God's Promise to be With us

Daniel Rich • May 16, 2020

God's right here beside you....

From the beginning God walked through the Garden daily with Adam and Eve. Although the fall did happen, He has been reconnected with His beloved children through His son, Jesus. Jesus, divine and human, came to be with us. He loved us so much that he even died so we could be reconciled to our Father God. Jesus’ functioned WITH God. His sacrifice gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit so everyone in the world could experience the joy of walking WITH God.



S: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41: 10 



O: What caught my eye is God’s promise of security! It is a promise of relationship regardless of what we have done, claiming you are mine, providing strength and help, and intimately holding us with His hand. God uses the word “I” four times, twice telling us who He is to us, and twice what He will do about it. It makes me begin to imagine a dad kneeling by his child. He has one hand around their shoulder, the other pointing in a direction to show the way, and out of his smile I hear Him say, “Let’s do this one together”!



This promise of relational help is much better than any financial, even physical, or intellectual help to get through hard times. For me, it took a long time to grasp that God desires to be with me. Maybe my assumptions were wrong growing up. I was convinced that God was over me—over my sin, my continued weakness, and my inability to change. I don’t like being around people who let me down, so why would God want to be in a relationship with me when I continued to let Him down?



A: God hasn’t only pardoned my sins, He is looking past them and promises to be in a relationship with me. It is not not just a relationship as a distant God, but as a Father who provides and protects His kids. I’m amazed by this every time I see God doing this through the Bible.



Today we can live differently. For me I’m taking the unknowns, frustrations, fears and things that are confusing and I’m handing them to God. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7. When I slow down and approach God with these, I often find peace calming me, confidence returns, and courage to move forward!


P: Thank you for promising to be with me, even when I don’t have much together. I want things to be different between us. I want you close to me in everything. Would you help me slow down and include you into every part of my life, especially the ones that I’ve tried to control? Would you fill me with love and courage to love and lead those closest to me, in the same way you are leading me? In Jesus’ name, amen.



Daniel Rich

Hawaii State Director


Daniel has been serving as the Hawaii State Director since February of 2019! He's been working with FCA for 10 years. He graduated from Clemson University in 2008.


He started his FCA career as a Volleyball Area Rep in Orange County. In 2011, Daniel became the Director of FCA Volleyball throughout Southern California. God opened doors for him to lead huddles on the AVP and USA National team. Then in 2015, he took the basics of his volleyball ministry and translated it into other sports, as Daniel lead sports specific ministries in Southern California. Then in 2016, Daniel joined forces with Barry Martinez, as a Director in Talent Advancement for the Western Region.


Daniel and his team started an Internship Program that has influenced the nation and how internships are done within FCA. They’ve graduated 140+ college athletes and over 100 are still coaching and influencing the volleyball world!


They’ve also pioneered ministry to club and travel sports and have innovated ways to empower coaches in the volleyball world.


The impact of Daniel’s ministry to the volleyball community at the Huntington Beach Pier will hopefully continue through the handful of locals still loving and reaching the people there.

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Hawaii, sunset, beach

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By Sammy Nishiyama • 21 Jul, 2020
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