GOD IS FAITHFUL
Junior Level
Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God , my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
This week is a bit different than the other lessons. This week is about glorifying God and about encouraging all of you who are struggling. If you are not struggling now, someday when trials come, you can hopefully look back on this and know that your Father will bring you through. I think back about how God has moved in my life from the time I was born. His love is a shield in my life and has always been, especially in the hardest of times. For this lesson, God has placed upon my heart to share my testimony for His glory and to help those who may be suffering today. It is my prayer to show you the lessons God taught me in the darkest time of my life. Know that God is our deliverer, and GOD IS FAITHFUL.
Handout: God Is Faithful
Psalm 33:20 “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield.”
Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”
That verse explains my writing for this week. With my testimony here, I will praise Him for all He has done in my life, and I pray that you will apply these lessons in your own lives and know that what God has done for me, He will do for you and for all of His children that trust in Him!
I look back and see that God has been working in my life from the time I was born to now. However, looking back to about 5 years ago and that is when I began to see the mighty way God was working in my life. I had been calling out to the Lord about things that had happened when I was growing up which had deeply effected me and caused a lot of pain. Let me add this, don't think just because you are Christian and bringing your children up in Church that Satan won't try to get them...HE WILL, and if you don’t get them grounded in God’s word, oh are they going to be in trouble. My parents always took my brother and I to church, my dad is a great teacher, preacher and man of God. Not only were my brother and I taken to church but from the time were toddlers, in addition to church going many times a week, my dad would sit us down every evening and we would have Bible Study. He would teach us God’s word. He was very consistent and I know now, that teaching is what kept me grounded in the difficult years to come.
Past events had my mind bound and inside I was so sad. I won’t get into the details of those events today but they were painful and hurtful events cause by others and it had a negative effect on me that would last for many years. Starting from the time I was about 14 years old, I was in a pit of darkness and no one even knew. I smiled always on the outside. I didn’t even realize that Satan was trying to hinder me. I just knew that I was sad inside and that I wasn’t supposed to be sad because I was saved. I tried to be as good as I could and make everyone happy thinking if I could be perfect, then I would be loved by God and others. I didn't realize that I was trying to be "good enough." I was trying to help myself, thinking that I was too much of a bother to worry God with my problems. I thought if I were a good and perfect girl, then everything would be ok. The more I made mistakes and realized my imperfection, the deeper in the pit I would sink.
I had been taught differently. I had been taught all my life to lean on the Lord, and that we are not perfect and that God forgives and loves us, but I didn’t like myself very much so I didn’t understand how God could love me. Satan lied to me at a very young age and I believe him that God in His mercy only tolerated me.
I was saved as a young girl at the age of 9. Still that did not stop Satan from coming after me. A series of things happened when I was a young teenager that impacted me so much that I went into a deep depression. I still tried to live for the Lord even though I made a lot of mistakes in my humanity. I knew from the teaching of God’s word my dad had given, that Jesus was the only hope in this life. It's amazing how God works. After about ten years of depression, Satan was in my mind so strongly I didn’t know what to do. He had made me start to believe that I would be better off dead. I remember sitting in my truck after driving home from work one afternoon, and I was so distressed about this pit I was in, I couldn't even pray in words. I had been in this overwhelming sadness for so many years I was tired. I couldn’t fight on my own any longer. I thought I had been trusting the Lord all along, and with my worsening condition, I was so heartbroken. All I could do in my weeping was to call out the name of Jesus for help. I couldn’t utter any other words except the name of Jesus. JESUS! JESUS! JESUS I cried out with all my heart. Praise Him, He heard me! Oh yes He did, and not only did He hear, but He acted. Praise His Holy name! Call out to Him in your condition today, He will hear and He will act!
A. God hears the earnest cries of the broken hearted who humble themselves before Him.
Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.”
Psalm 18:9-10 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under His feet. 10. And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: Yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.”
