Read Judges 6:11–16,24
“Go in the strength you have. . . . I will be with you.” —Judges 6:14, 16
Do you ever wonder why God has allowed suffering in your life? Old Testament hero Gideon did. One day “the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!’” Gideon responded, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:12–13 NLT). Gideon wanted to know why it seemed as if God had abandoned His people. God didn’t answer that question. After Gideon had endured seven years of enemy attacks, starvation, and hiding in caves, God didn’t explain why He never intervened. God could have revealed Israel’s past sin as the reason, but instead He gave Gideon hope for the future. God said, “Go with the strength you have. . . . I will be with you” (VV. 14, 16 NLT). When Gideon finally believed that God was with him and would help him, he built an altar and called it “the Lord is peace” (V. 24). There is peace in knowing that whatever we do and wherever we go, we go with God who promised never to leave or forsake His followers.
-Jennifer
Dear Lord, when I see the peaceless world of today my heart aches for my fellow brothers and sisters, for the many questions in my mind there are no answers. But, in such circumstances, I pray that You, the Lord of Peace rule and reign in our world, in Jesus Name ~Amen
