Know He is There.

Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. 

We are looked upon by God as though we were in eternity. God dwells in eternity, and does not view things as we do.

What a blessing it is and can be in the future—when we have special challenges, heartbreaks, unusual experiences, or disappointments to know that he is there and 

we can cry unto him in faith and complete trust.

Very often over the years I have had peace and patience knowing that he was there and would not forsake me even though some prayers were going unanswered. What a joy and strength it would be in all of our lives to have the childlike faith and complete trust to know that he is there and that we can cry out unto him under all circumstances.... know he is there, even though immediate replies and responses are not always positive.

Perhaps it would be good for our souls to build the relationship and understanding that he is there, even our loving and eternal Father, and that ofttimes delays to our urgent pleas can be best for us. Who is to say it isn't more important to know that he is there than to receive immediate answers?......

What a great strength it would be to all of us in times of desperation and wonderment to humbly approach his throne with "Please hear my prayers. Answer them in thy great wisdom for my best good. But please give me the constant reassurance that thou art there and that peace, contentment, and the courage to continue are mine because I have faith and can come to thee who has promised not to forsake us."......

We are to exercise faith. We are placed on earth as a probation. It is not now, nor was it ever, the intention of a wise, omniscient Heavenly Father to solve all our problems. Life is not—and never will be—an "uninterrupted holiday." God expects us to struggle—so we may become godlike. The edict from Eden was that man should eat bread by the sweat of his brow!

Like a wise parent, our Heavenly Father sometimes says "no" to our pleas. It is therefore essential that we cultivate a feeling for spiritual things that will enable us to "feel" or recognize occasions when our Heavenly Father is telling us "no." Even when his Beloved Son requested that the bitter cup of pain and sorrow be lifted in Gethsemane, our Heavenly Father had other plans. How eternally blessed we are because God permitted his Son to complete that suffering so we will not have to suffer if we repent.....

Pray constantly for help, endurance, and understanding. 

God does answer our prayers. 

Please know he is there. 

I testify he is, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Marvin J. Ashton