In My Distress

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?

Psalm 118:5-6

What can mere people do to me?

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns,

for your heavenly Father feeds them.

And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

Matthew 6:26-27

I remember a time when I ignored verses like Psalm 118:5-6. People can hurt you. Can’t they?

Sometimes it seems that there are verses that challenge the way I think as a person, not just as a believer. That’s a good thing. It makes me look to my Helper for understanding.

Even though I fully believe this, there have been seasons in my life when I didn’t want to hear such a verse.

One event occurred fifteen years ago. I was held at gunpoint in a robbery. If a well-meaning believer had told me about this verse afterwards, in an attempt to offer comfort, I would not have been comforted.

“…cold, gripping fear…”

Does today’s key verse really mean what it expresses? I can tell you in this season of my life that I know it does. This verse is absolutely straight from the heart of God.

But fifteen years ago, I was not very mature spiritually. It isn’t that I have reached some kind of spiritual pinnacle now. But thankfully, God helps his sons and daughters grow in faith.

I have learned that spiritual maturity takes time and different kinds of experiences. Some of those experiences may include painful moments.

Some painful moments are caused by our own sin. Sometimes by illness or loss. Sometimes we may not know the whys.

Looking back, I see how God has worked in my life. He has protected and encouraged me. He revealed the secrets that kept me trapped in fear. He has freed me from destructive sin.

God has used every moment of my life to bring me closer to Him. I regret it took me so long to give up my independence and let Him help me grow.

I can tell you that I never want to be the victim of a violent crime again. But I can also tell you that I am so thankful for every moment that God has chosen for my life.

God is not the author of evil. He is holy and good and full of loving kindness.

I am a sinner who would never have chosen Him if the Holy Spirit had not helped me hear His voice. In human arrogance, I would have been angry at Him for all of the hurtful things that I have ever known.

God waited on me to follow Him. Walking with God is kind of like watching a dad who is vigilant to walk at a steady pace for a young, helpless child. He has never lost sight of me.

The men who entered my life with violence and hatred were responsible for their actions. Their evil intent wasn’t caused by their struggles or lack of resources; it came from their sinful hearts.

God was not responsible for their evil intentions either. Like all of us, they had a choice. They chose poorly.

But God would have waited on them, too.

The fact that He loved them, just makes me love Him more.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

God isn’t willing for anyone to be condemned. (John 3:17)

Whatever terrifies us, God’s Word tells us not to fear. That means that if we truly walk with God then we really do not have to be afraid. We don’t even have to be afraid of dying.

How do I know? Because I have faced other frightful moments in more recent years. The most recent was the day I was diagnosed with cancer. At first, the diagnosis did cause fear. But this time my fears were quickly subdued. Jesus showed me just what to do.

Now I am not saying that I lived in a euphoric state of peace. There were times when I would have to get my bearings again. But I stayed committed to my walk with God. I read my Bible. A lot.

I spent time with Him while He showed me some of the answers to my questions. He also left some unanswered.

God showed me so many treasures in His Word. (Romans 8:28-39)

I talked to Him all the time, and still do. Even outside the structured routine prayer time, just off the cuff, I would tell Him things about my day or thank Him for my husband’s strong hand of comfort and help.

One of my kids would call at just the right time or a sweet grandchild would absent mindedly give me a hug, not even knowing how much I needed that.

And I would thank my Jesus because I knew that the Holy Spirit had orchestrated that kindness, just for me.

By God’s wonderful grace I have learned that He really means it when He says, “Fear Not”.

John 14:27; Joshua 1:9

If you are a believer who has become distracted by the noise of living, just stop. Ask for your Helper to make things different. He wants a relationship with you. He can give you courage like you have never had before.

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.