When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
“What, Lord, is the trust which I have in this life, or what is my greatest comfort among all the things that appear under heaven? Is it not You, O Lord, my God, Whose mercies are without number? Where have I ever fared well but for You? Or how could things go badly when You were present? I had rather be poor for Your sake than rich without You. I prefer rather to wander on the earth with You than to possess heaven without You. Where You are there is heaven, and where You are not are death and hell. You are my desire and therefore I must cry after You and sigh and pray. In none can I fully trust to help me in my necessities, but in You alone, my God. You are my hope. You are my confidence. You are my consoler, most faithful in every need.”
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) in The Imitation of Christ (Grand Rapids, CCEL), p. 150.
I hope you like the new header photo I shot from the retreat location in Nathiagali. The mountains of Northern Pakistan remind me of the mountains near my home in Colorado.
This mountainous Abbottabad area has quite a history. U.S. troops got Osama bin Laden near here in 2011.
The scenery makes me think of this text. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Have you ever felt like there was no one you could count on? It’s a hard place to be.
But the truth of the matter is that we can we still focus on what is needful. Why? Because our Lord and good Consoler is most faithful in every need.
So we can give ourselves to the needful things around us because He gives Himself to us. Ponder this.
And hear that God provided again for our team in Pakistan. The country is experiencing lots of extended blackouts with no power. It’s as if God was at the switch.
When we needed power, we had it. And much of the times it went out. We praise Him for this provision.
What about your situation? Unless you risk everything, you gain nothing in the kingdom. Are you demonstrating a posture of surrender and dependence on God?
God will help in your necessities, but you have to put yourself in a place to need His help.
Pray with me that all who hear this challenge to trust God will experience divine help, provision, blessing, peace, and protection for their service and sacrifice.
Make it so by your grace and mercy because of your great love we ask, Father, in the name of Jesus. Amen.