I will go back in time a few years before my time of calling out Jesus’ name in my vehicle to tell you when God began to deliver me. In 2005, I was 27 years old. I was so sad inside and I was looking for something to do in order to help me forget my misery. We all need something to do I think, idle time is detrimental to us. To much idle time gives Satan space and opportunity to trap us into temptation or sin. However in my case I was looking for something to do because I was trying to run from pain inside that I needed to deal with but I was afraid and I didn’t know how to cope with it. I had been looking for job after job and nothing was happening. Then one day after many months of searching and praying, while not expecting it, a lady called me and asked me if I was interested in training for the company she worked at. She said it was strange that they still had my application because it was over a year old and normally they toss them out after a few months. I had applied there seeking an office assistant position but the position had been filled. I had been pretty disappointed about not getting the job, but God had bigger plans. When a door closes, for those that seek God, He opens windows. He always has a bigger and better plan. God has a plan for each of our lives.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
So this lady, she asked me if I was interested in training to be a support tech for individuals who were mentally challenged with special needs. I wasn’t sure I would be good at that sort of job but in my heart the Holy Spirit was leading me to accept her offer and so I did. Throughout the month of training, God was with me as always and He placed a passion for this work inside my heart. It was in this job that God would begin to teach me life lessons I will never forget. He would change me forever for His glory.
Working, I felt like I had purpose in my life in helping these individuals live a more independent life. I was helping them develop skills they would need for everyday living. It was wonderful. I had been scared to try this job but soon learned that it was the most rewarding work I had ever done before. Never be afraid to follow the Holy Spirit. No matter how you feel. I’ve learned that most times, when God is moving and teaching us, He will lead us in a direction that is uncomfortable to this flesh and He moves us out of our comfort zones so that we can grow. He will NEVER lead you wrong. NEVER! We walk by faith and not by sight or feelings. First follow God, that good feeling will come in God’s good time, and then He lets us see how He is moving.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
God begin to teach me this lesson at this point in my life and I would really grasp it in just a few years to follow. So I began to work with an individual, who was very high functioning physically and mentally, but Satan had caused so much abuse in the life of this individual from the time of childhood and the result of it was heartbreaking, and it had caused much destruction.
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
Working with this individual I began to seek God about how to help. I got deeper in God’s word. That’s when I really began earnestly praying for wisdom from the Lord. God began to move in a mighty way. He began teaching me everyday as I worked and did my best to do His will. Several times God promoted me in this work in a very short time which was unusual. Satan began to throw obstacles in my way and I would talk to God about them and God would move them. It got so that even in thinking things that would be nice, God would bring them to pass. Things that seemed impossible, God was making them happen and I was amazed. It is a divine thing to be in the favor of God. He did this not because I’m good, but because He is good. God was showing His exceeding great love for me. He was also increasing my faith because He knew that the darkest valley of my life lie just ahead of me.
Now back to the evening I was sitting in my vehicle calling out to Jesus out loud and weeping with a broken heart for deliverance. I had been seeing God work, and Satan began to put even more pressure in my mind. He tried so hard to get me to commit suicide. He was torturing me in my thoughts. I knew that God was moving in an amazing way and I felt like I was making a difference in the world but inside I was still in that pit from my childhood. I couldn’t bear it alone. I knew that my only hope was the Lord. Weeping I fell at my Father’s feet and I cried out to Him for help. I felt like that was all I could do and so after calling out to Jesus, I picked myself up and I went on. I didn’t feel a difference then, but this relationship isn’t about feeling. It’s about faith. Have you called out to God about a situation in your life but you feel as if nothing is happening? Rest assured child of God, He has heard your prayer and he is working on your behalf. Believe it, and trust Him.
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight:”
Almost a year went by and still I tried my best to seek the Lord, but still the depression was there. God was teaching me to wait upon him. Also, He had to get me in a position to where I could receive the things He was going to give to me. I still didn’t understand that I could not help myself and that I had to fully surrender it all to The Father. God does not follow a time clock as we do. Our timing has no effect on the Lord. He works in His own good time, because He knows what is best. He see’s the big picture the one we can’t see.
