It Is Written – Keeping An Account Of God’s Faithfulness

Last updated on: October 19, 2026 at 2:19 pm by Michele Howe

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It Is Written – Keeping An Account Of God’s Faithfulness 2026-10-19T14:19:56-05:00 Michele Howe

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It Is Written - Remembering What God Has Promised

It Is Written – Remembering What God Has Promised

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

No person on this side of eternity lives a fear-free life. No one always operates out of the rest and security of faith in God. Every one of us has moments in which we lose our mind and our way. So here is the thing we must fight against: we must not allow fear to become the lens through which we view life and the guide for how we make decisions.

Paul Tripp

One Sunday morning our pastor was concluding a series from the book of Judges that focused on Samson’s life and his eventual demise because of his lifelong struggle with lust. As he summed up Samson’s decision-making process, a faulty one to be sure most of the time, our pastor made a statement that started me thinking deeply about how individuals fall prey to sin and temptation in large part because they feel through their problems rather than think biblically through them.

God’s Written Word Is For Our Benefit

Unpacking a bit from this biblical character’s eventual slavery and then death, I wondered how often I allow the words, “I feel…I feel…” to be spoken when I would fare much better saying (and thinking), “It is written. It is written.” After all, Jesus countered Satan’s temptations not by his emotions but by repeating what God had said.

On the way home from the service and well into the afternoon, I kept reflecting on the news our close friends received not so long ago. Their child had been struggling in school and they finally had her tested. To their shock and dismay, the tests determined their little girl had a low I.Q. So low, in fact, that it was a very real possibility that their daughter would never be able to live independently from them.

God’s Written Word Takes Anxiety Away

As our friends began to work through this devastating news, I watched them move from fear and anxiety as the unknown future gave way to the what if questions for which there aren’t any answers to finally, a calm, settledness. Since I almost always picture myself in my friends’ situations and contemplate how I would handle what they are facing, I was eager to ask them how they worked through their shock, worry, and fears of the future. What they said amazed me. “For every, ‘I feel…’ there is an, ‘It is written,’ found in scripture. Our responsibility is to run to the promises of God so that our emotions don’t run us to the ground.”

* * *

It is written. If you are like me, you pay special attention to the words of Jesus found throughout the New Testament. If Jesus said it, I better pay attention to it. Not only did Jesus quote scripture to refute temptation, but he also frequently used specific Old Testament accounts to teach his followers how to live as overcomers in a broken, sinful world. I’m reminded that one of primary and persistent sins the Israelites committed was that of forgetting all God had done for them.

God’s Word Reminds Us To Remember What He Has Done

Of course, we can easily judge the Israelites for their short memories and shortsightedness in decision-making. But are we really so different? After all, the majority of our first responses to any (all) troubling news is generally a fear-based one. Some frightening report comes our way and before we even end the call, read the entire email or text, we’ve initiated damage control.

I can only imagine Jesus shaking his head sadly and saying to us, “This, my child, is not how I want you to respond.” I can envision him sitting down next to me open bible in hand and leading me page by page to those passages of scripture that would offer me specific comfort for my specific problem.

God Written Word Brings Me Courage And Hope

It IS written…for my blessing, encouragement and lifelong benefit. God has supplied all I need to learn to think and meditate my way through my struggles with fear. My part is to immerse myself in God’s promises and make them my own. When I am facing a fear-full situation, I will be best equipped to get through unscathed when I run first to God’s promises and then take time to remember all he has done for me in the past.

Take-away Action Thought

Because I know how easy it is for my emotions to rule me, I will choose to become a student of God’s word daily and become a good remember-er of all he has done for me.

My Heart’s Cry to You, O Lord

Father, my emotions are so out of control at this moment that I can hardly calm myself down enough to take a deep breath. I need your comfort and calming presence to help me settle down. I have decisions to make and I’m so upset that I don’t think I can trust myself to choose wisely. Please Lord; lead me to those eternal promises from your word that will provide me with peace, wisdom, and security. I long for you to make yourself known to me right now so that I will have the strength to face my enemy. Help me to remember all that you have done in the past so that I can more easily rest in your provision for me. Amen.

Faith Steps

I will make a list of, “I feel,” and the, “It is written,” statements that counter my out-of-control emotions when I start to feel overwhelmed or afraid. When I am faced with something that frightens me, I will refer back to this list and pray through it.
Today, I will ask a trusted friend to pray for me and with me that I would be consistent in spending time daily in God’s word and praying through verses that encourage me to trust in his provision for me.
Every day this week for thirty minutes I will put on praise music and then write down in my journal how this time of worship has helped me to focus on Jesus rather than my fears.

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About Michele Howe

Michele Howe is the author of 31 books for women, children, and families. She has published over 3000 articles, reviews, and curricula. Her newest book, Brave Faith for Hard Things - Sacred Purpose in Ordinary Suffering, helps believers reframe even life's most difficult scenarios into those which God can and will redeem. You can read more about the author here.

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