“I arise today
with God’s strength to pilot my course,
with God’s power to uphold me,
with God’s wisdom to guide me,
with God’s eye to give me seeing,
with God’s ear for my hearing,
with God’s word for me to speak,
with God’s hand to guard me..."
Patrick didn't have an easy life. He went through many perilous times, found himself in many dangerous situations, and met with much persecution from the time he was young to the end of his life. But knowing that the Lord was with him, he never allowed his circumstances to slow him down.
In the midst of a particularly trying period, Patrick states, "I was mightily upset, and might have fallen here and for ever; but the Lord generously spared me, a convert, and an alien, for his name's sake, and he came powerfully to my assistance in that state of being trampled down."
Too often we, in our struggles, look to God to pull us out of our circumstances. Somehow we think that is how God delivers us and protects us. But more often than not, God has a purpose in our going through difficult times and circumstances. He wants us to turn to Him, not to take us out of the situation, but by His strength, make it possible for us to endure and emerge victorious.
Consider Job. Everyone around him thought they were offering the best advice as he dealt with numerous devastating events. But he knew that God's hand was on him no matter what was going on around him.
We will all experience difficulties. While he may not deliver us out of those circumstances, God will guard us and strengthen us in the midst of whatever it is we are dealing with.
"Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Ps 73:25-26)
No comments:
Post a Comment