I started feeling a little happier and then suddenly one day for no logical reason at all I was struck with horrible pain in my lower back on the right side. I had been fine one minute and the next minute I couldn’t stand up straight. The pain was excruciating. Finally, after getting home the pain had increased even more and I nearly had to crawl to get to my bed. I lay myself down and still the pain increased. I didn’t understand what had happened. After two weeks I was finally able to get up and walk but the pain was constant. I forced myself to go back to work. I struggled for almost a year working regardless of the horrible pain but it kept progressing until finally it forced me to step down from a promotion that I had worked so hard for. It was heartbreaking.
I tried to hang on but eventually the pain was too much and I had to stop working altogether.
I felt like I had lost my purpose in life. I wondered why I was even on the planet. Not only did I lose the job that I loved, I had to leave precious individuals behind that I grew to love. I had lost my purpose and With this I lost material things that I could no longer afford to pay for. Then as if that wasn’t enough, I also lost my ability to walk or do anything for myself. God blessed me with a wonderful Christian husband who has taken care of me. I am thankful for him. Not only did he take care of me, but he would encourage me and lay hands on me anointing me with oil and pray for God’s healing in my life. God is so good.
James 5:14-15 “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Doctors could do nothing. In my spirit I went down, down, down further into the pit. I lay in my bed day and night, my body racked with pain and I felt hopeless. Satan had thoughts of suicide in my mind continuously. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t know how I could live with this pain inside and out. I was familiar with the devastation that suicide causes. As a young girl of 14, my best friend who was that same age, had taken her own life one evening. I knew the pain her decision caused for her family and me as well as all those that knew her. I didn’t want to do that to my family, and so I kept calling out to God. I told the Lord that I didn’t want to think these horrible thoughts. I didn’t want to die but I felt like there was no way out. I asked Him to help me. I knew from the teaching of my dad those many years ago that God could help me. Thank you Daddy for raising me up in the ways of the Lord, and I thank my parents for the prayers they sent to God on my behalf.
God then encouraged me to begin reading the book of Job again. In reading I began to understand that it was not a sin to be depressed, but it was a sin to stay there when I have a Father who is all powerful. I read how Job in his misery cursed the day he was born. I read how his friends accused him and even his own wife didn’t understand. Still Job kept his faith in the Lord and God delivered him. Not only did God deliver Job, but He also restored to him everything Satan took away. I knew that God could do the same for me. God in His mercy was holding me in His hands, even in the times I didn’t realize it and my friend He is holding you too. Are you in a dark cave? Does it feel as if you have been there for years and you can’t dig your way out? Dear One, God can lift you out of that deep, dark pit that Satan has made for you. Cry out to Him with all your heart. He will hear you wherever you are and He will help you.
Psalm 40:2 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
In all of this, Satan tried to accuse God in my mind. He would whisper, if God loved you, He would take away your pain, but by the help of my Lord and Savior I remembered that Satan is a liar and the father of all lies. I made these words in Job my mainstay. When Satan would try to come in my mind I would tell him God’s word.
Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him:”
One of our greatest weapons in battle with evil forces is the Word of God. In the book of Matthew chapter 4 we find that when Jesus had fasted in the wilderness for forty days and nights, Satan tried to tempt Him. What did Jesus do? He would fight back with scripture. It is written Satan. When the devil tries to get into your mind, fight back with the scriptures, and he will try to get into your mind. If he tempted the darling Son of God, trust me, he will certainly try to tempt us every chance he gets. Fight back with the Word of God. Tell him IT IS WRITTEN! You and I do not have to sit and let him take over our minds.
James 5:6 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
You have every right to kick Satan out of your thoughts. He has no business there. We on our own are no match for his evil, but through Christ we are more than conquerors!
Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
When I finally learned that I had control over my own thoughts then I began to get out of the pit I was in. God began to reveal things to me and teach me of His great love for me. Now I always knew God loved all people. However, I didn’t realize that meant me too. One day while still in pain and meditating upon the Lord, He began to show me some things. Things I had never seen before. Suddenly as if someone turned on a light, I felt God’s love so strong. In an instant I knew with no doubts that God didn’t just tolerate me, He loves me and with a love like I could not comprehend. Tears began to flow. I think I must have cried a river that day as His love surrounded me and flowed through me. I was overwhelmed in the most beautiful way as God’s Spirit loved on me so sweetly. With those tears I released years of sadness and grief over things I could not control. God was pulling me out of that pit and getting all of those toxic emotions and thoughts out of me as I cried. I felt it. I was having my first breakthrough Hallelujah and it was heavenly. I had first believed Him by faith, and now He was letting me feel his deliverance. I was secure in God’s love for me and I was no longer afraid inside. Let come what may, my Father loves me and He will always love me unconditionally. I didn’t have to fear my humanity and imperfections any longer because God loves me despite them all. Praise You LORD, You alone are worthy of all Praise!!!
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:”
God will always be good, therefore He will always love you and I. God is love. Love is not something God does. Love is what God is. God is love. (1 John 4:7)
Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,”
Satan will attack God’s love for us every chance he gets because God’s love is our foundation. There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you any less. He loves you to the utmost right now, and it will never change. Be secure dear one. God loves you and He will never stop loving you no matter what condition you are in.
Now my physical pain continued, but eventually after those months in my bed alone with God, I was free inside. For the first time in my life I had peace. God had used my physical pain to heal the emotional pain I had inside. Praise the Lord. Romans 8:28 had come alive in my life and it continues. What was meant for my harm, God used for my good. To God be all the glory forever! I love You my LORD!
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
After some time had passed, God began to assure me that one day I would rise above all the pain and He would restore me. By faith I would say it out loud. It had not happened yet, but I knew that it would, because my Father can do all things. What He says, He will do. I would go to the doctors and they would tell me that there was nothing they could do about my condition, they tried several things but nothing helped. They finally concluded that I would just have to live with the pain. I could see that it saddened them to have to tell me that. I had family and friends praying on my behalf. I am thankful for Godly Doctors, but they are only human. I know the Great Physician. The Great Healer, Jehovah! He is my Father and He would move heaven and earth to rescue me, and He will for you too.
Psalm 103:2-3 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”
As I waited upon the Lord, still He was working visibly in my life. Then one day through a dear friend of mine, I met a wonderful child of God, Mr. Bruce Cook who invited me to write for World Sunday School. I knew that I could not write on my own and I prayed to God about this. I asked God to help me to do what He wanted me to do. I was willing to be God’s pen because I cannot do anything on my own. The Holy Spirit would have to teach through me. I began to write and as wrote the lessons that God placed upon my heart, I began to learn and grow as well. I realized that God was bringing me into the plan He has for my life. He as bringing me into my destiny in Christ and everyday I am humbled and thankful that He has given me this amazing opportunity.
During all this time I would pray for God to heal me. I knew He was going to but I wasn’t sure when. One day while praying for healing, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that it would happen when I was 30 years old. So I waited upon the Lord by the help of God. Many days in the sky I would see a large bird soaring over. It looked so peaceful flying high above the land. Every time I saw the bird flying, God’s Holy Spirit would whisper, one day you will fly above all of this. What encouragement. How lovely God is. He reassures us of His words and He romances our souls. He is the love of my life, the true lover of my soul.
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.”
The time came after years of suffering in physical pain, God’s word to me came to pass. One night while praying, I asked God again for healing. It was the year 2008, approximately 7 months after my 30th birthday. While asking God for healing, the Lord spoke to me clearly, He said you have asked me to heal you, now by faith receive it. In pain I stood to my feet and I raised my hands to the Lord and out loud I said, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I receive Your healing for my body. I thanked God and I lay down on my bed again. I felt in my heart to do this two more times in the next hour or so. The next morning when I woke up, my pain was gone. My body was still weak from the years of immobility but that horrible pain that had been with me every hour of everyday was gone! God had healed me just like He said He would. Praise His name.
