“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” – Psalm 62:5
Sometimes things don’t work out the way we expect. There have been a lot of different ways I have responded in the past when this happens to me, but today I was overwhelmed, and my reactions were a bit different.
Last night, I was trying to help out two friends. I had tried to do my best, but everything I was doing hit a wall. Nothing was falling into place, and I was getting very frustrated… for them and for me. Unable to resolve the situations, I went to bed, but my stomach was in knots. I prayed, hoping for sleep, and God in His goodness gave me a good night’s rest.
When I awoke, my first thoughts were about the previous night and my problems. Again, turmoil was within me, and I felt the anxiety increasing once more. I said a quick prayer, asking God for help, but to also give me the strength to “cast all my cares upon Him” (1 Peter 5:7).
I knew it was time for me to listen to what God had to say.
I opened the Bible and began to read. The two passages for today were in Job and Psalms, and both focused on the omniscience and omnipotence of God. Of course, I had fallen into the trap of believing that everything was in my control, but I was reminded that it is God who is in control. It is God who delivers. “Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.” (Psalm 107:6). My prayer was a little different this time. I surrendered my problems to the Lord, and chose to trust Him for the outcomes. My anxieties subsided, and His Spirit filled me with His peace.
Oh, by the way, everything ended up working out just fine. It took a little work on my part, but realizing that God had it covered, I chose to do what I needed to do and left the rest up to Him, trusting God for successful results. He did exactly as His Word said He would do. He delivered me out of my distresses!
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress into jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
(from “Jesus, I Come” by William Sleeper and George Stebbins)
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” – Psalm 18:2
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How has God delivered you lately?