Because of His promises

And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence. – 2 Kings 13.22-23

The whole time Jehoahaz was king of Israel the nation was oppressed by Syria and their king, Hazael. This Syria/Israeli conflict has gone on for a long time. The oppression in those days involved loss of property, slavery, high  taxation, military conscription and many other things. Being oppressed by a foreign power was not a good thing.

But even during their oppression God was still there. He was gracious to them, He had compassion on them, and He regarded them and their needs and their situation. Even in hard times God was still there and He had not changed. He was not going to let them go.

Why? Because God is a God who keeps His promises. He was not going to let them go. They were His and He had long ago promised in His covenants that He would never leave them.

And, though the covenant is different today, the promise is the same. ‘I am with you always’ Christ said before He left. The book of Hebrews records ‘I will never leave you or forsake you says the Lord.’

So even in our tough times we can depend on our Lord to continue to pour out His grace. We can depend on His compassion to carry on. We can depend on the fact that He will regard our needs.

Thank God for His promises and thank God He is a promise keeper.