Elevation Point Church

At times, we find it challenging to discover peace during difficult moments because we tend to overlook the instances when God has previously guided us through adversity. Although circumstances may vary, the challenges we face may take different forms, and the sources of our fear and anxiety may evolve, one constant remains unaltered: the unchanging nature of the Lord that has consistently provided solutions in the past. While it's essential not to dwell excessively on the past, it's equally crucial not to lose sight of how far God has brought us. In those daunting moments when life appears overwhelming and fear grips us, we must recall the previous occasions when we experienced similar feelings—and remember that, without fail, God has always brought us through.

Staying consistent can be challenging, yet it holds great significance. Its significance lies in the fact that it keeps us firmly anchored in the position where God can perform His unique work. The difficulty arises from the fact that consistency is seldom, if ever, a simple task. It demands our patience and unwavering trust in the Lord. In the case of Peter in Luke 5:4-10, he had spent the entire night fishing without any success. Nevertheless, when Jesus appeared, He instructed Peter to persist and return to the water for another attempt. Despite his previous failures, Peter obeyed, and he witnessed the realization of Jesus' words. Peace prevails when we remain unwavering in the place to which God has summoned us, while turmoil arises when we opt for inconsistency.

In our lives, we’re surrounded by people and things vying for our attention and focus. But not everything we’re surrounded by has our peace in mind. In fact, most do not. God has provided us with peace, but we often give it away without even realizing it. As followers of Jesus it is important that we remain vigilant and don’t give our peace away.

Excuses. We all have them, we all use them. Moses was no exception. He had plenty of reasons why he could not do what God was telling him to do while at the burning bush. The truth is, every excuse Moses gave had some validity. Likewise, the excuses we give more than likely have a measure of validity to them. However, our excuses are simply that…excuses. Our excuses are never a true preventive barrier if it stands between us and what God is calling us to. Unfortunately, the reason we often hide behind our excuses is because we like them. It’s easier to make an excuse than to risk failing. It’s easier to make an excuse than to be forced out of our comfort zone. It’s easier to make an excuse than to face disappointment. In truth, it’s not always that our excuses are hindering us — it’s actually that we just like using them.

Whenever Jesus gives us an instruction and leads us in a direction, don’t we expect things to go smoothly? Of course we do! Jesus said He would never leave us, nor forsake us. However, we must not confuse safety and protection with comfort. A foundational misunderstanding that many followers of Jesus have is that Jesus will never lead us into a storm. This simply is not true. He will not allow the storm to overtake us, but He will most certainly lead us into them. Storms often build our faith and courage in Him, while also helping us move from places we’ve settled in comfort.

Many miracles are missed because we’re expecting them to happen differently than God intends. If God said He was going to bring water, we’d expect it to come from rain. Yet, in II Kings 3, we see Him send it in a different way. He told the Israelites to dig ditches and water would come. We also limit what God can do my setting our expectations too low. Once God sent the water, it filled the ditches that they dug in preparation to the depth in which they dug them. May our expectation be great, and our preparation be greater so that God can do abundantly, above, and beyond anything we ask or think.

If you've had any life experience, you've encountered pain. Even individuals we've placed our trust in, held dear, or assisted can introduce pain into our lives. At that juncture, David had the option to retreat into solitude, yet he made a deliberate decision to actively engage with the concept of community. It's important to recognize that feelings of loneliness and isolation are consistently employed as strategies by adversarial forces. These influences attempt to persuade us that we're solitary. Nonetheless, despite our uncertainty about future outcomes, of this we can be certain — we are never alone. God remains a constant, unwavering presence.

There are moments in our lives where everything seems to be dead. All of our surroundings, dreams, hopes, and desires appear finished. In the beginning, there is always such promise and excitement. But over time, the hype diminishes, life happens, and it can feel as if it’s over. However, no matter how done it may seem, God is not done. If He spoke something, He will complete it.

It’s generally not our desire to purposely enter a valley, especially when we’re safe and secure on either side of one. In I Samuel 17, the Israelites wanted to defeat the Philistines and advance, but they were frozen in fear on the opposite side of the valley. It wasn’t until David showed up and was willing to go into the valley, that victory was won. See, even though the valley is rarely, if ever, a desirable location; it’s important. Because it’s usually in the valley and through the valley, that God fulfills His perfect plan.

Life's journey can resemble a rollercoaster, filled with its ups and downs, peaks, and valleys. During those challenging moments in the valleys, it becomes arduous to grasp the notion that they are only temporary and won't linger indefinitely. The prospect of things turning around might seem idealistic and unattainable. Nevertheless, even in the depths of these lows, hope persists, for the power of God's restoration remains constant.