“My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow. Bow down Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them. Stretch out Your hand from above; Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, From the hand of foreigners, Whose mouth speaks lying words, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
Psalms 144:2-8 NKJV
Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is our constant. Our rock. The beautiful thing about trials is that it is in the midst of suffering, our foundations are tested and we see what remains standing. In the Psalms, we see the vulnerability of David–a King, who despite his victories and mighty confidence, still faced defeat and trials. He knew what it felt like to have no control over his circumstances and feel surrounded by his enemies. But he also knew exactly who to turn to as his source of hope, as his mighty rock, and as his firm foundation. May we also not forget that our King Jesus, also knew what it was like to walk in the midst of a broken world, facing temptations, and needing his own bail-out. But he defeated death so we wouldn’t have to. He bailed us out.
This year has come with an abundance of new challenges. We have all felt in our own ways as if we were drowning. But as citizens of Heaven, we know the One who truly fights each battle for us. We do not suffer without hope. May we be those who are willing to surrender all of our strength and all of our efforts to the one who goes before us, treads the waters, and leads us into complete victory and complete wholeness.
Prayer: Lord, I cry out desperately to You today. I cannot carry these burdens on my own. You are my rock and my foundation. I surrender to You and to Your will. Go before me, Lord, and I will follow.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.”
Psalms 40:1-5 NKJV
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