Expect God: What To Do When Your Problem is Hiding Your Promise

by Rachel Shafer

I have learned that God’s goodness is not based around my present circumstance. The seasons of life include both good and bad times. Life is full of contrasts. We go through mountains and we go through valleys. We go through successes and we go through failures. We have wins and we have losses. Nothing, absolutely nothing can change the fact that God is good. God met me in my darkest pain and taught me to hope. God can take even the bad things and, in the proper season, turn them around and use them for good in the way He intends. I have been through times of suffering and certainly didn’t see much beauty in them, but after a few years God’s purposes were fulfilled and the true beauty of the experience was revealed.

In other words, verse 22 says, “Grab hold of the assurance and conviction of your faith in God.” Then verse 23:

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 1. Say (Greek: epo)—to speak, say, call, or command (Strong’s #G2036). 2. Mountain (Greek: oros)—things reared up, thing that has arisen, or a thing that has lifted itself over you (Strong’s #G3735). 3. Remove (Greek: airo)—to be lifted up, suspended, or to be put away (Strong’s #G142). 4. Cast into (Greek: ball)—to be thrown violently, cast out, or thrust down in (Strong’s #G906). 5. Not doubt (Greek: diakrino)—judge, discern, pick apart, hesitate, doubt, stagger, or waver (Strong’s #G1252). 6. Believe (Greek: pisteuo)—trust, reliance, assurance, confidence, or conviction (Strong’s #G4100). In other words, verse 23 says, “Command the thing that has arisen, the thing that has lifted itself over you, to be put away, thrown violently into the sea. And do not hesitate, doubt, stagger, or waver, but have trust, reliance, assurance, and conviction that those things He says will be done.”

Singing and praising is not some kind of magic potion that makes our troubles disappear. Praise and worship helps to shift our perspective. Adoring Jesus, thanking Him, and speaking the truth of His character brings the peace that passes all understanding. My cry could have continued to be a cry of lament, but I chose to make it a cry of praise.

“Replace what you don’t know about the future with what you do know about God.”

Then he said, “Mom, what would I have done in the hospital if I didn’t have a song? Did Jesus sing it every time you did?” It immediately brought such emotion and tears to my eyes. That simple question: What would I have done if I didn’t have a song? The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV). The word picture in Zephaniah 3:17 is full of emotion.