FILAS Women Online
Devotional for a deeper, more intimate walk with the God who knows you completely.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 139:5 (KJV)

“Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.”

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Devotional Reflection

God Has You Surrounded

Sis, have you ever found yourself worrying so much about what might happen next that you almost forgot how much God has already brought you through? Maybe you’re facing a decision you don’t know how to make, waiting for an answer that hasn’t come, or trying to prepare for a situation that feels completely beyond your control. You keep thinking about the possibilities, considering what could go wrong, and wondering whether you’ll have what you need when the time comes. And while you’re busy trying to figure out what’s ahead, you sometimes overlook the evidence of God’s faithfulness in everything you’ve already experienced. But here’s something I want us to think about today: The same God who was with you yesterday hasn’t abandoned you as you face tomorrow.

Psalm 139:5 says, “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.” David recognized that God’s presence was not limited to one particular moment or season of his life. The Lord surrounded him. He was aware of what was behind David, what was before him, and everything taking place in between. And when we consider this Scripture in the context of our own lives, it reminds us that we are never outside of God’s knowledge and care. We may not understand every turn our journey takes, but God is not confused about where we are.

And Sis, I think sometimes we need to look back, not because we want to live in the past, but because remembering God’s faithfulness can strengthen our confidence in Him today. Think about the situations you once believed you wouldn’t make it through. The seasons when you didn’t know how things would work out. The disappointments you thought would completely overwhelm you. The prayers you whispered when you couldn’t find the strength to say anything else. Yet here you are. Perhaps everything didn’t turn out the way you wanted. Perhaps some experiences left you with questions, scars, or lessons you never expected to learn. But through it all, God has continued to sustain you.

Now, let me say something important. Remembering God’s faithfulness doesn’t mean pretending that everything in our past was good. Some of us have experienced situations we would never choose to repeat. We’ve endured loss, disappointment, rejection, uncertainty, and seasons when we struggled to understand what God was allowing. And I don’t believe we have to minimize those experiences to recognize His presence. God’s faithfulness isn’t proven by the absence of difficulty, but by the truth that He remains faithful even when life is difficult.

Isaiah 41:10 offers a powerful reminder of God’s presence and help. He says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee.” Notice that God’s encouragement is rooted in His presence. He doesn’t simply tell His people not to be afraid without giving them a reason. He assures them that He is with them, that He will strengthen them, help them, and uphold them. What a beautiful reminder that our confidence doesn’t have to come from knowing exactly how everything will turn out. It can come from knowing the One who promises to remain with us.

And here’s where I believe this becomes personal for many of us. We often want God to show us the entire plan before we’re willing to take the next step. We want to know what will happen, how long it will take, who will be involved, and whether the outcome will be what we’ve been hoping for. We want reassurance that the road ahead won’t be too difficult. But faith doesn’t always come with a detailed explanation. Sometimes God gives us enough direction for the next step while teaching us to trust Him with what we cannot yet see.

Sis, think about how much energy we sometimes spend trying to prepare for things that haven’t even happened. We imagine conversations, anticipate problems, and create entire scenarios in our minds. And before we know it, we’re emotionally exhausted from situations that may never occur. Now, there’s nothing wrong with planning wisely or preparing responsibly. But there’s a difference between making preparations and allowing fear to take control of our thoughts. Planning acknowledges responsibility. Worry often tries to take responsibility for outcomes we cannot control.

And I wonder how differently we might approach some of our circumstances if we spent as much time remembering God’s faithfulness as we do anticipating what could go wrong. What if, instead of immediately asking, “What am I going to do?” we paused and reminded ourselves, “God has helped me through difficult things before.” What if we allowed the testimony of yesterday to encourage our faith for today? Not because we know exactly what God will do next, but because we know His character has not changed.

There’s another part of Psalm 139:5 that I don’t want us to overlook. David says, “and laid thine hand upon me.” What a personal expression of God’s involvement in his life. David wasn’t describing a distant God who simply observed his circumstances. He recognized the Lord’s hand upon him. And Sis, there is something comforting about knowing that the God who surrounds us is also personally acquainted with us. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He understands our fears and uncertainties. He knows the places where we’re confident and the areas where we’re struggling to trust Him.

Sometimes we become so focused on finding our way forward that we forget we are already known by the One who is leading us. We don’t have to convince God to pay attention to our circumstances. We don’t have to explain every detail before He understands. And we certainly don’t have to pretend we’re confident when we’re afraid. We can bring our uncertainty before Him and ask for the wisdom, courage, and strength we need to continue walking faithfully.

