(Pastor James Scarborough, Donalsonville Assembly of God)

Occasionally I come upon an advertisement that stands out. I saw one of those last week. It included a gentleman with a parachute who was about to jump out of an airplane. Out of an abundance of caution just before he leaped out of the aircraft, he asked another man if he was sure that the parachute was packed properly. He did not get the assurance that he wanted when the person that he directed his inquiry to responded with “probably.”

There are times when just a “probably” is not the answer being sought for.

I recall going to a home years ago in northeastern North Carolina to make a hospice visit. As I approached the porch, I heard a large dog barking loudly in an unfriendly tone. The lady of the house quickly reported to me, “I don’t think he will bite.”

That was not the answer I wanted! But thankfully it all turned out all right for both me and the dog.

When we approach situations that appear difficult and potentially dangerous, we want to do what we can to ensure that we experience the most positive outcome possible. Yet even after doing our very best to facilitate satisfactory results, there are still times when we are not absolutely convinced that all will turn out well. But when it comes to our spiritual well being, we can rejoice that God has not left us with only a “Probably” or “I sure hope so” outlook; He has provided us with divine assurance in His Word that we can fully trust Him.

It is important for us to remember that God knows all of us completely; He knows both all the good and all the bad in our lives. We are reminded of this in the prayer that the leaders of the early Church prayed as they sought wisdom and guidance from God for a major decision that they faced. Their prayer included this acknowledgment: “Lord, You know everyone’s heart” (Acts 1:24, NIV). And even though He knows us, He loves us.

There is no room for probably or maybe or sometimes when it comes to God’s love for us. The psalmist David wrote concerning the certainty of God’s love, “But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation” (Psalm 13:5). And Jeremiah 31:3 records, “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’”

We can rest assured that all will turn out according to God’s plan for His faithful followers. Romans 8:28 offers these words of assurance that many of us have relied upon many times, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

It is understood that we do not understand everything that comes our way, nor do we even like the obstacles and hurdles that often cross our path of life. Nevertheless, we can find strength to carry on by remembering that God’s promise to His children is not “things will probably be alright” but, when all is all said and done, because of His great love for us, all will turn out exactly as He desires--and He always desires the best for His children. That is a certainty that we can count on.