work like that. He is not like the false belief in karma. Rather, God loves us and blesses us generously. You don’t have to do anything good. You don’t have to receive anything good in return. Likewise, our current struggles are not a reflection of disobedience to God. Everyone has good times and unpleasant times.
If you have been taught that God blesses certain people and curses others, you may suffer from a distorted view of God. Take a moment to know that whatever challenges you are facing in life today, it is not God’s fault. God is not “cursing” you or trying to teach you a lesson.
God is with you during this fight. Even if you cannot feel Him, He is always with you and He is not going anywhere. Zephaniah 3:17 teaches this truth: “The Lord your God is with you, a mighty warrior who saves. He will greatly rejoice over you, and because of his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Today we are in the book of Haggai. This is a short Bible, but it contains many important truths. Haggai was a prophet during the construction of the Second Temple. The king recognized the importance of allowing Jews to return to Judea to repair the previously destroyed temple.
As these wonderful events take place, we see God speaking through Haggai: “Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, brought this message of the Lord to the people: ‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord” (Haggai 1:13). The Lord spoke through Haggai and told the people that the Lord was with them. Similarly, God speaks this message to us through His Word. He is with us always and forever.
What makes you feel far from God today? Is it because you feel alone and hopeless, or because you are striving for an unrealistic goal of perfection? Tell God all these things today. Life’s stressors and unreasonable demands can make us feel as if God is not with us, but He is. Just as God was with the Jews when they were rebuilding the temple, so God is with us as we rebuild our lives.
We are never far from God. God loves us. Even if we are on the brink of death, God will come to save us. We no longer need to believe that we are a lost cause. God can bring restoration and salvation into our lives. All we have to do is come to God in prayer and ask for His help. God is with us in every season of life.
Let’s pray:
Dear God,
I praise you for always being with me. Help me to keep this in mind and to meditate constantly. Sometimes I feel far away from you. I know this is just a feeling and not a fact. I rely not on my own doubts, but on the truth of your love, goodness, and hope. Help me to remember that You are with me in good times and bad.
I know that you are with me as you were with your people in the past. I know that you will go before me through the highest mountains and the deepest valleys. You have been good to me and blessed me beyond measure.
God, all praise belongs to you, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat
Vivian Bricker earned a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and then a Master of Arts with an emphasis in Theology. She loves theology, ministry, and all things helping others learn about Jesus. Check out more of her content on Cultivate.
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Author Addison Bevier appears on Arlene’s Happy Home Podcast to talk about what sincere and non-good prayer actually looks like for you and your children. He shares why humility is a parenting superpower, how to guide children to “second purity,” and why the morning routine is the most spiritually important part of the day. Join us for a truly wisdom-filled conversation about prayer and Addison’s new book, A Word with God. If you like what you hear, follow Arlene Pellicane’s Happy Home Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
