“…he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”— Heb. 11:27
Moses was a remarkable man. However, the only thing that made him anything more than ordinary was God. As with anyone, everything great about him can only be attributed to the greatness of God, and he knew it. Unlike some folks, Moses was well aware of his weaknesses. But he was unaware of his possibilities. It was only after he met God at the burning bush on the backside of the desert (Ex. 3) that things began to change.

Faced with failure he requested to see God (Ex. 33:12-18) and was given a glimpse of God’s glory. His problem was just like that of many— rather than live by faith they want to see something. Although given a glimpse of glory, God made it clear that Moses could not see Him and live. As we think of all the great accomplishments of Moses we can sum it all up by saying that his success was due to his awareness that God was invisibly involved in his life.

Such is the case with all the heroes of the faith. No Christian succeeds on his own. As Jesus said, “…without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). There is only one thing that makes us successful, and Paul spoke of it in Phil. 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. Although we cannot see Him, God is at work in our lives. Therefore Paul could say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). That was the message he wanted to convey to the Philippians ( Phil. 1:6). He said basically the same thing to the Thessalonians–“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it“(1 Thess. 5:24). And that’s what I want you to see.

When it seems that everything is against you, you need to understand that God is working behind the scenes. That is just as true of you as it was with Joseph, Moses, and Daniel. God is invisibly involved in every detail of your life. He is involved in the ordinary, mundane, boring, tiring things of your life. You don’t need dreams, visions, and miracles. Whether you see Him in action or not, He is at work. As Spurgeon said, “When you can’t see His hand–trust His heart”. God is at work whether you are aware of it or not, but living in the awareness of that fact makes all the difference in the world. It is by this that we are enabled to succeed (Heb. 12:1-3; 2 Cor. 3:18; 4:18). The song writer was right when he said,”There is an unseen hand”. Keep that fact in mind every moment of every day and it will get you through the day–whatever it holds!

In 1867, Walter Chalmers Smith wrote this first verse to a hymn:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, 

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, 

Most blessed, most glorious, 

The Ancient of Days, 

Almighty, victorious— 

Thy great name we praise.

“I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD.” – Psalms 71:16
Do you ever feel that you can’t go on? You know you should, but your feelings tell you to stop or to go back. The mountain is too high, the valley is too low, the storm is too rough, the enemy is too tough, and you are just too weak to try any longer. Perhaps this scripture and these words from the pen of James Smith will encourage you to keep going.

“Our own weakness would dismay us, but God’s strength is offered to us; in His light we see, and in His strength we work. We have duties to perform, difficulties to encounter, and foes to overcome; let us therefore go in the strength of the Lord.

It is promised to us, and may be received by us; we must ask it of God, we must expect it in faith, and go forth believing that He is faithful who hath promised. Never let us attempt any thing in our own strength; if we do, we shall be sure to fail; let us first take up God’s promise, rely on His veracity, and so go forth to duty, conflict, and danger. Then the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s; then we are sure of success, succour, and victory.

The Lord will then be our strength and song; our refuge and certain salvation. His strength is made perfect in weakness, and His grace is glorified in the unworthy.

Let us not fear, let us not loiter, let us not despond, but let us go in the strength of the Lord, and we shall be more than conquerors. He giveth courage to the faint, and to those who have no might He increaseth strength.

I know the God in whom I trust,
The arm on which I lean;
He will my Saviour ever be,
Who has my Saviour been;
Strong in His strength my foes I face,
Assured of victory through His grace.”

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name” Psalm 100:4. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”  – Colossians 3:15

If worry is the opposite of faith, then thanksgiving is the expression of faith—in fact, the highest expression. You say, “I don’t know if I have as much to thank God for as other people.” Well, the apostle Paul was in a filthy Philippian jail awaiting possible beheading when he wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

You see, God has blessed you. You may not think so because you’re measuring blessings by the barometer of health, wealth, and happiness. You say, “Oh, those are blessings!” Not always. Some people are cursed with wealth. Some people don’t know how to use health. And happiness keeps some people from seeking the Lord. 

My friend, let me tell you what blessings we have. “Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits…” (Psalm 68:19).  God has loaded your wagon. How often? Every day! “It is of the LORD’S mercies we’re not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning…” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every day you wake up to blessings. Thank Him for spiritual blessings and thank Him for simple blessings: good, clean water. Enough food. Shelter. The simple things. We are so blessed.

I have noticed as a pastor that unthankful people are never happy people. They’re filled bitterness, fear, negativism, selfishness and self-pity.

Refuse to worry, but carry everything to God in prayer. Rejoice in the presence of the Lord. Rely upon the power of the Lord. Reflect on the provision of the Lord. Rest in the peace of the Lord. Do everything with thanksgiving.  –Adrian Rogers