God Is Steady When Life Feels Shifty

0:00Life Audio Thank you for tuning in to your nightly prayer. A podcast is designed to help you rest and connect with your father in heaven as the day ends. God is ready to meet you in this moment of peace as you settle in to sleep. After this short word from our sponsor, we'll encounter tonight's devotional. God is steady when life feels shifty. Written by Angie Grant and read by your host Brooke McLaughlin. Hey listeners, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We know life gets busy and sometimes it's easy for your faith to get pushed to the side. That's why we created the Good Word, a free weekly newsletter designed to give you a moment to slow down, be encouraged, and reconnect with what matters most.

1:01God's Word Inside you'll find devotionals, guided prayers, podcast recommendations, and other faith-built content we think you'll love. No ads, no clutter. Just good content to help you stay rooted in God's Word throughout your week. Sign up for the Good Word today at lifeaudio.com-forward-slash-the-good-word. Tonight's Scripture. For I the Lord do not change. Therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Malachi 3.6 Something to ponder. Malachi was writing to a people whose lives felt anything but stable. I know there are relatable seasons where you, where I, feel the same. Those seasons where you question God, you wonder where He is thinking maybe He's forgotten

2:05you. Yet we see here, God says. Declare's really. I do not change. He's speaking of His nature. The care that He has for us. He reminds us here of His character. Something that no matter the circumstance, our lives lend themselves to. Maybe it's a diagnosis, a friendship that ends. Plans falling apart. The future seemingly uncertain. God never says, I've changed my mind about you. His character never changes. His love for us never changes. I recently read about a dad who just had a baby. That baby right after he was born, cried and cried. He came close and the words he spoke over his new baby brought a calming effect. You know the narrative. It's okay buddy. I'm here. You're okay. It's all going to be alright. As he spoke, his newborn calmed down and stopped crying.

3:09About six minutes later, his son began to cry again. Again, this new dad began to speak over him to calm him. And something beautiful happened when the dad said, I love you. That newborn baby opened his eyes and intently looked at his father. And immediately stopped crying. We can learn so much from this encounter between a dad and his newborn son. When life comes at us hard, maybe one circumstance after another. When we are questioning what God is doing or when it will end, we, like this newborn, cry and feel out of control with turmoil and uncertainty. Then we hear our heavenly father's voice. And once we recognize that it is indeed our father's voice, the peace of God creates a steadiness in our breath, in our stance, in our countenance. His character is revealed when we open our eyes and lean in to hear his voice.

4:11We live in a world that is moving at the pace of a free train and a world where change is inevitable. Our emotions, energy, relationships and health change. Yet, while everything is shifting all around us, God never changes. Nothing catches God off guard. He's never been surprised. He's never forgotten a promise and he never becomes less faithful because we are tired. Notice the second half of the verse in Malachi 3-6, therefore you are not consumed. Why weren't the Israelites consumed? Not because they remained faithful, but because he was faithful. There are seasons when our faith is strong and there are other seasons when all we can do is whisper, help me Lord. And it's in those seasons that his faithfulness never weakens. Faithfulness is who he is. So if tonight God feels silent, lean in, listen for his voice.

5:16He speaks to us in our time of need. And remember, the God who was faithful in your yesterday is present in all your tomorrows. Your nightly prayer. God, remind me right now of your steady love. Help me trust that you are unchanging, even when everything around me feels unsteady. May I remember that you are faithful. May I lean in to hear the still small voice that studies my walk and allows you to come close. You are a good, good father and I trust you in all the circumstances that may surround me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Three things to meditate upon. Number one. Reflect on the nature of God. Who he is and who he has been to you. Two, identify areas of your life where you have not allowed God to intervene on your

6:16behalf because you are trying in your own strength. Ask for his forgiveness. And number three, what circumstances do you want to lay at his feet tonight? Make a few minutes to do that. Reflect on tonight's prayer and share how God met you there. Join the your nightly prayer discussion on the crosswalk forum. Thank you for listening to your nightly prayer, a production of the Life Audio Network. If you found comfort and inspiration in tonight's prayer, be sure to follow and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And I know today, so you never miss a moment of peace and reflection to end your day. The love of God is immeasurable. It's unchanging. It's indescribable.

7:17Because God loves you so much, you can sleep through the night. In peace. With a bide Bible sleep meditation, you can fall asleep fast with relaxing sleep stories based on scripture. To start listening now, go to LifeAudio.com or search your favorite podcast app for a bide Bible sleep meditation. You can also download the a bide app for more Biblical meditations at a bide.com.