God to the Rescue
Today was certainly a less busy and exciting day than yesterday. It was good to get some work done in my garden that I needed to address. After some office work, I was able to get in a good workout at the pool and a ride on my bike. Somewhat of a “normal” day for me.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “If the Lord had not helped me, I would have died in a minute. I said, “I am about to fall,” but, Lord, your love kept me safe. I was very worried, but you comforted me and made me happy.” Psalm 94:17-19
Psalm 94 is about the assaults of the wicked. The psalm reveals the relentlessness of the assaults and the questions that can arise when it seems that evil prevails and the Lord is silent. But we see the psalmist affirming the righteousness of the Lord and that the Lord will hold the wicked accountable and discipline them.
He also affirms the Lords care for His own in these words, “The Lord won’t leave his people nor give up his children.” (Psa. 94:14) I like those affirming words. We may feel forsaken, the circumstances of life may be overwhelming, but we are never forsaken or abandoned.
As I read this Psalm this morning, verse 17-19 caught my attention. After returning to Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital and sharing some of my experiences with my guests these verses served as a reminder of the Lord’s intervention. I wasn’t assault by “the” wicked but was assaulted by “a” wicked infection.
In many respects I’m not sure if I can fully appreciate just surviving some of the challenges that I faced. It certainly gets the attention of those who hear my story and even of medical people. This was certainly true on February 22, 2014 when I went into septic shock from an infection. Debbie makes the observation, “I could tell I was losing you before my eyes.” But because of my wife’s quick actions and the Lord’s help, my life was spared.
During my recovery one of the greatest fears I faced as that of falling. With my weakness and equilibrium that was thrown off by a brain injury, the fear and sense of falling was something that I experienced almost daily. But through it all the Lord kept me safe; even later in my recovery when I did have some falls He kept me from serious injury. As a matter of fact last night I had a small fall (I called it a slide) when the table I was trying to rest on tipped over.
Prolonged illness and recovery and the relentless attacks from the enemies of life can create anxiety and worry. But the psalmist affirms with confidence that the Lord, “comforted me and made me happy.” I can testify to the comfort, peace and joy the Lord can bring even in the most challenging circumstances.
One of the legislators I was sharing my story with made a comment that I often hear, “how were you able to cope with all of that?” The answer is found in the experience of the psalmist, “the Lord helped me and kept me from death…He kept me safe and He brought comfort and happiness into my circumstances.”
Whatever the source of the challenges that confront your life, you can count on the Lord’s help, safety and comfort. Remember, the Lord won’t leave you or give up on you!