June 5, 2001
God does not lead His children around hardship,
but leads them straight through hardship. But He leads!
And amidst the hardship, He is nearer to them than ever before.
-- Otto Dibelius
I was thinking about this quote this morning, it was a timely reminder for me as the past several days have been particularly hard, and in those moments I'm not always sure I have the strength to make it. At just the right time I am reminded that I don't.. BUT God does.. all I need to do is cling to God. I used to think that it was me holding his hand, that the burden was on me when in fact, he is holding mine.. all I have to do is not pull away!
"But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.
He ransoms me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall. "
Psalm 55:16-18, 22
This comforted me and helped me get a better perspective this morning.. as I pour out my heart, my anguish and my distress to God he does hear me. That's important because sometimes I wonder about that because I don't immediately see what I really want -- relief from what I'm going through. I want for the hardship to end and to be able to move into a time of relative peace in my life. I've studied out hardship enough that I know that God has very specific purposes when he allows it, sometimes he is refining and testing my faith, strengthening my relationship with him or teaching me the perseverance required to mature and make it to heaven. All of which is accompanied by promises that he doesn't leave us alone through it... nonetheless when it comes.. I want it to go and quickly!! What I need to bring myself back to constantly is that times of trial are not bad, they just are... God promises to save me... as I cry out he hears me and he ransoms me unharmed! That was a new thought for me today... I think of the feelings of distress as being bad but they aren't... in the midst of what I go through God will ransom/rescue me unharmed. Satan can't win, he can't get a victory or a foothold in my life unless I let go of God's hand!