Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our omnipotent God! Nothing is too
hard for Him.
David wrote, "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful
unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I
make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most
high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57:1-2). Calamities
have to do with something rushing upon or falling upon someone; while it can be
as "mild" as mischief, naughtiness, and noise, it can also extend to
the level of ruin.
David faced lots of calamities. This particular one was
hiding in a cave while fleeing from Saul. David also faced a lion, a bear, and a
giant. He faced an impossibly dangerous betrothal requirement, risky missions, years
of exile, and numerous battles. He faced ongoing imminent threats from his
father-in-law, the unwilling dissolution of his marriage, and the capture of
his family. He faced hunger, thirst, and deprivation. He faced political
opposition, civil war, hard-headed subordinates, and a threatening revolt by
his own son. He lost an child in infancy, had one son killed by another son,
and later had a long-estranged son killed against his command. I'm sure the
list could go on.
So what calamities have unexpectedly rushed on you or have
crushingly fallen on you? Do these difficulties seem impossible to bear and even
threaten ruin? Whatever you face is no harder for God to handle than it was for
Him to handle David's calamities. In spite of all that happened in David's
lifetime, we must remember that David lived a long life, had a lengthy reign as
king, united the kingdom, and brought it to an era of peace. I would say God
delivered him.
In Psalm 57, David says he will make his refuge in God until
his current calamities were overpast. He knew they would end. They always did.
Some calamities lasted longer than others, but they all ended. While the Old
Testament contains examples of temporary trials, the New Testament repeatedly
states that our trials are but for a season.
In the meanwhile, we can take refuge in God - specifically
in the shadow of His wings. This is a precious picture of protection. Not only
is the protecting mother bird fierce and tenacious, but there is also the idea
of warmth, closeness, and nurturing. God can hold you close and safe for as
long as the calamity endures.
There is one more thing I love that David says in these
verses. He gives another description of the God in whom he takes refuge: the
God that performs all things for him. There is comfort in knowing that God is
the one who does it all. When the deliverance comes, it comes by God's hand.
While the trial endures, it is God that upholds and protects. In fact, even the
trial itself does not fall outside God's control. When we face calamity, it is
only because God has ordained it to accomplish His purposes.
Certainly, God does not prohibit us from taking appropriate,
wise steps to address our calamities. We cannot trust in ourselves, however.
Isn't it true that most of the time we don't even know what to do? Even if we
did think of a solution, we wouldn't have the ability or the finances to make
it happen. How much better to take refuge in God, the one who performs all
things for us. He will hold us safe and carry us through until the calamity passes
over. He alone will get the credit for the deliverance, and God can bring the
deliverance no matter how impossible the calamity appears. He is omnipotent.
"In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face/
While the storms howl above me, and there's no hiding place./ 'Mid the crash of
the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry./ Keep me safe till the storm passes
by.
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more/
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky./ Hold me fast, let me stand in the
hollow of Thy hand./ Keep me safe till the storm passes by."
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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