“O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”** 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV)**
Ever been in a situation where you did not know what to do? Frozen in despondency and despair, grieving and sinking in the sand in lieu of standing firm on solid ground. Look up – not out or in but up. Our God is an ever present help in our times of troubles. Trust in Him, leaning not on our own understanding as King David writes. It is He that makes our paths straight. When the tempest arrives, we cast our anchors upward and He will never let the righteous fall. Our trust in Him is the great antidote for sinking sand.
Oftentimes, believers are hit with one wave after another after another. Knocking us here and there and often, quite literally, taking our breath away – and not in a good way. Arrows are flying, Sorrows are multiplied. In these perilous times, it is our faith in the Lord Jesus that preserves our souls. It is He that equips us and strengthens us, keeping us from falling. When we look back on trying incidences, we can know that it was He Who carried us through on eagles wings. Remember, He too was a man of sorrows familiar with suffering. Believers can know that all He allows – even in the most difficult of things – He is working for our good. The “thing” may be horrific but what it is doing in the life of the heir of mercy is not. When we fix our eyes on Him and not on the wind and waves we can be secure in Him for He shields us all day long and the One the Lord loves rests between His shoulders, Scripture tells us. God has extraordinary ways to bear us up in all of life’s circumstances. We are not to let our hearts be troubled rather fully trust in Him.
God very often brings His children into situations “far beyond our ability to endure” as the Apostle Paul writes, so that we may rely on Him and not on ourselves. He wants us to see what He can do in and through our dire circumstances – which is far greater than what flawed flesh can accomplish. God is always with His children but He remains closest to the ones in the fires of affliction. Just ask Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when you get to heaven.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.** 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NIV)**