By Luann Prater
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Psalm 91:14 (NIV)
“She’s choking!” Juli’s precious little girl could not catch her breath, so with stealth-like maneuvering Juli pulled her from the high chair, and retrieved the goldfish cracker that was lodged in her throat. For the first eleven months of life this child had only known gentleness from her mother, but today’s crisis called for swift, if not exactly gentle, action. Juli spent the next 45 minutes consoling her quivering baby, all the while she trembled herself realizing how close she’d come to losing her.
Sometimes the Lord treats us the same way. He rescues us from certain danger and yet we see it as the most painful event of our lives! I look back on my life and see moments I deemed devastating, only to discover later they were actually life-giving.
Have you ever broken down and cried until there were no more tears? I have. Have you ever wondered why this tragedy is happening to you? I have. Have you ever questioned if God really cares about your circumstances? I have. Have you sat quivering like Juli or her little girl, wondering if you would ever see the sun shine in your life again? You are not alone.
In 2 Corinthians 11:26-28 Paul said, “I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”
Now here was a guy who had every reason to throw his hands up and say, “I quit - If you loved me God you wouldn’t put me through this!” However, God revealed to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
The trial that you are facing today is not too big for God to handle. As a matter of fact, being the loving parent that He is, He may be rescuing you from certain death. Believe Him … Trust Him … Love Him despite your circumstances. Someday you will look back on this time and see His hand was there all along.
Dear Lord, help us to rely on You completely during the good times, but especially Father when we can’t see past our struggle. Teach us to be more like Paul who discovered that when we are weak, You are strong in us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
P31 Woman magazine
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Visit Luann’s blog
Application Steps:
Write down any specific struggles that are facing you today. Categorize them. For example: health, finances, marital, etc. Search the scriptures to find how God rescued others in similar circumstances. Ask Him to do the same for you.
Reflections:
What causes me to stress out?
Why do I doubt His provision in my life?
How can I view this trial as a stepping-stone to an abundant life?
Power Verses:
2 Timothy 4:18, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (NIV)
James 1:2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 2:4, “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” (NIV)
© 2008 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Psalm 91:14 (NIV)
“She’s choking!” Juli’s precious little girl could not catch her breath, so with stealth-like maneuvering Juli pulled her from the high chair, and retrieved the goldfish cracker that was lodged in her throat. For the first eleven months of life this child had only known gentleness from her mother, but today’s crisis called for swift, if not exactly gentle, action. Juli spent the next 45 minutes consoling her quivering baby, all the while she trembled herself realizing how close she’d come to losing her.
Sometimes the Lord treats us the same way. He rescues us from certain danger and yet we see it as the most painful event of our lives! I look back on my life and see moments I deemed devastating, only to discover later they were actually life-giving.
Have you ever broken down and cried until there were no more tears? I have. Have you ever wondered why this tragedy is happening to you? I have. Have you ever questioned if God really cares about your circumstances? I have. Have you sat quivering like Juli or her little girl, wondering if you would ever see the sun shine in your life again? You are not alone.
In 2 Corinthians 11:26-28 Paul said, “I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”
Now here was a guy who had every reason to throw his hands up and say, “I quit - If you loved me God you wouldn’t put me through this!” However, God revealed to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
The trial that you are facing today is not too big for God to handle. As a matter of fact, being the loving parent that He is, He may be rescuing you from certain death. Believe Him … Trust Him … Love Him despite your circumstances. Someday you will look back on this time and see His hand was there all along.
Dear Lord, help us to rely on You completely during the good times, but especially Father when we can’t see past our struggle. Teach us to be more like Paul who discovered that when we are weak, You are strong in us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
P31 Woman magazine
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Visit Luann’s blog
Application Steps:
Write down any specific struggles that are facing you today. Categorize them. For example: health, finances, marital, etc. Search the scriptures to find how God rescued others in similar circumstances. Ask Him to do the same for you.
Reflections:
What causes me to stress out?
Why do I doubt His provision in my life?
How can I view this trial as a stepping-stone to an abundant life?
Power Verses:
2 Timothy 4:18, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (NIV)
James 1:2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 2:4, “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” (NIV)
© 2008 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
4 Comments:
What a blessing this devotion was for me today. I decided to put Proverbs 31 Devotions as my start page and this had me in tears. We are going through a very difficult time right now and in essence, my son has been 'snatched from danger'. This devotion was so encouraging to me. Thank you. I praise God for putting His hand on this ministry. Thank you again.
Hi Luann: It's so true that we can't always see what God has snatched us from until hindsight gives us that gift!!
I've been going thru a long test this past year. It's only been recently that I've begun to understand, that I never really understood God's grace before. I did in regards to salvation, but never on a level like this. It has opened my eyes to my pride, arrogance, and independence. I "knew" that I needed Jesus...but now I "KNOW" that I need Jesus!!
Our pastor gave a great one liner:
Always remember how much Jesus loves you...He told you so at the cross.
When circumstance or the enemy or even my self-pity try to tell me that God doesn't love me, the Holy Spirit is so faithful to bring to mind the above truth!
Thank you so much for the inspiration. Just yesterday I was praying for God to use me to get my mom back on her feet after a terrible divorce. It has left her with no house, no car, going to bed with only a glass of water in her stomach at times and her brothers and sisters (whom she has helped so much over the years) telling her that she is such a low-life and an embarassment to the family.
Today's message encouraged me to keep believing that God is going to restore everything for my mom and even bless her in excess of her expectations. Thank you for those powerful words.
It seems like our family is continually going through trials so this really spoke to me. The reflection part really helps me to clarify my thinking. Thank you.
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