Psalm 124: 2-7
‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth’ Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.’
DAILY READING Mark 10:1-31; 2 Samuel 23; Hosea 3
It is indeed true, that because of The Lord on our side, we are able to make it in life. Despite all that we have been though, we are still here. Why? Because The Lord has been on our side.
A story that illustrates this fact is perhaps what happened at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It was the quarter finals of the 400 metre sprint, and British athlete Derek Redmond was one of those expected to win the gold medal. For Derek, this race was very important, he had greatly looked forward to it. Four years earlier, at the 1988 Olympics, Derek had pulled out of the race, just 90 seconds before the race was to begin, because of an unexpected injury. But now four years later, after having gone through five surgeries, he was eager to get on the tracks and win an Olympic gold medal.
The starting gun went off, and the athletes burst out of the blocks into the tracks. Derek started out very well, and halfway through the race he was leading. It was almost certain he was going to win this race. But then suddenly, disaster struck. His hamstring tore and he collapsed on the track. . It was a crushing blow. The agony on his tear streaked face was both physical and mental. Paramedics rushed out to help him, but he refused their help, waving them aside. He had to go on. He was probably thinking about the long, hard road he’d taken to get to this point. He couldn’t just give up and let his dream die because of another injury. .He struggled to his feet. Because he couldn’t walk he started hopping, sometimes even crawling, determined to finish the race. And then, a big guy came charging out of the stands. He pushed a security guard aside, ran to Derek’s side and embraced him. People wondered who this big guy could be.
It was Derek’s dad. “You don’t have to do this,” the father told his weeping son. “Yes, I do,” said Derek. “Well, then,” said his father, “we’re going to finish this together.” And they did. With his arm around his son’s waist, Derek’s dad helped him as he limped. Derek buried his head in his father’s shoulder. They stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end. The crowd was on its feet, cheering and weeping. Millions of TV viewers around the world did the same. Finally, Derek and his dad crossed the finish line together, arm in arm, long after the other runners had finished the race. The roaring crowd, remained on their feet, and kept applauding. It became the defining moment of the Barcelona Olympics.
As Christians we can identify with this scenario. Often times like Derek, we have been broken and limping on the track of life. And in those times of weakness, when it seems we can’t make it, Somehow our Heavenly Father had shown up and carried us in His arms, and helped us until we could cross the finish line.
We are where we are today, only because of God’s grace. We are who we are only because of His mercy. No man can boast of making it on His own, We have all been helped and carried along in this race by His grace. There is no self-made man, we are all products of God’s grace. Everything God does and is still doing for us is wrapped up in His Mercy. The mercy of God is deeper than human comprehension.
In Isaiah 46:4 God says ‘:And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you’.
We all know our different struggles. We all know those times, when it seemed we couldn’t just take another step, when we were about ready to throw in the towel and give up. But somehow, God made a way, and we were able to make it through the day. Somehow though weeping endured through the night, yet, joy has come in the morning.
In Isaiah 43:2 God says ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee’
The times we have passed through the fire and through the water, God has always been there for us. When we were weak, and it seemed we couldn’t make it, The Father had held us in His arms. After the storm is over, me may look back and wonder how we made it. And we find that it was because of His mercy that we were not consumed. It was because of His grace that we were not swallowed up by the storm. With our backs against the wall, and it seemed we were about to fall, God had shown up and carried us through.
Lamentations 3;22-3 says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’
We may not know how God does it, but somehow we survive the storm. Men may look at us and think it is because we are strong, or because we are lucky, No, it is simply because we have a Father in Heaven who has numbered every hair of our head, who would not allow our foot to dash against a stone. He is faithful even to the very end. He makes a way for us when there seems to be no way. He never leaves us without help.
Psalm 124: 2-7 says ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth’ Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.’
By God’s kindness and loving mercy we are still here, despite all the storm. Even those times we thought we couldn’t make it, somehow, by His grace we made it.
The times we have been faced with challenges too great for us, the greater one in us simply had shown up. He brings forth from within us reserve strength. Sometimes when we face a mountain, we may wonder, how will I make it up that steep hill? But we have to know that there is reserve strength in us. This strength comes from the greater One in us.
Paul says in 2 corinthians 12:10 ‘for when I am weak, then am I strong.’ When it seems we are weak, God’s strength shows up for us. On the flat roads the car engine may be quiet, but on the steep hill you can hear the extra cylinders kick in. Those extra cylinders were there all the time. It was strength in reserve. This strength arose when the car was faced with a challenge. God has some strength in reserve for you. It is true, you may be facing a great challenge, but there are some extra cylinders about to kick in, taking you where you can’t go on your own. They say when the going gets tough, then the tough gets going. The measure of a man is not where he stands in the time of comfort but where he stands in the time of adversity. Adverse situations reveal the hidden strength in us. And that hidden strength is Christ in us the hope of glory. Whatever you are going through now, God will arise for you. Don’t think God has forgotten you. He is watching over you to perform His Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you. It doesn’t matter how dark the sky may seem right now, even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. Even when it seems your back is against the wall and men think it is over, because you trust in God, He will show up and make a way. God will surprise your detractors. God knows exactly where He is leading you to. You don’t have to wonder or ponder where your help will come from. Your help is in the Name of The Lord who made Heaven and earth. And because He is on your side, you will make it through to the finish line, in this race of life.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always rely on Your Help. It is only by Your Grace that I can make it in this race of life. Indeed without You I can do nothing. I know that indeed Your grace is sufficient for me and by Christ I can indeed do all things in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE
When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]