Susan Wales - Standing on the Promises: Finding Gods Peace in the Hurts of Life

M ATTHEW 4:4, NASB

L et me start with a confession. When I sensed God urging me to write a book about His promises, I hesitated. I knew the need was real. Every day I minister to friends who are hurting and asking tough questions: Where is God in this situation? Why doesnt God help me? Will I ever recover from this? Im a Christian, but since this happened God seems so distantdoes He care? How can I acquire His strength for facing what is ahead? Can I really survive this storm? The need for this book weighed heavier and heavier on my heart.

I finally presented the outline to Bill Jensen, the vice president of editorial at Multnomah Publishers. Women are hurting, I told him, even women of great faith. Ive walked that path. I know the need for encouragement and hope. I understand the ravaging questions pain brings. I know the dark night of the souland I know that joy comes in the morning. It can be found in Gods Word, in His promises. I want to share my pain as well as my victory through Jesus and His Word.

Bill shared not only my heart but also my enthusiasm for the book. He encouraged me to take on the project. But this is a topic for a seasoned theologian, I protested. I am no authority; in truth, I am a nobody in the religious community: I possess no seminary degrees, no glowing credentials. I am just a woman who loves and trusts God with all her heart.

Bill assured me that I was the right person to write this book because Im a storm survivor myself. I have struggled with most of these issues. I experienced a bad marriage, a devastating divorce, single parenthood, financial setbacks, debilitating depression, and frightening problems while raising my daughter. But I have endured. How? Not because I have intense faith or because Im supernaturally strong. I survived my storms only because through each I drew closer to God. I kept turning to the foundation that my parents had established early on in my life, the Word of God. There I found the Fathers promises, His forgiveness, His restoration, and the peace that passes all understanding. There I found Jesus and the healing balm of Gilead. There I found second chances. He has taught me so much through His Word, and Ive grown to know His comfort so intimately that I can now thank Him for the stormsthat in itself is a miracle!

So while I cannot minister to you as a theologian or explain why bad things happen to good people, I can encourage you as a friend and fellow struggler. I can assure you that if you stay in the Word and stand on Gods promises, He will be faithful. He will see you through.

Storms are a part of every persons life. Pain and sorrow are as certain as the seasons. Jesus said, Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:2425). Does Jesus say that if we obey His words, we will not face storms? No! He says that when the storms come, His words will make us strong against the wind and rain that rages. He promises that we can stand through faith. My desire with this book is to help you begin to build your life on the rock-solid certainty of Gods promises. You will be prepared when they come, strengthened if you are facing one today.