But Sis, here’s something else I want us to remember: God’s presence doesn’t mean we will never encounter challenges. It means those challenges do not place us beyond His reach. There may be difficult decisions ahead. There may be unexpected changes, unanswered questions, or seasons when the next step isn’t immediately clear. Yet none of those things can erase the truth that God remains present with His people.

Maybe today you’re standing at the beginning of something new. Maybe you’re considering a change in your career, your ministry, your relationships, or your personal life. Maybe you’re waiting for medical results, praying for your family, or trying to make a decision that will affect your future. Or perhaps you’re simply in a season where life feels uncertain, and you’re struggling to find peace in the middle of everything happening around you.

Whatever the situation may be, I want you to pause and remember that your uncertainty doesn’t mean God is uncertain. He knows where you’ve been. He knows where you are. And He knows what lies ahead, even when you cannot see it clearly.

And perhaps that’s the lesson for us today. We don’t have to spend every moment trying to figure out tomorrow when God is inviting us to trust Him today. We can prepare wisely, make responsible decisions, seek godly counsel, and continue moving forward without allowing fear to become the driving force behind everything we do.

Sis, you’ve already witnessed God’s faithfulness in ways you may have forgotten. You’ve experienced His strength when yours was limited. You’ve seen Him provide encouragement when you needed it. You’ve learned lessons through circumstances you never expected to face. And even now, while you’re wondering what comes next, He remains present.

So today, instead of allowing the uncertainty of tomorrow to overshadow the faithfulness of yesterday, take a moment to remember.

Remember the prayers He helped you through.

Remember the strength He gave you.

Remember the wisdom He provided.

Remember the grace that sustained you.

And as you look toward what lies ahead, remind yourself that you are not walking into an unknown future without the presence of a faithful God.

Sis, God has you surrounded.

He’s been faithful through what’s behind you.

He’s present with you right now.

And you can trust Him with what’s ahead.

Journal Prompt

Today, let’s reflect on how remembering God’s faithfulness can strengthen our trust in Him.

1. What is something God has brought me through that I sometimes forget to thank Him for?

Think about a difficult season, a challenging decision, or a time when you needed His strength.

2. What am I currently worried about concerning my future?

Be honest about the uncertainty, fear, or unanswered questions you’ve been carrying.

3. How can remembering God’s past faithfulness help me approach this situation with greater trust?

Consider what you’ve learned about His character through your previous experiences.

Write this declaration:

“Lord, thank You for being faithful through everything behind me. Help me trust Your presence in everything before me. I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know You are with me today.”

Today’s Challenge

Look Back. Look Around. Look Ahead.

Today, we’re going to practice remembering God’s faithfulness while trusting Him with our future.

Step 1 — Look Back

Write down three situations in your life where you recognize God’s faithfulness.

They don’t have to be dramatic testimonies. Sometimes the greatest reminders are found in the ordinary ways God has sustained us.

Step 2 — Look Around

Take a moment to recognize where you need God’s strength and guidance right now.

Ask yourself:

“Am I acknowledging God’s presence in my current circumstances, or am I allowing my worries to become the focus of my attention?”

Step 3 — Look Ahead

Identify one situation about your future that has been causing you concern.

Instead of trying to figure out every possible outcome, pray specifically about what you need from God today.

Maybe it’s wisdom.

Maybe it’s patience.

Maybe it’s courage.

Maybe it’s peace.

Step 4 — Take One Faithful Step

Choose one practical action you can take today without allowing fear to control your decision.

And remind yourself:

“I can be responsible for my next step without trying to control every outcome.”

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank You for being the God who surrounds me with Your presence. Thank You for knowing where I’ve been, where I am, and everything that lies ahead. Forgive me for the times I’ve allowed worry about tomorrow to overshadow my gratitude for Your faithfulness yesterday. You’ve brought me through difficult seasons, strengthened me when I felt weak, and sustained me through circumstances I didn’t understand. Help me remember those moments when uncertainty begins to trouble my heart. Lord, You know the decisions I’m facing, the concerns I’m carrying, and the questions I haven’t been able to answer. Give me wisdom to prepare responsibly, courage to move forward faithfully, and peace to trust You with what I cannot control. When fear tries to convince me that I’m facing my future alone, remind me that You are with me. Search my heart, examine my thoughts, and help me release the need to know every detail before I trust Your guidance. Thank You for Your hand upon my life and for Your promise to strengthen, help, and uphold Your people. May I walk into each new day remembering that Your faithfulness has not changed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sis, Remember This…

Sometimes we’re so focused on what’s ahead that we forget how faithfully God has brought us through what’s behind us. Don’t let tomorrow’s uncertainty cause you to forget yesterday’s testimony.

Sis, God has you surrounded. He’s been faithful through what’s behind you, He’s present in what you’re facing today, and you can trust Him with what lies ahead.