10012022 Remote Places

Dear Missionary Lady,

“By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea” (Psalm 65:5).

The God of our salvation will save us. He will answer us, sometimes in awesome acts that put fear into man. Thus, the same act that pulls the wicked up short can marvelously deliver God’s children.

What I most love about this verse is the extent of those who can trust God. God can be confidently trusted even by those who are at the ends of the earth or the remotest part of the sea.

Sometimes people groups have referred to “the white man’s God”; they have viewed Christianity as being exclusively European or American. But Africans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, indigenous groups? While some might not readily accept the truth, God wants to be the God of all.

When people of any tribe or nation put their trust in God, He becomes the God of their salvation. They can have confidence in Him, regardless of where they live. There are literal ends of the earth (the Tibetan Plateau, Patagonia, Siberia, The Sahara Desert) and far reaches of the sea (Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Tristan da Cunha, the Faroe Islands). God can be trusted by all who live in those remote areas.

There are figurative ends of the earth. The end of the earth would be a place of isolation and solitude, abandoned by others. It would be devoid of resources. It might be a time of trial or abandonment. It might be a situation that others don’t understand. It might be a time of great loss and reversal. But even if there are no human supporters and no earthly resources, God can be trusted.

Those in difficult trials often feel like they are in the midst of a vicious storm, floating somewhere in the distant ocean. They are pelted by the rain. They can’t touch bottom. They see no friendly islands on which to land. God can be trusted there also.

There is nowhere, whether actual or imagined, that God is not with His children. That He is not able to meet their needs, comfort them, support them. That He is not able to rescue and deliver.

So whatever form the isolation takes, God can be our confidence. He can be trusted, and He can deliver. May He be near and dear to you in whatever place or manner that you may find yourself alone.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA