When crisis hits and the pressure’s rising high, my mind can reel from realities looming large. My mind all too capable of magnifying the facts. Anxiety inches up on the internal Richter scale as my heart races and my chest tightens.
Oh yeah. Take a deep breath. And yes, another.
When my mind is running out of control all thoughts are scattered and blurred. Nothing good comes from fear and fright manufactured what-ifs. Never-the-less I try.
My peace shattered. Serenity gone.
Desperation once again drives me to my knees in prayer. My situation has rendered me powerless. Any imagined control pointless, and frustrating.
Time to Let Go and Let God
Then let my Bible fall open to the comfort of Psalm 18. My favorite when the world closes in.
The thin page is crinkled and coffee stained. But the comfort jumps of the page. God reminds me of His divine protection…
”I love You fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength. 2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.3 I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Immediately I am reminded that He will deliver me, as He has before. Just as he delivered David from his enemies.
4 The cords or bands of death surrounded me, and the streams of ungodliness and the torrents of ruin terrified me.5 The cords of Sheol (the place of the dead) surrounded me; the snares of death confronted and came upon me.6 In my distress [when seemingly closed in] I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His [very] ears.
The comfort and reassurance flows off the page. My desperate cry is indeed heard by God Almighty.
God’s Swift Answer During Crisis
“7 Then the earth quaked and rocked, the foundations also of the mountains trembled; they moved and were shaken because He was indignant and angry.8 There went up smoke from His nostrils; and lightning out of His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it.9 He bowed the heavens also and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub [a storm] and flew [swiftly]; yes, He sped on with the wings of the wind.11 He made darkness His secret hiding place; as His pavilion (His canopy) round about Him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.12 Out of the brightness before Him there broke forth through His thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.13 The Lord also thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, amid hailstones and coals of fire.14 And He sent out His arrows and scattered them; and He flashed forth lightnings and put them to rout.
15 Then the beds of the sea appeared and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.16 He reached from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.17 He delivered me from my strong enemy and from those who hated and abhorred me, for they were too strong for me.18 They confronted and came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay and support.” (Psalm 18:7-18 AMP).
Lingering in God’s presence, His love and peace surround me. God will rescue me. God will rescue us.
During the storm the focus is on first eighteen verses. But the rest of the chapter recounts David’s deliverance from Saul.
I am reminded that the crisis will pass. God is in control and my faith will grow. He will light my lamp and illuminate the darkness.
He guides me as I traverse the unknown path.
My God teaches me to fight the current battle.
He is my shield and defense.
The Victory is Certain
In the current health crisis may we read, pray and walk God’s word. Great deliverances and triumphs are certain when we trust God.
Please share your favorite Psalm. Let’s bear one another burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.
Prayer for Today
Father, we are helpless in the wake of this current health crisis of Covid !9. Health care workers are stretched thin, supplies are diminished, lives are hanging in the balance. We ask for your touch world wide concerning this issue. Please stop the spread of illness. Please help individuals to see and participate in social distancing and staying home. Please be with each business that has been affected by this crisis. Amen.
Also, my new book is available: Before You Depart: God’s Touch Before Eternity.
and Coping Skills for Caregivers
Photo Credits: Tim Goedhart unsplash (1), Amelie Niklas Ohlrogge unsplash
© 2020 Nanette M. Holloway-All Rights Reserved
Proverbs 3:5-6. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Amen!