“Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”
Proverbs 30:5
“This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 18:30
Every word. Every word of the Lord proves true. As the psalmist said in Psalm 119:140, “Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.” The Word of God proves true, always. Because every word is a reflection of His unchanging character, the steadfastness conveyed in His declared name: “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14).
How easily doubt creeps in. In difficult situations, in moments when confusion enters and we cannot see the hand of God. Those promises can begin to feel empty…or at least perhaps not applicable to us. Believer, His promises do apply to you. His Word will prove true in your life, in your circumstances. Because His Word holds fast through all of time – and if you are His, He holds you fast through all of time.
We must be careful, of course, to remain humble as we look to His promises. His wisdom and understanding of what is truly good for us, what is best, what is needed, what will truly bring us to our fullest joy and will satisfy our soul in Christ, is far beyond our own. So the fulfilling of His promises, which is sure, might appear different than we expect. Or reveal themselves on a different timeline than we expect. But they are being fulfilled. You will see them. Let your heart take courage; you will see the goodness of the Lord and you will be radiant in your rejoicing (Psalm 27:13-14; Jeremiah 31:12).
The connection of the Word of the Lord proving true with the picture of Him as a shield for those who take refuge in Him perhaps offers a glimpse of this needed humility and the difficulties the beloved of God still face. If we must take refuge, then the storm must be fierce. Beyond our strength and ability to withstand on our own. We take refuge because we require refuge. But that is not an indication that God has left us. It is not an indication that His Word has failed. Rather, this situation within which we must take refuge will prove the truth and steadfastness of our God and His Word.
His way is perfect because He knows our every need, whether we recognize it or not. It is perfect because He knows the end from the beginning. He can see every possible outcome. He knows the plans He has for us and how all of the details fit together. This is one of those details He is working for your good, for your joy, for His glory as He proves the truth of His Word and the steadfastness of His character and faithfulness in your life.
This matters. His faithfulness to you matters, because He will not fail any of those who are His. He loved you enough to send His Son to die in your place. He loved you enough to call you to Himself and, from the moment you believed, to pour His love into your heart through His own Spirit who now dwells in you. He will not fail you.
Press into His Word with faith bolstering you. It will prove itself to be true in your life. There might be aspects you do not see during this lifetime, but you will rejoice throughout eternity as you see that He was faithful and true every moment. As you take refuge in Him, know that He is your shield. His name, the name that declares His character and might, is a strong tower. The righteous (and Christ has made us righteous in Him) run to that strong tower and are unquestionably safe (Proverbs 18:10). Your God surrounds you. He fights for you. He acts for those who wait for Him. He keeps you in every moment. His goodness and mercy pursue you all the days of your life. Even when everything else is shaken, His love holds fast and His covenant of peace remains. He will not leave you and He is actively working to fulfill His every promise in your life in ways that are very personal and amazingly perfect in their timing and design.
In Pleasant Places 