Author Archives: Janet Sketchley

About Janet Sketchley

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer whose Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense novels have each been finalists in The Word Awards. She's also the author of the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. Janet blogs about faith and books. She loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

God Sees

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“I cannot find God anywhere—in front or back of me, to my left or my right. God is always at work, though I never see him. But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold.” Job 23:8-10 CEV*

When he says this, Job is enduring unimaginable suffering. And his friends’ pious half-truths aren’t helping. He wishes he could find God and plead his case in person. His conscience is clean, and he knows he’s not suffering as a punishment. Why won’t God rescue him?

Pastor Charles Price (www.livingtruth.ca) caught my attention by paraphrasing the verse this way: “I don’t know where God is in this, but He knows where I am. And when it’s over, I’ll emerge as gold.”

His point was, sometimes things are so hard that we can’t see God anywhere. But don’t panic. God sees us. Where we can only see the problems and pain, He sees how He plans to bring good from it.

I link this to one of my favourite comfort verses: “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Isaiah 50:10b, NIV.**

When we don’t understand, when all we have is questions and pain, we can choose to trust God. He knows. He loves us. And He will never abandon us.

A song for those hard times: Casting Crowns’ “Praise You in This Storm.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5bLvVjJ4MA

Our Good Shepherd

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He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be their peace.
Micah 5:4-5a (NIV)*

This seems to be one of those prophecies with different stages. Ultimately, Jesus will return. Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess to God. (Romans 14:11) The world will know He is LORD.

But today, He rules in Christians’ hearts and lives. He stands – a warrior who cannot be overcome – and shepherds us. He stands in strength, majesty and power. Despite our circumstances, our hearts can be secure – we can live securely – because He is shepherding us.

And He will be our peace.

Be our peace, Jesus, even in the storms. Nothing can separate us from You, and You’ll never abandon us. Strengthen our faith to trust You.

Need a Spiritual Boost?

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“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

“He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New International Version) (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Jeremiah means both men and women, of course. We’re planted, alright, but the busyness of life can leach our focus off of God. Sunday morning worship ….

In North American society, it feels like we go to church for a serving of spiritual teaching but then head back into daily life. Life which, no matter how wonderful, can wear us down. I don’t know about you, but before too long I’m battle-weary and drained. I’d love to spend hours alone with God, or immersed in a Bible study or inspirational book, but the time isn’t there.

Most days, I crawl into wakefulness early so I can have time with God before the world starts its demands. I love my sleep, but it’s a necessary sacrifice. Still, I long for more. I miss the close times with the LORD. My hope with this blog is to share a little encouragement once or twice a week, a spiritual snippet to re-energize us.