FAITH—beyond a shadow of—Doubt
“They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
(The Psalms 18: 18 NASB)
But the LORD was my stay.”
Have you ever been tossed? Maybe you have just read that question and thought, ‘Tossed how? Physically? Emotionally? Spiritually?
Have you ever been tossed so that your life appears to be ‘knocked off its center,’ and you have wondered, “Lord, why is this happening to me?”
In the Bible, we read many life-stories revealing examples of times when God’s children were ‘tossed,’ times when they were not sure if their lives would be spared. One such life-narrative occurred when King Saul pursued the God-anointed, soon-to-be king, shepherd boy turned warrior, David, the son of Jesse and the youngest sibling within the household. Having read this description leads us to see that GOD uses people in such unique ways because the LORD uses people who the world sees differently.
I love it when the LORD makes His Word accessible and memorable, when GOD causes our lives to easily align with those who lived and walked on the face of the earth before us. This occurred early this morning as I found myself reading David’s song to the LORD, a song that David sung on the day when the LORD delivered him from his enemies. In the aftermath of the storm, David could see without a shadow of doubt WHO had been his help.
“In my distress I called upon the LORD,
(The Psalms 18: 6 NASB)
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”
Storms blasted against David.
- The earth shook.
- Hailstones fell all around him.
- Darkness permeated the night.
The enemy came directly at David, intent on taking his life.
“The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
(The Psalms 18: 13-14 NASB)
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
He sent out His arrows,
and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance,
and routed them.”
THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY—was the stay his servant David needed to continue the fight.
THE LORD JEHOVAH GOD—was the lamp who lit the pathway his servant David needed to find his way.
THE LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST—was the helmet and the shield of faith his servant David needed to help him keep his feet from slipping during his life-faith-walk.
THE LORD GOD—was the rock his servant David needed more than any other thing!
So, David sang his song.
- He remembered.
- He recalled.
- He praised his God.
- He danced.
- He twirled.
- He raised his hands high to the Most High God.
As David, God’s servant sang—
“The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;
(The Psalms 18: 46 & 49 NASB)
And exalted be the God of my salvation,”
. . .
[David recounts the many ways & times the LORD rescued & lifted him]
“Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises to Your name.”
Today, may we be encouraged by this life-example, by David’s song of praise.
We may be walking in distress.
May we cry out to God who will hear our voice!
We may feel calamity surrounding us.
May we always remember—the LORD forever stays beside us, never leaving our side!
We may sense the heavenly presence of the Most High.
May we stand in awe at the holy spectacle our God commands!
We may walk through life-battles, through health-battles, through emotional-battles.
May we give thanks, day-after-day, praising the LORD, the ONE who is our stay, our ROCK!
“But seeing the wind, he became frightened,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 14: 30-31 NASB)
[Peter was sensing the storm surrounding him]
and beginning to sink,
[Peter felt all alone there upon the raging sea]
he cried out,
“Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him,
and said to him,
[The LORD HIMSELF came to Peter, hearing his cry of distress,
and JESUS reached out His hand to His servant Peter]
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
FAITH—beyond a shadow of—Doubt—JESUS REMAINS HERE WITH US, SUSTAINING US!
Today, may we not doubt, but let us walk through every storm, walking by—FAITH in HIM!
“You have also given me the shield of
(The Psalms 18: 35-36 NASB)
Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.
You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.”