Lessons from the 'Midst of Trouble'

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me.  You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies and Your right hand will save me."   Psalm 138:7

This was the verse God led me to write down on an index card for today.  As soon as I saw it I thought, "Uh oh.  In the midst of trouble...?  That doesn't sound good.  Will there ever be a day when I do not have to walk in the midst of trouble on this earth?" 

As I reflect on the events of the day, yes, I can see how God is good, and His Word was just what I'd need.  He was good to have given me that scripture to cling to throughout the day.  A few things He has pointed out to me from that scripture are:

Though I am "walking in the midst of trouble...."  Sometimes we feel like we're surrounded by trouble, and this word "trouble" means "Affliction, distress, adversity, anguish, tribulation."   It's very difficult and exhausting to STAND UP, much less WALK in the midst of affliction, distress, anguish, tribulation and adversity, isn't it?  But here we see God has promised that even though we are walking in the midst of trouble, HE will revive us.  He will revive our exhausted spirit as we strive to keep walking with Him, even in our storms. 

What if our storms are caused by an enemy that could be compared to a fire breathing dragon?  An angry person whose behavior is irrational?  God says He will stretch out His hand against the wrath of our enemies.  I noticed something in this verse though.  It doesn't say He will stretch out His hand against our enemies, but instead, against their wrath. . their anger. . .the fire that they are spewing out.  Psalm 76:10 says  Surely the wrath of man shall praise you: the remainder of wrath shall you restrain.  God can use even the very wrath and anger of man to bring Himself glory.  "...the sins of the wicked are made an occasion for the display of the divine perfections in maintaining law; in the administering of justice; in preserving order. But there is another sense, also, in which the wrath of man is made the occasion for glorifying God. It is, that since there is such wrath, or since there are such wicked purposes, God makes use of that wrath, or of those wicked purposes, as he does of the powers of nature - of pestilence, disease, and storms, as instruments to accomplish his own designs, or to bring about great results...." (Barnes' Notes on the Bible) 

And it's good to note that He says, "The remainder of that wrath He will refrain."  The leftovers that He doesn't use for His glory, well, He'll just bind it up...and the wrath of our enemies can do us no harm.  It's like having a barking dog on a short chain.  The dog can snarl and bark for ever how long it wants to, but as long as it's bound by that chain, it can do us no harm, providing we are not within its reach.

 

And the last part of today's verse:  His right hand will save us.  What a picture!  Who is seated at the Father's right hand?  None other than our Savior-- Jesus!   So God wants us to understand that He will spare no expense or strength to save (deliver) us from our enemy.  And He has SPARED NO expense, because He gave us His Son, Who gave His life as the payment for OUR SIN.  Jesus saves!  AND He will deliver you and me from whatever our enemy spews out at us each day. 

Just remember though, we've got to keep walking. :o)

Father, I needed this verse today.  Thank You for this lesson from Your Word.  Apply this Word to my heart like an ointment, that will heal and strengthen me.  Thank You for Your precious promises!  I claim this one tonight, and pray for my fellow sisters and brothers out there who may be walking in the midst of trouble.  Stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of our enemy, who is Satan... and we thank You for the promise that Jesus, Who is at Your right hand, will deliver us!  In His name I pray, Amen.

In the Dark? Here's the Key...

Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?  let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon His God.  Isaiah 50:10

Have you found yourself to be in the dark about something? Wondering where God is taking you, or what He is up to.  Wondering how things will ever work out?    Have you remained ever faithful in your healthy fear (respect) for the LORD?  And you're still obeying His voice, as He speaks?  Yet ... there you are, still in the dark....having no light?

Take heart my friend!    As soon as I read this verse in my devotional today, I noticed that I had written "2010" on the corner of the page.  Here I am, exactly one year later, and still wondering how in the world this particular situation (that I've not mentioned. . . . YET) will ever work out.   But I have found HOPE!  I have found the secret to NOT losing hope!  You can too!  It's right here in the Word!   

• continue to fear the LORD...respect Him.... be "afraid" to hurt Him or let Him down.  That will keep you on the right path.
• Continue to obey Him as He does speak words of guidance to you..Obey immediately, or else you'll become sluggish in your walk with Him. Obey at Once in each little tiny step throughout your day.

And, if you're like me, still in darkness, not sure about things, the command for us today is:

• trust in the name of the LORD.   TRUST in the POWERFUL NAME of the LORD.  The One and ONLY Lord.  The One that at just the SOUND of His name, every knee will bow and tongue will confess that HE IS LORD.  TRUST IN our Precious LORD's name!  ONLY!  Not in money, not in other people....in nothing else BUT His lovely name!
• STAY UPON Your God.    Rest on Him.  Rely upon Him.  The Hebrew transliteration is "shaan" which means to Lean, to support oneself upon.  Lean Upon the strong arm of the LORD.  Rest upon Your God.  Did you realize that HE is YOUR God!?  How personal is this?  Isn't this wonderful?  Not only is HE the Creator of the universe, my dears, but He is YOUR Very own, One and Only, Loving, Tender, Compassionate, Forgiving, Patient, Gentle, Sweet, Strong, Heavenly Father---He is Yours!  And you, my friend, and I, are HIS!

So....keep on walking, obeying, trusting, relying on Him...SOONER or LATER, He shall shed His wonderful LIGHT upon your path!  and upon YOU!

"...the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." 
Numbers 6:25-26

Praise You Father, for bringing hope and encouragement to us who are following You, yet still "in the dark" about things.  We know that You tell us if we walk with You we will walk in Light...and we fellowship with YOU, Who IS the LIGHT of the World. . .we thank You that You understand we have the desire to understand things . . .and yet we are unable to.  Thank You for encouraging us to keep on walking in the direction You are leading, as we know You have said You will lead "the blind in a way that they have not been before."  How very scary to be blind, and in unfamiliar territory!  Help us continue to obey You, and trust and fully rely upon YOU!  We thank You for when You WILL break forth the Son-shine, we shall see what this was all about!  And we pray it will be for Your glory!!  And for our good!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.