When God says it, it will happen. God’s word is truth and nothing can change it.
If God gives a promise, we can bank on it. It will come to pass be it now or a thousand years from now, God will honor is word. It will come to pass.
Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”
It’s been about seven months now since God took my pain away. He has helped me to regain strength and I am getting stronger everyday. He has delivered me in so many ways and He continues everyday. I don’t know what lies ahead in my future, but I do know that God holds me and the future in the palm of His Almighty, capable hands and whatever happens, He will take care of me. There is such peace and comfort in knowing that. I am excited everyday at the restoration God is bringing into my life everyday.
God can open doors for you that you never dreamed could be opened. When you walk in His ways and in His favor nothing can stop you from your destiny. Dear soul, you may be in a pit today. Any kind of pit, be it of your own making or a pit someone else has dug for you. If you are in a pit, whether you were pushed in, slid in or just plain jumped in, Jesus can bring you out. Know that you are not alone and we all have feelings of despair at some time or another. Don’t let Satan continue to tell you that there is no hope, or that you don’t matter to God. I am here to tell you that God loves you more than you could ever even imagine. He eagerly waits for you to call out to Him, trusting him and depending on Him. He delights in delivering you. Even if you don’t feel worthy, even if you don’t feel like it’s worth the effort. Do it anyway. You are worth it to God. The Creator created you for a great reason. You are no accident. You matter and Satan would not be fighting against you so hard if you didn’t matter. Call out to God, trust Him and believe in Him, He will not let you down. Even if you don’t have the words, just ask Him for help. Help me LORD! And mean it. God will hear and He will ride on the wings of the wind to your rescue! Like Job, like many you may curse the day you were born now, but you don’t have to stay in that condition. The sun will shine again. Know that God is using hard times to help you grow and learn in faith. These tears won’t last forever. Help is on the way!
Psalm 30:5 “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
Lamentations 3:21-24 “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”
Take it from someone who has been there. You and I cannot do anything on our own, but Christ is ready to do it through us. You will survive. Trust God and let him do an amazing work in your life. Let him show up and show out. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved, He turns no one away. You will be amazed at the new heights He will take you to!
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
1 John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.”
Psalm 18:9-10 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under His feet. 10. And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: Yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.”
Just a note: All the material things I lost, God replaced them with better than the previous ones I had. To Him be all the Glory forever...He is worthy to be praised! He has and continues to restore to me all the things Satan took away and He adds more. What an amazing Father we have. He did it for Job, He did it for me, He has done it for countless others and He will do the same for you.
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not;”
Dear Righteous, Loving, Merciful Father,
I praise and thank You for who You are. I praise You and give You glory at what You have done in my life. Father I thank You for delivering me out of that horrible pit and for setting my feet on solid rock. I thank You for Your divine healing and Your divine favor. Father I ask today that You reach down to all those who may be suffering in a pit of darkness caused by Satan. I ask You to revive their Spirits and remind them of who You are and that You can do all things no matter how impossible it seems. Remind them that when all hope seems gone, You are Hope. Father help the ones today to call out to You in faith and deliver them Lord for Your glory and Your honor. Lord I ask that if there are any who are lost and don’t know You or Your son Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit to convict their hearts so that they will believe and come to know You through Christ. Give that peace that surpasses all understanding and help us to continue in Your ministry. Help us to spread the good news of the gospel to all the world. Father I thank You for all the people You have placed in my life to encourage and help me along in the plans you have for me. I ask that You help us to continue to serve You and to reach others for Your honor and Your glory. I ask that You prosper this ministry Lord and keep us in Your divine favor so that we can further Your kingdom by the help and mercy of Your Son. We ask all these things and we praise You and thank You for hearing and answering our cries to You. In the Lovely name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank You Lord. I praise You Forever!
God Bless You
~*Cindygirl*~February 5, 2023