Trapped.
Hemmed in. Without options. Without hope.
I believe that is one of the bare bones definitions of a trial. We look for a door out, but we find none-
whether it be because we were placed there by God, or because it is inescapable in other ways. We cry out to God for an answer but the
situations persist. What is a Christian to do when
the walls of life are crushing in?
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I Cor. 10:13 (NIV)
I believe the first thing that we have to do, is
recognize God's faithfulness. People
will disappoint us. Good fortune will
fail us. But God will remain
faithful. He cannot do otherwise.
Faithfulness is part of His nature. When He does not answer as we had
hoped, or in the time frame that we desire, we must cling to the truth that God
loves us and will be faithful to us.
Always. Without fail. Through time without end. He is committed to us.
And He does not break His covenant.
The second thing we must realize is that He is
sovereign and has the absolute right to say, "Enough! It is finished!" He will not let us remain in a situation
beyond His ability to see us through.
When we are going through it, He is there. And He strengthens us and provides us a way
out or a way of escape. Even
when life feels out of control, it is never out of His control.
He limits the tests. The heat of
the fire. The persecution. He limits it to what He has given us grace to
endure.
Finally, we must confess the Truth of the Word of
God instead of the facts of our circumstances.
The power of life and death are in the tongue. We must choose to speak life and hope into
our situations. We have to dare to
believe His Word is true and align our thoughts and words with His.
"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19 (NIV)
When the ceiling seems to be dropping, when the
walls are suffocating and pressing in, cry out to the One who can set you in a
spacious place. Believe that He is your
way out. He is your portion. He is your defense. Faithful, faithful is He.
Dear
Lord, I lift up my situations before you and ask you to help me to look above
the walls and ceilings of my trials, and instead, look to you, the author and
perfecter of my faith. I see you as my
deliverance. I see your staying hand
that prevents me from being consumed in the fire. I cry out to you! Rescue me!
Strengthen me. Open my eyes to see Your hand. You are my desire and my defense. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
