“Though you made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Psalm 71:20
What a wonderful promise. As Christians we are hardly immune from tough times. We don’t get a magic shot at baptism that protects us from tragedy and hardships. Life happens.
There are consequences of our actions, of poor decisions made. There are the hard knocks that inevitably come while living in a sinful world, as sure as water keeps hitting on a rock, slowly beating it down to gravel. People do atrocious things to each other, sometimes without really understanding the impact because they are so wrapped up in themselves. Sometimes because they have mental anguish. Sometimes because they are angry and hurt. Then there are the unexplainable. The disease that ravishes someone way too young, the car that careens out of control, the one killed by a mine explosion set by an enemy while others walked close by unscathed. Lest we forget, there are acts of “God” – severe weather that tears apart homes, fires that consume houses, waves that plummet over towns and wash them out to sea, rumbles in the earth that topple blocks of buildings..
There is not a human being alive who has not felt at one time or another crushed into the dirt by some giant foot. But as Christians, we have hope. We have a God who loves and cares for us, who promises to always be there, in good and bad times. A God who died for us, who reaches down and takes hold of us when we can not reach u p to Him.
His last words were “I am with you always to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28:20 ) That is ALWAYS. Our Lord keeps His promises, even if and when we do not keep ours.
Thank You Lord that I can turn to You, always. Thank you that I can confess my sins and know that I am forgiven and that You have great plans for me – plans to comfort me, mold me and grow me into what I need to be. You give me the armor for the earthly battles of my life- the armor is your Word, Your Love and Your Spirit. When the waves of life crash down upon me, let me hear your voice over the din of the surf and storm of the tragedy. And most of all thank You for dying for me so I can live and one day rest totally in Your Holy Presence Teach me daily how to rest in You here on earth. Remind me, once again and always, that You are here at my side. Then in all things I will be able to give thanks. Amen.
“You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.” Psalm 70:21
