No matter what we encounter, Jesus will never withdraw His promise to be with us always.

Dear Sister,

Jesus gave us one of the greatest promises we have in the Bible for our life here on earth. Just before He returned to His Father in heaven, He told His disciples and us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus made this promise to us because He knows the uncertainties and fears we encounter. He lived on this earth for 33 years in our human form. He saw and experienced all the things we go through: joys and disappointments, celebrations and grief, successes and losses, expectations and unfulfilled dreams, friendships and betrayals, love and hate, hope and fear, freedom and oppression. Because He lived our life, we are assured that He understands us and has compassion on us.

The Scripture tells us how deeply Jesus felt our pain and the struggles we go through. He was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes who had no one to lead them. He had mercy on all those who came to Him with sicknesses and in bondage, and He healed and set them free. He even touched the leper no one else would touch, felt compassion for the grieving widow and raised her son from the dead, embraced and blessed the little children His disciples didn't regard as important, prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail and wept over Jerusalem and the judgment this city was going to face.

Jesus’ promise to be with us always does not mean that we will not face any difficulties in life. It is a false idea that believers are spared from all the troubles the rest of mankind suffers. Yes, God carefully watches over His children and protects them from the Evil One. But because we live in a fallen world, all of us will face normal human problems, hurt, sickness, old age, death and grief. And as believers, we will also encounter rejection and persecution because of our faith in Christ. However, the difference is that Jesus has promised to be right there with us when we go through these things.

I encourage you to meditate on these promises God has made to His people to walk with them through their trials:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1–3).

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me (Psalm 23:4).

This means: We are not alone when our child is sick, when we face financial struggles, when we fail a school exam, when someone we love hurts our feelings, when we need to go to the hospital for an operation, when a family member dies, when others reject us, when we disappoint ourselves and God.

His promise to be with us always is an invitation to cast our burdens on Him:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

His promise to be with us always is an invitation to put our faith in Him. Think about this: The God who spoke the universe into existence is right there with you in your problems. He understands your pain, has compassion on you and asks you to cast your burdens on Him. Not only that, He also invites you to put your faith in Him because He is able to still the storm, heal the sick, cleanse the leper, give sight to the blind, cause the lame to walk, raise the dead, free the oppressed, change hearts, save sinners, comfort the brokenhearted and make all things new. In the midst of our struggles, we have great hope and confidence, “for all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).

His promise to be with us always assures us that He leads us in a perfect way, even if we don’t understand His far greater plan and purpose and even if He answers our prayers differently than we expected. We can trust Him fully. He never makes a single mistake. David spoke of the Lord as “the God who girds me with strength, and makes my way blameless” (Psalm 18:32). I have this scripture in a German translation on my wall. It says: “God arms me with strength and leads me in a way that is without reproach.”  I often read this verse when I could not understand what was happening in my life. It gave me the assurance that God leads me in a perfect way, without mistake.

No matter what we encounter, Jesus will never withdraw His promise to be with us always. Dear sister, this truth should calm our hearts and keep us from fear as we walk through each day. Let us place our hand into the hand of Jesus and trust Him with all our heart. Nothing will happen that He does not know about and for which His love and power are not sufficient to see us through.

May the Lord bless you and encourage you with His Word.

With love and prayers,

Gisela