I grew up in church. And, I don’t mean like everyone else who “grew up in church.” What I mean is that any time the doors were open, we were in church. I knew all the Bible stories and never missed a Sunday School class. I was in every Christmas, Easter, and VBS program that our church held. I was a Missionette for Jesus. And, yes, I understand how cheesy that sounds to anyone who did not grow up in an Assembly of God church. Don’t judge me. 

I guess you might call me #oversaved. 

Now, I feel like I should explain myself for a second. I’m not telling you all of this except to give you a tiny bit of backstory for the point that I feel compelled to share with you today.

Although I grew up in church, growing up in church did nothing for me until I decided to grow up in Christ. 

Church was never enough for me; however, Jesus was, and always will be. All the Sunday School lessons and Missionette badges couldn’t reach me until I reached out for Jesus. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think programs are great. I believe in raising kids and teenagers in church. And, I’m going to take this opportunity to take it a step further and say that, I believe kids and teenagers should be in church even if it means they miss out on a sports program. Church is important. Ok, tiny rant over. Don’t hate me, it’s only my second blog.

What I’m trying to say here, is that I had to make a decision for myself to believe in the words that I had been taught my whole life. I needed to let the principles found in the Word of God, work in my life. Until the Word of God became the foundation for my life, church would only ever be a box that I checked. 

It wasn’t until I surrendered my life to God, that I began fully to understand everything that I had been taught years earlier as a young child. My life was changed in an instant. I found hope in the Word of God. I finally got it, and it changed everything for me. 

The Word of God is life-changing. It is life-giving! When applied, the Word of God produces good fruit in a person’s life. 

Look what John says about the Word of God:

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”

John 1:1, 4 NLT

The Word of God existed when the world was dark and devoid of life. The Word of God existed long before we did. It existed long before our problems, and, it gave life to everything that was created.

Wow! 

The Word of God is literally life-giving. God’s Word has the power to produce life in the middle of any problem that we face, any problem that we create, and any problem others put on us. God can redeem every situation and give life to everything you face.

Joseph understood this after being thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery… twice, then arrested and tossed in prison for a crime that he did not commit. When he was finally restored to a position of honor and then reunited with his brothers, he responded to them with hope and encouragement that we can hang on to. 

Watch how he responds:

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 

Genesis 50:20 NLT

Joseph could have been angry about all that was thrown on him. He could have sat in that anger for years. But instead, he held on to hope. He continued to seek God in spite of the problems that he faced. He continued to trust that God saw something that he couldn’t. He held on to hope. He could have chosen to repay his brothers with evil when they were reunited. Instead, he allowed God to give LIFE to his situation. 

Do you know what happens when you allow God to give life to your situation instead of letting your situation drain your life? 

Your problems have to submit to the authority of the Word of God. 

Your fear has to bow down in the presence of God. 

Your anxiety has to diminish in the Word of God. 

Your hopelessness has to respond to the Word of God.

Why? Because the Word of God GIVES LIFE to all that was created. 

I remember, not long ago, lying in bed one night and feeling this wave of defeat come over me. I started replaying some old, destructive conversations in my head. As I laid there feeling empty and hopeless, I thought, or maybe even said to God: I can’t live like this. I can’t relive these conversations anymore. I need You, Jesus! 

As quickly as that wave of discouragement hit me in the first place, when I called out the name Jesus, a wave of peace washed over me instantaneously.

And, listen, I get it, if you’ve never experienced that type of peace before, it may be hard for you to actually understand. I believe it was the peace that Paul wrote about in Philippians. 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

There is power in the Name of Jesus. Something happens in the spiritual realm when you surrender your problems to the One who gives life. I believe that something shifts in the Spirit when we give our defeat over to Jesus. 

Paul says that when we tell God what we need, and turn our focus to praise, that we will experience peace. I believe that type of peace that Paul is talking about is a peace that won’t make sense in the moment. You may not even understand where it came from or how you feel okay in the middle of your heaviness. 

Why?

Because God’s Word gives life to everything that was created. God doesn’t want you to walk around feeling stuck or like there isn’t a way out. He wants you to exchange your problems for His peace. The Word of God can breathe life over every problem you face.

Through His Word, He gives life to you. All you have to do is call on His name. There is hope for whatever you’re facing today.

I am praying for you, as I write this, that you will find it on the day that you need it. And, I’m praying that as you begin to tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done, that you will experience God’s peace. I’m praying that as you begin to declare the Word of God over your hopelessness, over every situation that you face and every problem that is ahead of you, that God would give you life. I pray that as you turn to the life-giver, that you would find hope for today.