With You

December 5th

Every day during Advent 2020, we are sharing a short encouragement based around a promise in the Bible that God makes to His people. By faith, we can take hold of them to reflect on and present back to God in prayer; lifting our eyes to the hope of this season and drawing us close to the One who draws near to us.

1 Samuel 17:37 — David said “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

The same God who stood with David on the battlefield stands with us now. The same God who inspired courage where a whole army had cowered in fear, grants us courage to face our fears today and face the darkness of the world around. Whatever you are facing today, you can trust that “the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6), and that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

David learnt to trust God in the hidden moments; out alone on the hillside, guarding his flock of sheep and defending them against attacks from lions and bears, and, more often than not, God works in the same way with us. Like David, as well as Moses in the wilderness, Daniel in Babylon, Jesus in the carpenter’s workshop and many other key Biblical figures, the seemingly ordinary and boring places are a vital context for forming and shaping and growing us into who we are called to be. We are not to “despise the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10), because God is working in our unseen moments to build the character, integrity and faith that we will need to face our own Goliaths.

Perhaps for you, this has felt like a year of small things, a year of unseen moments, a year of battling to just stay afloat, let alone take on giants and armies. This advent season, take courage! God has been working in you for far longer than you know, and He will be accomplishing more in and through you than you could ever hope for. In the darkness, we keep holding out a light; waiting in expectation and anticipation for the glorious announcement of the arrival of one who has come to win the ultimate battle.

Whatever today brings, whether you are facing lions and bears alone or fighting giants before an army, whether you are struggling along in the small, hidden place or battling the big, Saul’s prayer will certainly be fulfilled as a promise you can bank on and trust in today; God is with you.