Laying curled up in a ball on my bed, my head pounding and my eyes filled with pain, I plead with the only One who I know that can understand my suffering: "Lord, help me," and many times that's all I can say. I have no words of truth to speak, I can't muster the strength to fight against the lies keeping me down, and it seems as if I will stay on that bed forever. Unable to move or change or to be anything but this broken, out of order mess. I try to get up, but I'm already defeated in my mind. The weight of this world is pushing me down and there is no rest. I'm suffocating, I think I might be dying, and the One who calms my soul seems long gone. I am alone, and no one is coming to rescue me.
And then my hubby whispers, "Come on honey, let's get up and do devotions." I slowly and grudgingly get up. I hate that he knows what's best for me! So I (finally) go out on the patio with my Bible and my devotional book, and I begin to pray a prayer that goes something like this, "Lord, help me understand Your word. Speak to me this morning. Grow me into a woman who is more like You." I start reading out of my first lesson from The Book of Hope, by Natalie Guthrie. (This is a brand new devotional to me and so far I love it! If you're in a dark, confused, or lost place, you should check it out)! Since it was my first day in the devotional book, I only read the introduction and the starter page for the week. However, I noticed that there was a verse to meditate on throughout the week listed at the bottom of the page. The verse came out of Psalm 34, and I decided to read the entire chapter that morning so I could understand the context a little better. The first time I read through the Psalm I realized something, (pay attention to the italics):
"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
He delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
He protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD will rescue His servants;
no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned." (Psalm 34: 18-21)
Was this passage really saying what I thought it was saying? Was there really hope for my broken heart? Was God really still fighting for me? Could He really defeat this? Yes. He could, and He will. Time will tell how and when, but one thing is for sure: there is no problem that is too big for God to take care of. There is no issue that He cannot resolve. There is nothing that He is unable to rescue me from.
When you've lost hope, read this Psalm and embrace the truth. Our God is greater!
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