by Bonnie Scasta, Women's Ministry Director
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble, the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.” Ps 41:1-2 (ESV)
Last week we saw the blessing that comes from considering the poor by looking at the opening verses of Psalm 41. This week we will see that these same verses also remind us that our hope in the “day of trouble” is that God delivers and protects. Is that what you think when you face trials or hardships? Do you focus on the Lord’s deliverance and his protection? Do you continue to center your attention on this even when these trials last for a long while?
Another translation of this verse uses the word “adversity” instead of “trouble”. Adversity is defined as “a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.”[1]This seems to show that the day of trouble applies to those times when things go from bad to worse. When the bad doesn’t seem to have an end. When nothing seems right or like it will get any better. When your heart is shattered. When the hope seems sucked out of you. When you are weighed down by the sorrow of your heart. In these circumstances, do you find hope in the truth that God will deliver? That God WILL protect you keeping you alive.
God is active, continually moving toward his people. He does indeed look out for their good. You are not left alone to fight these enemies and trials on your own. He is not telling you to buck up and get over it. You don’t have to muster up your own deliverance. You don’t have to seek control at every move through manipulating relationships or by seeking an escape with different addictions. You don’t have to look to the world, unhealthy relationships, your own strength, or anything else to save and deliver you. Rather, you can look to him. Deliverance and protection is sure. When and how is completely up to the Lord, but it is sure!
I don’t know about you, but often when I am faced with adversity, I actually go from believing God is my deliverer and the one who will protect me to accusing him of being my attacker. I completely forget his character and any protecting he has done for me in the past, suddenly believing that he is against me. I believe He will leave me in these circumstances alone and without any hope. I forget the cross. I forget how Jesus endured such suffering, taking on the wrath that I so rightly deserve to show God’s unfailing love for me. I forget how the cross proves once and for all that he does rescue me from my sin and my shame to relationship with him and that NOTHING can keep me from him and his love. I forget that this is my ultimate rescue and protection from anything this life can throw at me.
How are you facing your “days of trouble”? Are you like me, forgetting who your rescuer is and that your rescue is sure? If so, remember that your deliverance and protection are sure in the Lord. Repent of ways you try to bring about your own deliverance or for accusations you bring against the Lord in your adversity. Stop seeking to be in control and trust the Lord for his deliverance and protection.
Father, thank you that you are our deliverer and our protector. Remind us you move and act toward us so we don’t have to save ourselves. When we feel tempted to bring accusations against you during long seasons of adversity, help us remember Jesus and all he has done for us. Thank you that you send Jesus to deliver us from sin and death. Amen.
