7 You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes. Psalm 54:7
You could easily read this verse two very different ways. First, and quite probably they interpretation most would like to take, is to think that your life will be error-free once you start serving the Lord. While it makes for nice bumper sticker text, it’s just not played out in most people’s lives. We have mortgages, clothes, bills, taxes, and cars to buy with a limited amount of money. Our kids get sick or go off the deep end. Our friends back stab us. And we get fired from a job we’ve loved for 10 years. So, how could it possibly be that we are delivered from all of this?
Well, it leads us to the more obvious conclusion, that when you do have trouble, He will see you through it. Then, as you look back at those who caused the trouble, you can laugh at their foolishness.
I am well aware that those reading this are not immune to trouble. In fact, the statistics would show that a great majority are experiencing trouble even as you read this. You know about the sleepless nights, the snide remarks, the added gray hairs of worry, the sense of hopelessness about your situation, and the “what could I have done differently” thinking.
But fortunately all is not lost. I don’t know the details about your situation but God does. I don’t know the battle and frustrations and anger you experience because of your troubles, but God does. I don’t make these statements lightly because I realize there are real people with real problems reading this. Yes, He will deliver you from all your troubles, but ou are right in the midst of them, and cannot see and think clearly.
Some 25+ years ago I spent three fascinating months in England. The highlight of each week was going to chapel every Sunday. The minister, without fail opened and closed with the words from James 4:8 , and what I will end this post with:
“Come close to God and He will come close to you.”
We do not have a lot of assurances in life, but that certainly is one of them.