He Shall Sustain Thee: How God Upholds Those Who Seek Him

Carol Plafcan
Aug 21, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Feb 27

What We Must Do First

The Lord requires things of us. His blessings are promised many times but often we must do something first. Do you want your joy to be made full? Do you want God to draw close to you? Do you want the desires of your heart? Do you want God to direct your paths? Only He shall sustain thee is what Scripture promises.

Of course we all say we want these things, but first what do we have to do? Ask. Draw close to God. Delight in the Lord. Acknowledge Him. We like to focus on the wonderful promises God has made for us without acknowledging that we must do something first. While God’s promises are waiting for us, they remain inaccessible unless we choose to obey and seek Him.

We need to live a life of expectancy, a life expecting the blessings of God, which only comes through obedience. We live a life of hope because our God has promised us His favor. Scripture consistently shows us the actions we must take to unlock God’s promises.

Scripture Promises

In the following Scripture passages, we read about just some of the wonderful promises God has made to us. He is faithful and true in all He says and does. We can rely on Him!

Matthew 7:7 tells us if we knock, ask, and seek, then things will be opened, given to us, and we will find what we are looking for. Have we prayed persistently? Consider praying with others, fasting, and believing that God will do what He has promised.

Do you want to be full of joy then ask God and you will receive it(John 16:24). This isn't talking about possessions, this is spiritual fulfillment God wants to give us. Have we sought God's will?

Don't give into the devil. Fight against him, resist him, and he will run from you (James 4:7).

Have we resisted the devil? Jesus did that by quoting scripture.

Everyone says they want to be closer to God. His promise is that if you get closer to Him, then He will get closer to you (James 4:8). Have we tried to grow closer to God through Bible study and praying the will of God?

Tell God your sins. Yes, He already knows them but He wants you to acknowledge them to Him. If we do this, because He is faithful and just, He will forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Have we consistently confessed our sins? Not just some vague, "I am sorry, God," but specifically with the intention to not do them again?

God should bring us delight. He promises to give us our heart's desires when we do (Psalm 37:4). “Delight yourself in the Lord” doesn’t mean God hands over whatever desires we already have. It means as we delight in Him, He shapes our desires to match His heart. Do we delight in God or do we feel like we must do our duty? Is He our joy or are we growing weary of God?

God will stand by us with justice and our righteousness will shine before man when we trust Him and commit ourselves to His ways (Psalm 37: 5-6). Are we truly committed to Him, trusting in Him for our needs?

When we patiently wait on the Lord and walk in His ways, then the Psalmist says we will be exalted by Him and we will have our inheritance (Psalm 37:34). Have we been patient, and while we wait, have we been obedient?

We always ask ourselves, "I wonder what God wants me to do. If only He would tell me." According to Proverbs 3:6, if we acknowledge Him for who He really is, then it is He who will direct us in the way He wants us to go (Proverbs 3:6). "Acknowledge Him” means recognizing Him in all our ways. We should submit our plans to Him, not merely mentally acknowledging our dependence on Him. “He will make straight your paths” means He will direct and smooth the way in alignment with His wisdom, not necessarily make life easy. Have we acknowledged our need for God in every plan we make?

The plans we should make will be clear to us, if our actions are committed to God (Proverbs 16:3). “Established” does not always mean “made successful” in worldly terms. It means made firm, ordered, or aligned under His sovereignty. Have we committed ourselves to the Lord fully and tried to understand the plans He would have us make?

It is God who will lift us up and sustain us when our burdens are placed on Him, according to Psalm 55:22. Have we trusted that He will care for us when our burdens are heavy? Have we laid them at His feet?

Do you actively trust God with the desires of your heart? What specific steps are you taking today to draw closer to God?

Living in God's Will

We often overlook that God's promises are not just guarantees; they are invitations to engage in a deeper relationship with Him. Our faith requires action: obedience, trust, and surrender. While we eagerly await His blessings, we must also align our hearts and actions with His will.

This means seeking Him daily, resisting the distractions of the world, and being steadfast in prayer. God’s promises are not passive rewards but active outcomes of a faithful life lived in pursuit of Him. When we draw close to God, He moves closer to us, transforming our lives in ways beyond our understanding. It is through this divine partnership that we experience the fullness of God's abundant blessings.

He Shall Sustain Thee

Have you experienced this in your life? Do you want to experience more of God's promises? Do we remember to be thankful for all our blessings? Are we obedient? God’s promises are abundant, but they require a heart aligned with His will, a life of expectancy, and active obedience. When we seek Him earnestly, He is faithful to fulfill every promise. He shall sustain thee, because that is His word to us. Praise to the Lord who sustains us!