I started my morning reading in the book of Nehemiah. It’s a little book in the Old Testament and deals with the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem by those Jews who had been released from exile in Babylonia.
What could we possible learn from them? Right? We learn of Almighty God’s unfailing faithfulness!
“But when they were at peace, they would turn against you, and you would hand them over to their enemies. Then they would beg for help, and because you are merciful, you rescued them over and over again.” Nehemiah 9:28 CEV
In that chapter, Nehemiah repeats about 4 times how God was faithful to rescue the Israelites over and over again, Because He was Merciful!
Have you ever felt abandon? Becoming desperate in your search and almost hopeless. Then in your desperation you cry out for help.
You hear someone speak but you don’t really hear his voice until he calls you by name. “Kristi” and no one says my name like Jesus! There He is, coming to my aid. because He is merciful.
The is the story of Mary in John 20. She ran to the tomb in the Garden on the first day of the week so she could properly prepare His body. The tomb was empty, so she went back to tell the disciples that Jesus’ body was gone. They all came running and when they found the tomb empty they all left but Mary.
She stayed looking for Jesus, instead she found the angels who wanted to know why she was so upset. She told them she was looking for her Lord and wanted to know who had taken him away.
Then she saw someone she thought was the gardener and asked him if He had taken Jesus body. She didn’t recognize him as Jesus until He spoke her name – as he said her name “Mary” – she knew Him immediately.
“Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’ She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’ 16 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.’ The Aramaic word Rabboni means “Teacher.” John 20:15-16 ERV
Two different scenarios. One, a people who rebelled against God time and again. Doing their own thing, making their own gods and serving their own desires and pleasures. The other had her Lord, whom she loved, murdered and now His body had been “stolen”.
In desperation both called out for help. The Israelites found deliverance and forgiveness and Mary found her Lord and consolation. There is no circumstance or situation that God will ignore and abandon us. He is always faithful.
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
In your desperate search, take time to listen for His voice. He is there and He will always be there. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you and He never will.