Never

“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” – Joshua 21:45 I heard someone share a quote from an unknown source. It simply stated, "You worry too much for someone that God has never failed." Think on that. Has He ever failed you or me? I grant you that He may not have answered your prayers as you wished. He may not have done as you asked, even pleaded, but failed you? Tragedy in this fallen world will at some point come upon all of us. He has not promised to keep us from it. Loved ones die, leave us, betray us. Businesses fail. Ministries fail. Defeats do happen. From a human standpoint, Jesus' life and ministry looks like a failure. So do the lives of the disciples. All died for their faith in Christ, except for John, who lived out his last years on an island prison. Did God the Father fail them? In my own life, I suffered a divorce I did not want or seek. I had to leave my ministry even though I didn't want to, and in my ministry I suffered many painful losses and betrayals. Did God fail me? On the surface you may say yes, but I tell you that He didn't. He didn't fail me because the pain, the suffering, the loss, were never the final result. In all of them, He had the final word, and His final word in all of them was "Victory." That mighty Scripture that we quote so often but forget even more, "For God works all things together for the good of those that love Him," has shown itself true and trustworthy in the midst of all. Yes, the pain was real. The suffering and loss were real. He was more real. His goodness and faithfulness was and is more real. What the enemy meant for my harm He always turned to good. Every weapon formed against me failed to succeed, just as He promised. There's an old hymn with the lyric, "He never has failed me yet." It's true. I know that in Him, I am more than a conqueror. Anxiety, fear, worry, these things will always be used by the devil to seek to bring us down. When he throws these fiery darts at us we need to take them right to His throne of grace. All their power is rendered impotent in His Presence. The darkness we walk through is passing. His faithfulness will light the way through. He will bring you out. That's His promise, and His promises never fail. Blessings, Pastor O