Abhi Emmanuel

  “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4 (NIV) Temptation is all around us. It will knock at your door, it will bang on your window, it will try to sneak its way into your heart. But when you feel lost or that your faith is wavering, when you feel like your guard is slowly breaking down—pray, trust. Know that God is stronger than any temptation, and if you trust Him, he will rescue you.

 Everything in Genesis 1 and 2 is said to be good, until you get to 2:18. Here we read, "It is not good that the man should be alone." God declares a man without a companion to be "not good." There is more to this truth than Adam simply needing a wife. Even more vital than Adam's physical, emotional, and psychological needs is Adam's mandate to bear God's image. What was not good about man being alone was his inability to fully carry out God's commands to rule over and subdue the earth. God supplied this need for Adam by creating for him a "suitable helper," with whom He could do the work God assigned to mankind, multiplying into a family and then a community of image-bearing servants. God made people for relationship: relationship with Himself and with the rest of creation. Yet as you are painfully aware, you and I do not live in a community that perfectly reflects and brings glory to God. Our society, our families, our marriages, and even...

Your faith is more powerful than your fear. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NIV) This world will give you so many unknowns—whether that’s career-wise, love/relationship-wise, health-wise, status-wise, or even where you call home. There are moments you can’t plan for, whether that has to do with your loved ones, your decisions, or how moments play out around you. In those moments you can fold, you can be anxious, you can live with regret or fear,  or you can trust God. Let your faith in the Father be bigger than any fear. Even when times are tough, even when you’re unsure where to go, even when you’re filled with doubt, know that God has a plan. Know that God isn’t just going to leave you in the dust. This world might not always make sense, and your prayers might not be answered in the way you hope, but that doesn’t mean He’s ignoring you. Perhaps an  u...

  God sees the good you are doing. “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” — Hebrews 6:10 (NIV) It can be so easy to fall into the trap of feeling not good enough. Whether it be a kindness gone unnoticed, a tired ache after a long day, feeling like you’re never measuring up, or that God doesn’t care—it happens to all of us. But often this is because we’re too focused on ourselves to see that God is blessing us in so many ways, and often in different ways than we expect. We should do always do good; not because we want it returned to us, but out of the kindness of our hearts. We should allow God’s love to fill us and shine through us. We shouldn’t be hoping for a reward. But we should also know that God  does  see the positive things we are doing; a good deed, in His eyes, doesn’t go unnoticed. He loves us and hasn’t forgotten us.

  You serve an Almighty God. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” — Isaiah 40:28 (NIV) Our God is so big. He is bigger than any pain we may experience, any evil we may face, any hardship that tries to break us into little pieces. He is bigger than our fear or failure. He is bigger than any doubt. When you feel like your world is spinning out of control, when you’re unsure whether you have the strength to continue, remember that God has you in the palm of His hand. Wherever you go or whatever you do, He is with you. And that will never change.

  You have not been abandoned. “Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.” — Romans 12:10 (ESV) Not only is God always with you, but you are surrounded by a community of believers. There are so many people who care for you, who have good intentions with your heart, who long to protect and love and support you when you’re low. Reach out to these people. Be open to their help. Solicit advice and kindness when you need it. Build friendships. Open your heart. You were never meant to face this world alone. Talk to the people you sit by at church. Extend a helping hand to someone who’s struggling. Pray for a stranger, for a friend, for someone you’ve never met. Know that God intended His community to be here on earth and build those connections all around you. You are never alone.