In darkest valleys, God promises to be at your side

“But you promised!

Every parent hears the protest. It’s often a child’s last attempt at getting something he wants, a three-worded assault on mom or dad’s integrity.

And it’s effective torture to parents who don’t keep promises, or make promises carelessly. (For the record, I’ve been in both camps a time or two.)

“But you promised!”

The Bible calls followers of Christ the children of God: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1, NIV).

As God’s children, we sometimes offer up the same lament when things don’t go our way. We appeal to the integrity and character of our heavenly father, as if God’s goodness and mercy guarantee he will hand us whatever we wish.

Listen to your prayers sometime and see if you don’t agree. “Lord, bail me out of this messed up relationship!” “Lord, help me pay these bills!” “Lord, make the pain go away!”

Those are worthy prayers to be sure. Keep praying them. God knows what burdens our hearts and delights in lightening the load.

But we’re not thinking biblically when we believe God must do those things. In truth, he’s never promised to do any of that. He always can. Often does. It pleases him. But he has not pledged to do so. Our very lives testify to this truth.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, his disciples were likely discouraged and scared. Among his last words to them was a promise that extends to those who are his disciples today: “…lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

Notice what Jesus did not promise. He did not tell the disciples that everything would be fine. In fact, he had earlier told John the apostle that he, too, would be crucified. The other disciples also would face persecution, even death, simply for preaching salvation by faith in Christ.

No, Jesus’ promise reached far beyond human circumstances, deep into the souls of his followers: “I am with you always…”

Throughout the Scriptures, we’re reminded of the wonderful promise of God’s presence, no matter where we are or what we’re going through.

David delights in this promise in his most-quoted song: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” (Psalm 23:4).

At times, God’s children walk through the darkest valleys; there’s just no avoiding that. His promise is not to get us out of that place of darkness, but to be close beside us all the way through it.

Think of Moses. Surely he trembled at the notion of leading God’s people toward the Promised Land. Those former Hebrew slaves were a fickle, faithless bunch. Oh, and there were enemies, fierce enemies, well-entrenched in the land.

Yet God’s pledge was not that Moses would get to avoid a difficult task. Instead, God vowed something so much better: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14, NKJV).

That is the same promise we must stake our hope in today. Our Savior’s continual presence is guaranteed, no matter where he leads us. Count on it. Live in it. Let your soul rest because of it.

Isn’t it wonderful, Christian, that your God does not merely promise to come alongside you occasionally or with strings attached? No, he is with you right now – no exceptions: “… lo, I am with you…”

Doesn’t it thrill you that his promise bears no expiration date? He is ever present. “… lo, I am with you always …”

Aren’t you comforted that his promise is intensely personal? “… lo, I am with you …”

Look into the midst of your deepest need and be encouraged that Christ is not with you in some generic sense. No, he is there with you intimately.

He knows every fear, every doubt, every misstep; and in love he proclaims, “… I am with you …”