04/19/2022
What do we do when we are faced with certain calamity, or we are required to make a decision in a situation that has no obvious answer? Well, the solution is not to cower in fear, or throw up our hands in surrender, no, like in all things that require us to exceed our ability, we are to turn to God for His strength, rescue, provision, or an answer. We are to seek Him, and then stand firm. Times like this require that we wait on the Lord our God to take action, speak wisdom to us, or show us an escape. In such situations we will surely see the hand of God in a powerful way.
“And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.”
Exodus 14:13 ESV
Challenges face us every day, and we often ask why it is that as Christians we are made to confront them, but it is natural for life to be fraught with hardship. It is only by walking on the raging sea that God reveals His absolute power to us, only in our suffering that the Lord truly comforts us, and by facing questions we can’t answer that we come to know the perfect wisdom of God. Each and every trial and tribulation in our life blesses us in some way, and has a purpose that brings us closer to our Father. David knew this…
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalm 34:1, 17-19 ESV
And God tells us why as well… it is to glorify Him. If our lives were like the surface of a smooth pond without a single ripple, a leak never quivered, and the sun was never covered by a cloud, then we would see the reflection of life on the water, and not be able to distinguish it from what was real. We would be tempted to worship the false image, and not the Lord who cast it. We would lose sight of what deserved glory.
“and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.””
Psalm 50:15 ESV
In my house there are many pictures of my wife and my children, but none of them ever hugged me, or kissed my face. Not one of these pictures laughs with glee, or thanks me when I help them, and so it is in our lives… it is the wind on the water, and the sudden storms that rage, which show us what is real. Only in the moments of pain that we experience can God rescue us, comfort us, bless us, and show us His true goodness, love, and nature. Only when we are alone do we truly understand the power in His presence, and only when we are perplexed can He demonstrate his wisdom to us. Our faith is strengthened most when we see Him clearly.
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”
Titus 3:5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your son Jesus who lived, died, and was resurrected for us. It was by His suffering that we came to know the unbridled love you have for us. Thank you Lord for every challenge, traumatic event, and unsolvable problem we face, because in the midst of them we call on you, and come to know you more completely as you help us through them. In every storm we come to know your calm, in every hardship you reveal the rest we have in you, and in all our pain we find the relief of your healing hand. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sets yourself apart from all else in those times that reveal you most. Praised be your name for every calamity we experience because in them we see your unfathomable glory as you deliver us, and we praise you in our quandaries, as we marvel at your wisdom. Merciful are you Lord as you rescue us from the trials of life, and use them to bolster our faith and belief in you. Your grace is most pronounced in the times when our efforts fail, and the storms blow the hardest. It is in our times of greatest tribulation that we see you most clearly. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus to remove every sin, and demonstrate to all creation your mercy and forgiveness. Judge us worthy and call us your children on the day of judgement; not because of our perfection, but because of the perfection we have in Christ. Seat us at your table where we will never again need calamity to help us define you, nor hunger to draw us to you.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:4-6 ESV
Rich Forbes