Operation Rescue

I was reading Our Journey this morning and I thought today's reading can bring encouragement to those of us struggling in our journey.

2 Peter 2:5-9 (Contemporary English Version)

5And during Noah's time, God did not have pity on the ungodly people of the world. He destroyed them with a flood, though he did save eight people, including Noah, who preached the truth.

6God punished the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [a] by burning them to ashes, and this is a warning to anyone else who wants to sin. 7-8Lot lived right and was greatly troubled by the terrible way those wicked people were living. He was a good man, and day after day he suffered because of the evil things he saw and heard. So the Lord rescued him. 9This shows that the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their sufferings and to punish evil people while they wait for the day of judgment.

When we do things God's way and wait on HIs timing, we get a chance to see how He works.

David knew he was next in line to be king of Israel. Rather than staging a dramatic take-over, he faithfully served in the army and played his harp in the palace to soothe King Saul's stress. Things were going great until Saul developed an insane jeoulousy that drove him to try to kill David. When David was being hunted by Saul, he found himself in a cold cave crying out to God, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long ...? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?" (Psalm 13:1-2 NASB)

Like David, when we feel that God has forgotten us, we are prone to plan our own escape. We say, "I know what I'll do. I'll ... no that won't work. Here's what i'll do ... no, I don't think that will work either." It's a total despair of seeming to be locked in with no apparent way out.

Take courage! God already knows how He will deliver you. He is in the business of making ways of escape. Peter assures us, "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials" (2 Peter 2:9). So you can count on it: When you are faithful and patient through trouble, God will, IN HIS TIME, exercise options of deliverance that are far beyond what you ever dreamed!

Your response: When was the last time I was in a tight spot with no righteous options at my disposal? What was my response? Read Psalm 13. How did David resolve his despair?

- Joe Stowell from Our Journey

My friends, sometimes we panic whenever we face trials of many kinds. We start making and charting our own escape plans. Persevere on even when things don't make sense. God will provide a way out and come to our rescue.



"I need You Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There's no other name
By which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You"

Be still and wait upon the Lord!