Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

“You can’t break the promises of God by leaning on them,” I recently heard a theologian say. It’s one of those quotes that tug at you and helps you understand who to put your trust in and why. Pastor Joe used the word “betrayal” to describe the relationships Samson had in marriage and even in friendship. In all aspects of his life he struggled to live; he struggled to survive. And though he was anointed by God, he suffered greatly with sin and pursued his own understanding of what was good and what was right. However, Samson’s life teaches us the only way to thrive in a chaotic world is to make God the center of our lives. We must adhere to God’s directive because we can trust he knows our beginning and our end. There is no coincidence His word reminds us to, “Trust in the Lord, do not lean on your own understanding…” (Pr. 3:5-7).

                As the other half in a marriage, I’ve come to learn the old saying 50/50 falls short. A marriage is complete and whole and that’s exactly what we must give to each other: 100% both ways. When we enter into a marriage we need to make sure we have invited God in first. The saying “Happily Ever After” (“after” being the operative word) instead of just “Happily Ever” can teach us a lot. There’s always going to be an “after,” a lot of them for that matter! Those “after’s” will test and challenge our faith in ways we never would have imagined on our wedding day. But, there’s a hope that’s waiting for us after every storm (more accurately, in every storm) and it is the promise of God yielding to our obedience to be fulfilled.  Isaiah 61:3 resounds, “You have given me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”  The word recalls “he has made all things beautiful in its time” (Ecc. 3:1) and we can trust that that verse will carry every marriage “after” the chaos, “after” the storms, and “after” the heartache with God at the center.

                As an instrumental part of the gathering of the body of Christ, there is a “you” and an “I” that commands the presence of God when we fellowship. His word tells us “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them” (Mat. 18:20). It is a strong manifestation of the power of God when the body unifies for His glory. The meaning behind the name of Jesus as Lily of the Valley resonates the authority in unity. The enemy can’t enter in when there is unity, because he can’t divide anything God is in the center of. All sin is masked when Jesus is near. We are for each other and God is with us. Satan is powerless and that’s exactly where he will stay.

                The cure for any relationship in this world is God at the center.  Disorder and chaos can lurk, negativity and sin may tempt, but there’s a power from within that grounds us when we lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus Christ.

Sister Vanessa Rosado