Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 NKJV

We like to quote certain things in scripture and bend them to fit what we are looking for. But the Bible warns us against this. In Deuteronomy 4:2 it says, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” We must be careful to keep God’s word in context.
For example, I have heard people say that the Bible says and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. They use this when they want to exact revenge on their enemy. But what Jesus said in Matthew 5:38 is, it has been said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but if someone slaps you on the cheek turn the other cheek. The Old Testament law in Exodus 21:24 said an eye for an eye, when it was explaining justice in those times. Jesus was explaining forgiveness to them.
People love to quote part of Romans 8:28 saying that all things work for the good. This is not what that verse says, it says that all thing work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. It doesn’t say that you can live however you want to live and think that God will just work it all out for you.
Psalm 91 is a beautiful Psalm that promises protection for us as God’s children, but it begins by telling us if we choose to dwell in the secret place of the Most High, we shall abide under God’s shadow. We must choose to dwell under God’s commands. We must choose to live in trust and obedience to Him.
Another misquotation is, God will never give you more than you can handle. This one isn’t even in the Bible. This is a misquotation from 1 Corinthians 10:13 which tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except that which is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also make a way of escape so that you can bear it.” This is simply telling us that we will face hard times and we will need to lean on God and trust in Him in times of trouble and despair. When our troubles tempt us to sin, God will provide a way to escape it and help us to stand strong in His strength. If God never gave us more than we could handle on our own, we wouldn’t need to turn to Him would we? Our former pastor used to say that we are more likely to turn to God in times of trial and tribulation. The key is to stick with God once He has protected us through the storm because I can assure you more storms are coming.
My friend the bottom line here is that the Bible never promises us that we will never have troubles in our life. The Bible actually tells us that we will have trouble. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  Jesus does not say that we can have peace apart from Him. He says that in Him, we may have peace. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37 that the greatest commandment is that we love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. We can’t give Jesus a little bit of our time and devotion and expect the fullness of His promises. God wants total devotion. When we devote ourselves to Him, He will protect us. He will give us peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Understand that God is not looking for someone who is lukewarm (Revelation 3:16). He wants us to be seeking Him with all our heart. If you are wanting God to give you peace and protection, are you willing to love Him with all you have? Are you willing to give Him your time and go to His house on Sunday morning? Are you willing to get involved in church and make the church, His body, your priority? Are you willing to become a devoted member of His body, the church? Are you willing to give the ten percent of your income that He asks for to run His church?

If someone asked you to do great things for them but did nothing in you for return, you would consider this unfair, but how many times to do we do this with God? We want his love and his peace and his protection, but we are only willing to give little tiny tidbits in return.

Love the Lord with all your heart. It won’t stop you from going through hard times, but it will make those hard times much easier. It will give you peace regardless of your circumstances. Aren’t you tired of going it on your own? Give Him your all today.

Have a great day!